Luxury Northern Lights Holidays
If Northern Lights holidays feature at the top of your bucket list then Off the Map Travel are your go to Northern Lights Holiday experts. Seeing the Northern Lights for the first time is a truly magical experience, whether you are with your partner for a romantic winter break, or with family and friends, it’s a great way to make lasting memories whilst on holiday. You could be on the top of a mountain in complete silence, or on the back of a snowmobile speeding through the forests, we’re here to make your Northern Lights holiday extra special for you, with unique luxury accommodation, personally guided Northern Lights tours, private chefs catering to your every culinary desire using only the best local ingredients, helicopter flights over beautiful winter landscapes and epic waterfalls, and relaxing spa experiences, we’re here to make your holiday dreams a reality.
Our experienced team of Adventure Artists have been lucky enough to visit all of the destinations on our website, and are able to answer any of your questions. They can share their personal experiences and recommendations from their own Northern Lights trips to help to make your Northern Lights holiday a reality, by designing the perfect Northern Lights holiday for you.
Iceland
Experience the beauty of Iceland, with our unique Northern Lights holidays. There is so much to see and do in Iceland, with a range of Northern Lights holiday options from luxury car self-drive adventures in super Jeeps and electric Porsches, privately guided Golden Circle tours, a city break in Reykjavik with Northern Lights hunting tours on your doorstep, to staying in a panoramic glass cabin with great views into nature. See the breathtaking scenery Iceland has to offer, from a bird’s eye view in your own private helicopter, fly over cascading waterfalls, dramatic black sandy beaches and majestic glaciers. Relax in a natural geothermal spa, and dine in fabulous michelin star restaurants with harbour views, and taste freshly caught langoustines and lobster!
Find out more about our luxury Northern Lights holidays in Iceland
© Panorama Glass Lodge - Iceland
Norway
Norway is a fantastic winter destination to go hunting for the Northern Lights. Our luxury holidays in Norway start in Tromso, a central location for a city break, staying in a Junior Suite at The Clarion Edge hotel, sip cocktails in their Skybar overlooking the harbour. Our Northern Lights excursions take you out of the city and beyond to some incredible locations including Senja, Lyngen Alps, and the Lofoten Islands. Dine on board our evening fjord cruise through the peaceful Norwegian fjords, flanked by snow capped mountains and hunt for the Northern lights in nature, and go dog sledding with your very own team of huskies the next day!
We’ll take you out on a private electric snowmobiling tour during the day and Northern Lights hunting snowmobiling tours in the evening. The scenery is stunning, and stopping for lunch on the way gives you time to take in the views of the mountains and nearby fjords, with the air being fresh, take in some deep breaths and saviour the beautiful winter landscape before you. We will head North to get into one of the best locations to go out looking for the Aurora and visit Alta and Kirkenes, and choose to stay in a glass sea cabin overlooking the ocean for a fabulous way to get back to nature and relax with great views out to sea.
Find out more about our luxury Northern Lights holidays in Norway
© Manhausen Cabins
Svalbard
Svalbard is 650km from the North Pole, deep in the Arctic Circle, and the Northernmost point at the top of the world! With a short flight from Oslo or Tromso, Svalbard is a fascinating island, in the middle of winter it is dark for 24hrs a day, as they settle into the Polar Night, you have the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights in the morning, afternoon and night! An opportunity that isn’t possible anywhere else.
During the winter months there is snowmobiling, dog sledding, and we even have snowcat excursions to go Aurora hunting and discover huge ice caves. Svalbard is one of the most adventurous destinations in Norway where one can truly feel like a real explorer, you will have the possibility of seeing polar bears and giant walruses in their natural habitat and stay at the Funken Lodge hotel which is renowned for its great hospitality and champagne tasting evenings! Head out for an epic overnight adventure in a Juva Cabin with your guide, and relax in the sauna before having a fabulous meal in the unique landscape.
