The city of the northern lights

Welcome to Alta, a city located above the Arctic Circle. Here you can experience our Arctic lifestyle and join a winter adventure between powdery snow and the open sea under the northern lights.

Alta is located at the intersection of the sea and a plateau. This geographic area has, since the Stone Age, been a meeting place for several indigenous people groups. They have built their common history and future to master the rugged arctic environment.

A world of unreal contrasts. Next to nothing, close to everything. This is arctic living.

Cold and long winters provide good opportunities to build an igloo hotel every single winter. The Sorrisniva Ice Hotel is built on the banks of the famed Alta River. Everything here is made of ice, including the rooms, beds, and even the glasses at the bar.

Choose your adventure in Alta depending on who you travel with. Here you will find an overview of experiences that are suitable for you and your travel companions during wintertime.

Alta residents are out and about, not waiting for the sun to come back, despite the city experiencing two months of Polar Nights.

Light, powdered snow is practically guaranteed all winter, and conditions for dog sledding, skiing, snowmobiling and fat biking are excellent. Both short and lengthy trips offer the ideal chance to see the landscape blanketed in snow, the vivid colors of the Arctic daylight, and the northern lights at night.

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Experienced northern lights hunters go either to the Arctic coast or to the vast and open, fabled Finnmark Plateau in the south, thus increasing the chances of seeing the northern lights.

IIn Sami, the northern lights are called “guovssahas” which means “the light you can hear“. Old folk beliefs indicate that the northern lights both crackle and pop.

Become a northern lights hunter with us

  • Alteidet Adventure

    Snowmobile – Evening Trip

    Snowmobile safari
  • Explore Alta

    Northern Lights Tour by Car

    Northern Lights
  • Arnesen Transport

    Northern Lights Safari to Leirbotnvann

    Northern Lights
  • Arnesen Transport

    Northern Lights Safari

    Northern Lights
  • Æventyr

    Northern Lights by snowmobile

    Snowmobile safari
  • Æventyr

    Dog Sledding under the Northern Lights

    Dog sledding
  • Finnmark Moods

    Northern Lights Safari watching tour in Altafjord

    Northern Lights
  • Alta Taxi

    Experience the Magic of the Northern Lights on a Two-Hour Hunt from Alta

    Northern Lights
  • Alta Taxi

    3-Hour Northern Lights Hunt with Optional Catering

    Activities
  • Alta Event

    Camp Aurora

    Activities
  • Sami Siida

    Northern lights adventure with reindeer

    Northern Lights
  • Æventyr

    Protected: Northern Lights Scenic Drive

    Snowmobile safari
  • Sami Experience

    Whale and seabird cruises with MS Kautokeino

    Whale safari
  • Alta Taxi

    Northern lights hunt to Suolovuopmi

    Northern Lights
  • GLØD Explorer

    Aurora Borealis & fatbike

    Biking
  • GLØD Explorer

    Hunting the Northern Lights

    Northern Lights
  • Pæskatun

    Northern Lights safari

    Northern Lights
  • Bjørnfjell Mountain Lodge

    Polar Night Bonfire

    Northern Lights
  • Sorrisniva

    Hunting the northern lights

    Northern Lights
  • Sorrisniva

    Snowmobiling in search of the Northern Lights

    Northern Lights
  • Flatmoen natur

    Sleigh Ride under the Northern Lights

    Horses
  • Æventyr

    Hunting Northern Lights by car

    Northern Lights
  • Alta adventure

    Northern Lights Tour in Alta

    Northern Lights