Why Go to Norway? I mean why not?? Reindeer, Northern Lights, Snow, and Ice Temperatures, and no people!!! Sign me up 😉
Traveling from Columbus, Ohio to Kirkenes, Norway is not for the faint of heart.
What You Should Know Before You to Norway
- Need a passport
- It is cold
- Food is expensive
- Beautiful nature everywhere
- You will love this trip – thank me now 💜
What You Need to Know About Getting There
It was about 31 hours from arrival at the airport start to arrival in Kirkenes.
Columbus, Ohio to Toronto, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario to Zürich, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland to Oslo, Norway
Oslo, Norway to Kirkenes, Norway
Once it was decided in early December to go see the Northern Lights. It was then deciding what to pack! Check out my travel list and my Norway recommended items!
Additional print out sheet to help with what you need to bring on a trip to Norway!
Airplane tickets after Christmas are definitely not cheap.
The bottom includes all costs!
Landing in Norway!
Kirkenes is known for its beautiful Arctic landscape, close proximity to the Russian border, and unique cultural blend. Imagine a winter scene where colorful wooden houses are blanketed in snow, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) dance in the sky, and a reindeer might be seen in the foreground. The backdrop includes snowy hills and perhaps a glimpse of the Barents Sea. This scene captures the essence of Kirkenes in the winter.
Upon arrival, taxis are not super plentiful in Kirkenes and most are booked. There is a city bus that awaits all arrivals and will drop you off near your accommodation or directly in front of it. It will cost 120 Nok per person. $12 usd.
Pro tip: at the airport in Oslo pull out 2000 Nok dollars – this is sufficient for the trip ($200 USD)
Arrival into Kirkenes is usually afternoon or evening – arrival for us was 8:45 pm
Booked with Scandic Hotels is a well-known hotel chain in the Nordic countries, including Norway. In Norway, Scandic Hotels are known for their wide range of properties, from urban hotels in major cities like Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim, to more remote locations offering unique experiences. These hotels often provide a variety of amenities including comfortable rooms, free WiFi, breakfast options, and fitness facilities. Some of their hotels may also feature conference and meeting facilities, making them suitable for both leisure and business travelers.
Night 1: Sleep!
Day 2: The first adventure was going to see the Ice Hotel. This was a 1 pm departure from Scandic or Thon Hotels.
Ice hotel Kirkenes includes the ice hotel tour, seeing the huskies, and feeding the reindeer!
Excursion 1: On this tour you will get a guided tour of the Snowhotel 365 Park, including the dogyard and our reindeer.
Your driver/guide will pick you up in Kirkenes, and after 15 minute drive we will arrive at Snowhotel Kirkenes. Your guide will escort you through our park, and you will get the chance to meet both our huskies and puppies, as well as our reindeer.
The tour continues into the Snowhotel, where you will be able to see all 13 suites and our 2 theme domes, whilst learning about the Snowhotel from your guide. Cost is around $80 USD
After the 2 hour tour, went back to the hotel to eat dinner and rest for a bit.
Excursion 2: Snowmobile Under the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights : Aurora Borealis
is perhaps the most beautiful natural phenomenon you will ever have the opportunity of seeing. An explosion of green, fluttering like a veil across the arctic sky. When you are looking up at the aurora, you realize how small you are in the vastness of nature.
Sometimes the lights are in plain sight – sometimes we must hunt them.
Snowhotel Kirkenes offers three unique tours where you can hunt the aurora by snowmobile, bus, or husky. Cost $150-375
After snowmobiling then headed back to a short night of sleep!
Day 3:
The next morning – bright and early… right now in the Arctic Circle – it entails 24 hours a day of darkness.
And yes! We are going on a 6 day cruise from the North to the South Norway (Kirkenes to Bergen) more on how to choose a cruise line.
Before boarding the ship, we are doing a ship excursion.
Excursion: visiting the Russian Border, World War II bunker, and sightseeing Kirkenes before boarding. Cost is around $150.
Day 3 – after the excursion it is time to board the Havila – Castor.
This cruise goes from North to South from Kirkenes to Bergen.
