Winter Activities in Alta
Hunting the Northern Lights
Depending on the weather the northern light guide will choose the best route to hunt the light. Sometimes we follow the coastline and some time we go up to the Finnmark Plateau. The guide has knowledge about the northern light, basic photo knowledge, and can also tell you about the culture and history of Alta, and how it has been to grow up with the Aurora Borealis. During the trip, you will have time to enjoy the silence and the winter darkness on your way to find the northern light. Our guide will ensure that you’re having a great time, answer all your questions and help you with your own camera.
Availability: Sep 15th to Mar 31st (Tue, Thu and Sat in the autumn until Nov 30th and Tue, Sat and Sun in the winter)
Times: from 20:00 to 23:00
Duration: 3 hours
Dogsledding
Dogsledding is popular and important in the Alta area, as the city is the host, starting and ending point for Finnmarksløpet, the world’s northern most sled dog race and the second-longest in the world. Different kennels will give you their stories and show you were they are training and preparing their dogs for the race. With us you can book a variety of tours offered by different kennels. Dog sledding is a wonderful way to experience the nature in the Alta valley. This supplier offers an active participation where the guests will be part of the preparation of the dogs. During this trip, we drive in the forest, open landscape and beside Alta River or on frozen sections. Two people ride per sled; one will be the musher and one will be sitting on the sled. We stop and swap places en route. After a while we return to the kennel. The dogs need to be returned to their respective kennels, and you help with this. Then it’s time to relax around an open fire with a hot drink and home baking to eat.
Availability: 1st of December to 31st March, daily
Times: 10:00-13:00 and 16:30-19:30
Duration: 2,5h – Storytelling in Traditional Sami Lavvo with hot drinks and snacks after the tour
Includes: Transfer to/from Alta Centre. Coffee and homemade cake, storytelling, interaction with the dogs, warm clothing and boots.
Snowmobile Safari
Experience the Arctic light and nature while driving your own snowmobile from Sorrisniva through the Alta Valley and up to the Finnmark plateau. The sun and the Arctic light vary during the winter season. Around noon the Arctic light is brightest and can provide a wonderful light on the horizon. This special light can be seen in a better way once we go up on the Finnmark plateau with its wide, snow-covered expanse.
Availability: 1st of December to 31st March, daily
Times: 10:30-13:00
Duration: 2.5 hours
Includes: Transfer, guide, thermal suit, winter boots, gloves, woolen socks, helmet and gas and oil.
Note: The drivers must sign a liability of participants during activities organized by Sorrisniva. Driving license for car or motorcycle is required. The tour can be cancelled due to weather and snow conditions.
Snowshoeing, Husky and Ice-Fishing with Lunch
The trek to the wilderness camp takes us through beautiful and peaceful pine forests surrounded by high mountains. The wilderness camp has an idyllic location beside a small lake, which has always had excellent fish stocks. We will light the open fire inside our lavvu (Sami herdsmen’s tent). This is the ideal place to warm up and enjoy a delicious lunch. The predominant fish species is Arctic char, but catching these big, nice fish is not always an easy task! If we are lucky, we will eat fresh, self-caught Arctic char for lunch. If the fish are not biting, we will grill the delicacies we have bought on the fire. The area has a rich animal life, such are hares, foxes and moose, as well as bird such as eagles and the rough-legged buzzard. This trek is not very demanding and most people manage to reach the wilderness camp in under 30 minutes. We need some equipment and are accompanied by one of our huskies – Javri, Phelps, Atlas or Bruneo – to pull it by sled. Huskies are social creatures and love to work and help their best friends!
Availability: Nov 1st – April 15th, daily
Times: 10:00-14:30
Duration: 4.5 hours
Includes: Thermo suit and over shoes (if necessary), Lunch prepared on open fire, Transport (pick up at your hotel)