AURORA BOREALIS / NORTHERN LIGHTS

The Arctic Experience & Northern Lights Trip
Nobody in their right mind would go to Arctic region from the last week of October till the first week of April. Except You. Cos you’re Badass.

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Click to Read Experiences from Aurora Trips

IMPORTANT TIP:
Current airfare is as low as INR 55000 for the roundtrip so if you are planning to book this trip then we would recommend you to book your flights first. The airfare for the trip is not included because the group airfare is slightly expensive as compared to what you see on the internet AND the trip duration is longer because of the flight schedule.

Northern lights trip features on every person’s Bucket list and for good reason. It is nature’s most beautiful phenomenon and looking at the lights leaves you filled with awe. So thinking Iceland? Think again. Because we’re headed to a small corner of the Arctic, Murmansk! This unheard-of town in the extreme north of Russia, close to the Norwegian and Finnish borders, enjoys over 40 days of uninterrupted night, making it one of the world’s premier destinations to view the Aurora Borealis. And with over 300,000 residents, you can enjoy all the cosmopolitan comforts amidst the serenity of the Arctic. It is literally the best of the both worlds, in one place.

Highlights of the Trip
* Staying in the Aurora Igloo Glass Hotel with Unlimited Drinks
* Speeding the Arctic Ocean Coast on a Snow-mobile
* Playing with the Husky dogs/rabbits at reindeer farm
* Visiting a Reindeer farm & feeding them
* Hunting for Northern lights / Aurora Borealis
* Drinking tea / soup with a Sami Village Settlement
* Touching the Edge of ARCTIC in TERIBERKA
* Explore 3 different cities – Moscow, St Petersburg & Murmansk
* Pub-hopping in St. Petersburg

Complimentary short activities included :
*Reindeer Farm snowmobile ride
*Sami Games in Lovozero

Detailed itinerary:
26th November: Delhi – Moscow (Day 1)
Fly to Moscow from Delhi. After finishing the immigration, we shall proceed towards our hotel.
(The hotel will do your registration before you check-in and please remember that after you check-out of any hotel you need to carry the registration slip with you till the end of the trip. The registration fees for all the hotels is already included.)
Your genie will brief you about the tour program & he would take you to the bank so that you can exchange the currency & then to places where you can get the best pictures in Moscow. For those who wish to simply romance the charming streets of Moscow they need to make sure they are wearing shoes / boots which are not slippery as you can expect snow/ice on the streets.
Visit Nikolaskaya Street & Red Square by Night with the MOSCOW METRO (UNESCO HERITAGE)

Overnight at the Hotel.

27th November: Moscow City Tour (6 hours)
Today you will cover all the major significant areas of the Russian capital:
• Visit Red square (Heart of the Capital)
• Walk along the Manezh square & Sky bridge
• Visit the Temple of Christ the Savior
• Back to hotel by soviet metro
• Overnight at your hotel in Moscow

28th November: Fly to Murmansk (Adventure Begins from Today)
• Enjoy your first breakfast before you fly to the biggest Arctic city
• Transfer to the domestic airport
• Fly to Murmansk (around 2.5 hours)
• Transfer to your hotel in Murmansk
• Murmansk City Tour is also included for today ( 2 hours)
• In the evening, we will start our Northern lights hunting tour depending upon the conditions

Important Note:
• Your Aurora hunting tour may last for 4/5 hours so be prepared for the cold
• You will get vodka with during the tour
• Your vehicle would be heated enough to keep you warm
• Your first northern lights tour can happen on any night depending upon the conditions (2nd Hunting will be in the Aurora village)
• Food is an issue in Murmansk for Indians so be prepared with ready to eat packets
• You are in Murmansk for 5 Days so you have enough time for Aurora Hunting
• Your guide for Aurora hunting is also a photographer so that you get high resolution images

Guide to right clothing is available in our TRAVEL BLOG

29th November: Kola Sami Settlement – Reindeer Farm (6 hours tour)

• Meet the strong & friendly Sami people
• Get to know the story behind the sami culture, customs, beliefs & the sacred stone
• Get acquainted with the reindeers – their lifestyle, breeding, habits & maybe try a selfie with them (you can also Feed them)
• We will try the sami tea with local herbs & you can also try the Sami traditional clothing if you want
• We will also try their local soup (veg option is also available here)
• Play with the Husky Dogs

Free time in the evening at your hotel & northern lights hunting depending upon the conditions.
Overnight at your hotel

30th November: Arctic Ocean -Teriberka- Igloo Stay
(8 hours tour)

• Visit the legendary village of Teriberka, located on the edge of the earth ( but earth is round. No? )
• Pass through the Arctic tundra region (a vast treeless area of Northern Russia, Canada, Greenland)
• Try the local food in the extreme conditions
• Visit graveyard of wooden ships aged 100 years old
• Visit the Dragon beach

Note: snowmobiling in this region depends on snowfall

Overnight stay in Igloo hotel (4 pax in one Igloo) & if you’re lucky you might as well enjoy Aurora from your glass igloo stay

1st December: Buffer Day for Aurora

• Leisure time can be used to buy souvenirs from the Murmansk Mall or you can maybe try a local pub or a cafe
• Buffer day is important in the Arctic zone
• Overnight stay at your hotel in Murmansk

2nd December: Murmansk – St Petersburg
• Post breakfast proceed to the airport for your flight to St Petersburg.
• Transfer from airport to the city centre
• Relax at your hotel-located in the heart of the city
• Expect the city to be full of colours as the Russians celebrate the winters here

In the evening you can attend a Russian Ballet theater or a concert if anything interesting is happening around the main town.(Optional Tour)

Overnight at your hotel in St Petersburg

3rd & 4th December: St Petersburg City Tour for 2 days (5 hours each)

• Peter & Paul Fortress
• Kazan Cathedral
•. 19th November will be Hermitage Museum
• If you like shopping then it’s a nice city to spend your money
•. Use the night time for your party sharty

We will also stop for photo sessions at Church of the Savior on Blood, St Isaac Cathedral, etc.
And don’t forget that St Petersburg is possibly the best place to party in Russia!
Overnight at your Hotel or wherever you’re going after the party.

5th December : St.Petersburg to Moscow Train Experience
• Train after check out
• Evening fast train from St Petersburg to Moscow (ticket is included)
• Reach moscow by 9pm
• Transfer to Airport in moscow for your return flight
• Grab each other’s phone and transfer your pictures before you say goodbye
• Last group hug

6th December: Fly from Moscow to India
(early morning flight)- get in touch for timings