Northern Light Trip
Nov 4th, 2015, 05:08 AM
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Northern Light Trip
Hello Travelers,
My husband and I are planning a 10-12 days trip to Norway to see the northern lights in the end of Jan 2016 from London , UK.
Any recommendations on how we should plan the itinerary ?
I was thinking of first flying to Oslo - stay there for a day or 2 and then fly to either Tromso or Kirkenes ...which one do you recommend ?
Also , is there anything else we can cover while staying in these places or we should just stay put there ?
Your tips will be much appreciated.
Regards
My husband and I are planning a 10-12 days trip to Norway to see the northern lights in the end of Jan 2016 from London , UK.
Any recommendations on how we should plan the itinerary ?
I was thinking of first flying to Oslo - stay there for a day or 2 and then fly to either Tromso or Kirkenes ...which one do you recommend ?
Also , is there anything else we can cover while staying in these places or we should just stay put there ?
Your tips will be much appreciated.
Regards
Nov 4th, 2015, 11:44 AM
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I really would not consider a trip to Norway without going to the Lofotens, they are that stunning.
I'd skip Oslo, it just hasn't got the attraction compared with what you could experience.
I would change in Oslo quickly or at the most spend one night. You have then a number of options depending on how you wish to spread your time.
Hurtigruten ships are small and don't fit into the usual mound of a cruise ship, they are more like up-market ferries. You can pick them up at the many stop off points between Bergen and The North Cape. The down side is that they have routine schedules which sometimes have no consideration of the beauty of the area they are travelling through. I seem to remember that the south to north schedule passes through The Lofotens in the dark in winter.
One option is just to hop on and off the ferry at different spots for one/ two,nights.
Tromso is just about the world best place to try to see the lights. We have been three times and have seen spectacular shows on many occasions.
Personally, I would plan to fly into one of Bergen ( direct from London) or Trondheim, Bodo or Tromso ( all via Oslo) and pick up the ferry.
I'd say the best route would be to fly into Bodo, pick up the ferry to Svolvaer ( Lofotens) maybe rent an Air BnB place there for 2 nights and then go up to Tromso. See the lights from the back of the ferry is just simply stunning.
Then pick up the ferry again to Tromso and stay in one of the very good hotels in town. I would really recommend a husky sledding trip, it is one of life's Top 20 things to do. The operations in Tromso are very commercial and quite industrial huge number of dogs on site.
I have used a single farm operator in Trondheim in the past, I have to say it is worth juggling a trip around him, it was a quite incredible experience, totally off the beaten track and untouristy.
One word of warning. We dearly love Tromso, it is our gateway to adventure but it isn't large. After 3 nights you could become stir crazy looking at the same shops/ cafes/ restaurants.
On a positive note, your time scales are great. Snow fall and Light hunting are mutually exclusive, snow fall means cloud cover and no lights. Over such an extended stay you should have a very good chance of clear skies.
I'd skip Oslo, it just hasn't got the attraction compared with what you could experience.
I would change in Oslo quickly or at the most spend one night. You have then a number of options depending on how you wish to spread your time.
Hurtigruten ships are small and don't fit into the usual mound of a cruise ship, they are more like up-market ferries. You can pick them up at the many stop off points between Bergen and The North Cape. The down side is that they have routine schedules which sometimes have no consideration of the beauty of the area they are travelling through. I seem to remember that the south to north schedule passes through The Lofotens in the dark in winter.
One option is just to hop on and off the ferry at different spots for one/ two,nights.
Tromso is just about the world best place to try to see the lights. We have been three times and have seen spectacular shows on many occasions.
Personally, I would plan to fly into one of Bergen ( direct from London) or Trondheim, Bodo or Tromso ( all via Oslo) and pick up the ferry.
I'd say the best route would be to fly into Bodo, pick up the ferry to Svolvaer ( Lofotens) maybe rent an Air BnB place there for 2 nights and then go up to Tromso. See the lights from the back of the ferry is just simply stunning.
Then pick up the ferry again to Tromso and stay in one of the very good hotels in town. I would really recommend a husky sledding trip, it is one of life's Top 20 things to do. The operations in Tromso are very commercial and quite industrial huge number of dogs on site.
I have used a single farm operator in Trondheim in the past, I have to say it is worth juggling a trip around him, it was a quite incredible experience, totally off the beaten track and untouristy.
One word of warning. We dearly love Tromso, it is our gateway to adventure but it isn't large. After 3 nights you could become stir crazy looking at the same shops/ cafes/ restaurants.
On a positive note, your time scales are great. Snow fall and Light hunting are mutually exclusive, snow fall means cloud cover and no lights. Over such an extended stay you should have a very good chance of clear skies.
Nov 4th, 2015, 11:58 AM
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Incidentally, we have always found
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/Europe/20151104
To be accurate.
The Aurora is not mystical but simply a scientific event. If you check the prediction sites and the weather forecasts you will see the lights. Timing on any one night is the only issue.
Good luck.
One of life's great adventures.
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/Europe/20151104
To be accurate.
