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Norway under the Northern Lights

If you are considering a break in the frozen north In search of the Northern Lights then why not consider Tromsø in Norway as your destination? Here you will have a really good opportunity of actually viewing natures own amazing light show during your stay at either the Scandic Tromsø hotel or the Clarion Bryggen

4 Day Itinerary - 3 Nights	Available: Late November until early April
Fully Catered	Ask us for an extended trip price
We offer B&B or HB packages including return flights from London Gatwick or Heathrow
From Gatwick or Heathrow 4 days - 3 nights Price per person B&B from: £649.00 – (Based on 2 persons sharing) Price per person half-board from: £745.00 - (Based on 2 persons sharing)

 

   

Tromsø
Tromsø is often referred to as the “Gateway to the Arctic and capital of Northern Norway” and as far back as a century ago, visitors were surprised to find culture, intellectual life and the current fashions so far north, and the city derived the name Paris of the North. That reputation lives on today visitors to Tromsø are charmed by the city’s patriotic, loud and obliging residents, by a historical, compact and characteristic city centre, by a live and active cultural life all year round, by the Northern Lights, Polar Nights, Midnight Sun. Tromsø centre is the largest wooden city north of Trondheim, and has a rich architectural inheritance in the Imperial style of the 1800s, richly interspersed with both beautiful and not so nice buildings from later periods. The Arctic Cathedral, built in 1965, is the city’s most famous features this distinctive structure was inspired by Northern Norwegian faith and nature. One of its features is a flaming and extremely original glass mosaic

Scandic Tromsø Hotel
Situated just five minutes from the airport the hotel is a ten minute ride away from the city. For guests who prefer to relax away from city lights and life then the Scandic is the one for you. With friendly, helpful staff and good service you can take drinks and relax in the Pelikan Lobby Bar or unwind in the sauna; the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving al la carte international dishes with a special taste of the Arctic

Clarion Bryggen Hotel
Tromso’s newest and most modern hotel is ideally located on the quayside in the city centre, perfect for those who want to enjoy the sights and nightlife. The relaxation area features a sauna

and outdoor spa pool while our Astro restaurant is a splendid place with emphasis on exciting breakfast and good food here you can savour meals inspired by North Norwegian and South European culinary traditions. Don’t miss our French fish soup Bouillabaisse. In the Aquarius lobby bar you can enjoy refreshments as you watch the fish in the bar’s aquarium or watch news or live sport on the 50 inch plasma TV. Various local activities are sold at our reception Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Check out the program: Local Activites

Winter Activities
   
It’s not as cold in winter in Tromsø and Lyngen as you think, so pull your woolen hat down over your ears and jump into winter and snow. The best things such as snowballs, snowmen and snow angels cost nothing at all, but we also offer sleigh rides pulled by dogs, reindeer or horses, crash courses in cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing, not to forget a variety of Northern Light excursions. In the enclosed programe, you can find out how to dive into the Tromsø winter and the Lyngen snow.
Our mild, snow-rich winter climate is perfect for outside activities. From the centre of Tromsø city, it is only a few hundred meters to the nearest cross-country skiing trails, while the city’s alpine slopes are also close by. The beautiful mountain areas in close proximity are perfect for ski trips of any length in the glimmering white and blue landscape. Skiing in the fresh, loose snow in Lyngen, on the other hand, is best left to the most experienced skiers. Rides in reindeer-driven sleighs, dog sledding, ice fishing and snow scooter trips followed by a traditional Saami meal in a lavoo (Saami tent) provide life-long memories. A wide range of local activities can be booked at the local tourist information office;
Please see the following link: Activities

 
Northern Lights

The northern lights are one of nature's most spectacular and mysterious phenomena. In the right conditions they are most commonly seen in the night sky north of the Arctic Circle during the winter. With its relatively mild climate and populated areas well above the Arctic Circle, Norway is the ideal place to see this amazing sight. The most practical place to go is Tromsø, which is the largest town in the north of Norway, as it is relatively easy and inexpensive to get to and there are many other things to do there apart from looking at the sky. To see the Northern Lights you need a clear sky and the right atmospheric conditions so it is sensible to go for at least 3 days. Any time in the period November to March is best. There will be 24 hour darkness at the end of December, so more chance of seeing the lights. Later there will be more daylight which is better for doing other things. The Northern Lights are particles that are hurled into space after storms on the sun’s surface. They are attracted by the magnetic North Pole, and enter the atmosphere in a ring-like zone around the pole. In a process that is identical to that inside a light tube, the energy is released as light
Tromsø is situated right in the centre of the Northern Lights zone and is, therefore, together with the interior ice in Greenland the tundra in northern Canada, among the best places on earth to observe this phenomenon. Most of the Northern Lights outbursts visible from Tromsø are green, but large outbursts can also include other colours
In order to see the Northern Lights it must be dark and clear the greatest frequency is between 6pm and 2am. Some visitors prefer to see the performance from a mountain top shielded from the city’s lights, while others are just as impressed right in the city centre
The Aurora does not occur every evening and there are never any guarantees that the Northern Lights will appear. Firstly, there needs to be storm activity on the sun’s surface, and this varies considerably. Secondly, the sky needs to be clear. It is important you are outside under the winter sky between 6pm and midnight and not sitting in front of the television in your hotel room. Since the introduction of the smoking ban in bars, Tromso’s smokers experience the Northern Lights more often than non-smokers, as they now need to go outside to light up! Ensure you are at your most active in the evening when Tromsø is in the Northern Lights zone. You can always sleep in and relax during the daytime and experience Tromsø and the surrounding area

What are the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights originate from the surface of the sun. After storms on the sun’s surface, charged particles are hurled into outer space. Some of these particles end up in the Earth’s magnetic field towards the Magnetic North Pole and meet the Earth in a rounded belt around it The particles meet the outermost part of the atmosphere at a height of around 100 km above the Earth’s surface, and the energy is discharged in a process identical to that which occurs inside a light tube. This is visible on the Earth’s surface as flickering, moving light. Most outbreaks of the Northern Lights are green, but once and a while we can see tinges of pink or white around the edges. An even rarer occurrence is violet in the centre. The Northern Lights can sometimes have blue-green tinges or on other occasions the colour is closer to a mixture of green and yellow. Red Northern Lights are extremely rare. However, this does occur when the Northern Lights break out at a higher or lower height than normal
The Northern Lights are particles that are hurled into space after storms on the sun’s surface. They are attracted by the magnetic North Pole, and enter the atmosphere in a ring-like zone around the pole. In a process that is identical to that inside a light tube, the energy is released as light

   

Arctic culture

The Polar Museum is devoted to the city’s past as the centre for Polar sea catches and the starting points for Arctic expeditions. The University Museum of Tromsø shows the depth of Northern Norwegian nature and culture. Aquariums with seals and fish from the region, along with a wonderful multi-media presentation on Svalbard, are attractions at Polaria, a knowledge-based experience and adventure centre for the Polar regions. The Art Museum of Northern Norway portrays Northern Norwegian art and Northern Norwegian motives. The cable car up Storsteinen, 420m above sea level, offers breathtaking panoramic views over the city and, if you are lucky, of the Midnight Sun or the Northern Lights. The world’s northernmost botanical garden contains hardy plants from six continents. The Perspective Museum in the city centre has exhibitions on the city’s past and present. Mack’s Brewery, the world’s northern most brewery welcomes visitors on a guided tour. Don’t miss the chance to get out of the city and see the Lyngen Church, which was built in 1731 or Northern Norway’s largest wooden building, Solhov folkehøgskole (county college), built in 1924. Both are situated under the mountain peaks in photogenic Lyngen

Tourist Information Office

The tourist information office can contribute to ensuring you get the most out of your stay in Tromsø. We can provide information when you arrive and assist with the planning of your stay here. We have a lot of information about attractions and activities in Tromsø and Lyngen and will gladly assist with creating exciting, active holiday plans

Contact Information

Kirkegata 2, Tromsø
P.O. Box 311, 9253 Tromsø
Phone: +47 77 61 00 00
Fax: +47 77 61 00 10
E-mail: info@visittromso.no

© Arctic Discovery 2009

Tel: 01229 467000

Fax: 01229 467000