Christmas northern lights holidays

Whether you’re dreaming of fun in the snow or an escape from the hustle and bustle of the festive season, there’s something for everyone on a Christmas northern lights holiday.

Visit Santa and his elves. Explore the Arctic wilderness by snowmobile or husky sled. Take a reindeer sleigh ride, go ice fishing or cross-country skiing.

Seeking rest and relaxation? How about a trip to Iceland’s thermal spas? Or a luxurious fjord cruise in Norway? Or a snowshoe excursion through hushed Arctic landscapes.

When you book with Aurora Nights, we create a personalised itinerary, so you can experience the Arctic (and celebrate the season) your way.

Yes, accommodation is decorated for Christmas. Even if you’re staying in self-catered accommodation, we make sure that your home-from-home has a Christmas tree and lots of festive spirit.

Yes, you can visit the Christmas markets as part of a Christmas or New Year northern lights holiday. This usually involves a stopover in a city before travelling north to the Arctic. You’ll find incredible Christmas markets in Reykjavik, Stockholm, Helsinki and Oslo.

In Arctic cities, there are often firework displays on New Year’s Eve. You can watch fireworks over the fjord in Tromsø, and see live music and a torchlight parade along city streets. In Reykjavik, locals light huge bonfires and set off fireworks long into the night.

In the more remote regions of the Arctic — like Abisko — celebrations are more sedate. You can welcome in the New Year with a luxurious meal at your accommodation, accompanied by some fizz and (hopefully) the dancing colours of the aurora borealis.

You have the best chance of seeing the northern lights between September and early April, when Arctic nights are long and dark.

December and early January offer particularly long hours of darkness. In Tromsø, the sun doesn’t rise at all from the end of November to mid-January. That means maximum hours for aurora hunting.

We can’t guarantee that you’ll see the northern lights on your trip. But we can promise to take you to some of the best aurora locations in Europe — places in or near the Arctic Circle, with very little light pollution.

You also travel with our expert aurora guides on northern lights excursions. Our guides use their knowledge of solar and weather forecasts to seek out the clearest skies and the brightest aurora displays.

On a northern lights holiday, our prices include:

• Accommodation
• Transfers
• All activities
• Half-board or full-board dining

Arctic outerwear is also provided on our northern lights luxury breaks to Sweden and Finland (where temperatures are particularly cold in winter). In Norway and Iceland, where temperatures are a little warmer, Arctic outerwear is provided for particularly chilly outdoor activities.

No, flights aren’t included in our northern lights Christmas holidays. However, our team of travel experts is happy to advise you on the best flights and airlines for your trip.

You can start by looking at the flight information we’ve put together here:

• Flying from the UK to see the northern lights
• Flying from the USA to see the northern lights

When you book a northern lights Christmas holiday with Aurora Nights, you can count on:

• Tailored trips — our travel experts can create a bespoke northern lights holiday package, suited to your interests, budget and schedule
• Exceptional experiences — the very best accommodation and bespoke activities, with private or small group tours as standard
• Experienced local guides — our guides show you a lesser-seen side of the Arctic and are skilled at tracking down the northern lights
• A hassle-free holiday — you book your flights, we take care of everything else — so you can focus on the excitement, not the organisation

So what kind of winter holiday are you dreaming of? Get in touch with the Aurora Nights team to turn it into an unforgettable reality.

Start by browsing the tours above for inspiration. Then contact the Aurora Nights team to start planning your tailor-made trip.

You can send us an email, give us a call or fill in the website form. We’ll chat about dates, accommodation, activities and budget. Then plan the aurora holiday of your dreams.