Chasing the Northern Lights is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and something that draws many travelers to Norway's upper reaches. The country is the perfect setting to spot the colorful aurora borealis. This bucket-list experience can be easily combined with snowshoeing, dogsledding, reindeer feedings, cultural activities, or simply relaxing under the polar night sky.
Dogsledding is one of those quintessential Norwegian activities that you can enjoy throughout the country's northern reaches in wintertime. From the charming eastern village of Røros to the city of Tromsø or the northern hub of Alta, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy this cultural experience. Even in the summer months, you can still hike with the Huskies and learn about their lives outside of winter.
Located in the northernmost county of Norway (Finnmark), the city of Alta lies in an area with a relatively mild climate. With this winter-themed adventure, you'll meet huskies and reindeer, see UNESCO-protected rock carvings, experience Sami culture, and enjoy snow activities. Easily reachable by plane, the area offers forests, mountain plateaus, and coastal landscapes bathed in distinctive blue light—perfect for star gazing and searching for the Northern Lights.
Discover the winter landscape of Norway's northernmost county and the town of Alta, where you'll enjoy a dog sled ride through the snowy scenery. Transfer to a lodge of cozy tents with woodstoves and floor-to-ceiling windows for optimal viewing of the Northern Lights, as well as the opportunity for skiing, ice skating, snowmobiling, and hiking. End the trip with the indigenous Sami community, where you'll learn about their local culture and enjoy a thrilling reindeer sledding experience.
The town of Alta lies in Norway's northernmost district, above the Arctic Circle, making it a prime location for winter fun. On this seasonal jaunt, you'll partake in dog-sledding, skiing, and other snow activities with views of mountain plateaus bathed in a brilliant blue light (distinctive to this part of Norway). At night, spend your evenings searching for the Northern Lights from cozy igloo hotels and luxury lavvu tents.
This tour starts in the city of Alta, located in the northernmost county of Norway and surrounded by incredible Arctic scenery with opportunities to ski, hike, snowmobile, sled, and ice skate. After exploring the city and the Alta Fjord, you'll transfer to a wilderness lodge to enjoy dinners in a renovated barn and a thrilling dog sled ride through the snowy landscape. Sleep under the stars and the Northern Lights in your own insulated bungalow, complete with a wood stove.
Most people visiting Alta spend about a week to eight days in Norway, which usually includes some time in Tromsø as well. If you're only headed to Alta, you can enjoy a comfortably-paced trip in four to six days. A fast-paced highlights trip is possible in three days for travelers with limited time. Check out our favorite Alta trips below.
This exciting and less-traveled winter adventure takes you deep into Norway's boreal territory. Your week-long tour between November and April begins in the quietly sophisticated city of Tromsø, where you can sled with huskies during the day and chase the Northern Lights after dark. Continue to Alta by car or bus for snowsports in the Arctic wilderness and a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of rock carvings. To up the Alta adventure factor, spend your last two nights in a nearby hotel made of snow and ice.
This relaxed road trip explores an area of Norway's Arctic rarely visited by tourists. Start in fjord-side Alta and drive inland to experience indigenous culture while staying in a cozy wilderness lodge. You'll then make your way toward the northernmost tip of the continent for hiking trails, colorful villages, and breathtaking views. Spend each night looking for early glimpses of the northern lights—they usually start in October.
Most travelers will find that a week to eight days is perfect for a well-paced Norway trip with stops in both Alta and Tromsø. It's also possible to hit the highlights in five or six days if you don't mind a fast-paced journey. Travelers with more time can enjoy extra sights and activities at each stop or explore more of the country—some favorite itinerary extensions include Oslo, Inner Troms, or Lyngen. Keep reading for more inspiring Alta and Tromsø itineraries.
This exciting and less-traveled winter adventure (November to April) takes you deep into Norway's boreal territory for spectacular snowcapped scenery. The tour begins in the quietly sophisticated city of Tromsø where you can sled with huskies during the day and chase the Northern Lights after dark. Continue to Alta for snowsports in the Arctic and a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of rock carvings.
For dog lovers, this unique, hands-on experience in Norway's Finnmark County can't be beaten. You'll start off with two days in Alta for a chance to explore this small coastal city and take part in wintry activities before heading out for three days in the Arctic wilderness. With the help of your private guide, you'll get to know the Huskies by name, drive your own sleigh, and enjoy traditional meals (some served over a campfire). In the evenings, participate in taking care of the dogs before you fall to sleep in cozy cabins while searching for the Northern Lights.
Journey deep into Norway's boreal territory on this 8-day winter adventure. Begin in the far northern city of Tromsø, where you'll sled with reindeer during the day and chase the aurora borealis after dark. Continue to Alta (known as "the town of the northern lights") for snowcapped scenery and winter sports in the Arctic wilderness. After skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding your way through the wintry landscapes, spend your evenings warming up in the sauna and stargazing in a rustic lodge.
Looking for the family-friendly Norwegian adventure of a lifetime? Starting in Tromsø, "Gateway to the Arctic," you and your family will continue to historic Alta and Senja Island. Along the way, you'll get up close to reindeer, huskies, and whales, learn to snowshoe and cross-country ski, tour an igloo hotel, and, of course, hunt the northern lights. This trip will surely give your family more than a few exciting memories and stories to tell!
