Alta
Alta. The name itself conjures images of snow-dusted landscapes, midnight skies ablaze with the ethereal green of the aurora borealis, and the crisp, invigorating air of the Arctic. This charming town nestled in northern Norway is a haven for aurora hunters.
Alta is more than just a place to see the northern lights. It's a gateway to the Sami culture, with its rich history and traditions. You can visit the Alta Museum and learn about the Sami way of life, and even try your hand at snowshoeing or dog sledding.
-
Credit: stein egil liland
-
Credit: Sergei Merzliakov
-
Credit: Tobias Bjørkli
-
Credit: Steffen Rieck
-
Credit: Barnabas Davoti
-
Credit: Stig-Ove Pettersen
Book an amazing adventure in Alta
-
Aurora Hunt with Professional Photographer from Alta
4.5 (8)
7 hours From £256.07
Admire the legendary Northern Lights immersed in a wild and pristine environment, and learn to photograph them like a true professional! Our approach sets aside the comforts of resorts in favor of a more authentic experience, in close contact with the cold and hostile Arctic environment. Don't worry: we will provide you with everything you need to face the extreme temperatures safely. Years of field experience allow us to spot the Auroras even on the most challenging nights. Admiring the legendary Northern Lights is not as simple as one might think. They are often difficult to see, or the view is obscured by bad weather. You won't have to worry about any of this during our tours: with us, you will maximize your chances of seeing them. Additionally, we are professional photographers specializing in night photography, so we can ensure that the photos you take home will be absolutely incredible.
-
Sled trip with husky in the alta valley
5.0 (55)
2 hours 30 minutes From £190.38
We are a small kennel who is passionate about huskies and we love to share this passion with travellers from all over the world. we normally take up to 4 people at the time so we can offer you a personal and unique experience. During the winter time, you might also experience the Northern Lights during the trip if you are lucky! Remember the photo camera dogs love to be photographed, the dogs are very happy when guests arrive so be ready to take pictures and very important warm lingerie to yourself and good mode
-
Evening Tour and Aurora Borealis Sightseeing in Norway by ATV
4.9 (17)
5 hours From £147.71
We dress up in warm clothes and get a briefing on how the ATV you will use works. When this is done, we get on the ATV and start our hunt for the Northern Lights! We follow the coastal road out towards the wild coast, where we have a good overview and good opportunities to see the magic northern lights if the weather is with us. The trip lasts about five hours, but if the northern lights are fantastic, we will stay until everyone is satisfied! Transport from all hotels in Alta, the docks, and the tourist office to the starting point is included.
-
Dog Sled Tour and Husky Cuddles
5.0 (66)
3 hours From £221.56
Alta’s stable, cold climate and easy access to the Finnmark Mountain Plateau has made Alta a dogsledding hotspot in Europe. Mushers from all over Norway and Europe have settled here to be able to dedicate as much of their time as they can to dogsledding. Our family joined their ranks over three decades ago. We have spent the years racing and learning about dogsledding. This knowledge is the foundation of the dogsledding trips that we offer our guests. We will take you to the tracks along the Alta River and the path where Europe’s best mushers race towards the finish line for the famous Finnmarksløpet. You don’t get much closer to Norway’s dogsledding culture than this. The frozen landscape is like nothing you’ll ever see, glittering in the sunlight and bathed in shades of blue, pink and purple during the light of the polar night. Feel the kiss of the cold on your cheeks and listen to the silence of the vast Arctic nature.
-
Northern Lights tour with Alta Adventure
4.6 (90)
4 hours From £155.87
We offer a tour for a small group to enjoy togetherness and excitement while hunting for Northern Lights in the beautiful landscapes of the Altafjord. We arrange organized guided tours since 2007 and have the knowledge about how to find the Northern Lights if the conditions are there. On our tours you normally will have 80-90 % chance of seeing this spectacular view. Each tour is different, as we focus on finding the optimal place with the greatest chance of seeing the lights. We therefore sometimes have to drive quite far to find them, while sometimes we find them in the surrounding area. Necessary driving distance decide whether we establish a camp with a fire, or whether we serve hot chocolate and snacks at one of our short stops. While enjoying the great outdoors, we will share with you local stories about Norwegian way of living, local history from the Stone Age, Sami culture, reindeer-herding, 2nd World War and the modern society in Alta. We are normally back just over midnight.
