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Ultimate Arctic Circle Adventure in Norway

Husky sled, snowshoe and fat bike your way through the Arctic and sleep in a dome under the glow of the aurora

Duration

3 nights

Annual Leave

3 days off work

Group Size

Up to 8 people

Season

Dec-Mar

Location

Norway

Meeting Point

Alta Airport, Norway

Comfort Accommodation

Arctic Dome

Customer Reviews

(67)

4.9

Difficulty

Easy

From

From

Mush the Arctic with Alaskan Huskies, snowshoe to a frozen lake, try your hand at ice fishing and relax in a Nordic sauna

Fat bike through snow-blanketed trails at night on an aurora-hunting adventure, weaving through hushed pine forests

Hop on a snowmobile for an epic journey to the edge of the Finnmark Plateau, one of Europe's last true wildernesses

Bunk down in the dreamy Aurora Canvas Domes, warm up by the wood burner, and watch the northern lights dance above

Day 1

Welcome to the Arctic Circle

Ultimate Arctic Circle Adventure in Norway Day 1

Dog Sledding

2.5hrs

Northern Lights Watching

2hrs

Touch down, meet your host at the airport and head to the remote coastal town of Alta - found on the inner reaches of the Altafjord in Norway's most northern county. Settle into your unique Aurora Canvas Dome before heading out in the late afternoon to go dog sledding. Take in the stillness of the Arctic on a journey through the forest and open landscapes beside the Alta River, with beautiful Alaskan Huskies and a local musher for company. Later on, warm up with a serving of hearty soup before heading out on your first hunt for the aurora. Settle in for the night beneath the stars in the Aurora Domes.

Day 2

Snowshoeing, ice fishing, fat biking and the northern lights

Snowshoeing

1-2hrs

Cycling

1.5hrs

Northern Lights Watching

1hr

After breakfast clip on some snowshoes for a hike, heading to a wilderness camp through peaceful pine forests surrounded by high mountains. You'll reach the idyllic camp beside a small lake and warm up around an open fire inside a Lavvu - a Sami herdsmen’s tent. Have a go at catching some Arctic Char for lunch by fishing through an ice hole on the lake. Head back to the Aurora Domes for some downtime in the afternoon, before strapping on a headtorch and hopping on a fat bike for an otherworldly bike ride to hunt for the aurora. Pedal through the snow-blanketed forest at night on a network of trails, with the collective glow of head torches lighting the way before everyone switches their light off to (hopefully!) watch the Northern Lights dancing way above.

Day 3

Snowmobile to the Finnmark Plateau

Snowmobiling

2.5hrs

Enjoy a lazy morning at the Aurora Domes ahead of your next Arctic adventure. Then hop on board a snowmobile for a journey through one of Europe's last wildernesses, gliding your way through beautiful winter Arctic scenery from Sorrisniva, through the Alta Valley, all the way to the Finnmark Plateau. Eyes peeled for the region's famous reindeer. On the way back you'll stop at the wilderness lodge restaurant adjacent to the Igloo Hotel and tuck into lunch. Perhaps pay a visit to the ice hotel bar or watch the ice sculptors at work (optional, subject to availability). In the evening you can warm yourself up with a traditional Nordic sauna before a three-course meal of local delicacies. If the aurora comes out again tonight, you'll be able to head out for more northern lights watching.

Day 4

Farewell to the Arctic

Ultimate Arctic Circle Adventure in Norway Day 4

Say goodbye to your cosy Aurora Dome and soak up the last of your time at the base in Alta with a short stroll or sauna, before your host transfers you back to the airport in time for your flight home.

Included

Guides

Expert guides and a local musher for the husky ride

Accommodation

3 nights in an Aurora Canvas Dome

Meals

Munch on tasty local food throughout

Transfers

Airport transfers and everything in between

Permits

All permits and entry fees

Equipment

All snowshoeing, fat biking, dog sledding and snowmobiling gear

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Travel insurance

Personal expenses

Visas where required

Day 1

Arctic Dome · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 3

Arctic Dome · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

What is the food like?

