Flights and Routes for Northern Lights Holidays – The Launch of New Direct Travel Options
New direct flights from the UK make Northern Lights holidays more accessible than ever, with expanded routes to Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and Greenland
Following announcements of new flights from Gatwick Airport to Northern Norway last year, the routes available for guests heading for a Northern Lights adventure in the northern hemisphere are now more flexible, and there are more direct flights from the UK than ever before.
As interest in the Aurora Borealis has soared and record numbers are looking for unconventional and unique experiences in some of the world's most incredible destinations, bookings for Northern Lights holidays have exploded—many of which have been organised by the specialists at the Baltic Travel Company.
To illustrate the ease with which British families, couples, and solo guests can head towards the Arctic Circle, the seasoned travel advisers have put together this guide, which provides a snapshot of some of the most popular and straightforward options.
Introducing the Latest Direct Flights From London to Northern Norway
We’ll start by explaining why the announcement of new routes last year was met with much fanfare. The recently established transport link departs from Gatwick and lands at Harstad-Narvik Airport in Evenes, Norway. It is notable because the town is a gateway to the Arctic wilderness, where many travellers head to see the Northern Lights.
Flight times are less than four hours, which makes it much quicker to reach other far-flung final destinations like the Lofoten Islands. Evenes also serves as an entry point to the Narvikfjellet ski resort and the famous whale-watching expeditions that set off from Vesterålen.
In other news, Nuuk International Airport in Greenland, close to the capital city of the same name, celebrated its opening just last November, as the first truly international airport within the whole of the Arctic region.
As the first passenger airport in Greenland and the first global transport hub in this most remote of areas, Nuuk International makes getting to Greenland easier. However, many journeys have a stop-off point at Keflavík International in Iceland before an onward link to Nuuk.
We’ve summarised the major flight paths and transport connections to other high-demand locations with excellent Northern Lights viewing conditions below to help you make informed decisions, particularly if your preferred holidays are those with direct flights or the shortest travelling time.
Flying to Iceland for a Northern Lights Holiday From the UK
Iceland is a great option for a Northern Lights trip or a snowy, festive family holiday. There are direct flights to both Reykjavik and Akureyri Airports. The capital city has regular flights running from most major UK airports, including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Glasgow.
Icelandair also offers services from each of the largest London airports, with connections from Heathrow and Gatwick, normally running daily, and some EasyJet flights that travel to Reykjavik from Luton.
London City has a twice-weekly service provided by British Airways, and if you're setting off from Dublin or Belfast, you'll find Icelandair services six days a week from the former and weekly Belfast services provided by Icelandair alongside twice-weekly EasyJet flights.
As a couple of examples, average flight times between London Heathrow and Reykjavik are around three hours and 15 minutes.
The best options may depend on where your holiday is based in Iceland. For instance, our New Year in South Iceland tour includes flights from London, Edinburgh, Manchester or Bristol to Keflavík International Airport, with a transfer into Reykjavik for your first night, whereas the Christmas Adventure in Iceland package includes straightforward return flights to and from Reykjavik.
Reaching Norway from Britain on an Aurora Experience
We mentioned earlier the additional services now connecting the UK with Norway. In addition, many travellers fly from London, often Gatwick or Heathrow, into Tromso or Oslo, with services provided by carriers including Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian.
Direct flights from Manchester to Oslo take one hour and fifty minutes, whereas a flight directly into Tromso requires a slightly longer flight time of approximately three hours. Given its northerly location, Edinburgh Airport connections are shorter, with a flight to Bergen taking an hour and 20 minutes and to Oslo requiring an hour and 45 minutes.
While some travellers prefer a flight to Oslo and then a connection to Tromso, you can opt for direct journeys where preferable, depending on whether or not you’d enjoy spending a day or two exploring the capital city.
Otherwise, a flight between London and Tromso should take just over three and a half hours. Carriers serving this route include EasyJet, Wizz Air, Norwegian, and Scandinavian Airlines.
You’ll find full travel details and dates within each tour package, but the Arctic Combo, a seven-day experience in Iceland, begins with a direct flight to Tromso from London, flying Norwegian from Gatwick airport.
Similarly, the New Year in the Lofoten Islands trip includes return flights from Heathrow to Bodo, flying Scandinavian Airlines.
Travelling From the UK to Sweden to See the Northern Lights
Finally, if you're planning a Northern Lights holiday in Sweden, you'll have an equal choice of departure and arrival airports. Most guests visiting the Abisko National Park and staying at the Ice Hotel in Kurina fly to Stockholm Arlanda before making an onward connection, although waiting times are brief.
This is usually via the Scandinavian Airlines service which runs from London Heathrow six days per week. An alternative if you'd like to fly from Gatwick is to choose a Norwegian Airlines service, although these run less frequently, heading to Stockholm to see the sights of the city before any onward travel connections or transfers.
As always, exact flight times will vary between UK departure airports. It takes around two hours and twenty minutes to fly from London to Stockholm, a slightly longer one hour and fifty-minute flight to Gothenburg, or just over two hours if you're flying directly from Edinburgh to Sweden.
Our ever-popular Swedish Icehotel and Treehotel package is a great example. It has daily departure dates between mid-December and mid-April, with flights to Kurina, as we've highlighted, before a transfer to the Icehotel for your overnight experience.
Read more about Baltic Travel Company - Where to Watch the Northern Lights by Boat: Cruise Tours and Onboard Trips for a Magical Experience
About Baltic Travel Company
We specialise in crafting unique, tailor-made travel experiences that showcase the diverse wonders of Europe and the Baltic region. With over 15 years of experience, our dedicated travel experts are committed to providing exceptional service and unparalleled expertise to ensure your Baltic adventure exceeds your expectations. From cultural city breaks to the inspiring northern lights and breathtaking natural landscapes, our carefully curated itineraries highlight the very best of the Nordic Region, Scandinavia, The Baltic Region, Poland, Slovakia and more. Whether you're a solo traveler, couple, or group, embark on a journey of discovery with Baltic Travel Company – your ultimate travel partner in exploring the hidden gems of the Baltics.