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 the region.
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 accommdation. 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 & 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 & 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
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.
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.
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!
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.
Based on the weather conditions and light we will plan to travel to some of the most scenic areas in Vesterålen.
Sea Eagle & 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.
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
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
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.
Superb holiday to Iceland, well organised, advice regarding trips informative and far exceeded our expectations (Glaciers and ice Cave) run by South Coast. Hotel Ranga is a lovely hotel, perfect to see Northern Lights (which we did see on our 3rd night), very comfortable, food excellent, staff helpful and informative. SouthCoast Adventure tour company were excellent, guides knowledgeable, and clearly very experienced.
This was a bucket list trip. The company are specialists and I’ve valued their advice. Everything from the when to go for the best opportunity to see the lights and equipment needed and provided.Our activities included, the Ice Hotel, night photo shoot, snowmobiling, guided walk and the sky station meal. All excellent and well run by knowledgeable experts and guides. The Abisko Lodge is warm comfortable and relaxing the food is excellent and the staff welcoming, friendly and very helpful. I would highly recommend if you’re looking for a different and exciting experience.
We had a fantastic 4 nights that included glaciers, waterfalls, geysers, the aurora borealis and more! Lovely hotels, especially Hotel Ranga. We filled every moment and felt thoroughly invigorated on our return.
A fantastic short break which fulfilled all expectations. Well organised with a polished delivery, we could not have asked for more. The accommodation was perfect for us and the guides knowledgeable and helpful. Every day was packed with adventure, each lasting longer than scheduled but we were never rushed; the guides took pride in showing and explaining their beautiful country. We would certainly use Weekend a la carte again and recommend them to others.
I found Aurora nights just through a google search. Alex, my Aurora expert was so helpful in helping us have the perfect trip to the Arctic. He had personal experience of the activities and places to visit there that would make our trip really special. This followed through to a particularly unforgettable and wonderful holiday. Everything was sent to us with care and attention before hand and we were supported by the team throughout our holiday. All of the recomendations were wonderful especially the Ice Hotel, dog sledding and of course the beautiful Northern Lights. The transportation arrived on time every time. I would highly recomend this company for their experience in the field and their due care and attention to you as a customer. It was faultless and we had the most awesome time.
This vacation has without without doubt, has been the best experience we have ever had. The organisation from the minute we landed in Kiruna until we departed at the close of our trip was second to none. The transition between hotels was always seamless and punctual. Everywhere we stayed was beautifully clean and the meals were top quality. Every driver was polite, entertaining and very knowledgeable, furnishing us with invaluable information about Sweden and the activities in which we were to participate. The snowmobiling was wonderful giving access via our guide, to stunning panoramic views of the mountain whilst viewing reindeer in their natural habitat.
Our guide demonstrated how to use the snowmobile safely he was pleasant and informative. When visiting the reindeer on the Sami reservation; we found the brother and sister team who hosted lovely. Again they were so hospitable and helpful and feeding the reindeer up close was a wonderful experience.
They provided additional activities for us to try and we were treated to a traditional Sami lunch in their hut. They provided us with invaluable information appertaining to their culture and caring for their reindeer. The reindeer were in superb condition and happy in their environment. Similarly, when out with the dog sleds the experience was magical. Two hours of beautiful scenery, and frozen lakes, finishing with a one-on-one experience massaging the dogs. Magic! We were so impressed with the care that was placed upon ensuring the dogs were comfortable, well-nourished and so loved by their owners/handlers.
Now to the photographic experience. A large group of us were treated to a demonstration of how to operate some serious camera equipment with tripod. Each of us was loaned the camera and given assistance setting up the camera on a frozen lake in preparation for the appearance of the Northern Lights. We were taken to this lake on large wooden sleighs pulled by a snowmobile. We cannot speak too highly of the two young men who accompanied us on this experience. They could not do enough for us. They were there to offer assistance with our cameras throughout the two-plus hours we were on this beautiful lake.
They advised where to position the camera and when the Lights appeared, what a performance. We had a two-hour display of this most breathtaking phenomenon. We were so fortunate to be able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for which we are so grateful. We will never forget this memorable holiday and cannot thank you and everyone who assisted in making a lifetime dream come true. Karen & Andrew Adamson