Autumn Aurora in Northern Norway

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Tromso

Arrival in Tromsø. Private transfer to your hotel. Accommodation at a centrally located 3* hotel. Evening free to explore the city and look out for the Northern Lights.

Day 2: Enjoy Tromso & Northern Lights Chase

Enjoy a Scandinavian breakfast at the hotel. The day is free to discover the Arctic Tromso known as ‘Paris of the North’. Tromso is the largest city in the Nordic countries north of the Arctic Circle and is home to the world’s northernmost university, brewery and cathedral. We recommend a visit to the Arctic Cathedral, that with its large, angular form and light color can easily be associated with an iceberg. We would also suggest a visit to Polaria - adventure centre with themes from the polar regions. Watch the panorama film from Spitsbergen, the arctic walk and the aquarium with arctic wildlife and live seals.

18:45 - late
During the Northern Lights Chase our very experienced guides will bring you to the best places for spotting the Northern Lights according to the last weather forecast. You will be driven in a mini-bus to places where the chances for seeing Aurora borealis are the highest. Your guides are on one specific mission: to take you wherever the chances to admire the magnificent Aurora are the best at that precise moment. Our guides do not only have a good sense for finding the Northern Lights, but they are also very experienced in taking photos of the most beautiful Lady of the North. It is fully guided tour on a minibus with a professional driver and an authorised guide on board. It includes hot chocolate and cookies.

We pick you up in Tromsø and take you by mini bus on a chase for the magical Northern lights. With good local knowledge we will find the best area for the lights and good scenery for your pictures. To find a clear sky we will drive where we have to, even to inner Troms if needed. During the evening your guide will tell you interesting information about the Northern lights, both the science and the folklore. We will also show you how to adjust your camera settings for pictures of the northern lights, and we will take pictures of you with the lights for you to take home to show your family and friends. (Available for download in original size from our Flickr account). For some extra fun in the snow we also bring our “butt boards”, just in case we find some nice hills to sleigh down! We may also visit our lavvu (our modern Sami shelter) and sit around the nice warm bonfire and roast marshmallows (If we are within reasonable driving distance from our base camp).
* Occasionally the chance of a clear sky is low, and in that case we will advise you to reschedule for the following day without additional cost.

Day 3: Day at Leisure & Optional Autumn Experiences

Breakfast at the hotel. Day to explore Tromso or join some of the activities that Tromso has to offer: 

• Northern Lights Tour   
• Northern Lights Cruise
• Nature hike
• Whale Watching (from 25 Oct)
• Fishing in the Blue Hour
• Trekking
• Cycling
• Nordic Husky Hike

Day 4: Farewell Tromso

Breakfast at the hotel. If time permits, you can go shopping in the Paris of the North (so named due to the ships coming with all the fashions of Paris in stock on their way to Russia) before departure. Hunt down some beautiful reindeer fells, some high fashion or some traditional souvenirs, or simply sip lattes in a street café and watch the local fashionistas go by. Private transfer to the airport. Return flight.

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The lines shown give you an indication of our destinations and are not the exact route used.

You'll see...

• Hiking in Norway »
• History of Norway »
• Northern Lights »
• Northern Lights of Norway »
• Photographing the Northern Lights »
• Weather In Northern Norway »

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.

Transportation

Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.

Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.

Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7.  Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive.  It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.

We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.

Car Rental

You can rent a car, as long as you have a valid EU or international driver's license. Most cars will have manual transmission.