If not Iceland - where??

[girlcrushonvillanelle]

I've been to Iceland a few times and adore it.

But we feel we want to go somewhere different as we have done the tours etc.

Still not seen the Northern Lights though (been very unlucky with weather).

Can anyone suggest somewhere like Norway or similar?

I like it cold and snowy with shops and things to do, snowmobiling etc.

Canada?

Alaska?

Tromso in Norway

I’ve only been to Bergen but northern Norway as the PP has suggested would fit the bill I’d think? From what I saw of Norway, very different scenery wise to Iceland with its volcanic landscapes. Food etc is very expensive but then I found Iceland similar. Canada would be great but you’d be looking at a different price bracket.

We have beEn to Canada and agreed it is amazing.

DD is not a great flyer so I don't think I could get her on a plane to Canada.

Any recommendations for Norway?

Will look at Tromso

Sweden, Denmark or Finland?

Finland, Sweden, Shetlands, Greenland, Äland islands...

Tromso

Amazing place, we went the end of September for a week and saw the northern lights every night. Alta is further up and worth doing an overnight trip (we stayed in a husky lodge) the drive was beautiful.

We have also been to Iceland and loved it but we preferred Norway

@loubieloo4 ooh tell me more please? Any tips?

Island hopping around Copenhagen.

@girlcrushonvillanelle

We stayed in an Airbnb just outside of Tromso, it was a beautiful if dated cabin right on the edge of a lake of the Lyngen mountains. We hired a car, we didn't opt for snow chains but if we went around the same time again I would. The roads are really easy to drive on and we'll sign posted our car had a sat nav which helped.
Tromso itself is a small city, easily doable in a couple of days. Be careful though the parking is a bit hit and miss and they have lots of traffic wardens. Everything shuts on Sunday! The grocery shopping prices are astronomical so worth taking some cheap snacks with you if you have room in your suitcase. They don't really do fast food so eating out gets really expensive if you eat our for all 3 meals.

We did a day trip around Senja but wish we had more time. We also did a long day trip to Narvik (south of Tromso) about a 3hr drive, the fjord was stunning and we found a shopping mall with a Burger King!
As I said in my pp we spent the night in Alta, it's easily a 6hr drive but my word it was a stunning one, we stopped off loads of times just to take in the view. We stayed at Holden Husky Lodge in a tipi that had glass on one side to watch the Northern lights, it was our 20th wedding anniversary and one of the best days/night in my life. Honestly words can't describe it. The huskies are really friendly and you can take a ride with them, breakfast and 24hr hot drinks were included.

Finally! One of the best views we got of the Northern lights was just over the Finnish border in Kilpisjarvi, it's on the Northern lights route most of the decent tour guides seemed to go there so we thought we would try it. The photo is taken on my iPhone (an old one) and is a picture of a picture iygwim, but shows how amazing the lights are.

We fell in love with Norway, I would move there in a flash.

Oh and the weather was perfect, hardly any rain, some snow (watch out for snow bombs!) and lots of chilly sunshine. Most days it was around 5-6deg

Can't recommend Tromso enough!

They have an annual Sami festival, worth going when that is on and combine with northern lights. So much to do and very beautiful.

@loubieloo4 thank you so so much! That's a great help.

Yep!! Decision made!! Tromso it is!!

Next October half term!! 🤞