Ready to Experience the Arctic?
Explore Aviana Holidays’ winter journeys and discover the magic of Lapland, the Arctic Circle and the Northern Lights.
What It Really Feels Like to Experience the Northern Lights
What It Really Feels Like to Experience the Northern Lights
There are some travel experiences that are difficult to explain until you have actually lived them. A Northern Lights experience is one of them.
You may have seen photographs of green lights dancing across the Arctic sky, but seeing the Aurora with your own eyes feels completely different. You are standing in the cold, surrounded by snow and darkness, waiting patiently and wondering when the sky will change.
Then, almost unexpectedly, a faint glow appears.
Someone in the group notices it first. Everyone looks up. Cameras come out. Conversations become quieter. And within moments, the sky begins to come alive.
That is the magic of seeing the Northern Lights for the first time. It is not simply about taking a beautiful photograph. It is about the anticipation, the Arctic surroundings, the people you share the moment with and the feeling of witnessing something created entirely by nature.
The Journey to the Arctic Is Part of the Experience
A Northern Lights holiday does not begin when the Aurora appears. The journey itself is a big part of the adventure.
For travellers heading to Lapland, the experience can begin in Helsinki before continuing towards Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus. Aviana’s winter itineraries include experiences such as the Santa Claus Express, Santa Claus Village and crossing the Arctic Circle
Rovaniemi feels especially magical in winter. Snow-covered landscapes, Arctic surroundings and the excitement of reaching the Arctic Circle make it a memorable part of the journey.
And as you travel farther north, the landscape begins to change.
The cities become smaller, the surroundings become quieter and the Arctic atmosphere becomes more noticeable.
You slowly realise that you are travelling towards one of nature’s most spectacular shows.
What Does It Feel Like to Wait for the Northern Lights?
This is the part that photographs rarely capture.
You wait.
Sometimes the sky is clear but the Aurora has not appeared yet. Sometimes clouds cover the sky. Sometimes everyone keeps looking upwards, wondering if the faint glow they can see is actually the Northern Lights.
That waiting is part of the excitement.
You may be standing outside with your fellow travellers, wrapped in winter clothing and checking the sky every few minutes. Someone spots a faint green light in the distance.
“Is that it?”
Everyone looks.
And then the light becomes clearer.
The excitement spreads through the group almost instantly.
This is why a Northern Lights experience is about more than simply reaching a destination. The anticipation and the shared excitement become part of the memory.
What Does It Feel Like to Wait for the Northern Lights?
This is the part that photographs rarely capture.
You wait.
Sometimes the sky is clear but the Aurora has not appeared yet. Sometimes clouds cover the sky. Sometimes everyone keeps looking upwards, wondering if the faint glow they can see is actually the Northern Lights.
That waiting is part of the excitement.
You may be standing outside with your fellow travellers, wrapped in winter clothing and checking the sky every few minutes. Someone spots a faint green light in the distance.
“Is that it?”
Everyone looks.
And then the light becomes clearer.
The excitement spreads through the group almost instantly.
This is why a Northern Lights experience is about more than simply reaching a destination. The anticipation and the shared excitement become part of the memory.
And Then the Aurora Appears
The first sighting can be surprisingly subtle.
A faint green glow may begin to appear across the darkness. Slowly, it becomes more visible, stretching across the sky in beautiful shapes.Sometimes the sky is clear but the Aurora has not appeared yet. Sometimes clouds cover the sky. Sometimes everyone keeps looking upwards, wondering if the faint glow they can see is actually the Northern Lights.
And when the Aurora becomes brighter, you finally understand why so many travellers dream of seeing it.
You may have watched videos of the Northern Lights before your trip. You may have saved photographs on your phone or social media.
But standing beneath the Aurora is different.
There is no screen between you and the sky.
There is just the Arctic landscape, the people around you and the lights moving above you.
For many travellers, this becomes one of those moments when everyone simply stops talking and looks up.
Watching the Aurora From a Glass Igloo
One of the most memorable parts of travelling through Finnish Lapland is the opportunity to stay in a Glass Igloo
Aviana’s Lavish Lapland, Iceland Lapland and Aurora For All itineraries include glass-igloo or igloo-style accommodation, giving travellers the opportunity to look towards the Arctic sky from the comfort of their stay.
Imagine finishing dinner, returning to your warm room and looking through the glass roof towards the night sky.
If the weather and Aurora conditions are favourable, you may get to watch the Northern Lights from your accommodation itself.v
Of course, the Aurora is a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed. But even without the lights, staying beneath a glass roof surrounded by the Arctic landscape is an experience in itself.
