We're thinking about doing a tour with Aurora Experts (based on recommendations from this forum), but I reached out to them with a question and haven't heard anything back. Has anyone used them recently? And if you did use them, did you in fact have a small group? Their website, on different pages, says 1-7 people, 15 people, and 18 people. If it's the latter sizes, does anyone have any recommendations for someone doing actual small groups? Thanks!
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
3760 posts
Heimir is hard to get ahold of, so just email him again. He is swamped right now, so hard for him to stay on top of it all as he is a one man show. We are going with him again next month. I can see why you are confused on the numbers. His small bus holds 16, unless he got a new one that is a touch larger. For the 1-7 people I am unsure about that. You can email him as well as send a message to him right on the website. Even the 16 is a small group as many companies do the big buses and they all go to the same place, so you are there with hundreds of new best friends. Heimir does not follow the masses and where he takes you, you will be the only group.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
To follow up, heard from Heimir this morning. He said that numbers changed when they upgraded their vehicle, but the website changes don't seem to have uploaded.
Per Heimir, the small group guarantee is now 18 people (the vehicle holds 20). He also said that many of the other companies that offer small groups have multiple vehicles, so even though there may be only 20 people in your group, the companies might have 3 vehicles parked in the same location. And it can happen that multiple companies all pull into the same tour bus parking areas so you might have a few hundred people in the same spot. His company goes to their own secret spots where they are alone "99% of the time."
Even though 18 people is bigger than I would have hoped and the tour is more expensive than others, I am swayed by the promise of secret spots and the inclusion of other amenities, including warm overclothes. Since we're stopping briefly on our way home from Spain, we won't be carrying much by way of winter clothing.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
3760 posts
kerry--I can vouch for the secret spots with nobody else. It is really nice!!! He has chairs now too, so you can sit down outside and watch. We have not needed the jumpsuits as our gear is warm enough, but it has always been nice to know that if we get cold, we are covered. Also, if the chances to see the lights are really good for after the tour is supposed to be done, if everyone agrees then he will stay out later. On one of our trips we had another morning tour so couldn't be out too late, so it was a great compromise of staying out a bit later, but not all light. I really like how he takes everyone into consideration.