Arctic Norway
Above the imaginary curve of the Arctic Circle lies a raw, untouched wilderness where snow-dusted peaks soar above shimmering fjords and the icy sea is studded with jagged, white-sand islands. Here, beneath skies of swirling auroras and golden sun, polar wildlife thrives in one of earth’s most breathtaking natural frontiers.
Arctic Norway Winter Holidays
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Snowshoe hiking by Pukka Travels
The northern lights by Yngve Olsen Saebbe / nordnorge.com
Day 1 | Arrive in Northern Norway
Day 2 | Snowshoe Hike & Northern Lights Cruise
Orca by Ismaele Tortella / Visit Norway
Day 3 | Silent Whale Watching
Day 4 | Tromso Sight Seeing & Ferry To Vengsoy
Day 5 | Nordic Sea Lodge
Northern Lights by Jake Osborne / Visitnorway.com
Day 6 | Departure Day
5 nights
Arctic Silence at the Top of the World
From Tromsø, enjoy a silent whale watching trip on an electric vessel, chase the northern lights, and snowshoe hike alongside sparkling fjords. -
Day 1 | Arrive in Tromsø
Day 2 | Silent Whale Watching
Photo: Best Arctic
Day 3 | Explore Tromsø & Evening Aurora Search
Day 4 | Snowshoe Hike on Tromsøya
Day 5 | Departure Day
4 nights
Tromsø Winter Escape
Norway's northernmost hub is a lively city surrounded by mountains and fjords. Join reindeer for a night in the wild and search for Orcas and Humpback whales. -
Day 1 | Arrive in Arctic Norway
Day 2 | Visit a Sami reindeer herder on the plateau
Day 3 | Dogsledding & Northern Lights by Snowshoe
Day 4 | Cross Country Ski
Day 5 | Departure Day
4 nights
Husky Haven | Winter in the Heart of the Arctic
A unique wilderness adventure based on a working dog ranch in the heart of the Sámi country. Stay in a cosy, handcrafted log cabin built by champion dogsled racer, Sven Engholm.
Arctic Norway Summer Holidays
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Day 1 | Arrive in Tromsø
Day 2 | Tromsø & Mack Beer Tasting
Day 3 | Private Tesla X & Guided Fjord Hiking
Day 4 | Drive to Senja & Hike to Sukkertoppen
Day 5 | Hike to Segla
Day 6 | Ånderdalen National Park / Arctic Boat Safari
Day 7 | Hiking on Senja
Day 8 | Arrive in Bergen
Day 9 | Hiking in Aurland’s ‘Grand Canyon’
Day 10 | Stegastein Viewpoint & Summer Pasture Farm Hike
Day 11 | Free Day
Day 12 | Journey to Bergen
Day 13 | Hiking & Overnight Camping from Bergen
Day 14 | Bergen
Day 15 | Departure Day
14 nights
Arctic & Fjord Hiking in Senja & the Western Fjords
Venture to the Arctic gateway of Tromsø, experience a bustling cultural hub surrounded by deep blue waters, before discovering some of Senja's most iconic peaks. -
Christian Roth Christensen / Visitnorway.com
Day 1 | Arrive in Tromsø
Day 2 | Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden & Midnight Sun Safari
Pukka Travels
Day 3 | Midnight Sun Sailing Cruise
Christian Roth Christensen
Day 4 | Cable Car & Lyngen Alps
Day 5 | Lake Blåvatnet
Alexander Benjaminsen
Day 6 | Midnight Sun Hike
Christian Roth Christensen
Day 7 | Departure Day
6 nights
Midnight Sun in Northern Norway
Take part in activities underneath the glow of the midnight sun in Norway. Visit the world's northernmost botanical garden, enjoy a concert and sail and hike late into the night. -
Day 1 | Arrive at in Longyearbyen
Day 2 | Hiking
Day 3 | E-Bike tour
Day 4 | Isfjord Radio
Day 5 | RIB Boat Safari
Day 6 | Isfjord Radio Hike
Day 7 | Departure Day
6 nights
Svalbard Polar Summer Adventure
Hike and cycle around Longyearbyen before travelling by boat to the west to spend time in a former 1930's radio station, now a boutique hotel on the edge of the world.
Arctic Norway entices travellers year-round with its enchanting contrasts, offering a journey through dramatic beauty and pristine wilderness that captivates in every season.
Tell Me More
Clinging to the top of the European map, about a third of Norway’s landmass lies within the Arctic Circle. The three northern counties - Nordland, Troms and Finnmark - comprise some of the country’s harshest and most spectacular scenery, from the rugged coastline of the Lofoten Islands to the stark plateaus of the Sámi. Not to mention the forbidding ice fields of the Svalbard archipelago.
To live here means embracing friluftsliv (outdoor living), whatever the weather or season, and opportunities for adventure abound. Snowshoe beneath the Northern Lights across the frozen tundra, sea kayak through glacial fjords by the light of the Midnight Sun and sail silently by electric boat in search of sea eagles and orcas.
Whether you’re cosying up in a rustic fisherman’s cabin or staying in a boutique lighthouse, this Arctic realm offers serene moments in life’s purest form, where broad horizons meet the raw power of nature and every experience connects you more deeply with the wild.
