The Northern Lights of Northen Norway

The lively city of Tromsø is surrounded by the Lyngen Alps, steep mountains and huge glaciers. Spend several days exploring the hidden paradise in the heart of these unique mountains and discover the mysterious island of Senja. Every night, providing the weather is favourable, the aurora borealis illuminate your evening. If luck is on our side you will get to enjoy daily colourful displays of the ever-changing and truly magical Northern Lights. The nature of northern Norway is truly remarkable...

Itinerary

Day 1 Tromsø

Transfer from Tromsø airport to the centre of town where you meet the rest of your group and guide for a briefing and official welcome. Evening at leisure to explore the intriguing city of Tromsø, nestled among mountains and fjords, where traditional wooden houses co-exist with impressive modern architecture.

Meals not included
Accommodation: Hotel, Tromsø
Day 2 The Lyngen Alps

Today we travel to the rugged peaks of the Lyngen Alps where we settle into guesthouse accommodation for two nights. This afternoon we begin to discover the striking glacial valleys characteristic of this part of Northern Norway. Weather permitting, after dark, we will go out hunting for the Northern Lights in this unique landscape.

Transport: A 2 hour minibus and ferry journey
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 3 Lyngsdalen Glacial Valley

This morning we explore the valley which is home to Sydtbrenn and Mydtbreen glaciers. Then, we drive along Lyngenfjord to the start of our hike. We walk along the riverbed through the valley which was carved by the last ice age to the front of the glaciers. A stunning day between sea and mountains as is only possible in the Lyngen Alps. At the end of the day, we return to our accommodation.

2 hours of hiking
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 4 Senja Island and Mount Sukertopen

Direction Senja Island via Finnsnes. We take the road to reach our accommodation for the next few days. Comfortable, warm and relaxing, you will fully appreciate its exceptional location by the sea.
In the afternoon we leave for a hike in the direction of Mount Sukkertopen, literally, the Sugar Loaf. During this hike you can admire the Bergsfjorden, and the Norwegian Sea which is offered to you in a supernatural landscape, sheltering the chain of islets of Hamn.

2 hours of hiking
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 5 Senja Island, Mefjorddalen

Morning departure to hike towards Mefjorddalen. We take the road that runs along the Ersfjord with its magnificent views.
Once there, we take the direction of Mount Knuten, from where we will have the chance to have a very beautiful panorama on the northeast slope of the Dents du Diable. We then head north to find the atmosphere of the fjords and end the hike through the charming village of Mefjord.This afternoon We return to our accommodation, rest, relax and enjoy dinner together in a friendly atmosphere. This evening, weather permitting, we will go hunting for the Northern Lights.

3 hours of hiking
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Day 6 Husfjellet

Mount Husfjellet is an accessible mountain to the north of the island with spectacular views of the Altantic Coast and Senja. From the top you can see almost all of the surrounding mountains from Berg Island in the south to Okshornan Ersfjorden and Steinsfjorden. This evening, after dinner, is our last outing in search of the Northern Lights.

3 hours of hiking
Guesthouse accommodation
Day 7 Tromsø

Today we take the minibus across Senja Island to Tromsø arriving in the late morning. We settle into our accommodation in the city centre then enjoy the afternoon exploring this charming city known as the Paris of the North. Our guides have lots of recommendations for your time in Tromsø, you can to visit the Cathedral, the Polar Museum or the Northern Lights Museum...

Accommodation: Hotel, Tromsø
Breakfast is included but not lunch or dinner, perhaps we can all enjoy a meal together in a local restaurant for our final evening
Day 8 Farewell Norway

Free time in function with your flights.

Certain hikes may be done with snowshoes depending on the weather conditions, notably during February and April departures. No previous snowshoeing experience is required and specialist equipment will be provided.

The details in this programme are regularly updated but imponderables and unpredictable circumstances may result in inaccuracies. In order to provide the adventure which is best suited to your demands, the weather and the operational conditions, changes to the itinerary may be made. For safety reasons, we reserve the rights to interrupt your participation at any time if your technical level or fitness is deemed unsuitable or if you are seen as a danger to yourself or to those around you. This will in no case give rise to refunds or compensation.

