Scandinavia & The Baltics

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis to be precise, occur across the Arctic region and are best visible throughout winter (which lasts longer at these high latitudes), when there are more hours of darkness and when the sky is clear of cloud cover.

This fabled event has long been a part of Scandinavian folklore and occurs when particles released by the sun, in the form of solar winds, collide with the particles present in the earth's magnetosphere, causing a superb blend of vivid colours.

GOOD

These wintry months are considered to be prime time to view the lights, clear skies and a fresh blanket of crisp white snow are perfect conditions for spotting this elusive wonder.

POOR

The arrival of summer signifies the coming of the 'Midnight Sun', making the Lights almost impossible to spot as the north of Scandinavia is in almost constant light.

MODERATE

It may be possible to catch a glimpse of the lights in the refl ective waters of Scandinavia's icy lakes during the autumn.

GOOD

With the landscape changing dramatically and the nights becoming longer it is a brilliant to view the Northern Lights, although some cloud cover can shield the display.

The Midnight Sun is a truly spellbinding natural phenomenon. Best seen in June and July, this incredible occurrence is due to a tilt in the earth's axis and means that the sun never truly sets in northern Scandinavia in summer.

Instead, it hangs low and resolute in the sky, casting out an ethereal glow and painting the surrounding landscapes with enchanting, sunset hues of gold, red and pink.

Visit Kiruna's spectacular, world-famous Ice Hotel, the first and largest hotel made of snow and ice in the world and a phenomenal display of art and architecture and is a truly breathtaking sight.

Enjoy an authentic and eye-opening Sami experience, discovering the culture of the people who have inhabited Nordic countries, surviving via reindeer herding, fur trapping and fishing.

Witness Norway's famous fjords - U-shaped coastal valleys created by icebergs, filled with deep waters and surrounded by cliff faces, cascading waterfalls and verdant forests.