Catch the aurora AGAIN - 12D11N Iceland + Norway itinerary
- Sunday, January 11, 2015
- By Iva
- 25 Comments
Updated on 2nd May 2015
My October 2015 holiday itinerary is finally done. I'm not going to visit Switzerland and will spend more time in Norway instead. The trip is also shortened from 15D13N to 13D11N.
Day 1
Day 3
Visit Golden Circle route, Thingvellir National Park / Strokkur Geyser / Gullfoss waterfall / Kerio Crater
Stay overnight at airbnb private home stay
Read my trip report here
Day 5
Day 6
Day 12
Oslo city tour
Depart from Oslo to Singapore (via Helsinki)
You may want to download word version (with more details) of my itinerary here.
Original post on 11th Jan 2015
I visited Finland in December 2014 and I only manage to see very faint aurora. I feel so sad as I flew all the way from Singapore and spent a lot of money but this is what I saw.
Click here to read my last aurora trip (December 2014) report day 1, day 2, day 4, day 5, day 6 and day 7 report and itinerary.
2 weeks after I came back from Finland, I decided to plan another aurora trip. And this time, I will not just spend 3 nights but 7 nights instead in northern Europe.
I plan to visit these places early October. Why would I choose October? First, I do not want to experience winter again. I had enough in Japan and Finland. Second reason, I want to see northern lights, so option to visit in summer is out and autumn seems to be the best season. Daytime length and night is also pretty balance (12 hours) during autumn (end September, early October).
My initial planning was to go there end September which fall on Hari Raya Haji (24th September 2015) that week, so I could save 1 day annual leave. However, I found out that it's gonna be a super full moon (see moon calendar here) on 28th September 2015 which is also the Chinese Mid Autumn Festival. I believe Iceland and Lofoten Island will look beautiful in a super full moon night, but my purpose is northern lights, moonlight can kill off the northern lights. Therefore, I made the trip in first 2 weeks in October instead.
From Tromso to Lofoten
Tromso is one of the best place in the world to see aurora. I wanted to include Tromso into the itinerary but because of my tight itinerary and transportation problem between Tromso and Lofoten, I can only visit one of them.
Norway is known for their expenses, nothing is cheap. 1 way air ticket (Wideroe, 35 mins journey) from Tromso to Evenes (then 4 hours drive to Lofoten from Evenes airport) cost SGD150. If you don't wish to drive 4 hours journey, you can choose to fly from Tromso to Leknes airport in Lofoten. This route requires transit at Oslo and/or Bodo and 1 way air ticket cost SGD253 (10 hours long transit time) or SGD340 (1 hour short transit).
Tromso and Lofoten Island is quite a distance, 487km from Tromso to Leknes, probably 7 hours journey by car. If you want, you can rent a car and drive to there, but it will be a full day driving and it's gonna be another full day driving when I return from Lofoten.
Singapore – Helsinki (transit) - Iceland – Norway Oslo – Norway Lofoten Island – Switzerland Zurich - Switzerland Lucerne
Highlights
Accommodation
My October 2015 holiday itinerary is finally done. I'm not going to visit Switzerland and will spend more time in Norway instead. The trip is also shortened from 15D13N to 13D11N.
Day 1
Depart from Singapore to Iceland capital Reykjavik (via Helsinki) at midnight
Day 2
Upon arrival Finland Helsinki in the morning 6:30, head straight to Helsinki city.
Visit Lutheran Cathedral / Senate square / Old market hall (Vanha Kauppahalli)
Depart from Helsinki to Iceland and arrive Reykjavik at 4pm. Collect rental car.
Visit Blue lagoon
Stay overnight at airbnb private home stay at Reykjavik
Read my trip report here
Day 2
Upon arrival Finland Helsinki in the morning 6:30, head straight to Helsinki city.
Visit Lutheran Cathedral / Senate square / Old market hall (Vanha Kauppahalli)
Depart from Helsinki to Iceland and arrive Reykjavik at 4pm. Collect rental car.
Visit Blue lagoon
Stay overnight at airbnb private home stay at Reykjavik
Read my trip report here
Day 3
Visit Golden Circle route, Thingvellir National Park / Strokkur Geyser / Gullfoss waterfall / Kerio Crater
Stay overnight at airbnb private home stay
Read my trip report here
Day 4
Visit Lómagnúpur / Skeiðarársandur / Skaftafell / Svartifoss / Ice-cave / Glacier lagoon
Stay overnight at airbnb private home stay
Read my trip report here
Visit Lómagnúpur / Skeiðarársandur / Skaftafell / Svartifoss / Ice-cave / Glacier lagoon
Stay overnight at airbnb private home stay
Read my trip report here
Day 5
Drive back to Reykjavik.