Breakfast consists of freshly baked rolls with locally sourced spreads and toppings, juice and fresh coffee. Lunch on Day 2 will be a selection of local delicacies grilled by your host, hopefully including some Arctic Char which you have caught from the lake. Lunch on Day 3 is a sumptuous feast at the Igloo Hotel in Sorrisnova, where the chefs create unique dishes using ingredients from Arctic Norway - including reindeer and moose from the tundra, seafood from the Alta River and the Norwegian sea, vegetables from local farms and berries picked in the nearby wilderness. Dinner on Day 1 is a simple affair of soup and bread, before you head out to hunt for the aurora. On your second and third evenings, you'll be treated to a three-course meal of local foods, including specialities such as fresh cod and halibut, salmon, moose, reindeer and king crab.

Vegans and vegetarians can be catered for on this trip, however, please request this at the time of booking.

What is the accommodation like?

Ultimate Arctic Circle Adventure in Norway, aurora domes
Alta

A real highlight of this trip is staying in the Aurora Canvas Domes. These are purpose-built aluminium and canvas domes, with under-floor heating and a wood-burning stove, designed to get you as close to nature as possible. You can even open the roof – perfect for aurora watching. All the electricity here is 100% renewable and drawn from hydro-electrical power, produced by the nearby Alta River. You'll stay in twin-share domes.

Upgrades

Due to the limited number of Aurora Domes, it is not possible to request a private room upgrade for this trip. Your host can arrange a single room at a nearby hotel if you would like to join the trip and have your own room - however, you'll be missing out on the Aurora Domes as one of the trip highlights in this instance.

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Alta Airport (or city centre)

Any time before 15:00 on Day 1

Ends

Alta Airport (or city centre)

Any time on Day 4

Transfers

Transfers are included from Alta Airport (or your hotel in Alta, if you have arrived a day early) any time on Day 1. It is only a 15-minute drive from the airport to the base where you'll spend your adventure. The dog sledding experience on Day 1 begins at 16:00, so we recommend arriving no later than 15:00 so you can settle into your Aurora Dome accommodation first.

On the final day of your trip, your host will provide a transfer at your preferred time either to the airport or to an alternative destination within Alta city. Return flights from Alta tend to depart in the early afternoon, and you only need to be at the airport 90 minutes before your flight since it is a small airport, so there is some time in the morning to soak up the last of the area at the base.

Your base for the trip is a short distance from the airport. If you need a private transfer you can simply take a taxi from the airport to the base, this will cost approximately 400NOK (£35/€40/$50).

Travel options

There are no direct flights to Alta from the UK but connections are available from both Oslo and Tromsø. From Oslo, the flight time is just over 2 hours, while the flight time from Tromsø is 40 minutes.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What's included?

  • Thermal suit and over boots (to go over your winter boots) for each of the activities
  • Snowshoes for the hike to the wilderness camp and frozen lake
  • Ice fishing equipment
  • Headtorch for fat biking to see the aurora

What do I need to bring?

Bags

  • Main suitcase or backpack
  • Daypack (20-30 litres)
  • Waterproof liner for daypack

Clothes

  • Down jacket
  • Ski jacket (waterproof jacket with light insulation)
  • Ski trousers (waterproof trousers with light insulation)
  • Breathable wicking layers
  • Fleece jacket or similar
  • Thermal base layers (wool/merino is best)
  • Warm hat
  • Thick thermal gloves/mittens
  • Buff or neck scarf
  • Underwear and warm socks (wool is best)
  • Winter boots for wear in and around the Aurora Domes base
  • Something to sleep in

Other

  • Swimwear for sauna
  • Sunglasses
  • Universal travel adapter
  • Power bank or solar charger
  • Passport
  • Drivers license
  • Earplugs
  • Personal first-aid kit
  • Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
  • Reusable water bottle

No optional extras are available for this trip.

Abby S.(March 2024)
Amazing trip - one of

Amazing trip - one of the best holidays of my life. The trip is well organised and has a great balance between activities and time to relax in the sauna/domes. We loved the variety of activities and the small group meant we felt like we had a relatively personal experience. The team and GLOD were very helpful and made an extra effort to ensure we got all the best opportunities to see the lights. The domes are extremely comfortable/warm and it is a nice touch having Isabelle deliver coffee/tea/hot chocolate each morning on wake up. I will be recommending to all my friends and family!

Pascoe F.(March 2024)
Great trip to Norway with

Great trip to Norway with MBA, staying at Glod Explorer. Highly recommend.

