
Introduction
'Bucket list' and 'wish list' are currently THE travel buzzwords and there is one thing that almost invariably sits at number one on those lists: the Northern Lights.
We've been fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights many times and believe us, nothing, absolutely nothing comes close.
No images, no time-lapse footage can compare to standing on a frozen Arctic lake under a pitch black northern sky and watching a pale green smudge of faint light develop into a full blown flickering and shimmering Aurora Borealis.
The Aurora Zone is the UK's only holiday brand solely dedicated to sharing Mother Nature's greatest wonder. Nobody can ever guarantee that you will see the Northern Lights but if they are top of your bucket list, then you're giving yourself the very best chance by starting right here.
The Aurora Zone – Why choose us?
What makes us different from other holiday companies offering Northern Lights holidays?
The Aurora Zone is the UK's dedicated Northern Lights holiday company.
The Aurora Zone is the UK's only holiday brand solely dedicated to sharing Mother Nature's greatest wonder and importantly, we were the first. Nobody can ever guarantee that you will see the Northern Lights but if they are top of your bucket list, then you're giving yourself the very best chance by starting right here.
We're not distracted by holidays in other parts of the world because our focus is purely and simply on the Aurora Zone. We research it, we visit it (regularly) and most of all, we absolutely love the Northern Lights and we want you to share our experience of nature's greatest wonder.
We include more – NO hidden costs
Before booking any Northern Lights holiday we strongly recommend that you carefully consider what is included in the price.
We never use "headline" or "lead-in" prices - everything you see is included in the price.
We never use "headline" or "lead-in" prices like so many operators as we prefer to include pretty much everything rather than see our clients incur considerable additional costs in our destinations.
On each of our holiday pages, you will see the clear outline of exactly what is included in your holiday. Unless you are taking part in one of our most leisurely options then this will typically include incredible experiences such as dog sledding and snowmobiling along with the Northern Lights activities – these will be the real deal and not just 15-minute taster activities. We want you to enjoy all that the Aurora Zone has to offer during the day and night.
Our Free Comparison Service
At first glance, a few other operators may appear to offer cheaper trips. Do not be swayed by headline prices though, because you may very well end up paying far more in the destination.
We are so confident in our product knowledge, and the exceptional experiences that we include, that we welcome the opportunity to compare our itineraries with others that you may be considering.
Our comparison service is completely free and entails no obligation to book our trip but we would welcome the opportunity to analyse these quotes on your behalf. We are more than happy to offer you a detailed breakdown of the content of our itineraries to make the difference clearer.
It also offers you the chance to speak to one of our Aurora experts and utilise their firsthand knowledge of the Aurora Zone and our destinations.
Local representatives
We include local representatives in our most popular destinations such as Nellim, Harriniva, Torassieppi, Jeris and Muotka. In those which do not have a representative, you will find a designated local guide to assist with any queries or problems you may have.
Travelling north of the Arctic Circle can be fairly daunting and the added value and assurance of a representative cannot be overstated.
Indeed, many of our previous clients have noted how useful it was to have a representative to rely on and found that having someone on hand 24 hours a day, gives great peace of mind.
Our Heritage
The Aurora Zone was crafted by the team at Activities Abroad, a tour operator specialising in multi-activity holidays.
Activities Abroad had long specialised in winter holidays to Northern Scandinavia and in doing so had become one of the UK's largest independent suppliers of holidays within the Arctic Circle. Adventures such as dog sledding in Finland and snowmobiling in Norway were becoming very popular indeed but there was one thing, in particular, that was captivating Activities Abroad clients: the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights as they are perhaps better known.
And so, the team at Activities Abroad sat down and worked out how best to show their clients the Northern Lights and, in close conjunction with their partners in Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland, created The Aurora Zone, a holiday brand devoted to providing the best and widest range of Northern Lights chasing holidays in the world.
The philosophy was that we would only work in the areas of Northern Europe where the Aurora Borealis appear most frequently.
Next, we went and talked to the people who know the Aurora Borealis better than anybody else, the locals. Across Northern Scandinavia, we sat down with our local partners and devised trips which would create the best possible chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Pouring over maps of the immediate area, we would highlight places with great vantage spots and calculate the costs of getting there with a fully qualified guide. Basically, we designed a series of Northern Lights holidays in conjunction with people who spend much of the autumn and the winter chasing the Aurora Borealis, in other words, the Northern Lights experts.
The Aurora Zone was the very first UK holiday company to be solely devoted to helping as many people as possible tick the Northern Lights off their wish lists and the national press were soon highlighting the fact. Double page spreads appeared in The Times, The Telegraph, The Sunday Times and smaller articles (single pages!!) cropped up right across the broad spectrum of travel media.
It was an incredibly exciting time, stressful perhaps, but immensely rewarding.
Since we launched The Aurora Zone, our staff numbers in the UK have trebled and we provide the most extensive range of Northern Lights holidays on the market.
We regularly head out to Northern Scandinavia to enjoy some time with our Aurora hunting partners and marvel at the most spectacular light show on Earth and that is very much what drives us on. Possibly, the Aurora's greatest beauty is that it is constantly changing, no two displays are ever the same and one thing is for sure, we will never, ever grow bored with the Aurora Borealis.
Award Winning Holidays
The British Travel Awards are considered to be the industry's most prestigious. Essentially, they are equivalent to the Oscars in the cinematic world, with the distinct exception that the British Travel Awards are voted for by the general public.
Best Adult Only Holiday Company
The 2013 awards saw The Aurora Zone win the coveted award for Best Adult-Only Holiday Company in recognition of the quality of our service and the holiday experience we provide.
We're immensely proud to have won such a prestigious award because it reflects the hard work and dedication that our team applies both here in the UK and in the destinations we feature.