Map of Arctic Norway
Regions of Arctic Norway
Lyngenfjord with northern lights | © Jan R Olsen
Lyngenfjord with northern lights | © Jan R Olsen
Tromsø & the Lyngen Alps
Tromsø is Arctic Norway’s largest hub and launch pad to the polar north. Framed by the icy Norwegian Sea and towering Lyngen Alps, it’s a place where the pulse of city life meets wilderness. In town, you’ll find the Arctic Cathedral, Polar Museum and Fjellheisen cable car (featured on Celebrity Race Across the World), but within minutes you could be racing across snowy landscapes by dog sled, chasing the Northern Lights or snowmobiling under a star-streaked sky. Beyond the city, the glacier-carved Lyngen Peninsula beckons adventurers with its unrivalled backcountry terrain
Dogsledding in Alta by Ismaele Tortella / Visit Norway
Dogsledding in Alta by Ismaele Tortella / Visit Norway
Alta & Finnmark
In the heart of Norwegian Lapland, Alta provides a deep connection with the Arctic’s indigenous Sámi, with ancient petroglyphs telling stories of the land dating back over 6,000 years. The city acts as a gateway for exploring the eerily beautiful Finnmarksvidda plateau, a vast empty region latticed by rivers, lakes and marshes. Here, amidst the stark solitude of the tundra, you can follow authentic traditions like reindeer herding, ice fishing, dog sledding and snowshoeing under wide open skies, staying in an authentic Sámi lavvu or the world’s northernmost igloo hotel.
Mountain hiking in Svolvær by Chris Craggs / www.nordnorge.com
Mountain hiking in Svolvær by Chris Craggs / www.nordnorge.com
Lofoten Islands & Vesterålen
Jutting sharply from the sea like some mythical creature, the Lofoten archipelago is truly staggering in its beauty. Linked by roads and tunnels, the jagged white-sand islands are ideal for self-drive exploration. In summer, picturesque fishing villages like Reine and Nusfjord burst into life with outdoor cafes, kayaking and climbing, while in winter the islands stand serene under the ethereal blue glow of twilight. Less busy but no less beautiful is Vesterålen, where once-abandoned Nyksund now thrives as an artists’ haven, and tiny windswept Andenes is a world-renowned whale-watching centre
Senja
Senja, Norway’s second largest island, is defined by dramatic contrasts and stunning coastal scenery: knife-ridged peaks plunge into deep fjords, white sandy beaches are backed by emerald-green valleys, and winding roads reveal tiny fishing villages nestled like jewels along the rocky shoreline. Hike to the summit of Segla for panoramic views or kayak across cool, clear waters to explore remote island bays. For a truly magical experience, book a winter stay in Senja’s lonely lighthouse, where you’ll have a front-row seat to the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky.
In the endless light of summer, lush valleys and jagged coastlines beckon explorers to kayak beneath towering cliffs and hike to panoramic mountain views. When winter cloaks the landscape in snow, this same terrain becomes a serene, otherworldly scene, ideal for dog sledding and catching the ethereal northern lights as they ripple across starry skies.
Highlights of Arctic Norway
Northern Lights in Senja by Steffen Fossbakk / Visit Norway
Northern Lights in Senja by Steffen Fossbakk / Visit Norway
Chase the northern lights
Arctic Norway is one of the best places in the world to witness the aurora borealis – and many people come here specifically to do so. For the best experience, we offer the smallest group tours from Tromsø, with a maximum of just eight guests. Navigate the Arctic roads in silence on an eco-friendly Tesla or embark on an Aurora dinner cruise from Tromsø harbour. Many of our guides are photography experts who can show you how to capture incredible images – but also remind you when to put your camera down.
Winter Whale Safari by Thomas Barstad Eckhoff Seilnorge
Winter Whale Safari by Thomas Barstad Eckhoff Seilnorge
Whale watching in Arctic silence
Norway’s nutrient-rich waters are teeming with marine life and offer exhilarating whale-watching safaris aboard RIBs and ex-whaling vessels designed to navigate stormy seas. Sperm whales can be spotted along the Vesterålen coast all year round, while around mid-winter, migrating herring attract humpbacks, orcas and fin whales. The hybrid electric boat, Brim Explorer, runs sustainable excursions from Tromsø, journeying silently through the Arctic landscape to reduce engine vibrations and minimise disturbance to the whales. Keep your eyes peeled for sea eagles and white-tailed eagles too.
Deep in the heart of Norway’s Arctic Finnmark, Karasjok stands as the vibrant center of Sámi culture, offering travellers a profound connection to this ancient heritage. Here, visitors can experience traditional reindeer herding, hear the hauntingly beautiful joik songs, and explore intricately crafted Sámi art and design.
Experience authentic Sami culture
Once persecuted by the Norwegian state, the indigenous Sami have reclaimed their heritage and still thrive in the Arctic today. Thanks to some modern concessions, like snowmobiles, they are no longer a nomadic people, but their way of life remains deeply rooted in nature. Karasjok is home to the Sami parliament and a cultural centre with displays on indigenous traditions, arts and history. Alternatively, head out into the wilds of Finnmarksvidda plateau to immerse yourself in activities like reindeer herding, traditional storytelling, indigenous cuisine or staying in a lavvu camp.
Hiking Segla on Senja by Nikolas Gogstad Andersen / Visit Norway
Hiking Segla on Senja by Nikolas Gogstad Andersen / Visit Norway
Climb majestic Mount Segla
This pin-up peak on the island of Senja might look like a daunting climb – its north face plunges down 300 m of vertical rock into the fjord below – but approached from the small fishing village of Fjordgard, there’s a well-signposted path to the summit. The 3-km trail winds steadily up to a wide plateau (perfect for picnics) before a steep, rocky scramble to the top. Along the route, you’ll be treated to a sweeping panorama of rugged cliffs, verdant valleys and shimmering waters below.
Wonderful Places to Stay in Arctic Norway
Arctic Norway In Pictures
The northern lights by Vesterålen Tours / Visit Norway
Hamn Senja / Visitnorway.com
We can't wait to help you plan your trip to Arctic Norway