The room choices are important:
Interior: 2-4 persons, without cabin window. 10 meters, One lower berth and an upper. Own bathroom and shower. starts at $666 – $819
Exterior: (Seaview Superior) 2-4 persons, twin or double plus sofa, 15 meters, has a window. $1400-$1450
Exterior: (Seaview Deluxe) 2-4 persons, 1 double bed, sofa or sofa bed, 30 meters, window. $1400-$1450
Exterior: (Panoramic Superior and Panoramic Deluxe) 2 passengers, 30 meters, floor to ceiling window $1700-$1900
Exterior: (Balcony Deluxe & Balcony Accessible) 2-4 passengers, 21.5 meters, floor to ceiling no windows, 1 double bed, sofa or sofa bed. $1700-$1900
Junior Suite: (Balcony) up to 4 passengers, 22-25 meters, private balcony, fine dining, sofa bed, queen sized double bed $2700-$2800
Lighthouse Suite: (Balcony) 2 passengers, private balcony with jacuzzi, separate bath and shower, large sofa, extra wide double bed $3000+
Stayed in the Junior Suite. The lighthouse option might have been great however it was gone before booking started.
Days 4-8 go pretty quickly! It is complete darkness for the first two days. Being in the Arctic Circle, this is true.
Excursion: a Taste of Vesteralen – the excursion takes you to Trondenes Church, Harstad Church, Trondenes, Harstad visit, ferry ride. $150
In the middle of the night ….
More on Chasing the Northern Lights
Excursion: Atlantic Roadway, Mines
Weather permitting, the journey begins with a drive along what has been named one of the world’s most beautiful roads—the Atlantic Ocean Road. This route traverses islets stretching out to the sea. Naturally, there will be a photo stop. *
The bus then takes you into the mountain and the marble mines. Golden marble has been extracted here since the 1930s, creating over 40 kilometres of mining shafts across eleven levels. A highlight of the mine is a 300-meter lake with clean, clear spring water.
You will embark on a safe, stable raft to traverse the underground lake, tasting the spring water that cascades down the mountain sides. The journey is illuminated by colorful lights in the water and chandeliers in the tunnels, creating a magical atmosphere. This trip is also accessible to wheelchair users.
The tour concludes in the main hall, a large mining hall that can accommodate up to 300 people. Here, you can watch a film to learn more about the mining operations. A meal of meat stew will be served, accompanied by the mine’s own spring water. Before reboarding the Havila Voyages’ ship, there will be time for a short stroll in the town of Molde.
The end of the trip was Bergen! A beautiful city in Norway with quaint streets, kind people, and beauty everywhere. My only regret is we didn’t have more time here.
To recap, one of my favorite vacations! Book the trip! Don’t look back. Things you may need: Norway and travel list
Follow me: Trendywithapassport1 on Facebook, trendyheidi on most socials 😉
Breakdown of trip
Flight: $2100 per person (Cmh to Toronto, Toronto to Zurich, Zurich to Oslo, Oslo to Kirkenes & return Bergen to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Toronto, Toronto to CMH) this flight was December 28- January 6 (high season) most flights are $1200-2400 depending on holiday time.
Cruise cost: junior suite $1700 per person (normally $2800) sale price (included food, drinks, lodging)
Excursion 1: visit to Snowhotel $80
Excursion 2: Snowmobile (own sled) $340
Excursion 3: Bus Tour $150
Excursion 4: Mine and Atlantic Road $150
Scandic Hotel Room cost: $200 per night (2 nights)
Raddison Blu: $100 ( 1 night)
Transportation: taxi to hotel, bus to hotel, airport, to ship, $300
Tips: $75 USD per person
Food: $300 USD per person when not on ship
Total: if you want the nicer room with a balcony and prime time travel – it will cost $5,000-$6000 and if you go with interior room and off season $3000-4000 per person.
While it is not the most expensive trip I have been on, it was definitely one of the most fulfilling and one of the most beautiful. It was worth every penny spent and I would gladly do it again.
Many of the expenses can be deducted with credit card points and are not specifically outlaid costs!
Xoxo,
Heidi
