January 2026

January 14th - Private Aurora Chase Dinner

• Guests / Country: 4 guests from Australia.
• Weather Tromsø: .
• Destination / weather: .
• Aurora activity: /10.
• Aurora show: .
• Visible for the naked eyes: .
• Tour km: .
• Tour hrs: .

January 13th 

• Guests / Country: 8 guests from Germany, France and India.
• Weather Tromsø: Clear.
• Destination / weather: Lakselvbukt S o N / clear.
• Aurora activity: 5/10.
• Aurora show: All over and little towards south, several stripes across the sky, little faint pink dancing, spikes and curls.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Bright green and little faint pink.
• Tour km: 160.
• Tour hrs: 6,5.

Wasn`t sure about the coast tonight, so we went into the country side, but not far ... and later it looks like that was a good choice, since we also got in some clouds in the coastal horizon, and when we came back to the city after midnight it was overcast.

At my first planned location it was too windy, so it was freezing cold, so we just shot some pics of a faint stripe low on the north sky, and the beautiful starry sky towards east and south.

It looks like 6 nights very good Aurora was over ...

We did a short backdrive and then further north along the Lyngen Alps west side, where we found an okey location, but I wish that I knew this area little better, since it could be nice to be down on the beach, but I was little unsure to pass a huge avalanche area we had just a few km away from us ...

The activity builded up little and we got little dancing and a small corona straight above us, and then it faded out ... so, we returned early back to the city.

January 12th 

• Guests / Country: 9 guests from Germany and China.
• Weather Tromsø: Clear.
• Destination / weather: Finnvika / My own beach / Åbornes / Dåfjord x3 / Clear / incoming clouds.
• Aurora activity: 9/10.
• Aurora show: Activity all evening ! All over and far south, Pink dancing curtains, spikes and curls, and one lovely show with several colorful coronas.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Bright green, pink and little yellow.
• Tour km: 150.
• Tour hrs: 6,5.

I got little unsure in the beginning where to drive, since I hadn`t had time to check the weather forecast, and it showed earlier partly clear, but it was clear all over ... and when one of my colleagues mentioned they should head south, I begin to think little extra ...

But, after our first check stop just north of the city and it was totally clear, then I contiuned further north and my plan was Dåfjord, 70 km north, but the Lady was still very active on night no. 6 in row, so then it`s a gamble to move too much.

So, after a short stop at my own place we had to stop again only 4 km north, since some Pink dancing started ... but, when all my guests was back in the bus since they was cold, then we contiuned ... but, before the planned final stop, I just had to stop quickly since the stripe on the south sky begin to dance intense ...

And then we got this evening greatest show; Crazy good Corornas in three visible colors !

My best place in this fjord was already taken, but that`s okey for tonight, since there`s a mountain there which close the south sky, so we contiuned further out, where I stopped for make a camp fire and where we finally could relax little.

At 11 pm we returned, and as I always tell my guests; The chase is not over before you`re back in bed ;) and after 10 km drive we had to stop again, since a new stripe from the south gave us good Pink dancing.

After this I think my guests was happy enough, so we returned to the city.

January 8th 

• Guests / Country: 6 guests from Germany, Spain, Brasil and USA.
• Weather Tromsø: Clear.
• Destination / weather: Kattfjordeidet / My own beach, Ringvassøya island / clear.
• Aurora activity: 9/10.
• Aurora show: All over and far south, dancing curls and curtains, a lot of spikes and a couple of coronas. 3-4 colors on camera.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Pink and green.
• Tour km: 170.
• Tour hrs: 7.
• Wildlife: 4 reindeers.
• Space show: Several very good fireballs, long and bright.

It was long time ago I have been to Sommarøy, so we headed that way ... after a stop on Kattfjordeidet where the sky already was filled with no visible colorful Aurora, but good on camera ... so, I understood this one could be a good one later ...

We relaxed there in the cold just for ourself, until a 50 seats bus was close to run us down on the small parking slot ... with no respect at all ... with the enigue on and with full lights ... so, we left and headed for our goal; Sommarøy.

But, when we was close by the wind was too strong with flying snow in the air and across the road, so the stay out there should not be so pleasent ... so, I decided to return to my island where the forecast said no wind, and after a gas station stop for toilet we ended up at my beach, where we had the best control over the south sky over the sea.

The reason for good view to the south was cause of a Aurora stripe far south, and there`s a 90% chance that will give us a very good show ...

So, when it happened just before midnight, I just wondering why so many buses already left from my island ... maybe they was too cold, or theirs guests already was happy, or maybe they didn`t know what kind happens with the south stripe.

