Aurora season begins on Norway's Northern Lights Train

Written By Patty Kralj

Sometimes it isn't just the beauty of a natural phenomenon that fills us with wonder, but the way we get to see it. Can you imagine boarding a train that turns the search for the aurora borealis into a true adventure? Well, it exists! It's in Norway, and it's called The Northern Lights Train.

The train departs from Narvik, a small port town surrounded by fjords and mountains, 220 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, and travels by night along the historic Ofoten Railway. For three hours, it winds its way through the mountains, far from city noise and lights, toward a corner of the Arctic that no road reaches.

What sets this experience apart is everything that happens along the way. At the remote Katterat station, passengers step off the train and wait for the lights in the sky around a bonfire, with hot drinks, a snack, and a lavvu, the traditional tent of the Sami, the Indigenous people of northern Scandinavia, for shelter from the cold.

There is a guide, photography tips, stories about life in the Arctic, and even a visit to an old railway museum. And the time is now: the season runs from September to March, when the long, dark nights offer the best chances to watch the aurora dance.

What to Know Before You Board

  • Getting there: Fly from Oslo to Evenes (two hours), then take the bus to Narvik (just over an hour).
    The train leaves from the downtown station.

  • Duration: Three hours, with a stop in the mountains.

  • Destination: Katterat, 373 meters above sea level with no road access, ideal for seeing the sky in total darkness.

  • Included: Train ride, guide, bonfire, hot drinks, snack, photography tips, documentary, and museum visit.

  • Price: From 1,495 Norwegian kroner (130 euros).

  • Season: September to March.

  • What to bring: Very warm clothes, plus a camera and tripod.The tour is family friendly and wheelchair accessible.

Before your trip, it's always a good idea to confirm prices and schedules.
Here's the official link: visitnarvik.com/northern-lights-train

Enjoy it!

Patty Kralj