Special Christmas and New year eve special dates (12/20 and 12/27) : a festive meal at the restaurant on the island of Senja is included the 12/24 and the 12/31.

Dates & prices

International departures:

No departure for now

Departures for French-speaking groups:

No departure for now

Trip code: ENORABVA

Included

All in-country transfers as detailed in itinerary in a private minibus
Hotel and Norwegian guesthouse accommodation
Full-board except for meals in Tromsø
Luggage transportation
Supervision by a qualified Altai Guide
Technical equipment like snowshoes provided if necessary
For the "New Years Eve" dates (20/12 and 27/12): a festive meal at the restaurant on the island of Senja.

Not included

Your international flights and air taxes
Insurance
Tips, drinks and personal expenses
Airport transfers

Notes

Level 2/5 Easy

Pace: Easy to moderate

Daily walking time: 3 to 5 hours

Daily elevation: 500 m

Preparation: We recommend that at least one month before departure, you improve your stamina by training once a week.

Experience: You should enjoy walking for several days in a row. Regular hiking practice is preferable.

Please note that you may find yourself in an international group with travelers from different backgrounds.

Terms and conditions

Booking conditions

Booking a trip with Altai Norway implies acceptance of the terms and conditions of sale. Each customer is required to complete a registration form and, subject to availability at the time of registration, travellers are expected to pay a deposit of 30% of the total price to complete their booking. Payments can be made online or by bank transfer. You will receive an e-mail with your booking confirmation.

Invoice procedure

Once your booking is confirmed you will receive an invoice by e-mail. The full balance of the trip must be received at least 30 days before your departure date. We reserve the right to cancel your booking, free of charge, if this deadline is not respected.

Cancellation policy

If for any reason you have to cancel your trip, we require written confirmation of your decision. The money you have paid will then be refunded according to the following deductions:

Cancellation received more than 30 days prior to the departure date: a sum of €50 per person will be retained
Cancellation received 30 to 21 days before the departure date: your deposit, 30% of the total trip price will be retained
Cancellation received 20 to 14 days before the departure date: 50% of the total trip price will be retained
Cancellation received 13 to 7 days before the departure date: 75% of the total trip price will be retained
Cancellation received less than 7 days before the departure date: 100% of the total trip price will be retained

Special cases:

Please note that, regardless of the date of cancellation or modification if you have agreed to pay for services such as hotel reservations, flights or additional activities, these services are usually non-refundable so additional fees may apply.

Fixed airfares: if your airline ticket was issued in advance, often done to avoid significant surcharges, you will be charged 100% of any non-refundable fees if you wish to change or cancel your flight plan.

Fixed in-country costs: early charges for firm bookings will be charged if you cancel or modify your trip.Insurance costs: if you have taken out comprehensive or cancellation insurance, the cost of insurance is due and cannot be refunded.

Please note that fees apply according to the date we receive your cancellation or modification request in writing.

If we have to cancel a departure due to an insufficient number of participants, you will be informed no later than 21 days before departure and a full refund will be issued, you will not be entitled to further compensation. We reserve the rights to cancel departures due to exceptional circumstances which may impact the safety of participants. Such circumstances include those amounting to 'force majeure' in which case participants will receive a full refund but they will not be entitled to any compensation.

Changes to travel contract

If you wish to make a change to your booking please contact Altai Norway in writing; you will be expected to pay any fee which might arise from this change. In the event of unforeseen external events, Altaï Norway may change some aspects of the travel contract. If any changes are necessary you will be informed as quickly as possible.

Pricing

The prices on our website are updated regularly and all of the prices we advertise are accurate when published. We reserve the rights to make changes to any of these prices. Before you make a booking we will give you the up-to-date price of your chosen holiday including any supplements, upgrades or additional activities you may have requested. If the number of travellers is fewer than the indicated number of participants on the website, a small group surcharge may be applied. For all of our trips we include details of services, prices and what is/is not included but please be aware that changes to the prices may be necessary in accordance with exchange rates or price changes of various components of the journey.

