The northern lights chasing tours cover a large area around Tromsø, much larger than you could reach by foot or with the city buses. This makes the chances of seeing the northern lights much higher, since you could reach areas with clear sky if it’s cloudy near Tromsø. The northern lights tours also have guides who know what to look for on the forecast to predict where you get the best chances of seeing the northern lights.
It is of course possible to reach the same area around Tromsø on your own if you have a car available during your stay, and many guests have had success with hunting for the aurora on their own. Please do note that the winter roads around Tromsø could be very slippery, and it could be dangerous to drive out if you’re not experienced with wintry driving conditions.
We could help you decide which areas to go to at the reception, but we do not have the same experience and knowledge about the area as the guides driving the norther lights tours have.