Table Of Content
As a trusted travel agency with experienced staff throughout the Nordic region, Nordic Visitor knows how to make the most of your time in Norway. This means we have the most up-to-date information regarding availability of cruises and cabin types. Our Scandinavian tour packages offer a deeply immersive experience — the perfect Nordic adventure is waiting for you.
The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing - AFAR Media
The 6 Best Cruises for Northern Lights Viewing.
Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Norway And Northern Lights, 12 nights, Oct 15 2024
Exploring the polar regions provides you with opportunities like no other. The Aurora Borealis originates on the sun’s surface with a massive explosion of electromagnetic matter, which projects a stream of charged particles known as solar wind into space. These strange green, red, and purple lights dancing across the night skies have inspired some of the most captivating stories on Earth. In return, they told us all about solar activity and magnetic fields, and explained the different types of auroras, and why they come in different colors. Relax in the knowledge that our unmatchable Northern Lights Promise means you’ll get another chance to see the aurora if they don’t make an appearance on your voyage of 11 days or more. Traveling to different parts of the Norwegian coast on the ship increases your chances of seeing the aurora not just once but multiple times.
Things to Do in Norway in Winter
But photographing their elusive beauty isn’t as simple as point-and-shoot. Long before we understood the science behind the aurora, the Northern Lights were wrapped up in myths and legends that still fuel our imaginations today. They also said that a deeper understanding of the science only adds to the magic of the experience of seeing the Northern Lights. Being at sea avoids the air pollution and the ambient light on land, both of which can dull the colors and vibrancy of a Northern Lights spectacle. Nordic Visitor works only with licensed, reputable travel partners that meet our high standards.
Our Northern Lights cruises
Trondheim is beautifully located by the wide Trondheimsfjord in mid-Norway, with the tiny, historic Munkholmen island, authentic areas with wooden houses and a relaxing & friendly atmosphere. After the Viking feast, served with home-brewed mead, you will travel by bus to Svolvær where you will rejoin the ship. Being at sea avoids the air pollution and the ambient light on land, both of which can dull the colours and vibrancy of a Northern Lights spectacle. To help you, we asked photography experts for their tried and trusted tips on everything from how to photograph the Northern Lights from a ship to shooting the aurora with a smartphone. When you see the Northern Lights, it’s only natural to want to capture the spectacle.
Cruises
Experience an amazing array of natural wonders in winter on a Havila or Hurtigruten northern lights cruise in Norway arranged by the Norwegian travel experts at Nordic Visitor. With the short winter daylight hours and the wide open, starlit skies over the ocean, wintertime astronomy voyages in Norway offer a wonderful chance to see the northern lights as your ship sails gently into the night. Hurtigruten is something of an outlier in this group because it doesn't offer specific northern lights itineraries. But the routes of this coastal ferry company in Norway just happen to traverse the perfect latitudes to see the aurora. For the best odds of seeing the northern lights, we suggest the 12-day round-trip itinerary from Bergen up the coast of Norway and back. Generally, skies are clearest near the spring and fall equinoxes in later September and March.
Greenland Northern Lights
We wish to inspire people to explore the treasures to be found in Norway. At our destinations you can explore amazing nature, good food and exciting activities all year round. See The Northern Lights with Aurora Expeditions and our Expedition Team will take you on excursions unique to the High Arctic, fully included in the cost of your expedition. For those interested in a little extra excitement, there are optional activities designed to get you closer to the action. Our Northern Lights expeditions provide a mix of comfort and adventure; for those willing to explore the Arctic the memories will last a lifetime. Take a polar plunge in the icy waters of the Arctic Circle, or stay above the water on a Zodiac cruise through the fields of icebergs.
We had an amazing time in Norway!
This period, from late September to early April, offers extended darkness and clearer skies, enhancing the visibility of the Aurora Borealis. The absence of sunlight allows passengers to fully immerse themselves in the captivating light displays against the Arctic or sub-Arctic landscapes. Aurora Expeditions carefully schedules these voyages to coincide with peak Northern Lights activity, ensuring passengers have the best chances of experiencing this celestial spectacle in its full splendour.
Yes, you can witness the Northern Lights from a cruise ship during dedicated Northern Lights cruises with Aurora Expeditions. These cruises navigate to prime viewing locations near the Arctic Circle, offering passengers a unique vantage point to experience the dazzling spectacle of the Aurora Borealis. The expedition vessels are strategically positioned in areas with minimal light pollution, maximizing the chances of observing the vibrant colours and dancing lights of the Northern Lights against the Arctic night sky. Passengers will enjoy the magical display from the comfort of the ship, creating a truly extraordinary and unforgettable experience.
