Where to see The Northern Lights

Iceland

Fire, Ice & Exclusive Views

A magical story unfolds under Iceland’s Arctic skies: from the animated waves of the Aurora Borealis to a cinematic ensemble of glacier, lava, and steam. This six-day itinerary blends exceptional luxuries and bespoke wintertime experiences with Iceland’s extraordinary volcanic-formed natural beauty. Your journey begins in Reykjavík, the Icelandic capital, where you’re greeted with fast-track airport assistance before your private driver whisks you to the serene 4-bedroom Lakeview Villa on the shores of Thingvellir Lake. Once there, you’ll find waiting for you a jacuzzi, fireplace, and mesmerising dark sky vistas, elevated by sightings of the aurora directly from your lakeside deck.

Days viewing the Northern Lights in Iceland unfold with guided explorations of the Golden Circle, where you’ll walk the otherworldly rift valleys of Thingvellir National Park, marvel at the cascades of Gullfoss waterfall, and witness the geothermal theatrics of the geysirs shooting scalding hot water metres into the sky. You’ll embark on evening adventures tracking the lights by car for optimal visibility, race behind a team of Huskies through snowy forests as the aurora pulls and folds in magical greens above, snowmobile across the vast ice sheet of Langjökull Glacier, and skim across the striking black sand Þykkvabæjarfjara beach by buggy, where you’ll meet with vast vistas of the Atlantic. For divers, the Thingvellir National Park represents a thrilling opportunity to dive into Silfra Gorge’s glacial waters to see the Silfra Crack, a fissure between the American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Each evening, you’ll return to the warmth and luxury of your serene private villa for atmospheric dinners, hikes on the lake and surrounding countryside, and nights under the metallic brilliancy of the Aurora. For your final evening in Iceland, you’ll stay at The Reykjavík EDITION, perfectly placed to explore Iceland’s wonderful capital directly from its historic heart.

Swedish Lapland

Ice Hotels, Dogsledding & 4 Nights Chasing the Aurora

Trace the lush forested topography of northern Sweden, and you’ll find it occasionally punctuated by the electrifying beauty of the Aurora Borealis, adding divine flourishes of glowing cloud between snow-capped trees and rugged mountain tops. To experience it at its best, we suggest an immersive four-night journey with dinners beneath the swirling illumination of the Northern Lights, snowmobile safaris through impeccable forested landscapes, and sublime explorations of frozen lakes and rivers.

The journey begins with a private transfer from Kiruna Airport to the original ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, where you’ll experience thrilling nights in both the warm Kaamos Superior rooms and a one-of-a-kind Art Suite carved creatively as an ephemeral work of art (and hotel room), entirely from ice and kept at a cool minus five degrees Celsius, with a bed warmed by reindeer hides. From here, you’ll traverse this wintery wonderland via snowmobile, riding ravines and view-laden mountains, dogsled through lush forests and crystalline lakes and embark on charming reindeer sledging tours with the indigenous Sami guides.

Evenings in Swedish Lapland are all about tracking the Aurora. You’ll spend some of yours in the Abisko National Park chasing the ethereal movements of the Northern Lights amongst its vast, unspoiled nature, and the fantastic Aurora Sky Station vantage point on Mt. Nuolja. To make your visit to the sky station a bit more special, we’ll arrange a gourmet Nordic dinner while (weather permitting) the chromatic glows of the aurora ripple across the skies. After each day’s adventures, you’ll return to the comfort of the ICEHOTEL for fireside relaxation, delicious regional cuisine, and cups of steaming hot lingonberry juice after nights spent in the ice.

Northern Norway and Finland

Fjords, Igloos & Polar Nights

Northern Norway unveils its aurora amid dramatic fjords, blissful seclusion and undulating mountains plunging into crystal-clear Arctic bays. Our immersive winter exploration of Norway begins in Oslo, where you’ll be introduced to the city’s cultural resurgence in the beautiful Sommerro, a hotel set in a restored 1930s building with a divine rooftop restaurant serving Nordic-Japanese cuisine. From there, you’ll fly north to the beguiling white sand beaches and topaz blue fjords of the Lofoten Islands, an otherworldly archipelago ideal for aurora viewing. You’ll stay in the rustic luxury of Nusfjord: Village & Resort, a tranquil luxury retreat that has all the genuine appearance and vibrant charm of a traditional Norwegian fishing village (because it used to be one!), complete with fishermen’s cabins overlooking the wild seas, finished to impeccable standards.

Your days in Norway are characterised by riveting winter adventures. You’ll chase the aurora through near-perfect dark landscapes by car with a local guide, witness the majestic flight of sea eagles on a riveting RIB safari through dramatic fjords, and dine on the region’s finest cuisine in iconic Lofoten restaurants such as Fangst, serving Norwegian seafood elevated with local herbs and creative treatments.

It’s at this point that we switch tempo, crossing into Finnish Lapland’s Arctic heartland, Kilpisjärvi, one of the best places on Earth to view the Aurora Borealis. Here, you’ll spend tranquil nights in captivating glass-roofed igloos in Arctic Land Adventure Glass Igloos, reclining in warmth as the aurora animates the grandeur of the Finnish countryside, draped in absolute darkness until the aurora appears. Try your hand at reindeer herding with a Sami guide, embark on hours of husky sledging through fairytale-like woods layered with snow and ice, and later, soothe your senses in a romantic Arctic sauna and tub under the sweeping eternity of an Aurora-lit sky. If you happen to travel over New Year’s Eve, we’ll arrange a New Year’s Eve dinner in the Kota Lounge, where local ingredients and traditional Lappish specialities are served by an open fire.

If you’re looking for more NYE inspiration, take a look here for this year’s events.