December to March is the safest bet for snow. Aurora Husky runs from 20 October to 15 April because our Dog Camp sits inland in Breivikeidet, east of Tromsø, where snow arrives earlier and stays later than on Tromsø island. Below is what each month is like on our trail, with daylight, temperature, aurora chances and the answer to the question nobody else answers: what happens if there is no snow on your date.
When is dog sledding season in Tromsø?
The Tromsø region's dog sledding season runs from roughly November to April, and most operators quote exactly that. The honest version is that it depends on where the camp is. Kennels on the coast wait for snow that can come and go until Christmas. Camps in the inland valleys, like ours, usually have sledable snow weeks earlier and keep it weeks longer.
| Month | Snow at our Dog Camp | Snow in Tromsø town | Daylight (Tromsø, approx.) | Typical temperature at camp | Northern lights possible on the 13:45 tour? | Our tours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October (from the 20th) | Possible, variable | Rare | 9 to 7 hours | -3 to +5°C | Only at the very end of the tour | Running, snow permitting |
| November | Usually arrives during the month | Often melts again | 5 hours to none by the 27th | -8 to 0°C | Yes, dark by the sled run | Running |
| December | Reliable | Usually | Polar night, twilight around midday | -12 to -2°C | Yes, full darkness | Running |
| January | Reliable, coldest | Usually | Sun returns 15 Jan, 4 to 5 hours by month end | -15 to -3°C, cold spells below -20 | Yes | Running |
| February | Reliable, best base | Usually | 6 to 9 hours | -15 to -3°C | Yes, dark by the end of the tour | Running |
| March | Reliable, softening late | Mostly | 9 to 13 hours | -10 to 0°C | Unlikely, still light | Running |
| April (to the 15th) | Spring snow | Patchy | 13 to 15 hours | -5 to +5°C | No | Running |
The daylight column is for Tromsø town, and Dog Camp is close enough that daylight there is about the same.
Why the camp matters more than the city
Tromsø sits on an island in a fjord, warmed by the coast. Our Dog Camp sits in Breivikeidet, an inland valley east of the city. Being away from the coast is often the difference between rain and snow in November, and between slush and firm trails in April.
It also changes the temperature. On the same January day, the camp is often noticeably colder than Tromsø. That is good news for the snow and for the dogs, and it is why our what to wear guide is written for the camp, not the city.
October: the first runs
Our season opens on 20 October. In a good year there is already snow on the trail by then; in a mild year there is frost and bare ground for another week or two. If the trail cannot be run safely on your date, we rebook or refund you in full.
Daylight is still generous: about nine hours at the start of the month, dropping to seven by the end. Both departures run in daylight, with the 13:45 tour finishing in dusk by the last week of October. Temperatures hover around freezing.
Who October suits: people who want to avoid crowds and prices of the peak season, and anyone in Tromsø before the snow who did not think dog sledding was possible. Search "dog sledding Tromsø October" and you will see how few operators answer; we are one of them.
November: early season, will there be snow?
November is the month of the nervous email. The short answer: at the camp, usually yes. Snow from early November is the norm, and it improves through the month.
Daylight falls fast. Early November has around five hours; by the 27th the sun no longer rises in Tromsø and the day becomes a long blue twilight. The 09:45 departure reaches the camp around 11:00 and runs in the brightest part of that twilight. The 13:45 departure runs in the dark from mid-November onwards, with headlamps on the sleds and, on clear nights, a real chance of northern lights over the trail.
Who November suits: aurora hunters, people who want a quieter yard, and Christmas-market travellers arriving in the last week.
December: polar night
From late November to mid-January the sun stays below the horizon. This is not the same as darkness. Around midday the sky turns deep blue and pink, the snow reflects every bit of it, and the 09:45 tour runs in a light that photographers travel a long way for. Bring a camera that handles low light.
The 13:45 tour is a night tour in all but name. Sleds run with lights, the trail is marked, and if the sky is clear and the aurora is active, you may see it from the sled. We do not sell this as a northern lights tour, because the lights do not keep a schedule, but December and January are when it happens most.
Snow is reliable at the camp. Temperatures at the camp typically sit between -12 and -2°C. Christmas week and New Year sell out weeks ahead; book early.
Who December suits: anyone who wants the full Arctic winter, families on Christmas holidays (minimum age 12 for the self-drive tour), and people who want darkness and lights more than views.
January: deep winter
The sun returns to Tromsø around 15 January and by the end of the month there are four to five hours of daylight. January is the coldest month at the camp. Most days are between -15 and -3°C, and a cold snap can push it below -20°C. The dogs love it. Guests are fine in the provided suits as long as they follow the layering advice.
Snow is at its most reliable and the trail is fast. Both departures run, the morning one in low sun or bright twilight, the afternoon one into darkness with aurora possible.
Who January suits: people who want reliable snow and the best chance of seeing both daylight and northern lights on the same trip.
February: the classic month
If you asked our guides to pick one month, most would say February. Daylight grows from six to nine hours, the snow is deep and settled, the sun is back on the mountains, and the afternoon tour still finishes in the dark with aurora possible. Temperatures are similar to January.
It is also the busiest month after Christmas. The 09:45 departure fills first because of the light. Book at least three to four weeks ahead.
Who February suits: photographers, first-timers who want the postcard version, anyone who wants light and lights in one visit.
March: the month nobody talks about
March gets missed because travellers assume winter is over. At the camp it is not. Snow is still deep, days stretch from nine to thirteen hours, and the sun is high enough to be warm on your face while the trail is still cold and firm. Sunglasses are a must. Temperatures range from about -10 to 0°C.
Northern lights are still possible in March, but the afternoon tour now finishes in daylight, so you would need to go out again after dark to see them.
Who March suits: people who want long light and fewer crowds, families over the Easter break, and anyone who found February sold out.
April: last runs
We run until 15 April. The snow at the camp is still there, but it softens in the afternoon sun and the trail turns from fast and hard to slower and heavier. Temperatures swing from -5 at night to +5 in the day. Days are 13 to 15 hours long and there are no northern lights, because it never gets properly dark.
Who April suits: late-season travellers, people combining Tromsø with a spring trip further south, and anyone who prefers warmth and light to darkness.
What happens if there is no snow on my date?
If we have to cancel because the trail cannot be run safely, you choose between rebooking and a full refund.
This matters most in the last ten days of October and the first two weeks of November. From December to the end of March, snow at the camp is reliable.
Which month should I pick?
- ✦Best chance of snow: December to March
- ✦Best light for photos: February and March (low sun), or the midday twilight of December for something different
- ✦Best chance of northern lights from the sled: November to February on the 13:45 departure
- ✦Warmest: October and April
- ✦Coldest: January
- ✦Quietest: late October, November, March after Easter
- ✦Cheapest flights and hotels: usually October, November and March
- ✦With children (12 and up): February and March for daylight, December for the polar night atmosphere
Book the dog sledding tour from Tromsø, or read what to wear.
Frequently asked questions
Bjørn Tore Helgesen
Aurora Husky Guide & Arctic Enthusiast
