Port of Alta, Norway
ABOUT
Situated at the head of Alta Fjord, Alta is often referred to as the `City of the Northern Lights’ and is approximately 400 km north of the Arctic Circle. The rock carvings located near the Jiepmaluokta bay, dating from c. 4200 BC to 500 BC, are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Population is just over 21,000
Currency is the Krone
THINGS TO DO
It’s not just the Northern Lights that draw people to Alta, there is more to this area.
Other attractions include the prehistoric rock carvings at the Alta Museum, hiking, fishing, the unique Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel and the beautiful Northern Lights Cathedral. The Cathedral is situated in the centre of Alta, was built in 2013 and holds up to 350 people.
Combine that with the more traditional winter sports and activities including Husky sled rides, Reindeer sleigh rides etc and this makes for a bustling and popular place to visit.
OUR FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO
Our First Visit
Our first visit to Alta was aboard P&O Cruises Aurora. This was at the end of March so we saw lots of snow. Alta is finishing point for the Finnmark Race, the longest dog sled race in Europe. Some passengers were lucky enough to see teams crossing the finishing line whilst we made do with walking across it ourselves!
We found ourselves strolling through the town past the Northern Lights Cathedral which was closed for services at that time. Beneath the Cathedral there is a museum relating to the Northern Lights which we have been told is worth a visit.
Wending our way through the snow covered streets we happened on a park where there were a number of ice sculptures (including a workable slide large enough for adults!) and then on to a local bar – where we encountered some of the more eccentric locals.
A lovely day – we would happily go back again to explore more.
Our Second Visit
Two years later and we we again visited Alta on P&O Cruises Aurora. Having only explored a small part of the town on our previous visit we looked forward to doing more during our overnight stay.
This time we were a little later in the season and the thaw had also started early, so there were very different landscapes to see. Our arrival saw quite dramtic skies that then gave way to beautiful sunshine.
Dog Sledding with Huskies
There are two main reasons that attract visitors to this part of the world. The opportunity to see the Northern Lights and Dog Sledding.
Having sampled dog sledding on our previous trip we just had to do it again. This time we chose to take a trip in Alta rather than Tromso.
It makes little difference to the price as these trips are all expensive but in this instance it was interesting to see a different perspective.
Our hosts explained that they currently have 44 dogs which they race throughout the season. This included the internationally famous Finnmark Race.
During the summer months the dogs have a complete rest on their farm in the countryside before training starts again when temperatures are cool enough for them.
It was fascinating to hear about their lives and to see some footage of them in action.
There were three parts to this visit. Firstly there was a talk by one of the owners. She explained the breeding and lifestyle of the dogs and information about the training. The second part was introducing some Husky PUPPIES to the group which was fantastic. They also gave a demonstration on how the Huskies are harnessed. The last part, of course was the ride on the dog sled. I will say no more at this point but will let you enjoy the photos. Don’t forget there is a video at the end of this page that shows highlights of this trip.
Cathedral of the Northern Lights
On the second day of our time in Alta we headed back into the City. We had previously not been able to access the Cathedral of the Northern Lights and so we headed there first.
Inspired partly by the Northern Lights themselves, and known locally as Alta Church. It was consecrated in February 2013 and seats 350 people although this can be increased to 500.
The decor inside is as stunning as the outside of this building and well worth taking time to view.
There is a nominal fee to enter the Cathedral. More information on opening dates and times is available on the website for the Northern Lights Cathedral
Beneath the Cathedral of the Northern Lights, and with a separate entrance fee is the Northern Lights Centre. The museum provides an informative and engaging way to learn about the Northern Lights, with options for guided tours and interactive exhibits. We visited and found it very informative.
Additional Photos of our time in Alta
To check out our experiences in Alta just click the videos below – and if you enjoy the content simply ‘Like’ and ‘Subscribe’ to see more (subscription is free).