PREMIUM

10D7N AURORA CHASING IN TOUR CODE: ENOSLW

Acquaintq yyourself with Norway’sy spectacularp offerings, from its diverse wildlife to the world’s most eelusivelusive wwonder,onder ttheheN Northernorthern Lights. Lights

SENJA, NORWAY HIGHLIGHTS Tromsø Sommaroy NORWAY TROMSO • Northern Lights Chase 1 2 • Fjellheisen Cable Car 1 SOMMAROY Svolvær • Overnight stay by the sea 1 Reine SENJA 2 • Overnight stay by the sea Lofoten HARSTAD Island • Farm LOFOTEN ISLAND • Sea-Eagle Safari • Henningsvær & Reine • Polar Park NORWAY DELICACIES

Meal Plan 7 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 6 Dinners Flight path 3-4 HOTELS Traverse by coach Featured destinations TROMSO Clarion Edge Overnight stays 1 3 SOMMAROY SENJA Hamn I Senja SVOLVÆR Thon Lofoten HARSTAD Scandic

Note: We are unable to guarantee that you will DAY 1 observe the Northern Lights as it is a natural HOME TROMSO Meals on Board but if we miss the Northern Lights during the EXCLUSIVE Assemble at the airport and depart for Tromsø, a city in . It is a • Sea Eagle Safari major cultural hub above the Arctic Circle • Fjellheisen Cable Car and it is renowned for its viewing point, DAY 3 TROMSO • Senja Hamn Seaside Stay stunning Northern Lights. Breakfast • Free at leisure on your own to explore • Professional photographer DAY 2 Tromso. You may want to join an excursion for Northern Lights TROMSO for a Whale Safari Adventure where some • Meals on Board, Dinner of the worlds’ biggest mammals visit the Get your hearts ready for the main highlight of this tour – a thrilling Northern Lights Tromsø in Northern Norway to feed on chase that is guaranteed to be a once-in- herring. The whales often come close to s Vie a-lifetime adventure you will never forget. the boat as they are very curious, so be ht wi Witness Earth’s most magnificent and prepared for big splashes. The experience ig n colourful lights show with the expertise of a here in the North Norwegian waters is L g n w local guide, who will drive for up to 7 hours r a e to unearth the best location for you to watch world because the whales come here to

r h the Northern Lights. Should the Northern feed and hunt, and they are extremely

r

t a

r Lights appear, a professional photographer active. Remember to bring your camera,

n

o

t will also be present to assist you in and you could take the shot of your life, y

N capturing perfect pictures of the captivating not just of whales, but also other wildlife phenomenon. like seals or sea eagles. EXCLUSIVE EU Holidays | Northern Lights 13 10D7N AURORA CHASING IN NORWAY

vista of impressive mountains surrounded by

continue to Reine, located in the southern part of Lofoten and well-known as one of the most beautiful village in Norway.

DAY 8 SVOLVAER HARSTAD Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Embark on a great nature expedition today as you head out on a Sea Eagle Safari. Speed rigid inflatable boat (RIB) helmed by an experienced captain,

where the sea eagles dwell. Discover more about these majestic birds of prey and watch them in action at thrillingly close quarters as you throw fish into the sea for them to dive and collect. Pay a visit to the Reindeer Farm to see Santa’s iconic , learn more

