Arctic Norway - Practical Information
Climate and daylight
Temperatures in northern Norway can be consistently below freezing and with wind chill they can easily reach -20C. However all Norwegian Hotels (excluding the Alta Igloo and Kirkenes Snow hotels!) and the ships are very well heated. Having a good outer jacket over normal clothes is useful in order to adjust to indoor temperatures. In the period from mid November to the end of January the sun does not rise above the horizon in the area above the Arctic Circle, but the region is not entirely without light. Instead you are treated to the magical Arctic twilight during daytime. This reflection of the light against the snow set against the magnificent coastal scenery is often a highlight for many travellers.
Clothing
The weather in most of our destinations can vary during the course of each voyage or even during the day. To cater for these variations we recommend the layered dress approach that enables you to adapt to changes in temperature, wind and precipitation conditions easily. For all voyages we advise that you take breathable rain and windproof clothing. A warm hat, gloves, scarf and thermal underwear can be useful. On land it can be icy, so sturdy shoes are important for shore excursions and a walking stick/trekking pole may be useful. You should pack a pair of UV protective sunglasses, as the reflection of snow and ice can be harmful to the unprotected eye. An additional list of recommended clothing and equipment is sent on selected departures. Many ships offer a Jacuzzi on board, so take your swimsuit just in case! Where necessary excursions include use of appropriate clothing.
Witnessing the Northern Lights
As a natural phenomenon, a sighting of the Aurora Borealis cannot be guaranteed; it is principally dependent on the level of activity on the sun’s surface and the amount of cloud cover locally.
Hours of Daylight
| 1 Oct | 1 Nov | 1 Dec | 1 Jan | 1 Feb | 1 Mar | |
| Oslo | 11h 28m | 8h 42m | 6h 30m | 6h 3m | 7h 58m | 10h 30m |
| Trondheim | 11h 22m | 8h 8m | 5h 20m | 4h 44m | 7h 13m | 10h 15m |
| Tromsø | 11h 7m | 6h 32m | 5h | 9h 36m |
Average temperature
| 1 Oct | 1 Nov | 1 Dec | 1 Jan | 1 Feb | 1 Mar | |
| Oslo | 8.1 | 2.3 | -1.4 | -2.3 | -1.3 | 2.4 |
| Bergen | 9.8 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 4.9 |
| Trondheim | 6.7 | 1.8 | -1.1 | -1.6 | -0.7 | 2.1 |
| Tromsø | 3.3 | -1.0 | -3.0 | -3.8 | -3.1 | -1.0 |
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Thrilling Excursions
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