This 5-night trip pairs Tromso and Svalbard - a perfect aurora hunting combination! Enjoy winter activities from your boutique hotel.
Back to Classic Short Breaks in Norway
The Aurora Nights Tromso & Svalbard Experience
Credit Yngve Olsen Saebbe
Credit Yngve Olsen Saebbe
Whilst you spend a couple of nights in Tromso you will head out on an aurora dinner safari and chase by minibus, giving yourself the time during the day to explore the famous ‘Paris of the North’.
Then you will head further north to Svalbard, almost 1500km from the North Pole, and a perfect location for some thrilling winter activities and northern light chasing!
Location
Norway
Duration
5 Nights
Available dates
Jan - Mar
Price per person (excl. flights)
from £2,500
Overview
Highlights
- Visiting the ‘Paris of the North’ with two fantastic aurora experiences
- Staying in a funky boutique hotel
- Magical winter experiences from snow cat tours to husky sledding to ice caves to searching for the northern lights by electric snowmobiles!
What’s included
- Tromso transfers
- 2 nights accommodation in Tromso with breakfast
- 3 nights accommodation in Svalbard with breakfast
- Snowcat Tour
- Husky Tour to an Ice Cave
- Northern Lights Snowmobile Tour
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
You be transferred from the airport to your central Tromso hotel and get the chance to explore a bit of the city – then in the evening you will head out on a special silent hybrid catamaran where you will enjoy a peaceful cruise by night around Tromso island.
The vessel is designed with panoramic windows and comfortable heated lounges which provides a warm and cosy atmosphere. Along the way you will pass the beautiful snow-capped mountains of Tromso and landmarks like the Arctic Cathedral whilst the knowledgeable crew will share their stories about the interesting sights along the way. During the cruise you will be served a special arctic tapas dinner which is prepared by an award winning local restaurant – and to add to all of that is the opportunity to see the northern lights!
Day 2
This morning you will get the opportunity to explore the city itself before then heading off on a trip to the famous cable cart – most recently seen the in the TV Series Race Around The World. Here you will get an incredible panoramic view of Tromso from high up which will be a perfect way to see the why this city is referred to the Paris of the North.
Then in the evening you will have a chance to head out searching for the aurora as you head out on an aurora safari minibus excursion which will take you to some key points outside of the city to give you one last chance of getting to the see the northern lights before you depart in the morning.
Day 3
Today you head back to Tromso airport to catch your flight up to Svalbard, travelling almost 1500km from the North Pole – depending on the time of year that travel up you might encounter nothing but darkenss for 24 hours. This might sound like not a lot of fun, but if you want to maximise your chances of seeing the aurora then there is no better than this!
You’ll get your transfer (locally) to your propery for the next three nights – the boutique hotel Funken Lodge – and spend the evening settling into your new hotel and winter environment.
Day 4
After breakfast you will meet your guide and then head out for a day of husky sledding with a visit to an ice cave too! Before joining the guide to prep the dogs, you’ll gear up in an exposure suit, boots, and mittens. Amidst the initial chaos of barking and howling, a remarkable shift occurs once the sled starts moving. The once-noisy huskies transform into a quiet, determined team, wholly absorbed in pulling the sled through the snowy terrain. As they pick up speed, the surrounding landscape unveils its enchanting beauty. Your destination: the ice cave at Scott Turner Glacier, promising an otherworldly encounter with a frozen wonderland. Then in the evening you will head out on a Snow Cat Northern Lights Adventure – a vehicle that you certainly won’t miss as it comes to pick you up from your hotel, from there you will head off into wilderness leaving the town far behind you as you look out for the northern lights.
Day 5
During the day you will have time to explore a bit of the town and visit the polar museum – then get ready for an exciting evening (though depending on when you book this the trip might be during the morning or daytime!) as your head out hunting for the Northern Light with snowmobiles. These particular vehicles are very special as they are electric snowmobiles meaning they are better for the environment and much, much quieter when heading out into the arctic night searching the aurora!
Day 6
After breakfast you will transfer back to the airport to fly home – your journey doesn’t have to end here through as you can look at options to extend your stay either in Svalbard or flying to a new destination such as Tromso. Just speak to one of our experts who will be able to assist you in putting together a tailor itinerary to fit your requirements.
