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Hi all,

Have been reading through the previous threads about this subject but still have some questions, if anyone could be so kind as to answer.

1: We unsure what to do for our northern lights trip this February, we don't know whether to go for a place outside of Tromso, and thus be able to see the northern lights easier (I guess) from close by our accommodation. Does anyone know a place that can sleep up to 8 people available outside of Tromso?

OR

Go for a place inside Tromso and go on a northern lights tour (we can only afford 1 of these), or otherwise go to a place each night from Tromso where there isn't so much light pollution. We also want to do a couple of activities like dog sledding etc which all seem to pick up from Tromso. I saw someone mention Whale Island, can you get there by boat or bus each night and back?

What do most people commonly do?

2: We were thinking about hiring a car to get around this problem...How are the roads typically, is it completely snowed out quite often, or are the roads typically drivable?

3: Also are the lyngen alps easily driven to and back to Tromso within a day? I heard they are pretty spectacular.

Many thanks for any advice!

Cheers Matt

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Hi Matt,

We've been there a couple of years ago, in the "red house" which may be a bit small for 8...if you rent a car, it will only take you 15-30 minutes to drive to some really dark spots, I wouldn't bother with a northern light tour...
You can have some good fun with snow-shoe walking though!!
another tip is the artic zoo, about 150 km south of tromso, which is really worth the drive...

have fun!
Hugo

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btw even rental cars have spikes, so driving is easy...( and the roundabout in the tunnel is amazing!!)...

Hugo

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Thanks Hugomeiland, very helpful!

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There's a place in Tromsoe called 'Prestvannet' where there's a good chance to see NL - if they're on at all! It's one of the stops on the local buses, just walk along the small lake til you get away from the lights. If you're not lucky on your NL-tour, this might be a chance.

Lyngen Alps you can see from a bus! If you want to get to the alps themselves, skiing or whatever, you might want a car, but not for just seeing them.

A nice trip if the weather is good is to catch a bus from Tromsoe to Skjervöy, and then go back by Hurtigruta. It's a tourist thing, which means there's a connection, if the bus is late the ferry will wait. Tickets from Trafikktriangelen. Don't let them talk you into the 3 course meal on board, it's not worth the money! Use the cafeteria on board!

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