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Northern lights over Jokulsarlón

Northern Lights Tour Packages

Venture to the northern hemisphere to hunt for the aurora borealis and see this breathtaking natural phenomenon first hand. Your northern lights tour package with Nordic Visitor comes with accommodation, activities and transport included.

Iceland

Witness the aurora borealis dancing above you and explore jaw-dropping landscapes in the Land of Fire and Ice.

Why choose northern lights tours in Iceland?

  • Chase the lights on guided excursions from Reykjavík
  • Stay at remote lodges with dark skies for aurora viewing
  • Discover natural wonders like glaciers and ice caves
  • Bathe in hot springs surrounded by wintry scenery

Iceland
Best seller
Multi-Day Tours
4 days / 3 nights
4.9
Sep - Mar

Golden Circle Classic - Winter

Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon & Northern Lights

185742ISK

Eur

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Best seller
4 days / 3 nights
Sep - Mar

185742ISK

Eur

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Iceland
Best seller
Guided Groups
8 days / 7 nights
4.9
Sep - Mar

Northern Lights Circle Tour

Pace Level Level 2 (Classic)
Activity Level Level 1 (Easy)

514454ISK

Eur

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Best seller
8 days / 7 nights
Sep - Mar

514454ISK

Eur

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Iceland
Best seller
Guided Groups
5 days / 4 nights
4.9
Sep - Mar

Winter Highlights & Northern Lights

Ice Cave & Glacier Lagoon

Pace Level Level 2 (Classic)
Activity Level Level 2 (Moderate)

322564ISK

Eur

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Best seller
5 days / 4 nights
Sep - Mar

322564ISK

Eur

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Norway

Hunt for the aurora borealis in Norway and admire the dramatic mountains, coastline and islands of the north.

Why go aurora-hunting in Norway?

  • Marvel at the lights on an aurora coastal cruise
  • Embark on a dog sledding northern lights safari
  • Enjoy guided aurora excursions from Tromsø
  • Stay at the extraordinary Kirkenes Snow Hotel

Norway
Best seller
Cruise
10 days / 9 nights
4.7
Oct - Mar

Northern Lights by Train and Cruise

3658EUR

Eur

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Best seller
10 days / 9 nights
Oct - Mar

3658EUR

Eur

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Norway
Best seller
Cruise
7 days / 6 nights
4.6
Dec - Mar

Best of Northern Norway Classic - 71° North Cape

4512EUR

Eur

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Best seller
7 days / 6 nights
Dec - Mar

4512EUR

Eur

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Norway
Best seller
Partially Guided
5 days / 4 nights
Dec - Mar

Northern Lights Norway Classic

2619EUR

Eur

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Best seller
5 days / 4 nights
Dec - Mar

2619EUR

Eur

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Lapland

Experience snowy scenery, Sami culture and winter activities in Finnish or Swedish Lapland on a northern lights adventure.

Why chase the northern lights in Lapland?

  • Enjoy an enchanting aurora tour by snowmobile
  • Gaze up at the northern lights from a cosy glass igloo
  • Stay in a room made of ice at the legendary ICEHOTEL
  • Witness the aurora dancing above Abisko National Park

Finland
Best seller
Partially Guided
5 days / 4 nights
December

Best of Lapland - Guaranteed Departure

DECEMBER 18, 2024

2474EUR

Eur

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Best seller
5 days / 4 nights
December

2474EUR

Eur

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Sweden
Best seller
Partially Guided
5 days / 4 nights
Dec - Mar

Classic Lapland Adventure & ICEHOTEL

2341EUR

Eur

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Best seller
5 days / 4 nights
Dec - Mar

2341EUR

Eur

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Sweden
Partially Guided
6 days / 5 nights
4.9
Dec - Mar

Lapland Adventure - Aurora Sky Station & ICEHOTEL

2991EUR

Eur

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6 days / 5 nights
Dec - Mar

2991EUR

Eur

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Svalbard

Journey to a remote land and seek out the northern lights in Svalbard, an Arctic archipelago at the edge of the world.

