Celebrate the New Year in the land of the Northern Lights! Our base will be in Vesterålen, which is a fantastic location allowing us to spend the daytime visiting some of the most picturesque locations in Norway.
New Year Northern Lights Holiday 7 nights Family
This trip also includes an eagle safari, a visit to the local Sami reindeer farm, daily day time excursions including the Lofoten Islands, and a specially customised visitor experience at Andøy Space and rocket range where you can learn more about the northern lights and the research that happens at the Space Centre. Plus of course you can enjoy the New Year’s celebrations with a spectacular fireworks show which you can view from your hotel. Maybe there will even be some Northern Lights to join the celebration!
The average temperature at this time of year is -2.3ºC or 28ºF. It is most likely we will have snow and ice on the ground and many photo opportunities during the day and night.
Overview
Highlights
- Maximum of 8 guests
- Award-winning trip leaders
- Scenic day-time sightseeing
- Up to 7 nights aurora chasing
- Space Centre and Spaceship Aurora
- Lofoten Islands daytrip
- Eagle safari boat trip
- Sami Reindeer Farm cultural experience
What’s included
- Maximum of 8 guests
- Award-winning trip leaders
- Scenic day-time sightseeing
- Up to 7 nights aurora chasing
- Space Centre and Spaceship Aurora
- Lofoten Islands daytrip
- Eagle safari boat trip
- Sami Reindeer Farm cultural experience
- Hotel accommodation
- Breakfast, dinner and 2 lunches
A note on flights
While flights are not included in the holiday price, our team will happily provide a quote and arrange them for you. Simply ask one of our Travel Experts for details of the available options.
Day by Day Itinerary
Arrive in Norway
Upon arrival at Harstad-Narvik (EVE) airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel for the evening. The journey time is approximately 2 hours. Dinner is not provided on this first evening but there will be opportunities to buy food en route from the airport to your hotel.
If weather and aurora conditions are good then we will plan to chase the lights tonight. There may even be an opportunity to view them whilst travelling from airport to hotel.
Norway Space Centre Visit and Northern Lights Hunting
Today we will drive the stunning scenic route to the top of Andøya, Vesterålen’s northernmost island. Journey distance is 100km (65 miles) and there will be the opportunity to stop for photos at lots of locations on the way and on the way back. Andøy is most famous for its weathered mountains and long sandy beaches. The island is also home to Norway’s Space Centre which is one of the most active aurora research facilities on the planet.
Andøy Space & Spaceship Aurora
We will visit Spaceship Aurora at the Andøya Rocket Range. There will be short movie presentations followed by the Spaceship Aurora experience where you will be a part of the crew on a simulated aurora borealis research mission.
If you make it back safely from space you will then meet a real-life rocket scientist for a guided tour and to ask questions about anything relating to the Northern Lights and the research carried out at the Space Centre.
After dinner at the hotel we will again plan an aurora chase.
Sami Reindeer Farm Visit
Today is a more relaxing day for you with only a small amount of travelling. After a leisurely morning we will drive 10km out of Sortland and visit the local Sami Reindeer Farm where you will learn about Sami history and culture, enjoy a home made hot lunch and of course meet and feed the resident reindeer.
We will return to your hotel after lunch at the reindeer farm and then the rest of the afternoon is yours to choose to relax at the hotel or explore the town.
After dinner you can relax in the hotel and then enjoy the huge New Year’s celebration fireworks from your hotel room or the waterside!
Visiting Vesterålen
Based on the weather conditions and light we will plan to travel to some of the most scenic areas in Vesterålen.
Daytrip to the Lofoten Islands and Henningsvær
Today we slowly make our way south, out of Vesterålen and into the famous Lofoten Islands. We will plan to do many photo stops along the way today including a visit to the fishing village of Henningsvær out on the east coast of Lofoten. There will be time in Henningsvær for you to walk around the village and have lunch. We will then make our journey back to your hotel in Vesterålen.
After dinner we will plan to go in search of the Northern Lights.