And if the Aurora does appear?
That is a memory you are unlikely to forget.
Chasing the Northern Lights Through the Arctic
The exciting thing about travelling through Lapland is that the Aurora is not the only experience waiting for you.
Aviana’s winter itineraries take travellers through several Arctic destinations, including Rovaniemi, Alta, Hammerfest, Tromsø and Kiruna
Tromsø is particularly associated with Northern Lights experiences and is also known for attractions such as the Arctic Cathedral, Polaria and the Cable Car.
Alta and Hammerfest offer a different side of northern Norway, while Kiruna in Sweden adds another memorable experience with a visit to the famous Icehotel on selected itineraries.
So the journey becomes much more than simply travelling north to see the Aurora.
It becomes an opportunity to experience the Arctic itself.
What Happens If You Don't See the Northern Lights?
This is an important question to consider before planning your trip.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon. Their visibility depends on several factors, including weather, cloud cover, darkness and Aurora activity.
That means no responsible tour operator can promise that the lights will appear on a particular night.
Aviana’s own itineraries mention that Aurora viewing depends on weather conditions.
But this does not mean the trip is only worthwhile if you see the Aurora.
Think about everything else that you experience along the way.
You can cross the Arctic Circle, visit Santa Claus Village, travel through snowy landscapes, explore Tromsø, visit the Icehotel in Kiruna and experience the unique atmosphere of Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish Lapland.
The Northern Lights may be what inspires you to travel north.
But the Arctic journey itself becomes part of your story.
When the Whole Group Looks Up Together
There is another part of a Northern Lights journey that is easy to overlook—the people you share it with.
On a group tour, many travellers begin their journey as strangers.
Then come the long journeys, shared meals, sightseeing, photographs and conversations.
Slowly, people become familiar faces.
And when the Aurora finally appears, everyone looks towards the same sky.
Someone is taking photographs.
Someone is recording a video.
Someone has already put their phone away and is simply watching.
And someone will probably be the first to say:
“Look! It’s there!”
Those shared reactions are what make group travel special.
Years later, you might not remember every detail of the itinerary, but you may remember standing outside in the cold with your fellow travellers and watching the sky light up together.
A Winter Journey Filled With More Than Aurora
A Northern Lights holiday can also introduce you to the many different sides of the Arctic.
In Rovaniemi, you can experience Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle. In Finnish Lapland, you can experience an igloo stay. In Kiruna, you can visit the Icehotel, while Tromsø offers a combination of Arctic sightseeing and Northern Lights opportunities.
And for travellers who want to combine the Arctic with Iceland, Aviana’s Iceland Lapland journey continues from the Nordic region into Iceland, including destinations and experiences such as Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach and the Golden Circle.
This is what makes these journeys so interesting.
You are not travelling for just one photograph.
You are experiencing an entire region.
Experience the Northern Lights With Aviana Holidays
If the Northern Lights are on your travel wishlist, Aviana Holidays offers winter journeys that combine Aurora opportunities with the wider Arctic experience. A Northern Lights holiday can also introduce you to the many different sides of the Arctic.
Aurora For All
Aurora For All is a 7-day itinerary covering Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Kiruna and Tromsø. It includes a Santa Claus Express journey, Santa Claus Village, the Arctic Circle, a glass-igloo stay, Kiruna Icehotel and Northern Lights hunts.
Lavish Lapland
Lavish Lapland is a 9-day journey through Finland, Norway and Sweden, with destinations including Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Levi, Alta, Hammerfest, Tromsø and Kiruna. The itinerary includes a glass-igloo stay, Santa Claus Village, the Arctic Circle, Tromsø sightseeing and opportunities to experience the Northern Lights in several destinations above the Arctic Circle, depending on weather conditions.
Iceland Lapland
For travellers looking for a longer Arctic journey, Iceland Lapland combines Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland. Along with Northern Lights opportunities and an igloo stay, the itinerary includes Icelandic highlights such as Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach and the Golden Circle.
The Memory You Take Home
Perhaps the most beautiful thing about seeing the Northern Lights is that you cannot completely plan the moment.
You can choose your destination.
You can plan your winter journey.
You can travel north, stay in an igloo and spend evenings looking towards the sky.
But the Aurora itself remains a natural phenomenon.
And when those first lights finally appear, you understand why people travel so far to experience them.
You may arrive in Lapland hoping to photograph the Northern Lights.
But you return home with something much more valuable—a memory of standing beneath the Arctic sky, surrounded by fellow travellers, watching the darkness come alive.
Sometimes, the best travel memories are the ones you cannot plan.