Norway is a country of almost unbelievable natural beauty. From its fairytale like fjords to its glacier plateaus, to its incredible mountain backdrops which lead to it being one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Aside from this natural scenery, its towns and cities also have so much to offer visitors. The northerly city of Tromsø offers internationally renowned restaurants and hotels, alongside shops, museums and galleries. These towns have the added bonus of having Arctic wilderness at their doorstep, offering everything from chasing the majestic northern lights to dog sledding to cross-country skiing to a night in an ice igloo.
Experiencing the unbelievable colours moving across the Arctic sky is on many traveller's bucket list. Few places on earth offer more ways to witness the aurora borealis and one of them is Tromso, Norway. Located at nearly 70° north between fjords, mountain peaks and islands, Tromsø is a great starting point for Arctic adventure. Tromsø offers one of the highest probabilities of experiencing the northern lights. Here, we could feel the fresh air and had exciting experiences in the arctic snow.
On a very basic level the northern lights are quite simple to explain. The northern lights stem from when large numbers of electrically charged particles (electrons) at high speed stream in towards the Earth along its magnetic field and collide with the highest air particles. The air then lights up rather like what happens in a fluorescent light tube. It's like a celestial ballet of light dancing across the night sky, with a colour palette (green, pink, violet) reminiscent of a really cool fashion show from the 1980s. So the charged particles originate from the sun, and it is the 'weather' conditions on the sun that decide whether or not we will see the aurora.
For us, due to cloudy weather conditions in Tromso, we had to travel our way out to hunt for clear sky. And after 3 hours of drive to Finland, we found beautiful, clear sky - full of stars. We picked a perfect spot away from the pathway and built our campfire. This was one of the most adventurous trip I have experienced till now. Sitting in the dark, along the fire, under the sky waiting for the lights to show up was the most interesting part. But the moment majestic lights showed up we were filled with joy and yes - the way they danced, completely won our heart.
Would you like to experience the sound of silence as you travel into a perfectly beautiful Norwegian nature landscape with your very own dog-sled team? Chasing Lights arranged an unique dog sledding experience in the heart of Norway known for their mythical beauty. To get the taste of the real musher's life, exploring mountains and valleys with the energetic dogs was the perfect choice for us.
During this activity each member of the expedition was be responsible for his or her own team of dogs and we will give us the experience of every aspect of life as a musher in the Arctic. The experienced guides showed us everything we needed to know, so no need to worry if you've never tried it before. The trip lasted for about 2 hours; the route will be worked out according to the conditions and your skill.
Don't miss the stunning fjord sceneries in any season! But in winter season, we experienced a blue-rose variety of light, coming from a sun under the horizon or very closed to it, which was breath taking. By car, we discovered the dramatic fjord scenery to the island of Sommarøy, located in the Norwegian Sea. Our first stop was at beautiful Kvaloya and we already felt the majesty of nature. Driving through steep mountain chains, rough valleys all the way to Kvaloya and the Norwegian Sea is quite mesmerising.
A walk on the land of a fisherman family offered us a unique view of snowy beaches, steep mountains and islands surrounded by green-blue water. Once we reached Sommarøy we picked up a perfect spot to have our meals along with hot chocolate and continuously enjoyed the sights of the island. We even spotted reindeer in the open field and whales like humpback and orca in the fjords, close to the shore line. In Norway every tour is unique and personal, depending on the nature, the weather and, of course, what you wish to experience.
From late October to mid February, the world's biggest mammal visit the coast outside Tromsø to feed on herrings. The most common whale species we saw were the humpback whale, killer whale (orca), harbour porpoise and fin whale. We departed from Tromsø city center - Kystens Hus at 9:00. Once we reached the whale feeding site, we stayed on the boat for about 1 and 1/2 hours.
Our qualified guide that gave us the instructions about the safety rules on board and also described the whales we spotted during our trip. We ended the trip with some home-made chocolate cake and hot chocolate which was like cherry on the top. One of the biggest travel expenses and time-consuming tasks is booking accommodation, and we all want to save time and hopefully some money when searching for deals online.
Whilst there are plenty of websites these days to help you search for accommodation, some are more trustworthy than others, and some are easier to navigate than others.
Accommodation in Norway
Booking.com:
I'm sure you are already familiar with, they are my all-time favourite with a lot of different types of accommodation you can book on their website, including private villas, homestays, and hotels. In my opinion, these are the best accommodation websites. And if the above options aren't enough for your style or budget, you can even book lodges, chalets, luxury tents, campsites and more
AirBnb:
It is an online marketplace and hospitality service, enabling people to list or rent short-term lodging including vacation rentals, apartment rentals, homestays, hostel beds, or hotel rooms.
Keep exploring!