Visiting Vesterålen
Based on the weather conditions and light we will plan to travel to some of the most scenic areas in Vesterålen.
Sea Eagles & Wildlife Safari
After breakfast we will head out to the far west of Vesterålen, travelling again through some of the most beautiful Arctic scenery. Today is all about the wildlife, notably the majestic White-Tailed Sea Eagle. After a presentation about the sea eagles you will board a boat and sail out amongst the smaller islands along the coast in search of sea eagles. This excursion has never failed to deliver incredible photo opportunities and is the best way to get close to the sea eagles in their natural habitat.
Upon returning to the harbour you will enjoy a tasty hot soup lunch before we make our way back to the hotel for the rest of the afternoon and evening.
This is our last opportunity of seeing the Northern Lights again so we will plan to go out once more.
Return Home
After an early breakfast we will travel back to Harstad-Narvik airport, arriving in time for you to meet your flight home. Journey time is approximately 2 hours.
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See what our clients say
Cannot thank this company enough. Our break to Iceland was the second time we’ve let them organise everything for us and once again they didn’t disappoint. Everything ran seamlessly and the organised tours were wonderful. This company knows what they are doing. If you want to experience the geysers, the volcano, the northern lights and all the other exciting things that Iceland has to offer then this is the company to use.
Dear Abigail, We have safely returned from Iceland and we wanted to say a huge and sincere thank you for all the plans that you put into place to make this one of the most memorable holidays we have ever had. It was simply beautiful each and every day. The cabin was idyllic and so cosy and warm. The tour guides were so knowledgeable and friendly and the scenery was breathtaking. All the arrangements worked so well and we will remember the trip for a long time to come.
Thank you once again.
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The Abisko Mountain Lodge was fantastic, every member of staff was friendly welcoming and charming. Accommodation, upgraded room was excellent. The food in the lodge definitely deserves the high reviews. Good breakfast, great hime made lunch soups and extremely tasty evening dinners.
The included trips were great. The only let down was the camera night, couldn’t see the lights no one fault, but we were walked through thigh high snow to be left on a frozen lake for the duration of the trip. There was no warning of the difficult walk and we had a 91 year old with us and I have hip problems! That said the guide was great, as were the ones on the skimobile and husky rides. We went up to the sky station in a snow storm with high winds, added to the experience!
Would go back in a heart beat.
We had little communication with Weekend a la carte, no need as all communications were clear and contained all the information we needed. Very informative emails
Would use again if going back
Brilliant short break. Hotel Ranga was lovely, excellent food. Managed to see the Northern Lights as well! Iceland on the whole was quite expensive but a lovely place to visit, the people were very friendly.
We have never before experienced such friendly and simultaneously professional service! Alex’s communication was super prompt, questions encouraged and welcomed and attended to with great care and detail. Everything was well organised and available on beautifully designed and very useful platforms. Our destination (Mattarahkka Northern Lights Lodge) was fabulous on so many different levels – exquisite views, friendly interactions from everyone on the team, great food, exciting activities, perfectly situated to see the northern lights (seen twice in 4 nights’ stay), a great fire place, and not to mention our fantastic guide Fabio. Their provision of winter kit (hats, down jacket, snow trousers, leather gloves and boots) offered everything we needed to be comfortable outside. All we needed to have packed really were base layers, a few layers of clothing and woollen socks. Defintely somewhere we would highly recommend and return to when possible!
A well organised trip which was tailored to our specific requests. The arrangements all ran perfectly and any queries prior to the holiday were handled very quickly and professionally. The standard of accommodation and organised tours was very high. I would use this company again and recommend them.
I appreciate the fast response to my inquiries regarding my trip. It would take decision making faster on my part, and plan my itinerary and activities being offered by the company accordingly.
We booked with Aurora for a short winter break to celebrate an event. We wanted something special and that’s what we got. Clear information was backed up with straightforward booking detail, and we had a super, holiday with no complications.
The holiday exceeded my expectations and I will use Aurora in the future. Thank you!