Northern Lights tours with children
Seeing the aurora is a memory children keep for life, but a six-hour chase in the cold can be a lot for a seven-year-old. The tours set very different age limits, and the best choice for a family is often not the most famous one.
Minimum ages at a glance
These are the limits the six listings on our comparison page state. Where a listing says nothing, ask the operator before you book.
| Tour | Children | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Reindeer camp dinner | Welcome, booster seats on the bus | 4.5 h, back at 10:30 pm |
| Electric boat cruise | No limit stated | 3.5 h |
| Big bus with free repeats | Tell them age and height in advance | About 6 h |
| Unlimited minibus chase | From 7 years | 5 h or 6–8 h |
| Most-reviewed chase | From 10 years | About 6 h |
| Local family-run chase | From 12 years, no strollers | About 6 h |
For young children
The reindeer camp dinner at ~$203 is the most family-friendly tour of the six. It starts at 5:40 pm and ends at 10:30 pm, which is late but manageable. Children get to feed reindeer by hand, sit by the fire in a lavvu tent, eat a hot dinner and hear a joik song, and if the sky is clear, see the lights over the camp. Even on a cloudy night, they come home with something. More about the camp.
For children who get cold quickly, the electric boat cruise at ~$134 lasts three and a half hours and keeps everyone in heated lounges with soup.
Reindeer, dinner and a chance of the lights
The reindeer camp dinner, from ~$203, back in the center at 10:30 pm, with booster seats on the bus and free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Chasing with older children
From age seven, our pick, the unlimited chase from Snow Travels, is possible. Its five-hour option is the gentler choice with children, while the six-to-eight-hour unlimited chase can run past 2 am. The bonfire, hot dogs and thermal suits make it an adventure, and the portraits are a lovely souvenir. From ten, the Arctic Breeze chase is an option; from twelve, the family-run Arctic Glow tour. Some extra chases are stricter. The long hunt from The Green Adventure takes guests from 12, and the all-inclusive Northern Horizon chase is for adults only.
Keeping children warm
- Layers, not one thick coat: thermal underwear, fleece, snow pants and a winter jacket.
- Hands and feet first: mittens rather than gloves, two pairs of socks and proper snow boots.
- Check the suits: ask whether thermal suits come in children's sizes when you book.
- Hot drinks and snacks: most tours serve hot chocolate; bring a favorite snack as well.
Our packing list has more.
Late nights and patience
The aurora often comes late, and long waits in the dark test anyone's patience. Let children nap in the vehicle on a chase, and do not promise them the lights, because no tour can. The big bus has a toilet on board, which helps a lot with small children, and lets you rejoin for free if you see nothing. What happens if the sky stays shut.
On a family cruise
With children on a cruise, the camp is usually the right call: a fixed return time, food and warmth. If your ship stays overnight and the children are seven or older, the five-hour chase is the best compromise. Our cruise guide explains how to fit it around all-aboard.