Where You'll Stay
Funken Lodge
This luxury lodge is an Arctic haven of 88 fully renovated rooms, all en suite and all suitably stylish. All rooms benefit from TV, complimentary internet, coffee machines, bathrobe and slippers and full buffet breakfast; suites also have their own private sitting area, ideal for groups or families. Perched on a hillside in Svalbard, it offers unparalleled views over Longyearbyen and the adjacent glaciers. Amidst the backdrop of thrilling nature encounters, you can relax and indulge in exclusive international cuisine and beverages within a luxurious and laid-back ambiance.
From the elegant lobby onward, Funken Lodge ensures a premier stay, providing everything essential for an exceptional experience. Recharge in the expansive rooms and suites, boasting deluxe amenities and heavenly beds. Delight in handcrafted cocktails and inventive cuisine at Funken Bar, where the connected lounge area features an open fireplace, an extensive library of polar literature, and ample workspace.
Revitalize your body with a visit to the gym and sauna, explore Spitsbergen’s famed wilderness, and try some outdoor activities like dog-sledding or ice caving. Funken Lodge has plenty to enjoy indoors too. Relax in the stylish lounge, eat freshly baked waffles by the fireplace, or try the pub for a light meal. For a special treat, try the more formal and Funktionærmessen restaurant which offers a tasting menu and French-inspired cuisine as well as Arctic dishes, all served with fabulous views of the Hiortfjellet mountains.
The hotel also boasts a well-stocked wine and champagne cellar, which can even be enjoyed during a private tasting with their highly knowledgeable sommeliers. A truly unique and exceptional place to stay.
Clarion Edge Tromso
The Clarion Hotel The Edge is a luxurious 4-star property conveniently located near the centre of Tromso. Featuring a sky bar and rooftop terrace on the 11th-floor, this central Tromsø hotel is located at the harbour, overlooking Tromsø Sound and the Arctic Cathedral.
Local tourist attractions such as Art Museum of Northern Norway, Tromso Cathedral (Tromso Domkirke) and City Centre Tromso are not far from the hotel. Also easily within reach are Mack Brewery, Polar Museum and Polaria
Contemporary furnishings are featured in all rooms as well as a large flat-screen TV and desk. The bathrooms include a shower and hairdryer.
Kitchen & Table by Marcus Samuelsson restaurant serves New York-style dishes made from local ingredients. There is also a fitness centre for guests to use.
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Reviews
See what our clients say
We had five fantastic days in beautiful Iceland, as we had never been before Aurora Nights helped with everything and made the holiday so easy and stress free. We stayed at Hotel Ranga which was amazing, we very much enjoyed the tours and the guides were brilliant, very knowledgable and friendly. We will certainly be returning to Iceland and wouldn’t hesitate to book through Aurora Nights again, special thanks to Abigail as her experience and reccommendations made the trip even better.
Lauren Mitten
An excellent holiday which was enjoyed by all. The super jeep ride on the second day to the Eyjafjallajokull volcano was memorable and thanks to our driver Margaret who proved to be a really good guide. We thoroughly enjoyed the facilities in the hotel Ranga. The staff were very helpful and we managed to see the Northern Lights. The Hotel Reykjavik Centrum was very nice with amazingly helpful staff. All in all, the whole holiday was brilliant.
Brian Coombs
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!
David Foley
We had a wonderful time! The food at the lodge was amazing and there were some great vegetarian dishes. I had the best beetroot I’ve ever had (beetroot tartare).
Everyone was really friendly and all the guides were good fun and very knowledgeable.
A special thanks to William and Petri who were really friendly and really added a personal touch to our trip. The activities were really well planned and we especially enjoyed the trip with the huskies. The area we were in is stunning and the lodge was very nice. We would definitely recommend this to friends and family.
Fiona Green
We did the aurora nights break and had a great time overall. Everything related to flights, hire car, and hotels ran smoothly. There were a few issues largely relating to the weather and driving conditions (we travelled in mid March), but what we did manage to do was amazing.
