Day 1: Welcomew to Finnish Lapland (30 km/18.5 mls)
Own transfer arrangements to saariselkä from Ivalo Airport (approx. 30 min. from Ivalo airport) and enjoy the remainder of day at yourleisure in Saariselkä. Evening dinner and welcome meeting with your tour leader.
Overnight at superior tourist class hotel.
Day 2: Saariselkä & Northern Lights Sleigh Ride
Today is at leisure to choose from one of the many optional winter safaris on offer, from reindeer safari, husky safari, to snowmobile safaris and many more. In the evening, enjoy a Northern Lights journey by sleigh ride (sledge pulled by snowmobile), where you can sit back and enjoy the view and the ride. You will travel to the nearby fell district to see the beautiful fell scenery and if lucky and the sky is clear, experience the fascinating Northern Lights.
Overnight at superior tourist class hotel.
Day 3: Saariselkä - Inari - Karasjok & Sami CUlture (190 km/118 mls)
Morning departure by private coach, via. Inari, where a stop and entrance to the Siida Sami Museum is included. Continue north west and later crossing the border to Norway , and shortly afterwards arriving in Karasjok, the Sami capital, with strong ties to the Sami culture, a home of the Sami Parliament, “Samediggi”.
Overnight at superior tourist class hotel.
Day 4: Karasjok - Honningsvåg - North Cape (265 km/165 mls)
Early morning departure and the journey continues North, bound for the North Cape. Travelling through the North Cape tunnel we reach the Magerøya Island on which the North cape is situated. The North Cape cliff itself will be visited today (subject to weather conditions). Overnight and dinner in Honningsvåg.
Overnight at superior tourist class hotel.
Day 5: Honningsvåg - Alta (210 km/130 mls)
Today head south, and travel back along the Porsanger fjord, bound for Alta. “The Northern Lights city of Norway”. In the afternoon a visit to the Alta Museum to see the exhibitions about the local history of Northern Lights. The remainder of the afternoon evening is free, and why not try your luck and join in on a local Northern Lights safari, in and around Alta. In Alta you have the chance to upgrade and experience a overnight stay in the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel (supplement applies).
Overnight at superior tourist class hotel.
Day 6: Alta - Tromsø & Northern Lights Chase (400 km/248 mls)
Today, drive along the artic fjords bound for Tromsø, former starting point of many North Pole expeditions. Free time before evening Northern Lights safari, where a light dinner will be included.
Overnight at superior tourist class hotel.
Day 7: Tromsø & Day at Leisure
Day at leisure in Tromsø, where you have the opportunity to take an optional snowmobile safari, husky safari or many more exciting excursions.
Overnight at superior tourist class hotel.
Day 8: Farewell Arctic Norway
Breakfast and own airport transfers to Tromso Airport in time for your return flight.
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.
Visas
For your holidays to Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Ukraine, you will not need a visa if you have a valid passport from any EU country, Australia, Canada, USA, Japan (there are more, so check with us to make sure). Please note that your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date of your return.
However, if you plan to travel to Russia, you will need a visa, which we can help organise for you.
Insurance
Travel insurance is required and also advisable. If you do not have a valid policy, please check our Insurance link on the bottom of our homepage or http://www.baltictravelcompany.com/insurance. We can offer quotes for all nationalities.
Our recommended partner is FS Ball who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Mobile Phones
There are several mobile operators in each Baltic country, the Nordics ( Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland incl. Iceland and Greenland as well as Poland, Ukraine and Russia. If you have an international connection, there shouldn't be any problems with your incoming and outgoing calls.
In case your phone doesn't work, please check in the local mobilephone shops and you can buy Calling cards etc. or ask in your hotel, they should be able to advise you too.
Internet Access
Internet access is available at Internet Cafés, which mostly are located in the central part of the city. Most hotels have internet access.
Emergency Numbers
Emergency telephone number for the police, ambulance services or fire department in Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Poland - 112.
Greenland uses 911 and for mobile phones only 112.