In search of the Northern Lights - 4 of the best
So how would you like to witness the magical Northern Lights dancing across the Arctic skies?
Here we give you four very different trips that offer a great chance of seeing this amazing spectacle, and, with the winter of 2011/2012 billed as offering the best sightings for many years, now is the time to sort your winter holiday with a difference and fulfil a lifelong ambition.
If none of the four trips below suit you, then we've got dozens more options to offer through some of the leading escorted tour and tailor-made travel companies in the UK.
Norway: Northern Lights Cruise
Take a magical winter journey into the Arctic Circle from Norway’s Arctic capital of Tromsø.
Cruise the dramatic coastline aboard a Hurtigruten ship as it travels across the top of Norway to the edge of the Russian border. For three nights you will be travelling away from artificial light at the same latitude as Siberia and Alaska with an increased chance of witnessing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).
There are many optional excursions to get the most out of this wonderful trip to the remote north. You could travel across the sub-arctic landscape to visit the North Cape. How about a snowmobile trip in of one of Europe’s most exciting natural areas and, if you are lucky, see the Northern lights? Don’t forget to make a toast at the Ice Bar of the Ice Hotel in Kirkenes.
You can also extend your stay and make the most of Tromsø. Set on an island the city is a popular destination for an unusual city break with a bustling city centre and arctic themed experiences.
Prices per person on the standard 6 day package including flights and a night in Tromsø from £1178 1 October – 15 December. From £1161 between 1 January – 31 March 2012. Contact us for more details.
Iceland: Fly/drive in search of the Northern Lights
Take yourself off on a short break to catch the Northern Lights in dramatic Iceland. With the country’s magnificent landscape of fjords, mountains, waterfalls, geysers, lava formations and volcanoes, along with the vibrant and most northerly capital in the world, a fly/drive option to Iceland is the best value and most exciting way to try and see the Northern Lights.
Collect your vehicle and begin your adventure in Reykjavik by enjoying its renowned restaurants, bars and nightlife. After a dip in the Blue Lagoon head away from artificial lighting in your 4WD for your next three nights which will be spent in a charming ranch hotel two hours from Reykjavik. There are uninterrupted views for miles around, and with a 360° vista this a wonderful area to catch displays of the Northern Lights. Team this with a gourmet restaurant and you will return home having had a wonderful adventure a world away from daily life.
Cost per person including flights, accommodation and car hire from £650 per person. Contact us for more details.
Sweden: Adventure in Lapland & a Night on Ice
A seven day adventure deep into Swedish Lapland will take you to a landscape of vast forests, frozen lakes and Northern Lights. From your base you will explore the surrounding wilderness and enjoy a week of activities.
Learn wilderness skills in the snowy Arctic and build yourself an igloo for the night. Learn to dogsled and mush out to a Wilderness overnight camp. The following day return on your dogsled via frozen lakes and pine forests to your base. Snowshoe amid the stunning scenery and take yourself off for an exhilarating snowmobile ride. End your adventure with a final night at the fabulous Ice Hotel.
Cost per person including flights, accommodation and most activities from £2299. Contact us for more details.
Finland: Husky Safari in Finnish Lapland
This is a trip for the adventurous in the wilds of Finnish Lapland.
Get to know your own team of dogs and head out into the wilderness for a 5 night husky safari. The only sound to break the silence will be the paws on the snow and swish of the sledge, as you pass through snowy forests, across fells and over frozen lakes and rivers.
Sleep in wilderness cabins under clear star-filled skies, and if you are lucky the Northern Lights will complete the experience. After a physically demanding day of looking after your dogs and sled, enjoy relaxing in a wood heated sauna before sitting around the fire and sharing stories with your Sami guide.
6/7 day adventure cost per person including flights, accommodation and activities from £1665. Contact us for more details.
The Specialist Travel Consultancy acts as agents for more than 30 specialist UK ATOL protected operators. Contact us for impartial advice, access to the best operators, and help and assistance from an expert team.
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