The blue lagoon was easy to access from the airport and was a brilliant experience. We booked the standard package and it came with a free drink and face mask. Facilities were clean and organised with free toiletries in the shower rooms, which helps if you’ve gone there straight from the airport.
The drive to Hotel Ranga afterwards was long but fine (check out the road on google streetview to know what to expect). The hotel and staff were great. We were limited to one option as vegetarians on the bar and a la carte menus, but the food was lovely and if you are a meat eater you will see options of unusual dishes like puffin and reindeer.
Our northern lights super jeep trip was cancelled on both nights due to a poor forecast, but we were lucky enough to get an aurora wake up call from Hotel Ranga the first night. We couldn’t use the hottubs as there are only a few and they were always taken in the limited time we spent at the hotel, so don’t go expecting to get lots of time in one and you won’t be disappointed. View them as an add on if you can time it right. We were travelling with an 11 year old, so we didn’t stay up really late. If you are a couple you probably have a better chance of getting one later on.
The glacier/volcano super jeep trip was outstanding. Our driver, Íbí was excellent. She went above and beyond and gave us such an awesome experience. We were also super lucky with the weather the first two days and had great views across Iceland.
The ice cave tour was also incredible and the guides running it were excellent. The group size was much bigger than expected (especially after the more exclusive volcano super jeep tour), but it was broken down into smaller groups that were managed well, with plenty of time factored in for photographs. There were several unexplained delays getting to the cave during the tour that meant we weren’t able to ‘mini tour’ the rest of the South Coast afterwards, so if you plan to do the ice cave don’t overplan for the afternoon as you may not have much time. Not a huge disappointment for us as we got to experience the cave, but I imagine someone who planned a full itinerary afterwards might be frustrated by the estamiated timings not always being right and subject to change with the weather (which was wicked that day).
Driving around Reykjavik was a horrible experience as we arrived around rush hour and weren’t prepared for all the traffic, having only experienced quiet roads along the south coast. It was difficult finding a parking space, so be prepared to drive around a little when you arrive. If you haven’t driven on the right before and are not a confident driver this could leave you feeling stressed. Again, check out the roads into Reykjavik on Google maps to get a sense of what awaits if you aren’t used to self-driving.
We didn’t get to tour the golden circle because of road conditions/ice/road closures, so we spent the day in Reykjavik instead. This turned out okay for us as we did some of the attractions (Lava Centre and Fly Over Iceland – both hughly recommended), but it ended up being an extra expense and we missed out on the golden attractions. Again, not a big issue if you are aware this could happen. The weather is so changeable that having a plan B is a good approach.
Weekend a la Carte sent us a text warning us about the bad weather conditions, which we’d already seen on the Safe Iceland app, but we were grateful for anyway. It was good to know they were looking out for us!
All in all, a remarkable trip, with some unique experiences. If you book this in the knowledge that nature will have her own way, and you may not see everything you want (especially in winter), you will have a great time. Ranga is definitely the best place to maximise your chances of seeing the lights.
Sarah Brooks
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
What a fantastic trip! I booked this for myself and my husband to celebrate my 40th birthday and it didn’t disappoint! Booking was simple and we were kept up to date with all the details from the office team in the UK.
From the moment we arrived at Kiruna airport all the staff we encountered were so friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. We opted for the upgraded room at the Abisko Mountain Lodge which I would highly recommend. The cold weather clothing which was supplied was fantastic and kept us really warm in the sub-zero temperatures. The dog sledging, snowmobiling and the Northern Lights photography were all superb and the staff leading the trips were really friendly and so knowledgeable. Even though we weren’t able to do the sky station trip because of the weather, there was a lovely alternative evening organised for us which included a traditional dinner and a walk to the lake where we were able to see the lights. The food at the lodge was also exceptional and showcased some lovely traditional dishes using Moose and Reindeer which were wonderful to try.
I would like to send a massive thank you to all the staff at The Abisko Mountain Lodge as well as the guides we used for our guided walks, dog sledging and snowmobiling. I’d highly recommend the trip, it was our first visit to Sweden and we would definitely return. Thanks again to everyone (including the huskies) who made it so memorable!
Carly Webster
Fantastic trip with great hosts & made even more special by seeing the Northern Lights twice!!
Wendy Naphine