See The Northern Lights The Easy Way

Here's great news for anyone thinking of a Northern Lights adventure this year - new charter flights from Bristol, Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh with Norwegian cruise specialists Hurtigruten.

The Aurora Borealis are likely to be on a holiday wish-list for many a traveller in 2012 as it is rated one of the best years for this amazing phenomenon, and the new charter flights launched for this winter makes it easy to do so. A new direct flight from Bristol is featured for the first time and additional dates have been made available for Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh on a number of departures between October and December – the first time Hurtigruten has committed to them during this period.

The charter flights are offered on select departures for the 12-day Classic Round Voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back (prices from £1,299pp) and the five-day Arctic Highlights itinerary, which is spent entirely above the Arctic Circle sailing from Tromsø to Kirkenes and back, maximising the opportunity to see the Northern Lights (prices from £949pp).

In addition, a pre-Christmas departure is being offered for the ever-popular Astronomy Voyage (prices from £1,899pp) and, following requests, this has been extended to a full round-trip. Whatever the choice of itinerary, there is no better way of experiencing the Northern Lights than from a Hurtigruten ship as the aurora are set against a dark night sky, free from artificial light.

Classic Round Voyage: Direct flights to Bergen from Manchester (8 November), Bristol (19 November), Gatwick (30 November) and Edinburgh (11 December) for the 12-day voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. Priced from £1,299pp, to include flights (based on two sharing).

Arctic Highlights: Direct flights to Tromsø from Gatwick and Manchester on 29 November, 6 December and 10 December for the five-day Arctic Highlights voyage from Tromsø to Kirkenes and back. An extended six-day stay is also available. Prices are from £949pp, based on two sharing, and include flights. 

Astronomy Voyage: Departs London Gatwick on 28 October to Bergen. Join MS Finnmarken as it follows the 12-day Classic Round Voyage itinerary from Bergen to Kirkenes and back. Guests will be accompanied by Ian Ridpath, editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy, who will bring the world of stars, planets and meteors ever closer through a guided tour of the night sky from the deck of the ship and a series of onboard lectures. Prices start from £1,899pp, including flights, and are based on two sharing.

For booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

 

The Fascination of the Northern Lights

The British Geological Survey (BGS) reported that a large solar storm could make Northern Lights displays a possibility in the UK. The hype created (Northern Lights was even trending on Twitter!) shows that seeing the elusive lights is something most people dream of achieving in their lifetime.

Whilst many of us weren’t lucky enough to see them on our home turf, the good news is Hurtigruten have a wealth of special voyages in search of the Northern Lights for anyone who wants to maximise the opportunities to be mesmerised by Mother Nature at work. Packages are available from just £875pp.

The Hurtigruten ships are an ideal viewing platform for seeing the Northern Lights. They are set against the dark backdrop of the night’s sky, away from artificial light. Experts recommend that spending as long as possible above the Arctic Circle increases the chances of seeing the Northern Lights and short voyages are available that spend the entire duration in the far north. And, to ensure they are not missed, whatever time of night, passengers on the Hurtigruten ships can request a wake-up call should the Northern Lights appear.

A five-day Arctic Highlights voyage departing on selected dates until between January 25 and March 3, 2012, travels from Tromso to Kirkenes and back with the chance to add a range of excursions such as a visit to North Cape, snowmobiling or dog sledging. Prices start from £875 per person, including return flights from Gatwick, three nights half-board on the ship and one night’s B&B in Tromso. No single supplements apply.

For more information, visit http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/ or contact adventure cruise specialists The Cruise Line Ltd.

Cruise From Edinburgh to Tromso

You can now take a cruise aboard the MS Expedition with Noble Caledonia from Edinburgh to Tromso from May 8-19.

The voyage begins on the east coast of Scotland in the port of Leith. From there, the journey continues to the remote Shetland Islands and then the Norwegian fjords, among the most spectacular scenery in the world.

With just over 100 fellow passengers, you can enjoy the beauty of this region in small groups and from aboard a small, friendly ship. With the ideally suited vessel, you will navigate narrow fjords and get close to immense glaciers (above), avoiding the route of big cruise ships wherever possible. Many of the ports of call are tranquil hamlets or small communities and they make for fascinating alternatives with their unique lifestyles.

Amongst the places visited are Lerwick, Rosendal, Sognefjorden and Naeroyfjorden (above).

At Flam, you embark on one of the most dramatic train rides in Europe. The Flâm Railway is only 20 kilometres long but a masterpiece of engineering. The train climbs up from sea-level to 867 metres during these 20km, crossing back and forth across rivers and through 20 tunnels.

Crossing the Arctic Circle, you arrive in the Lofoten Archipelago, an enchanting area of picturesque villages with jagged granite mountain peaks forming a dramatic backdrop. A spot of whale-watching is thrown in before reaching Tromso.

Prices, per person based on double occupancy, start from £2995 and include 11 nights on MS Expedition on full board, transfers as stated in itinerary, expedition team, port taxes, shore excursions, scheduled flight from Tromso to London and airport tax.

Also available from May 19-30 is the reverse itinerary heading south from Tromso to Edinburgh.

For more details, visit www.noble-caledonia.co.uk or the adventure cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd.