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Northern Lights Tours made for you

Extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime trips to chase the northern lights

An expertly organised and magical Nordic northern lights trip

Standing in awe beneath the shimmering arcs of the aurora borealis is an experience you’ll never forget. On your bespoke northern lights trip, you’ll be guided by experts on a seamless journey to see this otherworldly spectacle.

The aurora borealis is a natural phenomenon that occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere. To the human eye – or through a camera lens on a northern lights photography trip – this creates a kaleidoscope of bright swirling ribbons of light in the dark sky. 

Sparsely populated Nordic countries (Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Norway) have huge swathes of rugged landscapes untouched by the bright lights of big cities. Although there will always be an element of luck in glimpsing the aurora, these conditions, along with long, dark winter nights, are perfect for viewing the northern lights. Our travel designers’ favourite northern lights trips usually take place during winter (December to March), to snow blanketed Sápmi (the name that Indigenous Sámi people prefer to use, rather than Lapland). Swedish Sápmi, Finnish Sápmi and Norwegian Sápmi boast wide horizons, rich cultural heritage and a host of wildlife – including reindeer, integral to the Sámi way of life. Here, you can try sledding, snowshoeing, or exploring beneath the dark skies on a snowmobile.

We’ll get to know exactly what level of luxury and adventure that you want on your northern lights tour, and we’ll plan your perfect itinerary to a pristine winter wonderland.

Highlights

Stay in Sweden’s Icehotel on a Scandinavian winter adventure

Witness the northern lights in Norway while husky sledding

Discover the remote Arctic tundra of Norway’s Svalbard Islands

Capture the night sky on a northern lights photography lesson in Swedish Sápmi

Chase the Northern Lights on an exclusive adventure in southern Iceland

A fully immersive northern lights experience means spending time in remote areas with expert guides. There is some incredible off-the-beaten-track accommodation in Sápmi (Lapland) and Iceland, my favourite places to maximise time beneath dark skies. Here, you can enjoy a delicious dinner before stepping out in search of the aurora, snow shoeing, sledding or cross-country skiing.

Kate Herz headshot

Kate Herz

Senior Travel Designer

Luxury accommodation in Scandinavia and Iceland

There are many incredible places to stay in Scandinavia and Iceland where you might see the northern lights. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Why book with Jacada?

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Personalised design

We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

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Authentic experiences

Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

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Responsible travel

Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your northern lights tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Where to go

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Finland

Finland’s 40 national parks are stunning destinations of pristine wilderness, perfect for snowmobiling, snow shoeing, sledding and ice fishing beneath dark skies.

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Iceland

In winter, the ice fields, thundering waterfalls and steaming lakes of Iceland make an impressive backdrop for an Aurora Borealis light show.

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Norway

Home to unparalleled winter beauty and adventure, the frozen tundra of Norway is an incredible place to search the Arctic sky for the luminous northern lights.

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Sweden

One of Scandinavia’s best known northern lights destinations is Sweden, especially Swedish Sápmi in the far north, the land of reindeer and Sámi culture.

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Polar Regions

Venture into the polar wild with expert-crafted luxury travel, where reindeer, icebergs and endless horizons meet exceptional service.

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When to travel

In the far north of Scandinavia and in Iceland, the best time to see the northern lights is in winter, from November to February. A lot of Iceland and all of Sápmi (northern Sweden, Finland and Norway) is blanketed in snow and there’s less rainfall than elsewhere – clear, long dark nights are perfect for experiencing the aurora.

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Winter activities

November–April

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Astrotourism

September–October

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Northern lights

November–February

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Ice fishing

November–March

Best time and place to see the Northern Lights in Norway

Best time and place to see the Northern Lights in Norway

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Plan your trip to chase the northern lights

Whatever you want from your winter adventure, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Your trip, your story

We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.

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