Northern Lights Cruises
Join John Maclean, astronomer and award-winning astrophotographer, on an exploration of the sought-after sights of the mysterious aurora borealis. Multicultural Tromsø is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights. Home to over 100 nationalities, the city offers a wealth of eateries serving some of the best native cuisine in the Arctic. Rebuilt after a fire in 1904, Alesund is uniquely art nouveau in style (something of a rarity in Norway). It’s spread across a series of islands, best seen from the city’s famous Fjellstua viewpoint. Embark on a nostalgic summertime voyage along the Norwegian coast up to the Svalbard archipelago at the edge of the world.
Receive special offers, exciting new itineraries and fascinating articles delivered straight to your inbox. More days means more to discover, with extension packages you can add before or after your Viking cruise or cruisetour. Enjoy additional days to explore your embarkation or disembarkation city, or see a new destination altogether with a choice of exciting cities.Pre & Post Cruise Extensions vary by itinerary and are subject to change. When the northern lights do appear, "more than likely the ship will turn off most of the exterior lights," Weber says.
Connect with the Inuit people and gaining an appreciation of their way of life in East Greenland’s most northern coastal community filled with colourful houses. Rugged Ella Oya ( Ella Island ) overlooks icy seas filled with pristine blue icebergs. Nature’s own light show – are solar winds that meet the atmosphere in a zone around the magnetic North Pole. All the cabins and suites on our ships have an ‘Northern Lights alert’ which will tell you whenever we spot sightings of the aurora, so you can rush to your window or outside to catch them. Where we sail on the Norwegian coast is directly beneath the Auroral Zone, an area of consistent and heightened Northern Lights activity. Norway’s wild and dramatic coastline is made for adventure all year round.
Read on for our comprehensive guide on how to choose the best northern lights cruise for you. When going on a winter or fall excursion above the Arctic circle, we always recommend dressing according to the season and in layers so you can adjust your clothing to the weather conditions. If you need an extra layer when out on one of our tours, we can offer you a winter overall suit. Increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights or aurora borealis on a small ship expedition cruise that takes you deep into the Arctic, to iconic destinations such as Greenland, Iceland and Norway. You can also explore charming coastal cities like Ålesund on your own during port calls or simply relax and enjoy the comfortable amenities on board your cruise ship. Chase the northern lights on a tour in other arctic destinations, including northern Scandinavia, Iceland and Greenland.
There are boat trips to spot walruses and whales, ice caves to explore and even the world’s two most northern breweries to visit, where you can enjoy a well-deserved craft beer or two. If you wish to experience snow activities, such as dog sledding, it’s best to plan your winter northern lights break in Norway between December to April. Nordic Visitor can assist in your trip planning and tailor a tour package to your interests. Keep browsing below for our suggestions of tour packages that include northern lights cruises in Norway. Experience a land where dawn and twilight merge on the edges of the long Arctic night.
Nordic Visitor was able to reschedule us on a different excursion quickly and easily. Local tours selected by Nordic Visitor were excellent, well run and definitely highlights of the trip. Yes - you can view the Northern Lights on one of our Norwegian cruises, however we can't guarantee their appearance! The aurora borealis is near impossible to predict, but sightings are more likely on clear nights between October and March, and odds increase the further north you travel. Cruises to Tromsø, the capital of the Arctic, should give you a decent chance.
If you don't have two or three weeks to take off work to go northern lights watching, consider Oceanwide Expeditions' eight-day aurora borealis sailings from Iceland to Greenland and back. The adventure begins in Akureyri, the unofficial capital of north Iceland, before heading for Greenland's breathtaking Scoresby Sund, the largest fjord system in the world. If you do have a little more time, you can opt for the 13-day Spitsbergen - Northeast Greenland - Aurora Borealis itinerary, which embarks in the Svalbard archipelago before sailing to Greenland and down to Iceland.
Passengers can opt-in for overnight wake-up calls, so they can get some sleep without worrying about missing a Northern Lights sighting. Vesterålen This archipelago is a peaceful, beautiful region to discover and it also offers great viewing conditions for those colourful skies. Join a Northern Lights safari for the best chance of seeing the magic, but even if you don’t, you won’t mind too much. Because Vesterålen is also a fantastic place to go whale watching at any time of year. It’s something of an artistic hub too, thanks to outdoor sculptures that form part of the Artscape Nordland project and a variety of modern art galleries.