You Can Go on a 24-Hour Hunt for the Northern Lights in Norway
It's safe to say Svalbard isn't the most popular of vacation destinations — it could have something to do with the fact that polar bears outnumber residents or its freezing temperatures. But it's an incredible place for travelers interested in dark skies, and the place to go if you want one of the best Northern Lights shows in the world.
That's why luxury travel company Off the Map Travel has developed a 24-hour tour called All Day Aurora that gives travelers a great chance to experience the aurora. Available from November through January, this tour takes place during a season that sees dark skies 24 hours of the day. But you won't just be standing around waiting for the Northern Lights to show up.
During the aurora hunt, visitors will snowshoe to nearby ice caves, learn how to dogsled and ride on Snowcats. While resting up for the remainder of the search, guests will stay at the Funken Lodge, which just completed a substantial renovation in 2018.
Svalbard's location at 78-degrees North means that, during the winter, the sun remains at least six degrees below the horizon at all times. "To have the best chance of seeing [the Northern Lights], you need a setting without any light pollution and you will more than double your chances of getting that when the sun never rises above the horizon," said Jonny Cooper, Off the Map Travel founder and Arctic travel expert.
Despite its name, this 24-hour Northern Lights hunt actually takes place over the span of four days. That's close to 100 hours of twilight and utter darkness during which your odds of spotting the shimmering auroras are pretty high. On the first day of the tour, travelers arrive and settle into the hotel. On the second day, they embark on a dog-sledding adventure. Day three is dedicated to snowshoeing, and the final day ends with a Snowcat ride.
Prices for this experience start around $1,600 per person (not including flights). Into it? You can read more about the All Day Aurora tour and how to book your own vacation on the Off the Map Travel website.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app