Northern Lights, huskies, history and culture – Alta has it all.
Alta, a beautiful city located in the northern part of Norway, is known for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural history. Travelers from all over the world come to Alta to experience its majestic mountains, snow-capped fjords, and vast forests. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or an action-packed vacation full of adventure, Alta has something for everyone!
Here are three top highlights to put on your to do list, with a focus on winter travel. Put on your beanies and scarves and let’s go!
1. Take a Dog Sledding Tour
For the ultimate Nordic winter experience, you can’t go past a dog sledding tour – a time-honored tradition that has been around for centuries. Enjoy the beauty of the Alta landscape while being pulled by a pack of excited and energetic huskies, as you explore pristine wildnerness and spot wildlife along the way. Get up close and personal with nature, exercise those muscles, and don’t forget to take lots of photos!
Tours vary in length from two hours (with 45 minutes to 1 hour of sledding time) to multi-day trips, and even the shortest tours provide plenty of excitement. Most tours give you the opportunity to drive your own sled and you should absolutely give it a go if you can!
If you’re taking a tour in the middle of winter, we highly recommend a morning tour. With sunrise and sunset being as little as 30 minutes apart, you can catch both on your husky sled ride!
PSSTT: we recommend going with Holmen Husky Tours for their professional and friendly staff, great riding routes and, most of all, awesome huskies! If you have a rental car (which we recommend), you can save some money by booking tours directly through the Holmen Husky website and removing the transfer to/from Alta city centre. There’s a brilliant video of the current owner of Holmen Husky on YouTube:
2. Chase the Northern Lights
Let’s admit it, chasing the Northern Lights is THE top reason why most people want to head to Northern Norway, and it’s a good reason too – the lights, or Aurora Borealis as they are often known, have captivated humans for centuries. The ethereal lights that dance across the night sky in a mesmerizing swirl of greens, pinks and purples are not only awe-inspiring, but imbue a sense of wonder and magic.
Alta is one of the best places to experience the Northern Lights due to its far northern location and lack of light pollution. The lights can be seen from late autumn into early spring (usually around 7pm – 1am depending on the season and location), so it’s a great activity to add to your winter schedule.
Whilst tours are sometimes helpful as guides have the networks and resources to maximise your chances of seeing them, you can do it yourself too! In Alta, our top recommendation is to head out to Lathari Beach, a short 15-20 minutes drive from the Alta city centre. The flat landscape and relatively low light pollution provides the opportunity, and all you need is for the lights to play ball.
PSSTT:
- Having a rental car and multiple days in Alta will definitely increase your chances – don’t hedge your bets on just a single specific day.
- Cameras on newer and higher end phone models (particularly models from 2021 onwards) can capture the lights well in “night mode”, so you don’t necessarily need fancy equipment. That said, if you have a SLR camera handy, you should definitely bring it!
- Check the Northern Lights forecast to find the best time to go light hunting – we recommend the easy to use Norway Lights website at https://www.norway-lights.com/
3. Learn about Norway, the Arctic Circle, and the Sami People
Alta has significant cultural and historical significance, including being the first town in Norway to be connected by a railway, and housing the oldest rock carvings in Northern Europe. The Alta Museum (Alta Museum) is a great place to start learning about the region’s history and culture, particularly the Sami people who have been living in these parts for centuries. It houses collections of artefacts, traditional costumes, and reconstructed dwellings to give visitors an immersive experience. Be sure to visit the cafe for some great snacks and an awesome view of the Alta Fjord below. A great place to stay for a couple of hours and escape the cold too!
Bottom Line
All this is just a taste of Alta, a small town that punches well above its weight – we haven’t even touched on the snowmobiles, the ice hotel, the arctic cathedral, and so much more. We loved our visit to Alta, and we’re sure you will too.
Got a question? Have a top tip to share? Add your comments below!