Contract transfer

If you are unable to travel for any reason, you can transfer your booking to another person in which case our modification conditions apply. Both the transferor and transferee will be jointly and severally liable for payment of the total holiday price and other associated expenses. Some airline carriers treat name changes as cancellations and you may be required to pay for the cost of a new ticket.

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out personal travel insurance for your trip with Altaï Norway as soon as your booking is confirmed. We advise you to purchase a travel insurance policy which covers flight cancellations, luggage loss and emergency health care. Please look carefully at which activities are covered by your insurer and do not forget to bring all necessary documents and information with you (name of the company, name of the contract, insurance policy number, telephone number...)

Practical info

Staff

Armed with an abundance of experience and a wealth of knowledge our professional Altai Norway team know the country inside out. Activities are lead by our qualified guides who are all English-speaking, all practicing outdoor practitioners and all incredibly passionate about Norway, the country they are based in for several months a year.

Food

This trip includes full board except for meals in Tromsø. We are proud of the fresh and frankly delicious food we provide despite latitudes of 68° North.

Each day begins with a hearty breakfast served at your accommodation with plenty of tea and coffee. Every morning, you and your guide will prepare a picnic lunch for the day featuring local foods: sandwiches, salads, fruits, cakes and dried fruits as well as thermoses for hot soup, coffee and tea. Evening meals are prepared together with your guide based on available local products. During your stay, you will have the opportunity to taste grilled or smoked salmon (laks), water-cooked and fresh shrimp (reker/ferske reker) andcod (torsk).

Drinks

Do not forget that alcohol and cigarettes are heavily taxed and expensive in Scandinavia. If you wish to enjoy an aperitif with your group in the evenings we recommend purchasing duty-free products at the airport.

Accommodation

This trip uses hotel and private apartment guesthouse type accommodation with double or twin rooms. This good quality, warm accommodation includes all the essential Norwegian comforts. Single rooms available subject to availability, please contact us.

Transportation

Tromso airport is around 10-15 minutes from downtown Tromso. Transfer possible by bus or taxi depending. Airport transfers included depending on your arrival times.

Budget & exchange

The currency is the Norwegian Krone (kr)

Visit http://www.xe.com for the latest currency converter and exchange rates.

You can withdraw the local currency from in-country ATMs and payment by card is widely accepted. Please budget for meals and transport as necessary, drinks, tips, museum entry fees and other personal expenses.

Tips

Although the custom is not widespread in Norway, if you are satisfied with the services of your guide, tipping is always appreciated - it is not obligatory and should be left to the discretion of each individual.

Supplied equipment

If the weather requires, we will provide you with:

Snowshoes
Warm snow boots (Sorel)
A quality winter jacket and overtrousers (to wear in addition to, not instead of, your warm clothes)

Vital equipment

Quality hiking boots (with sturdy soles and ankle support)
Slippers for evenings
Thick socks for hiking
A waterproof jacket (the best jackets against Northern weather are windproof, waterproof and breathable with sealed seams)
A warm jacket (a synthetic down jacket is ideal) for lunch breaks and evening Northern Lights outings
A warm jumper (fast drying fleece or warm when wet wool, ideal)
Thermal long johns and long sleeved tops
Waterproof trousers
Pyjamas
Gloves, a hat and buff or suitable scarf
A bathing suit and travel towel for saunas

Material

We prefer that you do not wear cotton clothing, including underwear, when participating in activities. When cotton gets wet from water or sweat it ceases to insulate and it does not dry fast. The best materials for outdoor activities are fast drying materials like polyester or materials which are warm when wet like wool. The most powerful materials against the wind and rain are 'breathable' materials like Gore-Tex or Nikwax.

Our advice for keeping warm

Winter in Norway can be very cold, please think carefully about what clothes you bring, although we will provide warm outer layers, the layers you wear next to your skin make the biggest difference. We recommend:

No cotton
Bring dry spares of everything, even underwear and gloves
Wear multiple layers including:
1. A warm breathable base layer
2. A second thermal layer
3. Wind and waterproof protective out layer (we provide an additional quality jacket and over trousers.

Helpful equipment

You may also consider packing

Evening outfits for Tromso
Extra gloves/overgloves
An extra jumper/fleece jacket
Wetwipes
Blister plasters
A suitable camera
Plastic bags for wet/dirty clothing
Tissues

Luggage

Please bring a small rucksack to use as a day bag. You can bring this as hand luggage on the aeroplane. You will carry your lunch, water, spare layers and any personal medication with you each day in this bag. You will also need a larger bag to store your other clothes and belongings in, please ensure that this is a soft bag like a rucksack or holdall rather than a hard cased suitcase because it is more practical to transport. We recommend packing all of your clothes in plastic bags so that they stay dry in the event of wet weather.

Medicine

Your guide is a trained first-aider and will carry a first aid kit at all times during your trip for use in emergencies. We recommend that you bring your own first aid kit containing any personal medication, blister plasters, painkillers and suchlike. Do not forget suncream.

Passport

Most travellers require a passport that is valid for at least three months after the return date. It is your responsibility to confirm your specific passport requirements and please be aware that proof of onwards travel may be required. You can check your requirements on the website provided by the Norwegian government: www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/persons-who-do-not-need-a-visa-to-visit-norway-/#link-709

Visa

Most travellers from EU states do not need a VISA to visit Norway as it is part of the Schengen agreement. This does not apply to travellers of other nations. It is your responsibility to confirm your specific visa requirements. You can check the following Norwegian government website for more information: www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/persons-who-do-not-need-a-visa-to-visit-norway-/#link-709

Mandatory vaccines

There are no specific health risks.

Weather

In winter, the weather in Northern Norway is subject to frequent changes. This part of Norway, the Arctic Zone, benefits from a surprisingly pleasant micro climate. At a latitude of 68° North and 300km North of the Arctc Circle, summer here is relatively mild with average temperatures of around 14°C (57°F). However, it is humid and does rain regularly. Good quality (breathable with sealed seams) rain clothing, jacket and trousers are paramount.

Keep in mind this Norwegian proverb when packing: 'There is no bad weather, only bad clothing'

Electricity

In Norway, the standard Europlug (Type C & F) with two round prongs is used and most of Scandinavia uses 220 volts.

Local time

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)/ Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) +1. Daylight Savings Time (DST) is observed.

Sustainable tourism

As adventure and wilderness travel experts who run trips to some of the most remote parts of the world, we take responsible tourism very seriously.

We respect the ‘Leave No Trace’ outdoor ethical code and try to explore this beautiful location whilst causing minimal environmental damage.

The Leave No Trace policy can be summarized in 7 simple steps which we hope you will follow during ourtrip...

Be prepared
Stick to trails and camp overnight right
Stash your trash and pick up waste
Leave it as you find it
Be careful with fire
Respect wildlife
Be considerate of other visitors

Over the years we have built up good relations with our local suppliers and we are keen to support local businesses as much as possible. We are a small company and we pay our local partners and suppliers directly insuring fair rates.

Our small group sizes not only provide a more intimate adventure but also cause less impact on the environment and local communities.

We expect all who travel with us to support and uphold our Sustainable Tourism philosophies.

If you have any questions regarding how to be a responsable traveller or concerning any other subject, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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My local agent
Alix

After a turn around the world of few years and a residency in Finland, i am now at your service to develop the trip of your dreams to visit Norway's beutiful wilderness.
Adaptable, flexible and at your service, my knowledge of sports, adventure and scandinavian culture is at your service if you have any questions/

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Region: Senja Island Tromsø and the Lyngen Alps
Activity: Snowshoeing The Northern Lights Winter
Duration: 8 days
Group: 5 to 8 people
Code: ENORABVA
Price: From €1,850
Level: 1/5
Comfort: 3/5
Language(s): English / French

Strengths

Maximum chances to see the Northern Lights with daily outings after dark
Comfortable accommodation
Small group travel, maximum 8 people

Required level

DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2/5

Daily walking time: 3 to 5 hours.

Daily elevation: 500 m.

This trip is accessible to those in fair physical health who enjoy walking. Regular hiking practice is preferable.

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The Northern Lights of Northen Norway