Find out more about our luxury Northern Lights holidays in Svalbard
© Hurtigruten Svalbard
Sweden
Swedish Lapland is one of the best locations for a chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Whilst the winter months are the most popular time to visit Sweden, the Autumn season is also beautiful, with no snow, it is warmer, and there are still amazing activities to get involved in, with chances of seeing the Aurora, and see the leaves in the forests change colour with reds, yellows the Ruska is a great season to hike in Sweden.
In Winter, we have Northern Lights holidays that take you to Abisko, where the famous original ICEHOTEL is located, stay in a deluxe suite and drink champagne in the Ice Bar. Lulea is where the amazing Treehotel is based, eight unique rooms suspended in the treetops, with great views out across the forests, and you can book a private access to the sauna and spa on the ground, with a restaurant a short walk away, there is everything you need nearby.
The Arctic Bath is a circular luxury floating spa, with a plunge pool in the middle to jump into after your sauna, with six floating cabins linked to the mainland, and six luxury glass sided three story cabins overlooking the lake on the mainland, this is a great place to relax and treat yourself to a luxury spa experience, with a signature massage during the day and Northern Lights hunting excursions in the evening .
Arctic Retreat is in a small, quiet location on the curve of the Råne River, four luxury log cabins, with floor to ceiling glass elevations, overlooking your private terrace and hot tub, you have the best views, and can relax into nature. Your private chef is on site, and will create a host of delicious menus for you to taste the best local cuisine, and in the evening you can head out on snowshoes, snowmobile or dog sledding to hunt for the Northern Lights.
Find out more about our luxury Northern Lights holidays in Sweden
© Treehotel - Sweden
Finland
Staying in Lapland in Finland during the winter season is an adventure, choose to stay in heated glass roofed aurora cabins, and witness the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed, or stay in a luxury log cabin deep in the forests. With boutique hilltops hotels with views down the mountains from The Eagle Suite, next to an award winning ski resort, Iso-Syote is a great place to start your adventures, with snowmobiling, snowshoeing and dog sledding you can play in this winter wonderland during the daylight hours and hunt for the Northern Lights in the evening. Our Luxury Escape Northern Lights package takes you to a lodge in the woods, with panoramic views and a luxury spa on site. Choose a treatment or two during your stay or head out on snowmobiles and enjoy al-fresco dining by a log fire as part of your trip. Accessible by private helicopter, choose our exclusive use luxury lodge for up to twelve guests for a truly memorable experience at Octola with your own private chef and staff on hand to make sure you have everything catered for whilst you enjoy your luxury Northern Lights holiday in Finland.
Of course Finnish Lapland would not be complete without visiting Santa Claus, and our family adventure package to Rovaniemi is the perfect family holiday for Christmas. Staying near to the Santa Claus village, you will have everything nearby for a truly magical family adventure with Christmas at the heart of your holiday. With private access to Father Christmas himself, you can visit him by dog sled, or by reindeer sleigh and even stay in a glass igloo! This really is the ultimate Santa Claus package for a family adventure in Finland. As we specialise in tailor-made holidays, we can custom create your ideal Santa Claus visit complete with personalised experiences like a personal invitation to Santa’s grotto, along with a private visit and Santa knowing exactly what the little ones have done to make it onto the “nice” list this Christmas.
Find out more about our luxury Northern Lights holidays in Finland
Our luxury tailor-made Northern Lights holidays will take you out hunting for the Northern Lights in style!
© Apukka Resort
What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis (Northern Hemisphere) or Aurora Australis (Southern Hemisphere) are the result of a collision of high energy particles from the sun and atoms high in the atmosphere causing them to become what is known as excited or ionised.
When these elements in the atmosphere return back to a normal state, a proton is released in the form of light, the Aurora, and this is the awe inspiring imagery that makes Northern Lights holidays such a popular bucket list experience.
