14 visit discover-the-world.co.uk/northernlights Lofoten Tromso

NorwayFinnmark, Norway's northernmost county, sits way above the Arctic Circle and covers more than 48,000 sq km of wild and wonderful nature on the same latitude as Greenland and Alaska. It is a land of huge contrasts with a diverse landscape from a dramatic fjord-indented coastline to miles upon miles of peaceful plains. And, for seekers of the northern lights, the region boasts plenty of remote and vast open skies. When IN PURSUIT OF THE AURORA you'll begin your trip in the bustling city of Tromso, steeped in history and home to the striking glass-fronted Arctic Cathedral. Then from here take the famous Norwegian coastal steamer, Hurtigruten, all the way up to Nordkapp (North Cape), pretty much the northernmost point in Continental Europe, before stopping in Kongsfjord. Disembark here and spend two nights in a homely guesthouse in a small but lively fishing village then continue by ship and end your journey in Kirkenes, near the Russian border. If you prefer to keep your winter breaks shorter you could just combine the ICEHOTEL & TROMSO.Our GREAT NORDIC ODYSSEY can only be described as an epic adventure. Over 12 days, travelling by plane, train and Hurtigruten coastal voyager from Stockholm and the Icehotel in Sweden, down the spectacular Norwegian coast, through the Lofoften Islands to Bergen then across to Oslo, appreciate the travelling as much as the amazing places visited. The nights aboard a Hurtigruten vessel are prime time for aurora watching, the intensity and scale of the yellow, green and red displays can be breathtaking."We were bowled over by the Icehotel and saw the lights whilst snowmobiling - absolutely incredible though we wished they'd stayed for longer. But we saw them again near Lofoten, fellow aurora watchers lined up along the side of the ship, bleary eyed and some with pyjamas under their anoraks. We'll never forget our adventure." In Pursuit Of The Aurora I Icehotel & Tromso I Great Nordic OdysseyTime to travel January to Apriltalk to the experts 01737 218 804 15