Chasing the Northern Lights in Norway
"There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing," the locals in Northern Norway will tell you. As we tackled the treacherous wind and snow storm on our group expedition to the North Cape, we were prepared for anything the Arctic wanted to throw at us.
Wearing thermals, waterproof jackets and trousers topped off with bulky snow suits, we mounted our snowmobiles and embarked on a night-time journey from the city of Honningsvag to the northernmost point of mainland Europe where we were to become the first adventurers to travel to the cape at night. It was -26C but the excitement of standing at the edge of Europe took over. Our journey by snowmobile was almost cancelled due to the snow storm, a reminder that no matter what we had planned to see in this beautiful country the weather could rapidly change things (often adding to the excitement). Determined to make it to the North Cape, we were undeterred by the blizzard and soon given the green light by our guides.
Halfway to our destination, we witnessed the most magical scene. As we switched off the lights of our snowmobiles, we looked up to a vast swirling Northern Lights display. The whole sky was illuminated by the dancing green lights and with our cameras safely packed away in our luggage we watched the incredible show without the distraction of technology.
Beate Juliussen/www.nordnorge.com
Once we reached the North Cape, we stood at the iconic globe monument, where only the Svalbard Islands separated us from the North Pole. A champagne celebration and presentation of certificates for our achievement later, we were off to sleep in the visitor centre, a unique experience like a night at a museum.
Back in mainland Europe's northernmost city Honningsvag after a scenic snowmobile ride in the morning, there was fresh king crab and an outdoor hot tub awaiting us where we could relax and reflect on the unforgettable night before...
While many winter visitors to Northern Norway arrive on cruise ships to witness its famous Aurora Borealis and rugged landscapes from the Norwegian Sea, experiencing the dramatic scenery on land makes for a truly adventurous holiday. The unpredictable weather and sub-zero temperatures allow you to see Norway in its extreme form for a real adventure of a lifetime.
The Northern Lights might be top of your things to see in Northern Norway (and we'd definitely recommend chasing them here where we saw the lights three nights out of four), but there's much more to this breathtaking part of Europe. Ice hotels, dog sledding and Alta's UNESCO-protected rock carvings are just a few of the things you won't want to miss on a trip to this wonderful winter destination.
Discover why Northern Norway is one of our favourite places for a winter adventure below:
Get there: SAS flies from London, Manchester and Edinburgh to Norway, from £140 return.
Download: The Norway Lights app for iPhone and Android provides three-day and hourly forecasts for Norway's Northern Lights cities.
Visit: nordnorge.com and visitnorway.com for help planning your holiday to Northern Norway.
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