While Northern Lights holidays are incredibly popular over the festive season, there are also excellent opportunities to visit the Arctic Circle and see the Aurora after Christmas and New Year, when demand settles a little, and you’re more likely to have a greater choice of flights and packages.
That might be due to travelling without small children and aiming for a more romantic, relaxing break or because you have the freedom to schedule your ideal Northern Lights tour packages at any time, without the pressure to squeeze in your holiday within restricted dates.
The great news is that the Northern Lights season extends until as late as April. Although it’s best to visit the frozen north a little earlier in the year, the first days of spring are among the finest to travel, beating the January blues and ticking off a bucket list experience when snow conditions are perfect for winter sports.
Why Book a Northern Lights Holiday in Spring Rather than Winter?
Given that the premium destinations where the Aurora is most visible are to the far north at the edge of the Arctic Circle, it’s worth clarifying that the spring period, from February to April, remains very cold by our standards. However, if you’re keen to try outdoor activities, you’re all but guaranteed an amazing time.
After a long winter season, the snow on the slopes and pistes is optimal, attracting novice and professional skiers alike who head north when the festive crowds have departed, and they can make the most of the snowy scenery.
Another compelling reason to think about visiting the Aurora zone outside of the conventional travel period is that, if your timing is right, you’ll be in one of the Nordic countries famous for the view of the Northern Lights around the spring equinox.
The Aurora Borealis appears due to the earth’s magnetic field, hence the ideal viewing conditions in the Nordic region close to the north pole. During the year, there are two equinoxes, a special astronomical event, one of which occurs in March when the nights remain dark enough to see the beautiful lights dancing in the sky.
Stargazers and guests head to Finnish or Swedish Lapland, wilderness resorts in the Greenland countryside, glass igloos and rustic camps in Iceland or ocean expeditions around the Svalbard archipelago during the 12 days of equinox when the elusive lights are at their brightest.
Romantic Early Spring Northern Lights Packages
You’ll find a broad range of Northern Lights holidays within our packages that provide spring travel dates and return flights – but the best destinations and locations may depend on whether you’re travelling with your significant other, are planning a solo travel excursion, or are scheduling a group experience.
At the Baltic Travel Company we’ve summarised some of our best-selling tours and options to give you a taste of the ideal places to stay, and the activities and experiences available outside of your guided tours to see the Northern Lights.
Aurora Hunting in Iceland Close to the Spring Equinox
The milder temperatures in Iceland during the spring make it a more comfortable time to travel. There are endless things to see, from towering glaciers and thundering waterfalls to the world-famous Blue Lagoon and the black lava beaches.
Our Land of Northern Lights holiday is available with departure dates up until 11th April, exploring southern Iceland, the giant lava fields, an Icelandic horse farm and the charming turf-roofed houses near Eyjafjallajökull volcano.
Guests receive a fully escorted three-day coach tour, with guesthouse and cottage accommodation, entrance to the hot springs, entry to the Skógar Folk Museum and a two-evening Northern Lights program inclusive of a guided hunt and midnight refreshments.
Heading to Sweden for a Spring Northern Lights Holiday
Swedish Lapland is an idyllic wintery backdrop for an Aurora holiday, and booking the five-day Polar Express Train Journey is an adventure that will delight guests of every age. The journey takes guests across the roof of Scandinavia from Kiruna, Sweden, to Narvik in Arctic Norway.
The holiday includes travel through the stunning Abisko National Park, a dog sledding safari to explore the wilderness, accommodation at Camp Ripan and the Scandic Hotel, Narvik and return flights with checked luggage.
Another truly remarkable opportunity is a cable car ride to the peak of Mountain Narvikfjellet, where you’ll enjoy an unparalleled view of the Northern Lights.
Visiting Norway for a Unique Northern Lights Experience
The seven-day Arctic Combo is a fantastic opportunity to sample all that Norway offers in winter with a packed itinerary. Visitors begin their stay in Tromso, one of the finest places for Northern Lights viewing in the world, with an onward cruise to Kirkenes and a night in a spectacular snow hotel.
During the route, guests will stop at the North Cape, enjoy dog sledding and king crab fishing, and try their hand at snowmobiling, with tours available from 16th December until 17th April with daily arrivals and departures.
The journey through the fjords is often considered the most captivating sea voyage. With the lights dancing overhead and the expanses of wide-open seas all around, it is far from noise, bustle, and light pollution.
See the Northern Lights in the Finnish Countryside
Guests looking for a romantic couples trip often select the Aurora Adventure Short Break. They head to Finnish Lapland for four days and three nights and stay in the exquisite surroundings of the Wilderness Lodge Muotka, nestled away in the Taiga forest close to Urho Kekkonen National Park.
This rural setting provides Northern Lights visibility around 200 times every year, and the log cabins and cosy accommodations provide the perfect relaxation after a day of husky sledding, snowmobiling and winter activities.
Included within your winter hideaway accommodation, you’ll head to a Northern Lights Camp, enjoy a reindeer experience day, and venture into the snowy surroundings to search for the Aurora by snowshoe, with travel dates available throughout the season from 20th November until 10th April.
This entry was posted on Thursday, December 19th, 2024 at 11:23 am; on the subject of Northern Lights.