The night before the south stripe exploted at 2 am, but then my guests was already at theirs accommodation, and I on my way home, so it was great it happened before midnight tonight.

There was no wind at my place, but it was still freezing cold, so my guests was happy with the camp fire.

January 7th 

• Guests / Country: 11 guests from Germany, France, Brasil, Chile, Australia and USA.
• Weather Tromsø: Clear.
• Destination / weather: Kattfjordeidet / Blåmannsvika / Karigambukta / Rekvikeidet / Clear / little haze.
• Aurora activity: 6/10.
• Aurora show: All over and little towards south, several stripes all over, spikes, curls and little moving.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Bright green.
• Tour km: 110.
• Tour hrs: 7,5.

Finally the Lady was back again after a quiet week, except night to Monday, which we only got the beginning of.

I didn`t thought so much should happens tonight, so I prepared my guest for load up with a lot of patience before we left the city, but so wrong can I take ...

The solar speed was very low with around 350 km/s, but with a good Bz down to minus 5, and with a high Density, up to 10, then we all got a very nice surprise.

At our first stop it was faint, but much more than I was hoping for, with 2-3 stripes across the sky and it climbed higher, and then at our 2nd stop we probably got the best.

Then we drove to the planned final location in Grøtfjord where I set camp fire ... my planned stop was occupied by a rental car, but when a larger parking spot was available close by, then we stopped there.

Around 11 pm the activity "was over", but our very good Aurora forecast was showing more to come, and it was too early for a return to the city, so I decided to drive further, via a toilet stop we drove up in the mountains to one of our lovely 360 degree view plateau, where the Lady continued her lovely performance ...

Just after midnight she took a break, and tonight`s best show arrived at 2 am, but then my guests was back at theirs accommodations and I was close to my home ... where I filmed Pink dancing with my phone ;)

A new chance tonight ... seats available !

January 4th 

• Guests / Country: 5 guests from China.
• Weather Tromsø: Cloudy / snow.
• Destination / weather: Finnish Lapland +110 km / part clear / haze / cloudy / snow / clear stripe NE to SW.
• Aurora activity: 3/10.
• Aurora show: Couple of spikes and some curls.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Faint green.
• Tour km: 525 - season longest !
• Tour hrs: 10.
• Wildlife: 2 reindeers and a white running rabbit.

Tonight I got the little wild devil in me and went far away for make my guests happy, since some better activity was on the way ... it was only five in the bus, but my good service I always give to just a few or for a full bus ;)

First, after a 160 km drive in a snowstorm from when we left the city, we found partly clear good sky towards east, west and south 20 km inside the border, so I decided to stop there and hope for the best ...

And while "hundreds" of other Aurora buses passed us, we began to get little activity on the SW sky, but then we got more clouds and the snow was back, so then I had to follow the other guides further into Finnish Lapland ...

Where all other guides had stopped they had also got the overcast weather we escpaed from, so I continue ... and since our `private aurora cams` in Karesuvanto showed partly clear sky and Northern Lights, then it was only one way to go; 110 km inside the Finnish border.

I understood it should be a hard and tired return back to the city, since we should return late ... or, in the early morning ;)

During my 20 Aurora season with close to 2,200 nights out, I had only been so far into Finnish Lapland 2-3 times before.

And when we was 5 km before this village I stopped, since I was thinking about the return ... the safety for me and my guests on the long return.

In front of us, all over the south sky, from NE to SW we had a huge gap of clear sky and there was some faint Aurora spikes.

I gave it 1 hour and 15 mins and we got little more with some bright spikes, but we missed a lot of it, since the north sky was totally overcasted ...

So, I regret little why I didn`t drove 10-15 km longer when we first had drove so far, so we maybe could be under the open clear sky and had seen more of the activity.

But, the most pity thing; when we had to leave by midnight, then tonight`s greatest Aurora show started ... and it last for couple of hours, but then we was under overcast sky in a long snowstorm ...

The return drive was okey, since I had waked up after a tired start, at our first stop out in the cold, but it was a long one; 265 km and 4 hours in snowstorm.

I dropped off my guests at theirs AirBnb at 4.10 am, but I wasn`t home before 5.50 am, since I bought me a breakfast, and had to park the bus at the workshop for service, and of course, I am Aurora Addicted so when the sky began to be clear on the coast on my drive home, I had to shoot some pics ... please check it on my Insta account #guidegunnar

January 3rd

• Guests / Country: 10 guests from Iran, Hungary, India and China.
• Weather Tromsø: Clear.
• Destination / weather: My own beach, Ringvassøya island / clear.
• Aurora activity: 2/10.
• Aurora show: Several stripes across the sky, but faint, some curls, and little dancing low on the north sky.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Faint grey / white.
• Tour km: 85.
• Tour hrs: 5,5.