Why look for the northern lights in Svalbard?

  • Experience the mesmerising light of the polar night
  • Visit the world’s northernmost town, Longyearbyen
  • Go on thrilling dog sledding and snowmobiling tours
  • See polar bears and seals in the wild

Norway & Svalbard
Partially Guided
4 days / 3 nights
Feb - Apr

Best of Svalbard Winter - Express

1880EUR

Eur

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4 days / 3 nights
Feb - Apr

1880EUR

Eur

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Norway & Svalbard
Partially Guided
5 days / 4 nights
Feb - Apr

Best of Svalbard Winter - Classic

3442EUR

Eur

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5 days / 4 nights
Feb - Apr

3442EUR

Eur

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About Your Northern Lights Vacation

Discover the magic of the aurora borealis* on an unforgettable northern lights tour. Explore beautiful destinations in the Nordics on an itinerary that local travel experts have meticulously organised for you.

When you book a northern lights tour package with Nordic Visitor, you get:

• An authentic travel experience planned by an established and trusted agency
• A dedicated travel consultant to organise your tour
All relevant bookings for your chosen package
• A detailed online personal itinerary
Handpicked accommodation for a relaxing stay
24/7 emergency phone support for peace of mind

Nordic Visitor has made it easy to start planning your winter tour. Simply follow these steps:

1. Pick your favourite Nordic Visitor tour
2. Confirm your package
3. Check your confirmation email
4. Book your flights
5. Get ready for your trip

*Please note, the northern lights are a natural occurrence and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Why choose Nordic Visitor

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Book With Confidence

Secure your trip your way with Nordic Visitor. Book a tour with as little as 10% deposit. With a 20% deposit or more, you will receive our cancellation insurance free of charge. You can also pay the full price right away to guarantee today’s exchange rate. Terms & conditions apply.

Book With Confidence

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Trusted local travel experts

Established in 2002, Nordic Visitor is a highly rated tour agency in Northern Europe. Our travel experts create authentic journeys filled with the best activities and destinations. They are locally based and add their in-depth knowledge to all northern lights itineraries.

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Great reviews

Nordic Visitor is dedicated to the best service quality, and this is reflected year after year when Tripadvisor awards us with their Certificate of Excellence. We also take great pride in our customer feedback: 97% of our travellers say they would recommend us to friends and family.

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Stress-free experience

Our travel consultants will plan and book your trip on your behalf. You’ll receive a personalised itinerary with your accommodation and activities all arranged for you. That way you can leave all the practicalities to someone else, while you relax and look forward to your northern lights adventure.

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Flexible tour options

The Nordic Visitor travel team has designed our northern lights packages to include the very best routes and experiences. However, if you’d like to add extra nights, attractions or destinations, your personal travel consultant will happily tailor your northern lights package.

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You are in good hands

Should you encounter any unexpected weather or events during your tour, don’t worry. Nordic Visitor will be there for you throughout your trip. We will take care of reworking your itinerary while keeping you safe and informed. You’ll also have access to our 24/7 emergency helpline for peace of mind.

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Full financial protection

With Nordic Visitor, you have peace of mind knowing your tour arrangements with us are 100% financially protected. Your payments are safeguarded as we comply with European Union laws on Package Travel regulations. This guarantees you a refund in the unlikely event of insolvency.

NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR REVIEWS

Here’s what our wonderful customers liked about their northern lights experiences.

A

Andrew

Larus made the whole experience of organising the holiday very enjoyable.  We are not seasoned travellers but... read more

Larus made the whole experience of organising the holiday very enjoyable.  We are not seasoned travellers but this experience has given me no doubt in using Nordic Visitor again to book a holiday in the future to another Nordic destination.

 

A

AlisonUnited States

I can't thank you enough for your help!  The tours were amazing and the ease of planning the trip was... read more

I can't thank you enough for your help!  The tours were amazing and the ease of planning the trip was wonderful.  You gave us a trip if a lifetime and memories to cherish!