Origin of the Aurora
The energy that drives the Aurora is generated by the sun and the constant release of high energy particles causing what is called the solar wind. Just like a normal wind the strength and speed of the solar wind can change, depending on what is occurring on the surface of the sun.
Solar flares can cause a high density of these particles to be directed towards Earth, creating a solar storm with high solar wind speeds. In turn this then increases the energy in the upper atmosphere causing large Northern Lights displays.
Colours of the Aurora
Auroras can come in many different colours depending on which chemical elements in the atmosphere are excited when hit by the solar wind.
The different colours seen depend on which element is interacted with, what height they are and what state they are in. If oxygen is involved then the Aurora can be green or red, nitrogen blue or red.
When is the best time to book a luxury Northern Lights holiday?
The best time of year for Northern Lights holidays are between September and March.
The Aurora Borealis is visible from nightfall to sunrise, although the best hours are typically between 9pm and midnight. While you will need to be under open, dark skies for a clear view of the Northern Lights, the Aurora is so powerful that it can still be seen under clouds.
When booking a luxury Northern Lights holiday, it is also good to consider which other winter activities you would like to do – there is a lot to choose from and this will affect where and when you travel.
Northern Lights Myths and Legends
The Northern Lights are surrounded by myth and legend. Even the modern day solar scientists openly admit that there is so much that is still not understood – continuing to fuel appetite for stories passed from generation to generation. Although the first written account of the Aurora is thought to date back to 2,600BC in China, it is a cave painting from southern France from 30,000BC which is believed to be the earliest surviving record of the phenomenon. The Bible is also believed to describe the aurora in the Old Testament *1 as well as references in ancient Greek and Roman literature*2. It’s no wonder that Northern Lights trips are so popular as it looks as though we have been fascinated with theNorthern Lights for as long as records exist.
According to one popular Finnish myth, magical arctic foxes sweeping their tails across the snow and spraying it into the sky is the real reason for the spectacular light show. In fact, the Finnish name for the Northern Lights even translates as ‘fox fires’.
Old Icelandic folklore believed that the Northern Lights would ease the pain of childbirth. It was not all good news for mothers though – it was also thought that pregnant women looking at the Aurora would give birth to cross-eyed children.
Norse mythology connected the Aurora Borealis with war. It was believed that the lights appeared when sunlight reflected on the shiny shields of the Valkyries who were racing across the sky on the way to their resting place, Valhalla.
The Sámi people traditionally lived in a vast Arctic area of northern Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia. With an unparalleled proximity to the northern lights a number of legends to explain the phenomenon were passed through generations.
Believing that the lights were souls of the departed, Sámi believed in behaving solemnly and respectfully whenever the lights were in the sky. Bad fortune awaited anyone who showed them disrespect so many people chose to keep their families indoors when the lights were on display.
It was also believed that if you whistle a tune under the lights, it would summon the spirits closer and closer, until you were whisked away.
On a positive note, they also believed that the lights were also considered to have the power to aid conflict resolution.
The Scandinavian name for the Aurora translates as ‘herring flash’ as it was believed that the dancing whirls of green light were a reflection of huge schools of herring in the sea. Whenever the lights were visible, fishermen were expected to be blessed with good catches of fish.
According to Swedish legend, a winter with frequent displays of the Northern Lights served to predict a good yield of crops the following year.
In Norwegian folklore, the Northern Lights were thought to be the spirits of old maids dancing in the sky and waving at those below them.
Make your dream Northern Lights holiday a reality
We’re always happy to discuss your dream luxury Northern Lights holidays, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. The destinations for our Northern Lights trips are hand selected by our travel designers who have visited each location, they can apply their expert knowledge to planning your perfect Northern Lights holiday.
Simply get in touch by using one of the telephone numbers listed below, emailing us directly at [email protected], or using our contact form below.
See the Northern Lights in style! Luxury tailor-made Northern Lights Holidays in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland.