Jasmine T.(March 2024)
What an amazing adventure. Can’t

What an amazing adventure. Can’t recommend it enough. Nothing was too much for the Glod team.

Benjamin B.(March 2024)
Amazing experience!

Had such a great time on this trip. Not only were all of the activities great fun, they were well organised and our experience on it was the main focus! The team at Glod were amazing, the accommodation was excellent and the food was really good - there were some catering requirements from our group and they were handled well and with no hassle! I would thoroughly recommend this trip and I will definitely be doing many more trips via Much Better Adventures!

Lucy P.(March 2024)
Full of activity

Had an amazing time enjoying the gorgeous scenery Alta has to offer whilst trying multiple activities at a relaxed pace. The accommodation at Glød is fantastic to stay in and has everything you could need and more! The three course meals really added to the trip as well! All the kit is well provided for, so you do not need to overpack!

Kate G.(March 2024)
A trip of a lifetime

From start to finish the most incredible experience at the most beautiful place with the best staff and amazing accomodation. Couldn't recommend it more highly. Food, all activities and the while trip surpassed our expectations.

Robin P.(February 2024)
The very best birthday present!

An absolutely perfect adventure! Every single item on my list was checked off. From Rikki and his team at Glod to the incredible dogsled adventure, a tiny hole in the clouds to see the aurora, spectacular food and super comfy domes. But that’s not all, beautiful views while snowshoeing and I caught a fish during the ice fishing (albeit so tiny I had to throw it back). And then the snowmobile trip and tour of the ice hotel was beyond compare. To top it all off the other folks on the trip are now good friends. It was so fun to meet new people, try new things, and just adventure. Thank you MBA and Glod!

Jackie S.(February 2024)
Book this adventure right now!

Thank you Much Better Adventures (and Glod Explorer). I can't think of a place I would have rather been to celebrate my 10 years clear from breast cancer. Everything from the igloo (complete with log burner), activities (husky sledding, ice fishing, fat biking and ski mobiling) to the food (brown cheese and amazing salmon), wilderness landscape, company and endless hot chocolates was incredible. I felt inspired and energised (with a real feeling of accomplishment having rounded up huskies and not tipped the ski mobile) and genuinely happy to be alive. Thank you for opening my eyes to a part of the world I wouldn't have otherwise visited. I have memories that will last a lifetime. Can't wait to book my next adventure.

George H.(February 2024)
arTic all the boxes

There is Norway this trip could have been better, it was (Northern) delightful and the activities were huskey to making me happy. The staff are all lovely and the activities were amazing, one of the best trips I have ever been on. Loved meeting everyone in our group as welll. There isn’t anything I would have changed Thank you so much.

Katie D.(February 2024)
Literally the best holiday ever!

Literally the best holiday ever! All the activities are incredible, the snowshoeing/ice fishing was a particular highlight but realistically its impossible to choose! The domes themselves are amazing, set against an incredible snowy backdrop and they are so cosy and warm, with so many lovely touches throughout! We were so looked after the whole weekend, we were given snowsuits, gloves, hats if we needed - and were constantly supplied with teas/coffees/hot chocolates etc. The wake up call with a drink to enjoy in the pod was a lovely touch! The food was incredible! Local, fresh 3 course meals every day (other than the first night where I recommend you have snacks to munch on, as it is just a soup for tea!) The last highlight was the team! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, they all clearly love what they do and were so helpful and happy to tell us stories! So a huge shoutout to Rikki, Kristine, Kalle, Thibault and the rest of the GLØD team!

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 64kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

This trip is suitable for anyone with basic fitness levels. None of the activities are hugely demanding, and you'll never be exerting yourself for more than a couple of hours at a time. The trip is a busy one though, with plenty to pack in, so you'll be regularly on the go - although, there is some downtime so that you can enjoy your base around the Aurora Dome as well. To get the most out of the trip you should enjoy being out in the cold during the winter and come prepared with adequate warm clothing - see the kit list for guidance. For each of the activities (dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and fat biking) you'll be provided with a thermal suit, winter boots, gloves and woollen socks to ensure you are plenty warm enough to enjoy each mini-adventure.