REINE, LOFOTEN ISLANDS, NORWAY about this uncommon animal as well as the lifestyle and practices of the Sami people that remains deeply entwined with the reindeer. DAY 4 far above the Arctic Circle. Here you will Reaching Harstad tonight, you can choose TROMSO SOMMAROY be greeted by an awe-inspiring mix of sea, to go for an optional experience to the Breakfast, Dinner mountains, beaches, fishing villages and Aurora Submit Lodge, set on the top, 535 Begin the day with a Tromsø sightseeing inland areas, all located within a few hours’ meters above sea level and be transported to tour that will bring you to some of the drive. we will stay at Hamn i Senja, a holiday the summit by Snowmobiles and sleds with a best attractions in the city. The centre of resort beautifully located on the west coast view of the aurora in luck. Tromsø has a rich neo-classical architectural of the Senja island where the Northern Lights Note: The min. age of Sea Eagle Safari is 12 and the heritage, dotted with both beautiful as well often displayed themselves just by the sea. as dilapidated buildings from later periods. Tonight, choose to do an optional Northern We will take a cable car that runs from Lights Husky Sledding activity. This magical DAY 9 Solliveien in Tromsdalen up to the mountain experience will let you mush your own team HARSTAD OSLO HOME ledge Storsteinen (421m above sea level) in of adorable huskies under the starry night Breakfast the gondolas. From the viewing platform at sky. While here, you might also get a chance Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure till it is time the upper station, you can enjoy spectacular to witness the mysterious aurora borealis. to transfer to the airport for your flight home. panoramic views of Tromsø and the DAY 6 DAY 10 At the fully licensed Fjellstua restaurant, SENJA SVOLVAER HOME SWEET HOME you will enjoy a delicious lunch based on Breakfast, Dinner We hope you enjoyed your trip with our local produce while you take pleasure in the Take a walk on the wild side as we head company and we look forward to seeing you view. Continue your journey to Sommarøy, to Polar Park – the world’s northernmost again for your next trip. a populated island in the western part of wildlife park where you can meet bears the municipality of Tromsø, a beautiful , lynx, , polar foxes, , Suggested Excursion: destination for its white sand beaches and red deer, reindeer and muskoxen; get up- • (Senja) Northern Lights Husky Sledding: €260 scenery. Tonight, we will stay at Sommarøy close and personal with the wolves in their • (Harstad) Aurora Submit Lodge: €200 • (Tromso) Whale Watching: from €120 Arctic Hotel, a natural gem by the ocean, for enclosure and cuddle with the adorable polar foxes. Thereafter, proceed to Svolvær, you’re lucky, you will see the Northern Lights capital of the Lofoten Islands. dancing across the sky, stars glistening, Note: The appearance of the Northern Lights to schedule. accompanied with the sound of the rolling cannot be guaranteed as it is a naturally occurring waves. That is definitely a sight to behold. Tipping Guideline: (based on 10D7N) • €80 per person we will replace with another hotel in Tromso. DAY 7 Note: SVOLVAER REINE SVOLVAER • A minimum group size of 15 passengers is required DAY 5 Breakfast, Dinner SOMMAROY SENJA Traverse through the islands of Lofoten Breakfast, Dinner and delight in the idyllic coastal scenery of the event of unforeseen circumstances. Make your way to the beautiful Senja, along the way. Our first stop is the Norway’s second largest island, located fishing village of Henningsvær, marvel at the may be re-located to outside of the city or in

14 Northern Lights | EU Holidays FEATURE

Uncover Norway’s Best-Kept Secrets: Sommaroy and Senja

For decades, Norway has captivated travellers with its scenic vistas and natural offerings. Its cities, like Tromso, embody the rich history and culture of the country. However, it’s the lesser-known islands of Norway that truly testifies to the country’s raw beauty and bewitching wonders.

Sommaroy The small island of Sommaroy might not hills, coupled with views of craggy peaks in seem like much compared to its bustling the distance are just some of the highlights counterpart, Tromso, but this modest that make this place special. fishing village, which is located an hour HAMN I SENJA away from the city, is noted for its unspoilt One popular activity on the island is nature, and tranquil atmosphere. watching the spellbinding Northern Lights dance across the sky. Spend the night at towering peaks and small fishing villages. Sommaroy’s selling point, or rather it’s the contemporary yet authentic and Apart from the sea and land-based activi- greatest strength is that it’s one of the few charming Sommaroy Arctic Hotel and ties, the island is a great place to watch the places in Norway that hasn’t turned into a experience this unforgettable sight for Northern Lights. And what better way to tourist spot. Hence, it’s no surprise why yourself! The accommodation overlooks witness this magnificent sight than to that Sommaroy is the perfect getaway for the vast , which is watch it from the comfort of your own local Norwegians looking for some respite renowned for its truly visceral sight of the room? Hamn i Senja, a holiday resort from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Northern Lights reflected on the placid which is situated by the open sea, offers sight of quaint looking wooden homes surface of the sea surrounding the island. amazing and unhindered views of the sitting on the foothills of the lush green Northern Lights. Watch the natural Senja phenomenon rapidly change colours as light up the skies above and the surface of Situated in the heart of the Aurora Zone, the sea below. above the Arctic Circle, Senja is the second largest island in Norway. Similar to Somma- The combination of Arctic adventure and roy, Senja is also notable for its thriving Aurora displays make this island a true flora and fauna, and is comprised of some Norwegian wonder that you have to see to of the most memorable and picturesque believe. spots in the country.

