The cheap way to see the Northern Lights in Norway
Norway on the cheap!
Who would have thought the two words Norway and frugal would be put into the same sentence? It is well known that Norway is one of the world’s most expensive countries to visit in terms of travel, food and accommodation. It is all prohibitively expensive to the average backpacker but we still wanted to see it so we sought out the best budget options.
We’d heard great tales from a friend about the Hurtigruten ships that sail up and down the coast year round visiting the small ports along the fjords and right up into the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights. It sounded amazing so we looked into it.
A cruise… us?
Now don’t get me wrong. This is normally way out of our league. We’ve never cruised before. Should we? Well, we’d just got back to travelling again after 5 years of labour in Australia, we deserved to treat ourselves and technically this isn’t a cruise as defined by most cruisers as it also transports people and goods to desolate ports as a public service. They are working ships with the basic creature comforts of simple cruise ships. We were curious so we did the maths.
Pick your timing
We were travelling in the dead of winter, at the end of January. One of the cheapest times to cruise into the Arctic not surprisingly, but the best time I reckon to feel the true severity of the weather and a great time to see the Northern Lights. Midwinter had passed and the Arctic night had ended, so the sun would rise over the horizon for 4 hours per day, and you’d get around 8 hours of light even in the far north. It’s even cheaper to go early December when it’s darker but with the risk of severe storms if you are game.
Pick your ship
We chose the MS Lofoten which is the smallest and simplest vessel in the fleet, and we chose it because it was the best deal. It turns out that it is a classic vessel. Built in 1964, it’s one of the oldest “cruise” ships in service and it’s a beauty. All wooden banisters and proper portholes in the cabins.
Hurtigruten market it as “vintage charm” and it doesn’t fail to win the hearts of its passengers. Many return again and again. It certainly is a far cry from the traditional mega cruise ship of today. It’s tiny in comparison with only 151 beds and your only real entertainment is out in the Arctic sky.
Here’s the clincher. The price.
We ended up paying €1109 each for 12 days/11 nights from Bergen all the way up to Kirkenes then back to Bergen. It would have been cheaper if we’d booked at least 3 months earlier. It calls in at 32 ports in total and there’s time to get out and explore many of them. For that you get a cosy, comfy cabin, a buffet breakfast and lunch and a set dinner every day of the trip. The food was incredible and I’ve never eaten so well and so healthily.
Now I know it’s not a budget backpacker trip but let’s remember this is Norway. I defy anybody to find 11 nights accommodation in a private room, 3 square meals a day in restaurants, and transport from Bergen to the very end of Norway and back for less than €100 per person per day. It’s an incredible bargain for travel in Norway. Plus you’ll get to see the northern lights!!
Trip of a lifetime
I might sound overenthusiastic but I can honestly say it was the trip of a lifetime! Not only was it a bargain but we got to see the most incredible scenery and the most amazing way of life in the small towns and villages along the way. From the fjords of the South to the stunning scenery of the Lofoten Islands and the stark beauty of the Far North.
We sailed to over 71 degrees North around North Cape and broke through sea ice on the way into Kirkenes. Oh, yes… and we saw the Northern Lights! I don’t need to wax lyrical about that phenomenon. The thought of it still sends shivers down my spine.
No photograph can ever compare to standing in awe and watching the colours dance across the sky. It is something special. A real travel experience of a lifetime…
And the best thing is… Hurtigruten are that confident you will see the northern lights they promise another free trip if you do not!! This is what the website says…
NORTHERN LIGHTS PROMISE
We are so confident that the Northern Lights will appear on your 12-day voyage in Norway, that if they don’t appear, we will give you another 6 or 7-day Classic Voyage FREE OF CHARGE.*
Extra Information for a budget trip to Norway
- We got to Norway on a cheap flight with Easyjet for £57 from Gatwick and used Airbnb for a few nights in Bergen. The restaurant prices bought tears to our eyes so we lived on supermarket food and cooked at home.
- We booked the classic train journey afterwards from Bergen to Oslo on the Norweigain national railway NSB website which is now VY. This is another stunning bucket list trip. You can book Norwegian trains 2 months in advance and if you get in early you get the bargain fare. 249 NOK = €25.
- We flew on from Oslo to Helsinki for €30. Another bargain deal with Finnair if you book nice and early. Notice the common theme? Booking early is the key to finding bargains.
- This was our first ever “cruise”. Check out Hurtigtuten’s website. The price may rise but you can always get a bargain if you time it right. Early january seems to be the cheapest time to go.
Cruise to the Far North of Norway with Hurtigruten
More of our adventures
Check out our further travels on the Trans-Siberian across Russia
Who are the Frugal Travellers?
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What do you think about a cruise to the Arctic to see the northern lights? Would you do it? Please contact us with comments or ask us a question as we’d love to hear from you.
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