1500+ reviews on TripAdvisor
Certificate of Excellence
See the reviews

Northern Lights Vacation Highlights

Picture yourself in a stunning winter landscape in the northern hemisphere. You’re wrapped up warm and the world’s greatest light show is about to begin. Opt for a Nordic Visitor northern lights tour, and you could…

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NORTHERN LIGHTS TOURS

For tips on viewing the northern lights, read on. We’ve answered the most commonly asked questions about Nordic aurora borealis tours here to help you make your dream trip a reality.

Alternatively, find out how to make a booking, have a look at our FAQs, or learn about our Book With Confidence travel plan.

Yes, the Nordics are widely regarded as safe for visitors. Actually, the Nordic nations – Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland – continually rank among the top 10 safest places in the world. This is because they have low crime rates, good standards of healthcare, and excellent road safety.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are a natural phenomenon. You can see them illuminating the sky when charged particles from solar flares collide with atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere, near the North Pole. This collision creates varied shapes and colours that ripple, flash or glow in the sky.

You have the best chance of spotting the aurora borealis in the winter months – October to April. To make out the colours of the aurora, you need dark winter nights. In the summer, daylight hours are so long that you’ll find the sky is too bright to see the glowing lights.

As it is a natural occurrence, spotting the northern lights is not guaranteed. But you can increase your chances of witnessing them by visiting the Arctic Circle in winter.

As you need a dark sky to distinguish the aurora, the best time to see the northern lights is at night. The peak hours tend to be between 11 PM and 2 AM, which is why your guided tour will likely depart after 9 PM.

You could also stay at a hotel with an aurora wake-up service. The staff will let you know if the lights come out late in the night, so you don’t have to stay up waiting for them!

The best time of year to see the northern lights is winter, between October and April. This is when Nordic nights are the longest and darkest, which means you have higher chances of catching sight of the aurora.

Winter is a great time to visit the Nordics for other reasons too. Check out these guides to the top winter activities you can enjoy:

Things to do in Norway in winter

Things to do in Iceland in winter

Things to do in Lapland in winter

You can see the aurora borealis at high northern latitudes, especially around the Arctic Circle, as this is where solar activity is strongest. That’s why the Nordic region is the best place to see the northern lights. Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Svalbard all lie within or near the Arctic Circle.

In fact, Iceland and the northern regions of Norway, Sweden and Finland are located within the “aurora zone”. Also known as the “northern lights belt”, this is a latitudinal band between 65-72°N where high auroral frequency and intensity occurs. Visit this zone for the best chance of seeing the aurora.

Learn more about where and when to see the northern lights with these expert guides:

Best times and places to see the northern lights in Europe

Best times and places to see the northern lights in Iceland

Best times and places to see the northern lights in Norway

Norway, Sweden and Denmark are the countries that make up Scandinavia. If you want to go to Scandinavia to hunt for the aurora borealis, your best bet is to visit the northern parts of this region – Swedish Lapland and Northern Norway. It is unlikely you’ll see the aurora in Denmark.

You can witness the northern lights in the neighbouring Nordic nations of Finland and Iceland too. Although these countries aren’t technically part of Scandinavia, they have many similarities and also happen to be great places to catch the aurora borealis!

Lapland – an area covering northern Sweden and Finland – is a fantastic destination for aurora chasing. You could head to Rovaniemi and Kemi in Finnish Lapland, or Abisko National Park near Kiruna in Swedish Lapland.

Or visit Northern Norway for your aurora borealis tour. Take your pick from Norwegian destinations such as Tromsø, Svalbard, Kirkenes, the Lofoten Islands and Nordkapp (North Cape).

Alternatively, go in search of the aurora borealis in Iceland. With its wide open skies and location near the Arctic Circle, you could see the lights from anywhere in the country. For your best chances though, head away from towns with street lights so you can spot the colours more easily.

In Scandinavia you could seek out the aurora borealis in the countryside or on the coast. Plus, not only can you enjoy northern lights tours, but also bucket list activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling, and staying in an ice hotel.

