Experience the Aurora Borealis & Arctic Wilderness in Norway
Tromsø
Winter is the season to immerse in deep Arctic calm with snow draped mountains all around, gliding through frozen fjords and rejuvenating in a warm sauna under starlit skies. And what better way to begin the Arctic adventure than in Tromsø, Norway’s capital city!
What I love about this city is how well it blends its indigenous Sami culture with modern day living. During Sami Week in February, the main street of Tromsø hosts an official reindeer racing competition. Unlike what many may believe to be ‘dark winters’, the polar night is interestingly called the night of colors. Because the snow glows deep blue during the blue hour, the sky turns pink and orange when the sun hides below the horizon, and at night, the green aurora moves across the Arctic sky. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world!
Tromso is wrapped with majestic fjords and all through the year, local cruises offer fjord tours to experience the most incredible Arctic landscape!
The elusive Northern Lights
But nothing beats Norway when it comes to Aurora Borealis. This place is the Northern Lights capital because of its unique location at 69° north, right below the aurora oval – an oval-shaped belt around Earth’s magnetic poles where the Northern Lights appear most frequently. This means Tromsø has some of the highest chances anywhere in the world to see the aurora borealis lighting up the night sky, often several nights a week in winter. Located north of the Arctic Circle.
Tromsø enjoys long, dark nights, ideal conditions for experiencing the aurora. Chasing the aurora in a car or through night time fjord cruises is safely ne of the best experiences in the world!
We have been fortunate enough the witness the Aurora Borealis multiple times in Norway, and every time my eyes tear up with gratitude!
Do you know what Aurora Borealis and Hulk have in common? Hint : Norse Mythology. Find out here!
A date with the wild
Northern Norway’s secluded location and acres of wilderness means it is ripe with Arctic wildlife from reindeers and moose, to birds of prey and of course the gentle giants of the oceans!
During winter the humpbacks migrate towards the Norwegian fjords to feed on the rich school of herring before their birthing season! And Norway’s location provides on the of the best feeding grounds for humpbacks, during the months of October – January, after which they begin their migration to Greenland.
What really impresses me every time is how respectful the local boat operators are towards their habitat and space. Though you see the whales up close, there is always a sense of boundary to ensure the animals are not disturbed.
And if you are feeling particularly adventurous there are RIB boat tours to go as close to the humpbacks, or even swim with them in deep sea!
Once in a lifetime experiences
Husky sleding
sami culture interaction
Snow mobile
fjord cruises
Get in touch for your next winter holiday in Northern Norway – Request quote
Best time to visit: October to January
- Final pricing is based on: duration of the trip, seasonal demand, number of guests, customizations/ add ons, special requests.
- Ideally bookings need to be made 6 months in advance to avail the best experiences and accomodations, since winter is the busiest season.
Lofoten Islands
But if you think Norway is just for winter, here is we ask you to rethink!
Autumn brings a quiet romance to Norway – nature in transition, colours at their peak, and a sense of calm that’s deeply restorative. It’s the perfect time for scenic drives in Lofoten, peaceful hikes through a canopy of red, brown, orange and ochre, and slow evenings enjoying local, seasonal cuisine, the sauna or the avanto (skinny dipping in ice cold water combined with a hot sauna season). Your day ends in a secluded lodge or boutique cabin, where you relax by the fire, sip a local beverages, and let the tranquil beauty of the Arctic wrap you completely!
- The best experiences Lofoten has to offer:
- Whale Watching (season starts in August)
- RIB Boat Lofoten Trollfjord Sea Eagle Safari (ages 15 and above)
- Trollfjord Cruise
- Curated day tours to Henningsvær and Haukland
- Curated trip to fishermen villages of Reine,Hamnøy, Sakrisøy and the isolated Nusfjord
- Spend a day at a farm and enjoy lunch with a farm to table experience
- Sauna under the Northern Lights (August onwards)
Driving across the Lofoten Islands
Reine village
Some of world’s best Northern Lights viewing
Å, the last village of the archipelago
Lofoten in winter
fishermen huts
Pod of orcas, the killer whale!
Hiking in Lofoten
Best time to visit – mid April to September
A journey in the Arctic with Masala Chai Travel is a poetic, sensory, slow travel, emotionally grounding and visually extraordinary. You experience the untamed beauty of the region while enjoying the quiet comforts of modern living.
Get in touch for a road trip holiday to Tromsø and Lofoten – Request quote
- Final pricing is based on: duration of the trip, seasonal demand, number of guests, customizations/ add ons, special requests.
- Ideally bookings need to be made 6 months in advance to avail the best experiences and accomodations, since the location is remote.
Customizations include:
- Vegetarian menu/ meal options
- Airport pick up and drop
- A special evening designed for a special day
- Birds of prey experience in RIB boats (ages 15 and above)
Get in touch with us, sharing a bit about your desires from a Tuscan holiday, when do you plan to travel and with whom!
We set up a call with you at the earliest for a chat and design a bespoke package for you! Choose your preferable meeting date from Our Calendar
We send you the package overview within one working week after the call, along with payment details and link.
You confirm your trip with us by paying 30-50% (depending upon the package) of the total trip value. The rest of the payment is requested a month before your travel date.
A kind note from Us:
All our travel plans are custom made, hence we cannot share detailed itineraries/routes etc. on email, whatsapp or any other format before the advance payment. These plans are our creative work and intellectual property, hence reserved for confirmed bookings only.
We design the travel for a limited number of guests throughout the year. That’s why we recommend booking at least six months in advance to secure your favourite stays and experiences.
Masala Chai Travel is registered as a travel organiser in Finland. Customer payments are protected under Finnish travel package regulations.
Most of the images of Northern Norway have been clicked by a dear friend of ours!
