Norway is, without a doubt, the most magical place I have ever been.

We arrived in Tromsø on the very first morning of 2026, stepping off a flight from Hamburg after celebrating my sister Sammy's 30th birthday the night before. Running on little sleep and fueled almost entirely by excitement, we watched from the airplane window as endless stretches of snow-covered mountains, frozen fjords, and tiny pockets of light emerged beneath us. It felt as though we were descending into another world.

After spending our first day wandering Tromsø's snowy streets, admiring the colorful buildings, and taking in the novelty of the Arctic winter, I made a last-minute decision that would become one of my favorite travel experiences of all time. I snagged the final spot on a small Northern Lights tour with Arctic Explorers. Before we had even left Tromsø, ribbons of green light began dancing across the sky above the city. Our guide laughed and told us that Northern Norway was welcoming us properly.

From there, we chased clear skies through the islands west of Tromsø, eventually arriving at a secluded beach near Sommarøy. While the Northern Lights shimmered overhead, our guide built a fire on the snow-covered shoreline and served hot chocolate and traditional reindeer stew. Sitting around the fire beneath the aurora, he shared both the science behind the phenomenon and centuries-old Norwegian folklore.

One story tells of the Northern Lights as the reflections of the armor worn by the Valkyries, the legendary female warriors of Norse mythology who guided fallen heroes to Valhalla. As they rode across the night sky, their shining shields and armor created the glowing colors that danced overhead. Standing beneath the lights while listening to those stories, it was easy to understand how generations of people believed something magical was unfolding above them.

Having that experience on the very first day of the year, in a place I had dreamed of visiting for years, is something I still struggle to put into words. It felt like the perfect beginning to both a new year and an unforgettable adventure.

Tromsø itself is a remarkable place. Located more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, it is often called the "Gateway to the Arctic." During early January, the city remains in Polar Night, a period when the sun never rises above the horizon. While that may sound dark, it was anything but. Each day brought several hours of soft blue and pink twilight that painted the mountains and fjords in colors that felt almost unreal. Temperatures during our visit ranged from the teens to low 30s Fahrenheit, though the weather could change quickly from calm snowfall to crystal-clear skies within a matter of hours.

Over the next week, we immersed ourselves in everything we could. We visited a traditional Sami reindeer farm, learned about Indigenous culture, went dog sledding through the Arctic wilderness, explored Tromsø's cafés and waterfront, and spent an evening snowmobiling beneath the stars. Every activity felt uniquely tied to the landscape and culture of Northern Norway.

One of the highlights of the entire trip came near the end of our stay when we drove nearly four hours north to Skjervøy in search of whales. The drive alone was spectacular, winding past frozen fjords, dramatic mountain peaks, and tiny fishing villages that seemed frozen in time. From Skjervøy, we boarded a completely ice-covered dinghy and headed out onto the Arctic Ocean.

What followed was one of the most incredible wildlife encounters I have ever experienced. We found ourselves surrounded by a massive pod of orcas, including several calves swimming alongside their mothers. As if that wasn't enough, humpback whales repeatedly surfaced around us, their enormous tails disappearing beneath the icy water. Watching these animals hunt and move through the Arctic fjords against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains felt almost surreal.

Northern Norway exceeded every expectation I had carried for years. It was wild, beautiful, peaceful, and humbling all at once. Between the Northern Lights, Arctic wildlife, Sami culture, frozen landscapes, and the sense of adventure that comes with traveling so far north, it remains one of the most extraordinary places I have ever visited. If there is a destination that truly feels like stepping into a winter fairytale, this is it.