Arctic Experiences
If you have ever wanted to witness the captivating Northern Lights on a holiday deep within the magnificent Arctic Circle then look no further than the Lapland travel specialists Transun Holidays.
The Northern Lights or the famous Aurora Borealis – are a magical, eerie, silent yet inspiringly dramatic sight – a vast, multi-coloured, fiery curtain in the sky.
Transun Holidays has been providing holidays to Lapland for many years. With their specialist knowledge to assist you at every step of the way, there is no need for you to handle all the organization. This is a good thing as due to the unpredictability of the lights and weather patterns, it is a complicated job at the best of times.
Lapland Adventures with specialist tour operator Transun Holidays are to Karesuando, a village bordering the Lapland regions of both Finland and Sweden in the far north of Europe. These holidays include the magical Northern Lights excursions.
When is the best time to go?
Well, that is Transun’s job to figure out where they are most likely to appear, and your job is simply to enjoy them.
The Northern Lights are notoriously difficult to predict when they can happen. Anything more than a couple of hours in advance is generally considered guesswork, although your Transun Holidays staff will do everything they can to catch them at the perfect time.
If you’re in the right place at the right time, the solar winds are strong and the sun’s good and active, you could even catch one of the really big shows, the kind of Aurora that can be seen by people across the entire night sky.
Tips for seeing the Aurora Borealis​
There is no reliable scientific research about the best times of the year when the lights are most likely to occur.
Auroras happen throughout the year but they are impossible to see against the super-light late-night northern summer skies. As a result, the Transun Holidays trips tend to take place when the night skies are at their darkest.
January to August
Given that it is easier to see the lights against a dark, clear sky as clouds hide the Aurora it would suggest that September to April might be the best time to plan your trip. The aurora’s intensity depends on the sun’s Solar Cycle, an eleven-year cycle that swings from maximum to minimum. A Solar Maximum stage brings a brightly coloured Aurora and regular appearances. A Solar Minimum however tends to make the aurora happen less frequently.
January to March is the most popular time to travel for aurora spotting, because of the very long and dark nights. Some say the Aurora is more likely to appear on colder nights but there is no real proof of that. It’s also possible that because most of the winter snow has already fallen, we are left with clearer skies and some fantastic Aurora views.
Traveling from April to August sadly means that the skies are too light and it is too late to see the show which is happening invisibly in the skies. However, the only way to view it at this time is with special equipment.
September to December
September and October are perfect months for Aurora watchers who are not keen on experiencing the full-blown Arctic winter, which is excruciatingly cold.
You might even be lucky enough to experience a very special Northern Lights display so vivid that it reflects in the mirror-like, ice-free rivers and lakes to deliver something truly mind-blowing.
November and December see the first deep snows arriving as the frozen north descends into winter. The cloud cover can obscure the lights but at the same time, the shorter days and darker skies mean there’s more chance of seeing them.
Our conclusion? The best time to travel will usually be from November to March.
How long do the Northern Lights last?
Once they appear the Northern Lights can, if you are lucky, last for an entire night or just for ten minutes if you are less fortunate.
Having said that, just ten minutes of this extraordinary natural phenomenon is enough to make memories that will last a lifetime.
What to Expect On A Transun Holiday
The Transun Northern Lights holidays are arranged so that you can make the most of your time in Lapland and enjoy this extraordinary part of the world.
Your 3 or 4-night holiday starts with a morning flight to Enontekio Airport from one of 14 UK airports, on a direct charter flight, exclusive to Transun Holidays.
Enontekio is a very small airport and your flight is likely the only flight that day. From there, you travel the one-hour transfer to Karesuando, a remote border village that straddles both Swedish and Finnish Lapland.
Located some 300km inside the Arctic Circle, Karesuando is located perfectly on the Northern Lights Route and offers the choice of two hotels: the Davvi Arctic Star in Swedish Karesuando, or the more rustic Davvi Arctic Lodge, in Finnish Karesuando, both on a full board basis.
As well as the hotels, there are cabins and you even have the chance to spend the night in an igloo although this is only for the very brave as conditions are, as you would expect, somewhat cold!
The location of the Jeris cabins is Lapland’s finest – second to none! The deep forest surrounds Lake Jeris and snow stretches to the horizon. Peace and tranquillity abound! This is True Lapland, just as you imagined it: uncommercial, authentic, and picture-perfect.
Travel Activities With Transun Holidays
There is a wide choice of once-in-a-lifetime travel excursions included in Transun Northern Lights Holidays:
Northern Lights Snowmobile Safari – Duration: 2 hours – An evening excursion when, with the crisp Arctic sky overhead, you head to a viewing point to see the incredible Northern lights
Northern Lights Forest Trek – Duration: 1 hour – A guided walk through the forest for views overlooking the village of Karesuando.
Call of the Wild Husky Safari – Duration: 1 hour – How about a mush of a team of excited huskies through spectacular Lapland scenery
Reindeer Camp – Duration: 2 hours – Travel to a traditional Kota and herding corral and learn about the importance of the Reindeer. Then, enjoy a reindeer sleigh ride.
Snowshoe Introduction – Duration: 2 hours – This guided snowshoe tour teaches you the basics of this simple yet challenging activity.
Time to make your plans!
Now that you know what to expect from a Transun Northern Lights Holiday and the best time for the Aurora Borealis, you can start planning your holiday around a potential sighting.
However, even if the Northern Lights don’t play ball, you will, with Transun Holidays, have the most incredible time exploring an extraordinary landscape, a remarkable culture, and a winter holiday travel destination that offers something unique.
Contact Information
Transun Holidays
Open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 5:30 pm
T: 01865 265200
www.transun.co.uk
View or order the latest Transun Holidays, and travel brochures which include the countries of Sweden and Finnish Lapland.
Alternatively, contact your local travel agent and ask for holidays with Transun Holidays