The Aurora is not mystical but simply a scientific event. If you check the prediction sites and the weather forecasts you will see the lights. Timing on any one night is the only issue.
Good luck.
One of life's great adventures.
Nov 4th, 2015, 12:49 PM
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In the winter there are direct flights to Lofoten usually by a charter airline.
Given your timeframe you could take the Hurtigruten for the entire trip, flying in and out of Bergen.
You have as good a chance of seeing the lights onboard as anywhere, plus things to see and do should they not appear.
Given your timeframe you could take the Hurtigruten for the entire trip, flying in and out of Bergen.
You have as good a chance of seeing the lights onboard as anywhere, plus things to see and do should they not appear.
Dec 25th, 2015, 06:41 AM
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I was in Tromso from nov 10th to 14th. I saw NL.On 11th i saw a stronger NL show with dancing for more than 30 minutes. Rest of the days the shows were very weak.
Since you are there for longer chances are bright. Moreover you can do lot of scenic sight seeings and whale watching etc in Tromso which may not available in smaller locations.
Since you are there for longer chances are bright. Moreover you can do lot of scenic sight seeings and whale watching etc in Tromso which may not available in smaller locations.
Dec 25th, 2015, 08:18 AM
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suggestion....take the Hurtigruten from Bergen as we did on a month trip to Norway. We got off ship at Trondheim for a few days and picked up another ship (we had reservations for all voyages). We took the Svartisen (Black Glacier) option tour, boarding a small boat from the Hurtigruten at sea.
From Bodo we rented a car and ferried to the southern arm of The Lofotens (Moskenes) and spent a few days driving from "A" (pronounced "Aw")to Svolvaer, and enjoyed The Lofoten dramatic landscape.
From Svolvaer we car-ferried to the mainland and eventually Tromso (which I felt had a little more to often than stated above)...we stayed at The Radisson (sparse but comfortable). Did not catch The Northern Lights which were not our goal).
This itinerary (including three or four days in Bergen and three in Oslo...traveling the Norway in a Nutshell tour between the two) would be pleasing to you, ending with the NL show in and around Tromso.
See Norway pics below..for a few ideas, views of The Lofotens, Bergen, Oslo, Alesund, Trondheim, Bodo, etc. Enjoy Norway...you will!
From Bodo we rented a car and ferried to the southern arm of The Lofotens (Moskenes) and spent a few days driving from "A" (pronounced "Aw")to Svolvaer, and enjoyed The Lofoten dramatic landscape.
From Svolvaer we car-ferried to the mainland and eventually Tromso (which I felt had a little more to often than stated above)...we stayed at The Radisson (sparse but comfortable). Did not catch The Northern Lights which were not our goal).
This itinerary (including three or four days in Bergen and three in Oslo...traveling the Norway in a Nutshell tour between the two) would be pleasing to you, ending with the NL show in and around Tromso.
See Norway pics below..for a few ideas, views of The Lofotens, Bergen, Oslo, Alesund, Trondheim, Bodo, etc. Enjoy Norway...you will!
Dec 25th, 2015, 09:06 AM
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Dec 26th, 2015, 09:03 AM
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South Norway in winter is focused on Bergen and Oslo because that is more or less all there is when climate conditions are less than favourable, daylight hours are short, scenic roads are closed and excursions are almost non existant. Hostels may simply be closed for the season rather than booked solid. The hostel in Flåm is open all year and the Norway in a Nutshell tour is running. Trains are absolutely running and so are buses.
Aurora Borealis are mainly north of the Arctic Circle, but this far north there is very little daylight this time of year to really enjoy the scenery. Perfect for the Northern Lights though. Svolvær and Lofoten will be very quiet - I suggest you consider Tromsø. A lot of activities there around aurora hunting and more. Please search the forum - this is really the hot topic now.
Aurora Borealis are mainly north of the Arctic Circle, but this far north there is very little daylight this time of year to really enjoy the scenery. Perfect for the Northern Lights though. Svolvær and Lofoten will be very quiet - I suggest you consider Tromsø. A lot of activities there around aurora hunting and more. Please search the forum - this is really the hot topic now.
Dec 26th, 2015, 11:48 AM
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Shame the poster didn't come back.
There's some really good advice here and their first idea of spending time in Oslo wasn't the best. Spending time in Oslo in winter, when the rest of the country has so much more to offer, is a waste of that time.
There's some really good advice here and their first idea of spending time in Oslo wasn't the best. Spending time in Oslo in winter, when the rest of the country has so much more to offer, is a waste of that time.
Dec 27th, 2015, 10:53 AM
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Well I really do hope that for their sake they revise their plan and take our advice.
If they don't, it will be their loss not ours.
The Lofotens at any time of the year are world class. In winter with twilight days and the Aurora, they have to be on anyone's 50 before I die.
If they don't, it will be their loss not ours.
The Lofotens at any time of the year are world class. In winter with twilight days and the Aurora, they have to be on anyone's 50 before I die.
Dec 30th, 2015, 11:42 AM
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Hi! Some tips can be found there: http://www.norwaytravelblog.com/2015...rn-lights.html