-
Private Aurora Hunting with Professional Photographer from Alta
5.0 (5)
7 hours From £1113.36
Admire the legendary Northern Lights immersed in a wild and pristine environment, and learn to photograph them like a true professional! Our approach sets aside the comforts of resorts in favor of a more authentic experience, in close contact with the cold and hostile Arctic environment. Don't worry: we will provide you with everything you need to face the extreme temperatures safely. Years of field experience allow us to spot the Auroras even on the most challenging nights. Admiring the legendary Northern Lights is not as simple as one might think. They are often difficult to see, or the view is obscured by bad weather. You won't have to worry about any of this during our tours: with us, you will maximize your chances of seeing them. Additionally, we are professional photographers specializing in night photography, so we can ensure that the photos you take home will be absolutely incredible.
How are my chances of seeing the aurora today?
Forecasts last updated on 14 March 2025 at 12:08pm
20%
Currently there is a 20% chance of seeing the aurora overhead in the Alta area.
Kp 3.00
The Kp-index is a scale used to measure geomagnetic activity. It ranges from 0 to 9, with higher values indicating greater geomagnetic activity.
- 0-2 (Very low) Far north, quite dim, and not very active.
- 3-5 (Moderate) Can be seen further south, with increased brightness and activity. Chance of good viewing conditions nearer the pole.
- 6-7 (High) Visible in many northern regions, with vibrant displays.
- 8-9 (Extreme) Widespread visibility, often seen in areas much further south than usual, with intense and colorful displays.
Bz 3 nT
Bz refers to the north-south orientation of the magnetic field embedded in the solar wind. It is measured in nanoteslas (nT).
When Bz is negative (southward), it allows solar wind particles to penetrate the Earth’s magnetic field more easily. A strong negative Bz is often associated with increased chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
Conversely, when Bz is positive (northward), the Earth’s magnetic field tends to block the solar wind, resulting in reduced auroral activity.
Density 0.05 p/cm3
Solar wind density refers to the number of charged particles in a given volume of the solar wind, typically measured in particles per cubic centimeter (p/cm3).
A typical solar wind density is around 2.76 p/cm3.
The density of the solar wind affects how many particles reach the Earth’s magnetosphere. A higher density means more particles are available to interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. When these charged particles collide with the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, they produce the stunning light displays known as auroras.
Speed 579.6 km/s
The speed of the solar wind also plays a significant role. A typical solar wind speed is about 375 km/s. When both speed and density are high, the energy transferred to the Earth’s magnetosphere increases, enhancing the chances of seeing vibrant auroras.
Snow
-8°C Feels like -15°C
- High
- -7°C
- Low
- -15°C
- Precipitation: 100%
- Cloud cover: 87%
- Wind: 8 km/h
- Snow: 2mm
Moon
Full moon
- Sun rises at: 5:53am
- Sun sets at: 5:18pm
- Moon rises at: 5:51pm
- Moon sets at: 6:07am
Places to check out around Alta
Discover Mountains, Restaurants, Campgrounds and more…
-
-
Alta River Camping
Campground
-
Barila
Bar
-
Camp Alta
Campground
-
Du verden
Gastropub
-
Hjemmelufttoppen
Mountain
-
Komsa
Mountain
-
-
Peppes Pizza
Pizzeria
-
Skoddevarre
Mountain
-
Uno Cafe
Café
-
Wing Wah House
Chinese Restaurant
Other places in Norway
See also
Planning Your Northern Lights AdventureNorthern Lights PhotographyScience Of The AuroraNorthern Lights Playlist