Discover more reasons to visit Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland on our ultimate Scandinavia guide.

To see the aurora borealis, you need to be in a northern country on a clear, dark night, away from artificial lights. Although the aurora don’t show up on demand, these top tips will give you the best chances of witnessing them.

Firstly, make sure you visit northern regions close to the Arctic Circle. Iceland, Northern Norway, Svalbard and Lapland are the best destinations to see the northern lights in Europe.

Secondly, time your aurora borealis tour for the European winter. The long, dark nights will help you spot the colours lighting up the sky.

Thirdly, avoid light pollution found in built-up areas. This means heading into the countryside where there is less artificial light compared to towns and cities. You could spend some days out in remote areas, or opt for guided evening tours from your city base instead.

Another thing you can do for northern light viewings is check the weather and aurora forecast. Although you can’t do this very far in advance, during your trip you’ll be able to find out if the evening will be clear of cloud or rain and if solar activity will be strong.

You’d also increase your chances of seeing the aurora borealis by taking a guided tour. A local expert would accompany you and take you to all the best spots, sharing their insider knowledge with you.

Read our article on how to see the northern lights for more viewing tips.

When the aurora borealis are treating you to their glorious light show, you might find they glow for a few minutes. The lights can show up several times in one night, or last for a couple of hours in one go.

There is no rule as to how long the aurora borealis last, of course, as they are a natural occurrence. If you see them for yourself, no doubt you’ll cherish every second of their beautiful magic.

The northern lights can be tricky to capture on camera, but with some preparation and the right equipment you can do it. Here are some top tips for photographing the northern lights:

  • Use an SLR camera with manual focus
  • Bring a tripod as you’ll need to do a long exposure shot
  • Get a remote shutter release so you don’t have to touch the camera at all
  • Use a slow shutter speed of between 15 and 30 seconds

For more tips on photographing the aurora, see our northern lights travel guide.

It can get rather cold in the Nordic winter, especially if there’s a cool wind. The last thing you want is to feel the chill while you hunt for the aurora borealis at night. That’s why it’s important you pack the right clothing before your trip.

Many northern lights tours will provide you with thermal suits to help you stay warm while you’re out chasing the aurora. It’s also recommended that you wear warm layers underneath.

Here is an essential packing list:

  • Insulated jacket and trousers (windproof and waterproof)
  • Thermal wool underlayers
  • Warm hat, gloves and scarf
  • Warm and sturdy boots
  • Wool socks
  • Heat packs

Get more packing advice by reading our experts’ tips and tricks on dressing for northern lights viewing.

Yes, you can select your chosen arrival date online when reserving your Nordic Visitor tour. For northern lights packages, the arrival dates are between October and April as this is the aurora viewing season.

Absolutely! If you’d like to spend more time in a particular destination, you can request this when booking your tour online. Your dedicated travel consultant will get in touch to confirm the extra days with you.

If you are taking a small group tour, you can add extra nights to the start or end of your trip. This is because the group tour itself is fixed as you will be exploring with fellow visitors on a fixed itinerary.

You should book your flights once your Nordic Visitor package is confirmed. We recommend you check flights beforehand to find appropriate dates and prices, but only purchase them after your travel consultant has secured your northern lights tour.

Your Nordic Visitor consultant will send you a confirmation email with all the details you need to buy suitable flights.

The weather is somewhat unpredictable in the Nordics, no matter the time of year you visit. In winter you should always come prepared for cold temperatures, which means bringing warm clothing. Here are the essential items that we recommend you pack for your trip:

  • Warm jumpers or fleeces
  • Waterproof and thermal jackets
  • Gloves, scarves and hats
  • Insulated, waterproof boots
  • Thermal underlayers
  • Waterproof trousers
  • Warm socks
  • Heat packs

For more detailed information on what to pack for your Nordic tour, read our travel guides for Iceland, Norway and Lapland.

CONTACT US

Get in touch with us to start planning your trip or for more advice on how to see the aurora borealis. Our travel experts will be delighted to arrange an unforgettable northern lights tour for you.

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