Alta: A spectacular Northern Lights Hunt by ATV from Alta

About This Experience

Finnmark Adventure picks you up from your hotel, the harbor or the Tourist Information Centre in Alta and drives about 30 minutes to the small village of Kviby. There you change into warm overalls, gloves and a helmet, get a safety briefing and instruction on the ATV, and set off behind the guide along the coast, well away from the town’s lights. The whole evening takes about five hours.

No previous ATV experience is needed. Two guests share each ATV, and the driver needs a valid car driving license. The guides watch the weather and cloud through the evening and choose the route accordingly, and on the way home they return you to your pickup point. The group is capped at 16.

It suits travelers who want something more active than standing by a bus, and the harbor pickup makes it an option for cruise passengers. Finnmark Adventure says it coordinates times with each ship’s schedule and offers a Back-to-Ship Guarantee; check your ship’s all-aboard time against the tour’s start time on the booking page too. Children under 9 cannot join, nor can people over 80 or over 130 kg (287 lbs), pregnant travelers or anyone with back or heart problems.

The operator states that the aurora can never be guaranteed, and there is no refund if it does not show. The listing also excludes party groups, alcohol and strollers.

Reviewers like the warm suits and the condition of the ATVs, and the coastal stop, where they say there is little artificial light and the wind can push cloud away to open gaps. Several saw lights on the drive out and again on the way back, when the guide pulled over. One couple in their 60s and 70s found it great fun, another got the guide to themselves on a quiet night, and the warm berry juice gets a mention.

Highlights

• Ride an ATV along the Arctic coast in the dark
• Drive about 30 minutes out to the quiet village of Kviby
• Look for the aurora far from the lights of the town
• Hear about Northern Norwegian nature, local life and culture from your guide
• Pull over on the drive when the lights appear

What's Included

• ✓ Round-trip transport from Alta hotels, the harbor or the Tourist Information Centre
• ✓ English-speaking guide
• ✓ Warm overalls, helmet and gloves
• ✓ Safety briefing and ATV driving instruction
• ✓ Group of up to 16, two guests per ATV
• ✓ About 5 hours in total

Not Included

• A guaranteed aurora sighting
• Driving for anyone without a valid car driving license

What to Bring

• Warm clothing to wear under the overalls
• Valid car driving license if you will drive
• A camera or phone for photos

Good to Know & Caveats

• Northern lights sightings are not guaranteed: in the operator's words, nature controls the show, not the guide.
• The driver needs a valid car driving license; two guests share each ATV.
• Cruise guests: the operator says it coordinates times with the ship's schedule and offers a Back-to-Ship Guarantee.
• Start times vary by date, so check availability; your pickup point and time are confirmed on your voucher.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
• Not allowed: alcohol, party groups, weapons or sharp objects, and strollers.
• Not suitable for children under 9, people over 80 or over 130 kg (287 lbs).

Meeting Point

Pickup and drop-off at Alta hotels, the harbor or the Tourist Information Centre, then a 30-minute drive to Kviby; the exact stop and time are on your voucher.