Norway is the Arctic gateway to a heavenly host of celestial Northern Light-play, a natural wonder that’s top of the bucket list of travel writers worldwide

When Telegraph Travel asked its team of experts to compile their ultimate bucket list of must-see experiences, pride of place went to heading north to witness the Northern Lights.

It’s easy to see why. They are nature’s silent firework display, a celestial ballet that can illuminate the entire firmament with undulating ribbons, shimmering curtains and spiky fingers in neon greens, yellows, scarlets and violets. Mesmerising, tantalising, awe-inspiring, life-affirming, they leave an indelible impression on all who see them. Small wonder even the most hard-bitten travel writers get a little misty-eyed.

The further north you go, the better the show, so seasoned light-seekers head for the Arctic Circle between October and March, when night lasts most of the day (the Northern Lights occur year-round, but can only be seen after dusk). And northern Norway is reckoned to be one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights thanks to its Arctic latitudes, its clear, unpolluted skies, and a dedication among local people to ensure their guests are in pole position to enjoy the best views.

You can see the Lights from a bucking snowmobile, on a galloping husky sled, round a Sámi reindeer-herder’s camp fire or from the portals of a hotel built entirely of ice. But if roughing it in sub-zero temperatures isn’t quite your thing, fear not: one of the best places to experience the Lights is actually from the deck of a ship.

Light my fire: a camping trip is an unforgettable experience Credit: C.H / Visitnorway.com

It’s not just that liveried stewards are on hand to ply you with hot toddy, or that you’re only a few steps from your plush, warm cabin. It’s also because there’s always a lookout on the bridge who can alert passengers when a celestial performance starts, and because away from the light pollution of big towns and cities, the Lights are often at their brightest.

Nobody knows this better than Hurtigruten, which is virtually synonymous with sea travel around Norway’s fjord-notched and mountain-walled coastline. Its 12-day, 2,500-mile Classic Round Voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes and back traces more than half its route inside the Arctic Circle, approaching within 1,300 miles of the North Pole – prime Lights show territory.

The ships are small, and illumination levels on deck are deliberately kept low to maximise the effect of the Lights, which make multiple appearances during the 12-day voyage. In fact, the company is so confident you’ll see the Northern Lights that if they don’t show during a Classic Round Voyage between October and March it will give you another week’s voyage for free.

Wild thing: get close to nature on your visit to Norway

Of course the Northern Lights won’t shine all the time, but that’s another reason northern Norway is such a great place to seek them – there’s so much else to see and do. The winter scenery is ethereally magnificent, with woods and mountains swathed in snow. Whales swim inshore to gorge on spawning herring, while reindeer and arctic foxes roam the snowy tundra, and juicy king crabs lurk beneath the ice just waiting to be caught.

It only takes minutes to master a snowmobile or learn to drive a husky team, and the Norwegians invented skiing as a sport. Urban attractions include Bergen’s Unesco-listed, centuries-old Hanseatic merchants’ quarter and the art nouveau spires of Ålesund, and if you’d rather be indoors you could experience an authentic Viking feast or a magical midnight concert in Tromsø’s Arctic Cathedral.

Hurtigruten’s Classic Round Voyage sails every day of the year, and with scheduled flights to Bergen from London and Manchester, plus Hurtigruten charter flights from a dozen UK airports, joining your ship couldn’t be easier.

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Northern Star

For more information on Norway’s Northern Lights, go to visitnorway.com.

Among the most extraordinary natural phenomena on Earth is the Northern Lights. Hurtigruten is the go to line for exploring Norway’s coastline and offers the ultimate Northern Lights experiences. For more, go to hurtigruten.co.uk or call 02037335934.