See The Northern Lights On This Ultimate Trip To Norway This Winter

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We all know Norway because the Land of the Vikings and because the house to wild, gorgeous pure surroundings. Yet, unbeknownst to some, it has much more than simply fjord cruises, people festivals, and glacial lakes. It could also be Iceland, its sister nation, that will get all of the publicity on this entrance, however this Scandinavian gem is, in actual fact, probably the greatest spots for catching the Northern Lights throughout winter.

Northern Lights Cathedral In Alta, Norway, With Northern Lights Displayed In The Background, Scandinavia

Seeing the Northern Lights is a bucket record exercise for a lot of. Flickers of sunshine dancing within the sky in varied shades of inexperienced, they are often discovered solely within the northernmost reaches of the planet. Straddling the northern coast of the Scandinavia Peninsula, the closest level between continental Europe and the Arctic Circle, Norway is a primary location for witnessing the phenomenon.

On the draw back, it has an enormous territorial growth, which makes getting from level A to B whereas chasing the aurora more difficult – until, after all, you recognize simply the place to go and who to name:

About Norway And Why It’s So Incredible In Winter

Evening view of famous tourist attraction Hamnoy fishing village on Lofoten Islands, Norway with red rorbu houses in winter — Image by Up Norway

After being locked down Stateside for greater than two years, vacationers wish to discover the nice outside once more, and it’s locations like Norway they’re heading to in droves. This ought to come as no shock, seeing that the nation is in style for its fjords, a large number of snowboarding stations, mountain climbing trails, and scenic practice rides traversing snowy valleys.

Nowhere else evokes the identical sense of freedom, and nature escape, as Norway does, and that’s notably true over winter. Now greater than ever, Americans are favoring cultural, extra significant journeys, a development we’ve got already noticed previously. More pressingly, greater than half of vacationers wish to escape actuality and ‘totally unplug’.

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Digital Nomad Working From Cozy Cabin, Snowy Landscape

Whether you’re into snowmobiling, ice fishing, or canine sledding, on the adventurous aspect, otherwise you’re merely hoping to reconnect with nature by spending a chronic weekend in a standard wood cottage, the Scandi nation is the place to be, although its furrowed geography actually makes it more difficult to plan a cross-country trip (wanting on the map of Norway, you’ll perceive why).

But there’s a extra snug – and a lot smarter method – to journey Norway within the upcoming season.

The Easiest Way To Explore Norway Is Linking Up With Locals

Sledding Tour Of Northern Norway By Up Norway, Alta, Scandinavia — Image by Up Norway

In case the identify of our enterprise isn’t sufficient of a sign, we’re large fans of under-visited places: nothing excites us greater than venturing into the unknown, the place a choose few have trod earlier than, and uncovering totally different, surprising aspects of overtouristed destinations. With a winter retreat as in style as Norway, it might be no exception.

Local luxurious journey curator Up Norway provides tailor-made journeys primarily based on every traveler’s preferences, particular person wants, and their expectations. In complete, this mounts as much as six classes of holidays, that are listed under:

Luxurious Treat
Cultural Exploration
Relaxing Break
Active Adventure
Family Vacation
‘Something Else’*

*The sixth different permits friends to place forth particular requests or just ‘be surprised’ by Up Norway’s personal choose

Cottage In Alta, Norway, Underneath The Northern Lights — Image by Up Norway

In conserving with traditions, our choose at the moment is Up Norway’s ‘off-path’ product, the model new Magical Northern Lights up at 70 Degrees North Tour. With a period of 5 days, this prearranged tour takes vacationers on a complete tour right into a frosty wilderness, the place they will are available contact with untarnished forests and Arctic wildlife.

Most importantly, friends are invited to discover a province of Norway the vast majority of vacationers are inclined to overlook: the northernmost reaches of Scandinavia, the place borders with the neighboring nation of Finland are solely faintly outlined. More particularly, this tour makes use of Alta as a base, one of many most northerly main settlements on this planet, with a inhabitants of solely 21,144 inhabitants.

Alta Is Norway’s Unofficial Capital For Aurora Sightings

Northern Lights Pictured In Norway, Scandinavia

Alta is finest identified for being the regional capital for aurora sightings. In the middle of city, vacationers will discover the landmark Northern Lights Cathedral, a modernist, metal-like construction glistening in a greenish hue towards the bursting colours of the evening sky. It could also be geographically distant, however attending to Alta is fairly simple, with direct flights obtainable from different main Norwegian cities, together with Oslo.

Once in Alta, you’ll are available contact with the culturally-distinct Sami peoples: they’re native to the territory, and their Arctic life-style has been an object of fascination for many years. In order to provide guests probably the most genuine expertise potential, Up Norway has teamed up with an area Sami information for the aurora-chasing part of the journey.

Northern Lights Dancing In The Night Sky

After being launched to your very personal reindeer, you’ll be part of others in your group setting off on a sledding tour of the Polar panorama whereas ‘hopefully’ catching a glimpse of the lights gleaming over the celebration. To high it off, the evening concludes with a go to to a standard Sami camp, the place you’ll supper to the tune of native legends and people tales.

And it doesn’t finish there.

Up Norway Allows Guests To Dip In And Out Of Adventure

Ice Hotel Close To Alta, Norway, Scandinavia — Image by Up Norway

Ever fantasized about staying in an ice resort, for example? Booking this tour, you may be invited to spend an in a single day on the landmark Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, the northernmost of its variety on this planet, and one that’s re-designed each twelve months with model new ice sculptures carved by native artists in accordance with a yearly theme.

Once once more, the corporate makes a speciality of luxurious retreats, so in the event you’re involved you’ll be dropped off in the course of a distant desolation with a pop-up tent to fend for your self, you actually needn’t fear: your ‘basecamps’ for the week are three lodging distinctive in character that may assist improve your Arctic expertise.

Aurora Over Frozen Pine Trees, Arctic Circle

Up Norway desires to be sure to are snug always, and meaning having the liberty to ‘escape back’ to a river lodge suite anytime the igloo ambiance and sleeping on the surprisingly snug and comfortable reindeer furs will get a bit a lot. In different phrases, you possibly can all the time dip out and in of journey all through your total keep.

Prices for a 5 day-4 evening tour begin at US $2,700, and as may be seen above, the record of inclusions is actually fairly in depth.

Getting To Norway Has Never Been Easier

Snowy Peaks Of Norway Seen From Window Seat During Norwegian Airlines Flight

When it involves flights, Alta is serviced by direct flights from Oslo, the nation’s capital, the perfect transit hub for Americans flying to Norway, each as a result of myriad of flight choices obtainable, particularly from the East Coast, and excessive affordability. Prices for a one-way flight from New York-JFK to Oslo with Norse Atlantic begin at US $146.00 this winter.

The price range airline additionally operates a year-round route between Fort Lauderdale and Oslo, in addition to seasonal routes linking Los Angeles and Orlando to Norway. In essence, flying to Norway has by no means been simpler – or cheaper.

As of this yr, Norway has reinstated its regular pre-pandemic entry tips, which suggests Americans – and different foreigners – are once more welcome with out being topic to strict well being screenings on the border:

For extra info on Up Norway experiences, please visit this page.

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