Visit Vík / Reynisdrangar / Dyrholaey / Skógafoss waterfall / Seljalandsfoss waterfall on the way to capital. In Reykjavik, visit church Hallgrímskirkja (9am – 5pm adult kr. 700) / visit church Domkirkjan (weekday 10am – 430pm) / Shopping Laugavegur shopping street and Skólavörðustígur street / Sun Voyager sculpture
Stay overnight at airbnb private home stay
Read my trip report here
Visit Vík / Reynisdrangar / Dyrholaey / Skógafoss waterfall / Seljalandsfoss waterfall on the way to capital. In Reykjavik, visit church Hallgrímskirkja (9am – 5pm adult kr. 700) / visit church Domkirkjan (weekday 10am – 430pm) / Shopping Laugavegur shopping street and Skólavörðustígur street / Sun Voyager sculpture
Stay overnight at airbnb private home stay
Read my trip report here
Day 6
Early morning depart from Iceland to Norway capital Oslo.
Visit Akershus Fortress & Castle / Resistance Museum (WWII - At Akershus)
Stay overnight at Comfort Hotel Xpress Tripadvisor hotel review
Day 7
Visit Akershus Fortress & Castle / Resistance Museum (WWII - At Akershus)
Stay overnight at Comfort Hotel Xpress Tripadvisor hotel review
Day 7
Depart from Oslo to Harstad/Narvik, Evenes airport
4 hours self drive to Lofoten Island
Stay overnight at Eliassen Rorbuer Tripadvisor hotel review
Read my trip report here
4 hours self drive to Lofoten Island
Stay overnight at Eliassen Rorbuer Tripadvisor hotel review
Read my trip report here
Day 8
Explore Lofoten Island
Stay overnight at Nyvågar Rorbuhotell Tripadvisor hotel review
Read my trip report here
Stay overnight at Nyvågar Rorbuhotell Tripadvisor hotel review
Read my trip report here
Day 9
4 hours drive from Lofoten Island and depart from Evenes to Bergen (via Oslo)
Visit Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf / Mount Floyen and the Funicular (Floibanen)
Visit Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf / Mount Floyen and the Funicular (Floibanen)
Visit Bergen town
Depart from Bergen to Oslo
Stay overnight at Comfort Hotel Xpress Tripadvisor hotel review
Oslo city tour
Depart from Oslo to Singapore (via Helsinki)
You may want to download word version (with more details) of my itinerary here.
Actual budget/pax (in SGD)
Air ticket 2260
Accommodation 1900
Car rental 377
Petrol 305
Meals 600
Photo tour 840
Other transport 106
Travel insurance 138
Shopping 439
Accommodation 1900
Car rental 377
Petrol 305
Meals 600
Photo tour 840
Other transport 106
Travel insurance 138
Shopping 439
Total SGD5980
I visited Finland in December 2014 and I only manage to see very faint aurora. I feel so sad as I flew all the way from Singapore and spent a lot of money but this is what I saw.
Click here to read my last aurora trip (December 2014) report day 1, day 2, day 4, day 5, day 6 and day 7 report and itinerary.
2 weeks after I came back from Finland, I decided to plan another aurora trip. And this time, I will not just spend 3 nights but 7 nights instead in northern Europe.
I plan to visit these places early October. Why would I choose October? First, I do not want to experience winter again. I had enough in Japan and Finland. Second reason, I want to see northern lights, so option to visit in summer is out and autumn seems to be the best season. Daytime length and night is also pretty balance (12 hours) during autumn (end September, early October).
My initial planning was to go there end September which fall on Hari Raya Haji (24th September 2015) that week, so I could save 1 day annual leave. However, I found out that it's gonna be a super full moon (see moon calendar here) on 28th September 2015 which is also the Chinese Mid Autumn Festival. I believe Iceland and Lofoten Island will look beautiful in a super full moon night, but my purpose is northern lights, moonlight can kill off the northern lights. Therefore, I made the trip in first 2 weeks in October instead.
From Tromso to Lofoten
Tromso is one of the best place in the world to see aurora. I wanted to include Tromso into the itinerary but because of my tight itinerary and transportation problem between Tromso and Lofoten, I can only visit one of them.
Norway is known for their expenses, nothing is cheap. 1 way air ticket (Wideroe, 35 mins journey) from Tromso to Evenes (then 4 hours drive to Lofoten from Evenes airport) cost SGD150. If you don't wish to drive 4 hours journey, you can choose to fly from Tromso to Leknes airport in Lofoten. This route requires transit at Oslo and/or Bodo and 1 way air ticket cost SGD253 (10 hours long transit time) or SGD340 (1 hour short transit).
Tromso and Lofoten Island is quite a distance, 487km from Tromso to Leknes, probably 7 hours journey by car. If you want, you can rent a car and drive to there, but it will be a full day driving and it's gonna be another full day driving when I return from Lofoten.
Highlights
Helsinki city tourBlue Lagoon Geothermal spa in Icelandvisit to beautiful glacier in Iceland2 nights stay in charming rorbur (fishermen cabin)visit to picturesque Reine fishing village in Lofoten IslandViewing of northern lights in Iceland and Lofoten Island
4 nights airbnb private home stay in Iceland3 nights in fishing village cabin in Lofoten Island2 nights in Oslo city hotel2 nights airbnb private home stay or city hotel in Zurich2 nights airbnb private home stay or city hotel in Lucerne
Day 2
Day 3Leave bulky luggage in private home and self drive to south Iceland
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 16