Senja leaves visitors at a loss for words with SOMMAROY ARCTIC HOTEL its impressive views of the vast sea,

Northern Lights | EU Holidays 15 FEATURE Northern Lights All you need to know about the most magical natural phenomenon on Earth.

One place that has earned the reputation for being the No.1 aurora-watching destina- higher probability as compared to other tion is the Abisko National Park in . places when it comes to catching a glimpse Its geographical location offers the perfect egarded as one of nature’s most ex- of the Aurora Borealis. Situated in the cen- microclimate to view the Northern Lights. It’s traordinary and elusive phenomenon, tre of the Northern Lights Oval, the city’s believed that visiting Abisko between No- the Northern Lights has captured the advantageous location makes Tromso the R vember and end March will provide you with imaginations of countless that have laid eyes go-to place to see this elusive attraction. a higher chance to see the aurora borealis. upon the magnificent lights. Of course, like However, auroras in the south – also Renowned for the Aurora Sky Station, the many things, the more you know about them, known as ‘Aurora Australis’ – are often not park is equipped with facilities specifically the more you learn to appreciate them in all visible as they are most concentrated in catered to ensure that visitors get the most their glory and grandeur. The Northern Lights a ring around Antarctica and the south- out of their trip. Apart from its obser - vation are basically a combination of collisions be- ern Indian Ocean, thus they may only be tower, there’s also a café and souvenir shops tween electrically charged particles from the glimpsed from Tasmania and southern New available for visitors. Sun’s atmosphere and gaseous particles in the Zealand out of all populated regions in the It wouldn’t come as a surprise to find out Earth’s atmosphere. Auroral displays appear southern hemisphere. However, scientists that these lights, having captured the imagi- in a variety of colours – shades of red, yellow, have found that northern and southern nation of billions, are steeped in legend and green, blue and violet are most common – auroras are often mirror-like images that folklore. In medieval times, the lights were and they are also indicators of the type of gas occur at the same time, with corresponding perceived to be a bad omen, as they were particles that are present. The most common shapes and colours. The auroras are present believed to be the foretelling of war or fam- yellowish-green hued aurora is produced by all year round, though we are unable to see ine. Even today, certain cultures regard the oxygen molecules, whereas violet or blue them when the night sky is cloudy. Thus, Northern Lights as a somewhat supernat- auroras indicate the presence of nitrogen. the winter season is the best time for aurora ural event. For instance, the Inuit of Alaska The rarest of all is the all-red aurora, which is viewing due to the long periods of darkness and the Aboriginal Australians, attribute the produced by high-altitude oxygen molecules (longer nights) and frequency of clear skies. origins of the lights to the spirits of animals colliding at heights up to 322 kilometres. If the aurora is strong enough, you may be or the people who have passed on. The Northern Lights can be seen in the able to see them against a twilight sky – a northern or southern hemisphere with common occurrence in Tromso, or witness the northern auroral zone extending over the even rarer ‘day aurora’ in Spitzbergen northern Scandinavia and the southern tip where darkness falls as early as midday of Greenland to northern Canada, Alaska during winter. and the northern coast of Siberia. Tromso is another destination that provides a relatively

©123RF

AURORA BOREALIS OVER JOKULSARLON LAGOON IN ICELAND PHOTOS: PHOTOS:

16 Northern Lights | EU Holidays