It`s pity, we just missed tonight`s only activity since we got a 30 mins delay from the city ...

So, tonight we should start the chase at 4 pm ... since it was nice activity when I left my home at 5 pm.

Ten mins before we arrive the planned location, at my home, 40 km north of the city it was several stripes across the sky, and when the last and only possible to stop already was occupied, then we just had to continue and drive to my place.

In the minute I parked the bus it went to little dancing low on the north sky, which a couple of my guests got to see.
And then it was over ... and the patience game begin ...

I set camp fire and set out some chairs, so my guests could relax with better comfort ... then I also remove more snow by my sea house, so my guests could have the view by the sea too ...

But, suddenly it was totally quiet on the sky, and on our very good Aurora forecast ... it was no sign of nothing ...

So, the pics above shows how beautiful the surroundings was ... but, it also a good message to give; Clear sky is not any guarantee for see the Northern lights ...

January 2nd - Private Aurora Chase

• Guests / Country: 4 guests from New Zealand.
• Weather Tromsø: Cloudy / snow.
• Destination / weather: Dividalen valley / part clear / overcast / part clear ... 3-4 times.
• Aurora activity: 4/10.
• Aurora show: A very nice ark with lovely curtains and little moving, plus some spikes.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Faint green.
• Tour km: 270.
• Tour hrs: 7.
• Wildlife: One moose, but the butt only.

Tonight I was glad that I trust my got feeling ... with success.

While many of my good colleagues and other Aurora Guides was fighting with the clouds towards Finland and in other locations, I drove straight to the planned location, 135 km south of the city.

And when we arrived we got a very nice ark with curtains across the sky ... and then it went overcast ... but, I know this location and valley quite well, and knew it will change again ... 

So, while we was there and kept warm around the camp fire, in the quite chilly environment, it changed 3-4 times.

But, at 11 pm my guests was happy, and since they had booked a private chase, they could decide what time we returned.

On the way out from the valley we met one moose, but we saw only the butt, since it was on the way into the forest.

January 1st

• Guests / Country: 16 guests from Germany, Chile, China and USA.
• Weather Tromsø: Clear.
• Destination / weather: Hundbergan / Laksvatn fjord / Signaldalen / clear / thin clouds.
• Aurora activity: 3/10.
• Aurora show: Several stripes across the sky, some spikes.
• Visible for the naked eyes: Faint white.
• Tour km: 230.
• Tour hrs: 7,5.

Finally back on the Aurora Highways after a 14 days Christmas break and three nights in a flu hell ...

And my first (!) fully booked chase this season ...

With forecasted incoming clouds it was only one way to drive; Into the country side, where I first was thinking about Dividalen valley uo towards the Swedish border, but with minus 36 which could feels like minus 43, then this was not an option, just for the safety of my guests and not risking any frost damage for the bus diesel filter ...

So, at our first quick stop 20 km away we got the first glimpse of Aurora, which was probably tonight`s best one, especially when we contiuned the drive and we could see it through the front shield; Little dancing with spikes and little dancing.

For not let my guests not freeze too much we made the 2nd stop inn a fjord close to the Lyngen Alps, where the temp was around minus 15 ... when we stopped the sky was quiet ... but, after a little waiting we got a couple of stripes crossing low on the north sky ...

Was wondering if this could be the final stop and I was thinking about to set camp fire, but then the clouds begin to build up from the north in the fjord and when it climbed up towards the mountains, so then it was only one thing to do; Leave and drive further into the country side and into the colder environment.

After a short toilet stop at the gas station in Nordkjosbotn, 70 km south of the city, I changed my mind, quit the idea about the cold valley and freezing cold temperatures, and headed instead east to Signaldalen valley where the majestic mountain, Otertind - our own Toblerone Mountain, as a front ground for our pictures.

The forecast says overcast from 11 pm, but it didn`t happens so we stayed to midnight with only a few faint clouds, but also Lady Aurora was shy and faint ... but, the Aurora forecast was saying something bigger should come, but it never did ...

So, tonight`s best Aurora show was probably while we drove out ... and in the afternoon before the chase, but none of my guests had lift theirs heads and checked the sky while they was strolling around in the city ... which is so important to do, when you`ve spend some much money for your travel and stay ...