Winter in Alta and on the Finmark Plateau can be described in one word: cold! This is the coldest time of year in this part of Norway, with average temperatures fluctuating between -11.4°C (11.5°F) and -6.7°C (20°F). There are only around 2 hours of full daylight at this latitude in January, with an extended twilight either side of the short sunrise and sunset. This doubles to around 3.5-4 hours of full daylight in February and increases again in March. Of course, the short days make for the best chances to see the Northern Lights, which can be seen until early April.

Fat bikes have extra fat, knobbly tyres that are designed for riding on soft surfaces like sand and snow, and they have little or no suspension. The super-fat tyres distribute the rider’s mass across a larger area, so you don’t sink in and do gain more traction than you would with a standard tyre size. You can ride easily and with stability, even over firm snow and ice. Fat biking around Alta in the winter is one of the most commonly used methods for locals to travel short distances and is becoming increasingly popular as a way to see the northern lights, both by tourists and locals alike. You won't be riding very far, so anyone who can ride a bike at a basic level will enjoy fat biking to see the aurora.

Snowshoeing is a type of hiking that uses a special type of footwear - a snowshoe - to spread your weight over a larger area, allowing you to move easily across powdery snow-covered terrain. While today's snowshoes look modern, snowshoeing has actually played a vital role in Arctic life for centuries, with traders and trappers using wooden versions to move freely through the wilderness.

Snowshoeing is incredibly easy, comfortable and safe. You simply clip your snowshoe to the outside of your hiking boot and off you go. You'll be in the hands of local, experienced, and trained guides who know the area intimately and will guide you safely throughout the hike.

Absolutely. Our host uses a local family outfit called Tristi & Trina who have a lot of experience looking after the dogs and running a small scale sledding business in the local area. The dog's welfare has been and always will be their top priority. The breed of dog they work with is a polar type of dog called the Alaskan Husky. They are born outside, and are happy to live outside all their life - but of course, they are provided with insulated huts full of warm straw and hay to sleep and retreat into.

As this breed was bred to run, they need to have a lot of activity to stay happy and healthy. This is why your host ensures that every dog has enough possibility to move every day, depending on the dog's individual age and state of health. Young dogs, veterans or disabled dogs have reduced running. They will do a run on 5-20km running 4 to 5 days a week, with 2-3 days of rest. Normal dogs can run up to 40-50 km per day, depending on the day and conditions.

To make sure that every dog needs the care and attention they need, our hosts have a daily staff of dedicated employees tending to them. Every morning and afternoon they are trained in and provide the medical care of the dogs. They also work closely with local veterinaries in Alta, who take over where their medical expertise comes to an end.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Sure - you can leave your luggage at your Aurora Dome accommodation for the full duration of the trip.

We recommend checking out the country specific information here and also talking to a travel nurse.

For current advice about travelling in Norway, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.

TRIP DEPARTURE DATES

December 2024

Monday • 9th December 2024

to Thursday • 12th December 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Friday • 13th December 2024

to Monday • 16th December 2024
Last space for female only (due to rooming arrangements)
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 1 space left

Monday • 6th January 2025

to Thursday • 9th January 2025
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 13th January 2025

to Thursday • 16th January 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 17th January 2025

to Monday • 20th January 2025
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 20th January 2025

to Thursday • 23rd January 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 24th January 2025

to Monday • 27th January 2025
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 27th January 2025

to Thursday • 30th January 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 31st January 2025

to Monday • 3rd February 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 7th February 2025

to Monday • 10th February 2025
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 10th February 2025

to Thursday • 13th February 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 14th February 2025

to Monday • 17th February 2025
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 17th February 2025

to Thursday • 20th February 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 21st February 2025

to Monday • 24th February 2025
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 24th February 2025

to Thursday • 27th February 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 28th February 2025

to Monday • 3rd March 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 7th March 2025

to Monday • 10th March 2025
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 10th March 2025

to Thursday • 13th March 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 14th March 2025

to Monday • 17th March 2025
Guaranteed to run

Monday • 17th March 2025

to Thursday • 20th March 2025
Guaranteed to run

Friday • 21st March 2025

to Monday • 24th March 2025
Guaranteed to run
Private trip

Go private and split the bill with ease.

Forget complex logistics, we've taken care of all the details to ensure a hassle-free get together. All of the adventure, none of the faff.

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