Norway Arctic Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Oslo

Arrive in Oslo. Take the airport express train to central Oslo. Check in to the centrally located First Hotel Millenium 4* or similar.  Afternoon free to explore Oslo.

Day 2: Oslo - Kirkenes - Husky Safari in search of the Northern Lights

Early flight from Oslo to Kirkenes. Arrive at Kirkenes airport and transfer  to Thon  or Scandic Hotel Kirkenes. Check in and afternoon at leisure before your evening husky safari in search of the Northern Lights at 21:00. Eager huskies will take you deep in to the wilderness. En route you will have several stops to watch the polar sky: maybe the Northern Lights will appear tonight? Tour operates by two people sharing a sledge. Duration - 2 hours.

Accommodation at the Thon or Scandic Hotel Kirkenes incl. breakfast. 

Day 3: Kirkenes - Snowmobile Safari

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning free. At 13.00 your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to the snowmobile resort, about 15 minutes drive from Kirkenes. You will get a lesson on how to handle the snowmobile and will be provided with appropriate Arctic gear. When ready, you’ll travel by snowmobile across the polar landscape with your guide. Each snowmobile is shared between two people, and stops can be made along the way so that the driver and passenger can swap positions. An outdoor lunch and coffee break will be made during the trip. The total length of the trip is approximately 50 kilometers, but depends on the weather conditions.  Duration – 4 hours.

Accommodation at Thon or Scandic Hotel Kirkenes incl. breakfast.

Day 4: Kirkenes - King Crab Safari - Snow Hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. This exclusive arctic excursion aims to give you the best King crab fishing adventure. At 13.00 you will be picked up at the hotel for your King Crab Safari. Your guide/fisherman will take you out on the fjord ice by snowmobile and sleigh to find the great beast. You will then step out on the frozen fjord and help the fisherman pull the traps from the deep through the hole in the ice. The journey will culminate in a warm, rustic farmhouse restaurant by the fjord, where you will enjoy a feast, served the Norwegian way - fresh, juicy and irresistible! The portions are generous, so no one will leave the table hungry. Duration – 3 to 4 hours.

At 17:00 your guide will meet you at your hotel from where you’ll be transferred to Kirkenes Snow Hotel (about 20 mins). Welcome drink in the Snow Bar and the chance to meet some reindeer. The evening continues with a 3-course dinner at the nearby wooden restaurant by a cosy fireplace, featuring some Arctic fare.

Kirkenes Snow Hotel is a beautiful piece of snow architecture and sculpture in the Arctic nature. The hotel has 20 suites, ice sculptures and live reindeer. The Snow Hotel is at a walking distance from Kirkenes in Gabba, a reindeer safari park. Big luggage stays at Thon Hotel Kirkenes for the night and you only need to take small overnight bag with you to the SnowHotel.  Long underwear, pullovers, hat and socks are needed.

Day 5: Departure from Kirkenes

After a night spent in a sleeping bag in the Snow Hotel, a traditional sauna is available for hotel guests. All Kirkenes Snow Hotel overnighters will receive the “Coolest Certificate”! At 09:30 transfer to Kirkenes airport for a return flight.

This map uses Google Maps, so you can zoom and interact with it as we hope it is familiar to you.

For a larger version of this map which opens in a new window, click here

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

You'll see...

• Attractions in Kirkenes, Norway »
• Northern Lights of Norway »
• Oslo – Attractions »
• Hiking in Norway »
• King Crab Safari in Kirkenes »
• Northern Lights »
• Norway skiing, resorts & attractions »
• Photographing the Northern Lights »
• The Kirkenes snow hotel, Norway »
• Tromso snowmobile safari attraction »
• 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.