Northern Lights holidays can be
romantic, exhilarating and awe-inspiring, but we often speak with guests
concerned about the suitability of the frozen Arctic tundra for their little
ones – however keen they might be to share this adventure of a lifetime with
their family!
The great news is that the Aurora and
the magic of Lapland are brilliant opportunities for kids to expand their
horizons, explore landscapes and natural phenomena they might never have heard
of before, and try excursions and activities they will remember forever.
Let’s talk about family trips to see
the Northern Lights, some of the amazing activities we’d recommend for younger
visitors, and varied accommodation options that are perfect at any age.
Can I Travel to See the Northern Lights With Children?
We often organise packages and tours
for families while recognising that smaller travellers are less likely to be
able to stay awake into the evening to watch the Northern Lights twinkling
across the sky! One fantastic option is to consider a glass igloo, where you
stay in heated, luxurious accommodation with an uninterrupted view of one of
the most famous natural wonders.
The Arctic Circle itself is a remote
and wild part of the world, but with all excursions managed by experienced
local guides, often with cold weather clothing included, you’ll be in safe
hands throughout your trip.
Few holidays inspire as much
excitement as a visit to the North Pole, and all of the best places to see the
Northern Lights are also considered among the safest, with almost non-existent
crime rates –packages that include Aurora Borealis viewing are located in the
beauty of Finnish or Swedish Lapland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Svalbard.
Discussing your Northern Lights
holiday beforehand and explaining how this breathtaking natural phenomenon is
formed by solar particles colliding in the earth’s atmosphere can be a great
way to build up enthusiasm for the trip – as can the chance to see polar bears,
reindeer and majestic huskies in the snowscapes of the Arctic.
Unique Activities for Kids in the Aurora Zone
There are two primary options
families tend to prefer when organising a Northern Lights adventure, depending
on the age of their children:
·
Booking
overnight tours and trips to see the Northern Lights with warm, comfy
accommodations that are suited to children.
·
Opting
for an ice hotel or lodge close to the setting-off point to see the Aurora,
arranging childcare with a qualified childminder, or a family member who is
happy to alternate days for their chance to glimpse the lights.
Aside from the Northern Lights
themselves, there are hundreds of activities you might wish to schedule, many
of which are ideal for younger visitors and provide a learning experience as
well as a huge amount of fun.
Northern
Lights city breakscan work well, where you might, for example, schedule a four-night trip
with a couple of days in a modern, festive city and then organise an overnight
excursion or stay to see the lights. This combination package fits as much into
your itinerary as possible.
Children can meet huskies and join in
with a dog sledding safari, safely seated in a snug sled behind their tour
guide. Kids also embrace the chance to ride as a passenger on a snowmobile,
zipping through a landscape of snow-capped mountains and forests – age
restrictions may apply.
A reindeer safari or visit to a reindeer
farm is another fabulous day out for every family member, listening to herders
talk about the heritage and lifestyle of these incredible animals, and with a
chance to take a sled ride.
If you’re keen to plan a Northern
Lights holiday that is focused on Christmas, you could book our outstanding
Arctic Christmas tour in Finland, or the Lapland Adventure with Santa and
Rudolph, with an overnight Aurora camp and one-on-one meetings with Father
Christmas himself included.
Accommodation Options for Family Northern Lights Holidays
Although some Arctic Circle
accommodation is designed as an adults-only getaway, there are plenty of
options for families within the Aurora zone. A glass-roofed aurora cabin or a
lodge with a viewing platform are excellent options, where the adults can stay
up later to watch the lights in the dark skies once smaller travellers have
settled down for the night.
Our Christmas tour includes
accommodation at the superb Hotel Kalevala in Kajaani, Finland, where you can
enjoy traditional local dishes, skiing, snowshoeing and reindeer safaris, along
with a visit to Santa Claus, carol singing and a search for the ideal tree.
This package is designed for
families, with an evening sauna and outdoor jacuzzi, special activities
specifically for children, and a Christmas Eve buffet. Parents can make the
most of a babysitter, included in the holiday, for two days, with a kid’s
playroom, board games and PlayStation games, ice-sleds and toboggans to keep
kids entertained and excited throughout.
You are welcome to contact our
talented travel advisers for more information on this package or other tours
and custom itineraries to ensure all of the members of your party have a
wonderful experience, whatever their ages!
Planning Your Family-Friend Aurora Adventure
Planning a Northern
Lights tour that includes a day or two within one of the nearest cities
is a great compromise; you can visit Christmas markets, theme parks and
attractions before heading into the pristine Arctic countryside where
activities like snowman building and sledding are an excellent way to enjoy
quality time together.
Note that smaller children aren’t
able to manage the rigours of cross-country skiing, but a toboggan ride down a
gentle slope is tremendous fun, and you can bring your little ones with you on
a snowmobile – kitted out in cosy thermal clothing to keep the chill at bay.
Visiting the real-life winter
wonderland remains a fairy-tale experience for children, and snuggling up in
the evening around a blazing fire to watch the Northern Lights is an unmissable
holiday – and one that every child will love.
During your trip, your hosts, guides,
and tour leaders will be happy to help, whether recommending snacks and drinks
or packing these on your behalf and offering layers and blankets for colder
outdoor winter activities to keep the children content.
Information Source: -https://www.baltictravelcompany.com/blog/index.php/northern-lights/northern-lights-trips-for-families-how-to-make-your-aurora-hunt-child-friendly/