An hour west of Tromsø, past fjords and mountains, is a small fishing island with white sand beaches and turquoise water. It looks subtropical. It is very much not.
Sommarøy sits 36 kilometres west of Tromsø, connected to the mainland by a bridge, with a population of around 300 people and a coastline that routinely stops visitors in their tracks. The beaches are white and fine. The shallows run an improbable shade of blue. The surrounding islands and skerries give the whole scene a scale and drama that photographs struggle to convey. The sun does not set here from 18 May to 26 July — a full 69 days. In winter, the polar night descends and the northern lights take over.
The island’s name translates simply as “Summer Island.” It has been a working fishing community for generations, and herring processing remains a significant part of the local economy. The combination — Arctic wilderness, improbable beaches, functioning village — is what makes it worth the journey.
Why it’s hard to get there on your own
Sommarøy is accessible by public transport from Tromsø, but schedules are seasonal and the journey takes up to two hours each way. By car it’s around an hour, but the road through Kvaløya and across the Kattfjordeidet valley is the point, not just the destination: fjord views, possible reindeer sightings, and a landscape that shifts character every few kilometres. Driving it alone, you’d stop where the road allowed. With a guide, you stop where it’s actually worth stopping.
Five great things to do in Tromso
- 🌌 Head out in search of the Northern Lights – on a guided tour with bonfire, dinner and winter suits.
- 🚤 Combine an Arctic fjord cruise – with wildlife-watching and a guided fishing experience.
- 🐋 Go silent whale-watching – in a hybrid electric boat.
- 🦌 On a Sami culture tour – feed reindeer and go reindeer-sledding.
- 📸 Take a fjord photographic tour – to Sommaroy with a professional photographer.
The tour
This small-group day trip from Tromsø, run by NorthernShots, takes between 4 and 5 hours and carries a maximum of 14 passengers. It departs from the NorthernShots shop at Roald Amundsens plass 1A, with morning and early afternoon options.
The route crosses onto Kvaløya — the large island immediately west of Tromsø — and heads through the Kattfjordeidet valley, stopping at viewpoints and beaches along the way. The guide chooses three or four stops depending on conditions: Ersfjord is a regular; the turquoise beaches at Sandvika or Sandviksletta are typical depending on the season. Reindeer wander the area and are spotted often enough that the operator considers wildlife-watching part of the itinerary.
At Sommarøy, there’s a short hike up Ørnfløya — 154 metres, easy going — which delivers a 360° view over the skerries, the Sommarøy bridge, and the open ocean to the west. Lunch follows at the Sommarøy Arctic Hotel, included in the price. The return journey takes a different route through the mountains of Malangen.
One practical note: the tour runs in rain and snow. The operator has designed alternative routes to handle road closures and avalanche conditions, and the guide makes the call on itinerary adjustments. Conditions in Arctic Norway shift quickly; this is a reasonable policy, not a caveat.
Also included: professional photographs taken by the guide during the tour, shared with guests afterwards. For a trip built around scenery, this is a more useful inclusion than it might initially sound.
What to know before you go
Meeting point: NorthernShots shop, Roald Amundsens plass 1A, Tromsø, Norway.
Departure times: 11:00am or 1:00pm.
Duration: 4–5 hours.
Group size: 4–14 passengers.
Price: From €13 per person.
What’s included: Guide, transport, light meal or snack (soup or expedition meal, coffee, waffles or cookies), professional photos.
Cancellation: Refund or alternative date offered if the tour is cancelled due to weather or insufficient numbers.
The tour runs year-round. Summer brings the midnight sun and the best beach conditions; winter offers the aurora and a landscape that is, in its way, equally photogenic. The low sun of winter casts long shadows and soft pastel colours across the landscape, offering photographers some of the most rewarding conditions of the year.
Book the Sommarøy fjord photo tour from Tromsø here.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More Tromso travel
Other Tromso travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Practical guide to the Polar Museum in Tromso: What to see and when to visit.
- What to expect at the Arctic University Museum of Norway in Tromso.
- A practical guide to tackling the Sherpa Stairs in Tromso.
- Why a Sami reindeer experience is Tromso’s best day trip.
- A practical guide to visiting the Science Centre of Northern Norway in Tromso.
