Where to see the Northern Lights in Scandinavia

The elusive Northern Lights in Scandinavia

It's cold, you're a long way from home and you don't care. All you're focused on are the ribbons of coloured light in the perfectly clear night sky. These are the Northern lights, known as 'Aurora Borealis', like a double-page featured in National Geographic before your very eyes.

Here we feature five trips that take you across the Scandinavian tundra to see the hidden beauty of the Northern wastes and its arctic lights. The aurora can't be guaranteed so you're advised to go with an experienced tour operator that knows the best places to go in the optimal conditions to maximise your chances of watching this wonderful natural phenomena. The most spectacular displays usually occur during the darkest period of winter, between December and March...

Husky drawn sledNorthern Lights Active Short Break, Norway
Not only home to some of the Europe's most beautiful scenery with wind swept mountains and hills, on clear winter night the Northern Lights can be seen dancing in the skies. This holiday offers snow hotels, complete with natural reindeer-hides, for accommodation and is entirely tailor-made: you can also choose from a variety of activities from snow shoeing, horseback riding, overnight excursions, to taking a sauna in the wilderness. 

Price: Variable, guide price from £539 per person,
Duration: This is a tailor-made trip of four days or more.
For full itinerary and booking details, see: Northern Lights Active Short Break, Norway

Wood cabin in Lapland.Northern Lights Dog Sledding in Lapland, Sweden
What better way to travel across the snow than in a husky driven sled? This holiday puts you in command of your own team of 4 to 5 huskies as you travel from cabin to cabin, with saunas to relax in after a long day mushing. The first day of the trip is spent getting to know your dog and familiarising yourself in handling a sled so no previous experience is necessary. An ideal way, and place, to see the Northern Lights.

Price: £1324-£1618/person
Duration: 8 days
For full itinerary and booking details, see: Northern Lights Dog Sledding in Lapland, Sweden

Lake Inari and the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland
Lake Inari is the Sami people's sacred lake, used as a graveyard for their people. When the aurora borealis grace these waters, the effect can be startling, even unwordly with green shades and patterns reflected off the night sky. This escape offers not only the opportunity to see this ethereal sight, but to learn more about the Sami people and the Arctic nature with Siida Museum and a local reindeer enclosure. 
Price: The price starts at £425 per person excluding flights to Ivalo.
Duration: This is a tailor made trip of four days or more.
For full itinerary and booking details, see: Lake Inari and the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland

A lone Sami Lavvu tentSami traditions in Finnmark and the Northern Lights, Norway
If the trip to Lake Inari allows travellers to see their sacred site, with this adventure you can live, work and joik (sing) with a Sami family, learning their ways and becoming part of the rhythms of their daily life. Explore the magical landscape by snow mobile and reindeer sleigh. This unique journey will also take you to the Arctic city of Alta where you can rest in the magnificent Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel.

Watching the Northern Lights in Scandinavia