No lights? Refunds and second chances
Sooner or later it happens to everyone. A long night, a cold camp, and a sky that stays grey. What you get back depends entirely on the tour you booked, and the policies differ more than most people realize.
No one can promise the aurora
No one can guarantee the aurora. It depends on the sun and, even more, on clouds, and every serious operator says so in its listing. When you see a success rate of 98 percent, it means the guides found some aurora on almost every night over a season, often by driving a long way. It does not mean every night is a show, and it does not mean you will see it on yours.
The policies compared
| Tour | If you see no lights | If the operator cancels |
|---|---|---|
| Big bus with free repeats | Free rejoin as often as your stay allows; 70 percent refund if you cannot return | Not stated beyond the guarantee |
| Campfire tour, Spirit in the sky | 50 percent off the next available trip | Not stated |
| Local family-run chase | No refund | Full refund for weather or road conditions |
| Adults-only Northern Horizon chase | Not stated | Full refund for bad weather |
| Our pick and the others | Not stated; the lights are not guaranteed | Check the listing |
The big bus and its return guarantee
The big bus from Jeshua Tours at ~$99 has the most generous policy of any tour we compared. The tour counts as successful if their professional camera captures at least one clear photo of you with recognizable aurora in the frame, even if it was faint to the eye. If not, you can rejoin another of their tours for free, as often as your stay in Tromsø allows, subject to availability. If you cannot come back before you leave, they refund 70 percent of the ticket price, excluding extras. After a successful night, you can book again at half price.
For cruise guests with one evening, the free rejoin does not help much, but the 70 percent refund does. For travelers with several nights in town, it makes the bus the safest bet for the money.
Discounts and the rest
Spirit in the sky knocks 50 percent off your next trip on its campfire tour at ~$133 if the lights stay away. The family-run Arctic Glow tour says clearly there is no refund if the aurora does not appear, but a full refund if they cancel because of weather or driving conditions. The Northern Horizon chase also refunds in full if it cancels for bad weather. Our pick, Snow Travels, does not promise anything back, but puts no fixed limit on its unlimited chase and says it does everything it can, especially if it is your only or last night.
The most forgiving tour for the money
The big bus from Jeshua Tours, from ~$99, with a free rejoin or a 70 percent refund if their camera catches no aurora.
Use free cancellation wisely
All six tours on our comparison page can be cancelled for free up to 24 hours before. If the forecast a day ahead shows solid cloud across the whole region, coast and inland, move your booking to a better night. If only Tromsø is cloudy, keep it: a chase can still find a gap inland. What the six tours cost helps if you are weighing a second booking. How to read the forecast explains what to look for.
Plan for a second chance
- Book the first night you have, not the last, so a cloudy evening leaves you another try.
- On a two-night cruise call, book the first evening and keep the second free.
- On a one-night call, choose the tour with the best odds in the time you have. Our cruise guide helps.
- Look up from town too. On a strong night the aurora can appear right over the harbor, even through the city lights.
A night without lights is not wasted
It sounds like comfort, but travelers say it often. A night in the Arctic dark, by a fire, with hot chocolate and a guide full of stories, is worth something on its own. That is especially true at the reindeer camp, where the reindeer and the dinner are there whatever the sky does. The best months and hours can tilt the odds your way next time.