This exciting and less-traveled winter adventure takes you deep into Norway's boreal territory for spectacular snowcapped scenery. The trip kicks off in Tromsø, a sophisticated little city known as the 'Paris of the North'. From here, make your way east to Kirkenes—traveling by bus—while taking advantage of unique Arctic excursions and numerous possibilities for spotting the Northern Lights.
This 12-day itinerary is ideal for travelers who prefer to skip the peak-season crowds. The adventure kicks off in Norway's up-and-coming capital where you'll explore Oslo's best neighborhoods on your own and with a local guide. From here, travel by train, ferry, and bus to get to Bergen with a peaceful two-night stay in Aurland along the way. After exploring Bergen's museums, Christmas markets, and nearby fjords, you'll fly above the Arctic Circle to sled with huskies and hunt for the Northern Lights.
This wintry experience in Norway's Finnmark region starts with a night in Alta before three days of dogsledding in the Arctic wilderness. With the help of a private guide, you'll get to know the huskies by name and drive your own sleigh before falling asleep in cozy cabins—or staying up to search for the Northern Lights.
This exciting 13-day adventure—between late February to early April—takes you deep into Norway's boreal territory for unique winter-themed activities and few crowds. After a few days in Oslo, it's time to fly to Tromsø, 'Gateway to the Arctic', where you'll experience local culture and a farm in the wilderness. Then, drive to Alta, Karasjok, and the North Cape for UNESCO-listed rock art, Sami culture, dog sledding, and hiking around Europe's northernmost point before circling back along the stunning coast.
Escape to Norway's far north this summer for 10 days of luxury and adventure under the midnight sun. The journey begins above the Arctic Circle in Bodø, a scenic coastal town where you'll zip across fjords in a Zodiac and soar over glaciers in a helicopter. Continue the Arctic expedition to the snowcapped Lyngen Alps and the UNESCO-listed Lofoten Islands to visit the world's northernmost whisky distillery, go surfing (that's right), and meet the local Sámi Indigenous people and their trusty reindeer.
Skip the summer crowds with this autumn-themed itinerary in Norway's far north. The adventure begins in Tromsø—'Gateway to the Arctic'—with time to explore the city and a nearby farm. From here, you'll ferry to Senja island and then cruise to the northernmost point of Europe. Continue by bus to Alta for UNESCO-listed rock carvings before returning to Tromsø. Activities depend on the snow (or lack thereof), and each night presents another opportunity to spot the Northern Lights.
Wild, rugged, and beautiful—these are a few words that describe Norway's dazzling Arctic Circle. Over 10 days, you'll discover the highlights and hidden gems of this Polar region in luxurious style, starting at a chic wilderness lodge in Alta. After snowmobile rides and northern lights spotting, it's on to Tromsø for a day of dogsledding. Then, you'll hop on a luxury cruiser for an overnight journey to the famous Lofoten Islands, where horseback rides, kayaking, and well-deserved sauna sessions await.
This scenic winter adventure traverses the Norwegian Arctic and checks off a number of natural and cultural sites starting in the city of Tromsø, nicknamed 'Paris of the North'. From here, hit the road and see rock art in Alta, learn about the indigenous Sami people in Karasjok, and visit a hotel made of snow along the Finnish/Russian border. Each day ends with another opportunity to view the Northern Lights in this beautiful and remote part of the world.
This two-week adventure from late September to late March covers a great deal of Norwegian ground for an unforgettable winter trip. You'll experience snow-covered scenery as you visit Norway's lower half (Oslo, Flåm, Bergen) before flying north to the Arctic Circle. From Bodø, you'll catch a ferry to the Lofoten Islands—the southwestern point of this dramatic archipelago with granite mountains shooting up from the sea. Finish the tour with an overnight coastal steamer and enjoy unique activities in Tromsø and Alta before returning back to Oslo for one more night on the town.
This exciting two-week road trip from late February to early April takes you deep into Norway's boreal territory for unique winter-themed activities and few crowds. Your self-drive tour begins from Tromsø, 'Gateway to the Arctic', where you can ride a cable car, meet reindeer, and chase the Northern Lights after dark. Continue to Alta for some of the oldest rock art in existence today (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and a 3-day dogsledding tour. From here, drive to Karasjok and Europe's northernmost point where you can hike along the stunning North Cape before flying to Oslo for one more night on the town.
In Bergen, you can enjoy a local tour of this cobble-stoned wharf city before taking a scenic train journey to Geilo where you will have a day of skiing. The railway will then take you to Aurland, where you'll have a cruise on Nærøyfjord and then depart to Oslo for two nights on the Flåm Railway before flying to Tromsø. Here, you will chase the northern lights in a sled pulled by reindeers and enjoy an authentic wilderness hunting experience—and you'll then make your way to Alta—where you will discover rock art and stay overnight in the Igloo Hotel.
There's no need to rough it on a winter adventure above the Arctic Circle—this two-week trip combines some of Norway's most remote destinations with exceptional luxury accommodations. Kick things off with a dinner cruise in Oslo, then fly north to Alta for outdoor excursions and 5-star service at a wilderness lodge. Continue to Lyngen for northern lights spotting from your own glass igloo, and on to the coast for horseback riding and bespoke culinary experiences in the gorgeous Lofoten Islands.
