Aurora with Added Extra

The northern lights remain one of the most enigmatic sights in travel. But the Arctic winter (Oct-Mar) is not only the best time to go aurora hunting – it’s also the perfect season to forge out into the icy seas, wild tundra and boreal forests of the far north, leaving behind the Arctic Circle in search of ever-clearer vantage points just to see the northern lights. It’s a cosmic ballet that rarely fails to impress. But you can’t just live for the night, and with a wealth of trips combining seeing the lights with everything from whale-spotting to Arctic bushcraft, there’s plenty to impress even if the lights don’t come out to play…
1. Norway – See the lights ‘guaranteed’
Expert-led lectures and dark Norwegian skies form the backdrop for ‘guaranteed’ aurora-spotting on Hurtigruten’s Astronomy Voyage cruise. Pit-stops include the spectacular Northern Cape and one of the world’s most northerly towns (Hammerfest) en route to and from turning point Kirkenes. Indeed, the tour operator is so confident that you’ll see the lights on this 12-day cruise, they promise free trips to those who don’t see them.
Who: Hurtigruten
When: 21 Mar, 16 Oct, 7 & 13 Nov 2017
How Long: 12 days
2. Sweden – Explore the Arctic Circle on two skis
Have an aurora adventure on KE Adventure’s Inside the Arctic Circle – Skiing the Kings Trail trip. Follow the route that stretches between Abisko NP and Kebnekaise Mountain (skiing about 15km a day), with the former’s sky station and pitch-black nights ideal for seeing the lights. The route demands basic-to- intermediate skiing ability and decent fitness, but its wild valleys and panoramic views en route are more than reward.
Who: KE Adventure
When: 17Feb, 3 Mar &10 Mar 2017
How long: 9 days

3. Alaska, USA – Walk with the Reindeer
Intrepid Travel’s Alaska Northern Lights tour mingles aurora hunting with wild encounters. Explore taiga forest in wild Denali NP before hitting Fairbanks to wander with reindeer at a ranch near the base of Moose Mountain, learning about the animals and their habitat.
Who: Intrepid Travel
When: 8 Feb & 4 Mar 2017
How Long: 8 days

4. North Norway – Whales and Trails
Set sail from Tromsø on Wildfoot Travel’s Whale Safari & Northern Light trip. Spy orca and humpback whales in the frozen waters north of Norway, then trek tiny Sommarøy island, with front-row seats to the finest celestial ballet on Earth.
Who: Wildfoot Travel
When: Selected dates from Oct-Nov 2017
How Long: 8 Days
5. Lapland, Finland – Stargaze from your own igloo
Range across vast frozen forest and fells on Cox & Kings’ Finnish Lapland and the Northern Lights trip. Explore via dog-sled or reindeer-pulled sleigh, then bed down in either snow or glass igloos – the latter allowing you to witness the aurora ripple across the sky through your roof. Cosy.
Who: Cox & Kings
When: Private tours can be arranged between 1 Dec 2016 and 31 Mar 2017
How long: 4 days
6. Yukon, Canada – Shoot the Lights
The Yukon is frontier country; a Gold Rush relic and front row for photographing the northern lights on The Aurora Zone’s Aurora Hunters of the Yukon trip. Head deep into the hills to scout vantage points and learn how to shoot at night, then head back to explore gold-rush towns by day.
Who: The Aurora Zone
When: Selected dates from 1 Jan-8 Apr 2017
How Long: 7 nights

7. Lapland, Sweden – Improve your Arctic bushcraft
Delve into Laponia on Discover the World’s Swedish Lapland: Northern Lights and Sámi Glamping trip and trek Stora Sjöfallet NP, staying with Sámi reindeer-herders. Sleep in lawu tents, explore the history of the area and master your bushcraft skills, before heading to a mountain lodge to soak in pitch-black skies and the aurora.
Who: Discover the World
When: Selected dates from Dec 16-Mar 17
How long: 5 nights
8. Iceland – Stay in an Observatory

Drive the sights of southern Iceland on Taber Holiday’s Hotel Rangá and the Northern Lights trip, cresting the Golden Circle. The real treat, though, is your hotel, where its retractable roof and observatory mean you can watch the lights through Iceland’s most advanced telescope. Handy.
Who: Taber Holidays
When: Daily, until 31 Mar 2017
How Long: 4 days
9. Canada – Break into ‘Polar Bear Jail’
Strike out into Canada’s northern tundra on Grand American Adventures’ Churchill Polar Bear Experience. Stalk boreal forest along the Hudson Bay in search of Arctic foxes and polar bears, then visit Cape Merry, where bears that have wandered into town are ‘jailed’ until release. Try your hand at dog-sledding, then strike out across frozen land to spy the aurora.
Who: Grand American Adventures
When: Selected dates from 10 Octo-14 Nov 2017
How Long: 6 Days