With winter almost here, Northern Lights travel specialist Discover the World has uncovered new ways of experiencing the elusive aurora as well as highlighting some of its perennial favourites.
Adventures include spotting the lights from new electric snowmobiles in Svalbard, watching the show from stylish new panoramic log cabins in Finnish Lapland as well as keeping an eye out from a roll-top observatory in Iceland or from the rural village of Kongsfjord in Northern Norway.
Discover the World is one of the UKs leading tour operators specialising in Northern Lights holidays, offering tips and trips across the whole Arctic region including the Nordic countries featured below as well as Canada, Alaska and Greenland.
Search for the Aurora on Eco-Friendly eSleds during Polar Night Season
This short break, based in Svalbard’s northernmost town, Longyearbyen, offers the chance to explore Svalbard during its Polar Night Season when landscapes are thrown into darkness and there’s a much higher chance of spotting the aurora. During this time it is dark 24 hours a day, with the only sources of light outside the town being the moon, the stars and the Northern Lights. What’s more, guests this season will be able to search the skies from a brand new eco-friendly eSled (electric snowmobile) from Hurtigruten Svalbard, powered by renewable energy from the Arctic wind and midnight sun, allowing for silent and emission-free snowmobiling.
A three-night break (December 2019 to February 2020) is priced from £958pp based on two sharing a room on a B&B basis, including return flights from London Heathrow to Longyearbyen via Oslo and one evening meal.
Northern Lights in Little-Known Kongsfjord Village in Northern Norway
This new short break, exclusive to Discover the World, combines one night in the Arctic city of Tromsø with two nights at the unique SnowHotel in Kirkenes and two nights in the little-known rural hamlet of Kongsfjord in Northern Norway. As well as taking part in a King Crab Safari at the SnowHotel, which is included in the price, guests can enjoy husky sledding, snowmobiling and the chance to enjoy lunch with a Sami family. Based so far north, with little light pollution, Kongsfjord is the perfect place to keep eyes peeled for the Northern Lights, whilst taking part in snowshoe walks and village tours.
A five-night break (January ti March 2020) is priced from £1,928pp based on two sharing on a mostly half board basis with flights from Gatwick to Tromsø, returning from Kirkenes, airport transfers and guided excursions including a King crab safari, a Sami reindeer experience and an art studio tour in Kongsfjord.
Watch the Show from New Panorama Cabins at Nangu Boutique Hotel
The Nangu Boutique Hotel is an all-inclusive adult-only on the southern shore of Lake Inari (20 minutes from the village of Ivalo) boasting an authentic Lapland-style and an impressive variety of activities all included in the price. What’s more, from 6th December, the hotel will launch a collection of new Log Cabins boasting private hot tubs and panoramic views toward Lake Inari, perfect for watching out for the Northern Lights. Discover the World offer a choice of three itineraries ranging from a 3-night break combining evening snowmobiling, snowshoeing and aurora watching to a seven-night break with extra ice fishing, snowmobile rides, cross-country skiing and a special husky and reindeer day at nearby Nellim lodge.
A three-night break (December 2019 to April 2020) is priced from £1,224pp based on two sharing a double room on an all-inclusive basis, with return direct flights from Gatwick to Ivalo, transfers, activities and loan of winter clothing.
Aurora Wake-Up Calls and Roll-Top Observatories in Rural Iceland
This short escorted break combines two nights at Hotel Ranga in Southwest Iceland with a night spent at the Northern Lights Inn on the volcanic Reykjanes Peninsula. Located an hour and a half from Reykjavik, Hotel Ranga is in prime ‘aurora country’ with clear horizons and no artificial light pollution. Its special aurora wake-up service ensures guests never miss a sighting, whilst its roll-top observatory has computerised telescopes for incredible night sky viewing. Guests can also gaze at the cosmos from outdoor hot tubs or keep an eye on the northern lights through the picture windows of the restaurant. An expert guided tour of the Golden Circle is also included, along with a visit to Reykjavik’s old town and the legendary Blue Lagoon.
A 3-night break (between January to March 2020 & 2021) is priced from £ 985pp based on two sharing a double room with two nights at Hotel Ranga (half-board, breakfast and dinner) and one-night at Northern Lights Inn (B&B) including guided Golden Circle tour, entry to the Blue Lagoon and airport transfers. Price excludes flights.
Combine Icehotel and Abisko for the Ultimate Aurora Adventure
Combine a stay at the iconic Icehotel, celebrating its 30th birthday this winter, with Abisko Mountain Station in the Abisko National Park for the best chance of spotting the Northern Lights. The Icehotel is based in the remote village of Jukkasjarvi with very little light pollution and an array of aurora activities from photography lessons to aurora chases on horseback, whilst Abisko is located an hour away from Icehotel in the middle of an ‘Aurora Zone’, offering practically permanent cloud-free skies, statistically proven as the most reliable place in the world to spot the Northern Lights. Here, guests can experience an evening chairlift ride to an Aurora Sky Station to enjoy a four-course meal whilst keeping watch for solar activity from the large outside deck or through panoramic windows by a log fire.
A thee-night break (December 2019 to March 2020) is priced from £ 1,199pp based on two sharing a room with two nights B&B at Icehotel and one-night half-board at Abisko with exclusive direct flights from London Heathrow to Kiruna, airport transfers and a chairlift excursion to the Aurora Sky Station.
For more information, contact Discover the World on www.discover-the-world.com; 01737 886 131. All photos from www.discover-the-world.com.
