Iceland, Norway, Lapland and the poles from India

How many days does Iceland's Ring Road need, and what does the trip cost for two?

Iceland's Ring Road is about 1,322 km and needs nine or ten nights from India; seven is rushed. For two, land only, plan on an indicative ₹10 lakh to ₹15 lakh as a self-drive with the best country hotels and a 4x4, or ₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh with a private driver-guide. Drive the full circle from June to August. From October to April keep to Reykjavik and the south coast with a driver, because storms close roads at short notice.

• Five or six nights is enough for Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and the south coast as far as the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
• No aurora is visible in June or July, because the sky never gets dark.
• Check conditions daily on Iceland's official travel safety site, and confirm with the rental company that it accepts your Indian licence.
• For a winter trip built around the aurora, the northern lights guide compares Iceland with Norway and Finland.

Read the full guide Source: Visit Iceland: the Ring RoadSource: Safetravel: official travel safety information for Iceland

When is the best time for Norway's fjords and Lofoten, and how many days do we need?

Go from late May to early September, and allow nine or ten nights for the fjords and Lofoten together. Give the western fjords five nights between Bergen, Flåm and Geiranger or Ålesund, then fly north for four in Lofoten, where the midnight sun lasts from late May to mid-July. Seven nights is enough for the fjords alone. Lofoten in winter is for northern lights and seascapes, with short days and unsettled weather.

• Reach Lofoten by flying from Oslo to Bodø, then a flight of about 25 minutes to Leknes or Svolvær.
• Waterfalls are fullest in May and June; July and August are warmest and busiest.
• High mountain roads above the fjords close for winter and usually reopen in late May or June.
• For two, nine nights with fjord-view hotels and private drivers run about ₹10 lakh to ₹24 lakh, land only.

Source: Visit Norway: the midnight sun

What is there to do in Finnish Lapland beyond the northern lights, and what does a week cost?

A week in Finnish Lapland costs about ₹7 lakh to ₹20 lakh for two, land only, and the days fill easily: husky and reindeer safaris, snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoeing, a wood-fired sauna and, for children, Santa Claus Village at Rovaniemi. Snow usually lies from late November to April. A family of four pays about ₹20 lakh to ₹40 lakh for five or six nights in December. Christmas week sells out six to nine months ahead.

• Rovaniemi is easiest for families; Levi and Saariselkä are quieter, with darker skies.
• One or two nights in a glass igloo is enough; spend the rest in a suite or log cabin.
• January to March is brighter and better value than Christmas week, with the same activities.
• In summer the same region offers the midnight sun, hiking and lakeside cabins.

Read the full guide

Where and when can you see the midnight sun?

The midnight sun is visible north of the Arctic Circle for days or weeks either side of 21 June, and for longer the farther north you go. Tromsø has it from late May to late July, the North Cape from mid-May to late July, and Svalbard from April to late August. Lofoten and Finnish Lapland have it too. Iceland's mainland lies just south of the Circle, so Reykjavik gets a bright night with a brief sunset in June.

• You cannot see the northern lights in these weeks: the Arctic sky is too bright from May to early August.
• Pack an eye mask, since hotel blackout curtains vary.

Source: Visit Norway: the midnight sun

Do Indians need a visa for Svalbard or Greenland?

Svalbard itself needs no visa, but Indians travelling there through mainland Norway need a Schengen visa with at least two entries. Svalbard is part of Norway but outside Schengen, so you leave the zone flying north and need a second entry to return. Greenland is different: a Schengen visa is not valid there. Apply to Denmark for a visa valid for Greenland; one application form also covers the Schengen visa for your transit.

• Ask for two or more entries on the Schengen form; the Governor of Svalbard says a single-entry visa will not get you back.
• Svalbard works two ways: three or four nights in Longyearbyen, or an expedition ship from June to August.
• Greenland's main season is June to September, reached by air through Copenhagen or Reykjavik.
• For the other pole, the Antarctica guide covers ships, costs and the gateway visas.

Read the full guide Source: Governor of Svalbard: visas and immigrationSource: New to Denmark: entry to the Faroe Islands or Greenland

How cold does it get in Iceland, Norway and Lapland in winter, and what should we wear?

Finnish Lapland is the coldest: plan for minus 5°C to minus 20°C from December to February, with spells near minus 30°C. Tromsø and the Norwegian coast are milder, at about 0°C to minus 8°C, and Reykjavik sits near freezing, but wind and wet make both feel colder. Wear three layers: a merino thermal base, a fleece or light down middle and a windproof, waterproof shell, with insulated boots, two pairs of gloves and a warm hat.

• Lapland safari operators lend thermal overalls, boots and mittens for husky and snowmobile outings.
• From India, bring thermals, a good down jacket, wool socks and waterproof boots; the heaviest layer is usually provided.
• Phone and camera batteries drain fast in the cold; carry spares in an inside pocket.
• Tromsø has no sunrise from late November to mid-January, only a few hours of blue twilight.

Source: Visit Norway: the polar night

Do the Nordic countries work for vegetarians and Jains?

Yes in the cities, with planning in the wilderness. Reykjavik, Oslo, Bergen, Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen all have vegetarian, vegan and Indian restaurants, where a vegetarian main course costs about ₹2,500 to ₹4,500. Remote lodges in Lapland, Lofoten and rural Iceland cook around fish, lamb and reindeer and are often the only kitchen for miles, so they need a written brief at least two weeks ahead. Jain meals are possible only where the kitchen has agreed in advance.

• Larger Arctic towns such as Rovaniemi and Tromsø have vegetarian-friendly restaurants; small villages may have a single kitchen.
• Tell guides as well: lunches on safaris and day tours default to fish soup or sausages.
• Carry ready-to-eat packs and snacks for long drive days and late aurora nights.
• State no fish stock, no egg or no root vegetables explicitly; vegetarian is read loosely in the north.