This trip is designed to coincide with the UK’s School’s February half-term and is the perfect family trip for all ages. Our base will be in Vesterålen, which is a fantastic location, spending the daytime visiting some of the most picturesque locations in the region, as well as travelling out to dark and scenic locations to experience the Northern Lights.
This trip also includes an eagle safari, a visit to the local Sami reindeer farm, 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.
The average temperature at this time of year is -2.1ºC or 28ºF. It is most likely we will have snow and ice on the ground and many photo opportunities during the day and night.
*Prices starting from
Location
Norway
Duration
4 Nights
Available dates
Feb
Price per person (excl. flights)
£2,000*
Overview
Highlights
- Maximum of 8 guests
- Award-winning trip leaders
- Scenic day-time sightseeing
- Northern Lights Hunting
- Space Centre & Spaceship Aurora
- Eagle safari boat trip
- Sami Reindeer Farm cultural experience
- Hotel accommodation
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners
What’s included
- Maximum of 8 guests
- Award-winning trip leaders
- Scenic day-time sightseeing
- Northern Lights Hunting
- Space Centre & Spaceship Aurora
- Eagle safari boat trip
- Sami Reindeer Farm cultural experience
- Hotel accommodation
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners
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
Day 1
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 hunt fr the Northern Lights tonight. There may even be an opportunity to view them whilst travelling from airport to hotel.
Day 2
Journey to Andøya & Andøya Space Centre
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 a Northern Lights chase.
Day 3
Sami Reindeer Farm
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 view from your hotel room or the waterside!
Day 4
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.
Day 5
Returning 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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Reviews
See what our clients say
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.
Joey Emmanuel Serrina
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.
Linda Palmer
Hotel Ranga was perfect, with amazing food. It is in the middle of nowhere, very quiet and with the weather being bad there wasn’t the possibility of leaving the hotel in the evening so mightn’t suit all for that reason. Super Jeep tour we thoroughly enjoyed with 2 lovely guides.
Hotel Borg was in the perfect location. For us, one night in Reykjavik would be ample.
Blue Lagoon was a wonderful experience only heightened by the appearance of the northern lights on our walk home from dinner. All in all we had the best holiday and we plan to return to Iceland hopefully sooner rather than later.
Lisa McAleer
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!
Inge Elliott
Fantastic service, with every detail taken care of and communicated to your agencies and hotels. Would definitely recommend and will be using again.
Robin Higginson
Overall very good. Staff excellent and helpful. Accomodation basic but was what we expected. Tour guides very good (nature walks, snow mobiles, dog sleighs). Sky station disappointing as we never got to go up due to the weather and this seem to be a recurring feature.The alternative walk at night and meal was a let down as a result.Overall would recommend to others.
John Kirby
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.
Heatherbelle Bates
Thank you for arranging a fabulous holiday, we had a really enjoyable time and would love to return in the future. Hotel Ranga is a lovely place to stay and the owner greeted guests in the restaurant, which was an unexpected welcoming touch. We didn’t see the Northern Lights due to the weather and the trip to the Eyjafjallajokull glacier and volcano was substituted by an excursion to Thorsmork, also due to the weather, which we thoroughly enjoyed; the brochure description doesn’t do it justice. We found Iceland and the people there really charismatic. Although the wind and snow cut short the amount of travelling we could do, we still covered a reasonable amount of what we wanted to see and our appetites are whetted for a return, perhaps in Spring or Summer. We found a couple of great places to eat near the Hotel in Reykjavik. Messin does tasty fish dishes and the Icelandic Street Food restaurant was excellent, offering simple but hearty soups with refills included in the price – great value.
Nigel Goadsby