Russia Northern Lights Tour 2027: Murmansk, Moscow And St. Petersburg Guide

If you want to see the Northern Lights at least once in your life, you don't necessarily have to go to Finland, Norway, or Iceland. A completely different alternative lies a bit further east of the popular routes in northern Europe, beyond the Arctic Circle: Murmansk.

Located on the Kola Peninsula in northwestern Russia, Murmansk is one of the world's most notable destinations for Northern Lights tours thanks to its long winter nights, surrounding areas with low light pollution, and its position within the Aurora Borealis belt.

Moreover, you don't have to limit your trip to Russia solely to the Northern Lights.

A well-planned Russia Northern Lights tour can start from iconic landmarks like Moscow's Red Square and Kremlin, extend to the Arctic nature of Murmansk, and then continue to the palaces of St. Petersburg and some of the world's most important art collections.

Holitera's Moscow – Murmansk – St. Petersburg Russia Boutique Northern Lights Tour was created exactly with this logic in mind.

This route is not a tour program prepared just on paper. As Holitera, we have previously undertaken the same Northern Lights route and experienced the operations in Russia firsthand. For the 2027 program, we used what we learned from previous experiences to plan aurora hunting over three nights, specifically designed to increase the chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Murmansk.

What Are the Northern Lights? How Does Aurora Borealis Form?

The scientific name for the lights moving in green, purple, pink, or red tones in the sky is Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.

Illuminations occur in the sky as a result of charged particles coming from the Sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field and colliding with gases in the upper atmosphere.

Green is the most commonly seen aurora color. In stronger geomagnetic activities, red, pink, or purple tones may also be visible.

However, there is an important fact here:

No tour company can guarantee the Northern Lights.

Solar activity, cloud cover, sky clarity, and light pollution are all important for the visibility of the Aurora. Murmansk tourism sources also clearly state that the Aurora is a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed 100%. The Northern Lights season generally lasts from September to the end of April in the region.

Therefore, when choosing a Northern Lights tour, it is much more important to check how many nights aurora hunting takes place rather than just looking for "aurora hunt included."

Why Murmansk for the Northern Lights?

Murmansk's biggest advantage is its geographical location.

The city is located at approximately 69 degrees north latitude, quite far north of the Arctic Circle. This position places it within the aurora belt.

The presence of numerous tundra areas around Murmansk where you can get away from city lights is also significant. The goal of aurora hunting is not to look up at the sky in the city center and wait for the lights to appear; rather, it involves monitoring weather conditions, cloud movements, and geomagnetic activity to move to darker areas that might be more suitable for that night.

Murmansk's official tourism sources also state that leaving the city, having a clear sky, and low light pollution are key factors that increase the probability of seeing the aurora.

Therefore, in the Holitera program, three nights are allocated for Murmansk.

Approximately 3 hours of Northern Lights hunting is conducted each night. This way, instead of tying the entire journey to the weather conditions of a single night, three different nights are utilized. The tour program plans for selecting appropriate locations based on real-time KP indices and weather conditions.

This is, in my opinion, one of the most important details of the tour.

Is 2027 a Good Year for the Northern Lights?

There is a lot of misinformation on the internet regarding the Northern Lights, such as "they will definitely be seen this year" or "the Northern Lights will end next year."

In reality, the Sun goes through approximately 11-year activity cycles.

NASA and NOAA have announced that the Sun has reached a period of strong maximum activity in its current Solar Cycle 25. NOAA's updated data for 2026 continues to monitor the activity of the current solar cycle. While high solar activity supports the likelihood of strong geomagnetic events, it does not mean that an aurora will be seen on a specific travel date.

Therefore, the correct approach for 2027 is:

Right region + long night + clear sky + multiple aurora hunts.

KP predictions for a single date cannot be made reliably months in advance.

Does the Sun Never Rise in Murmansk in January?

There is a piece of information about Murmansk that is repeated very often on the internet:

"The sun never rises in January."

This statement is not true for the entire month.

Polar night in Murmansk lasts from early December to mid-January. For 2027, the sun is expected to start becoming visible again around January 12. Since Holitera's departures are on January 23 and January 31, they do not fall entirely within the polar night.

In my opinion, this situation is more advantageous for the tour.

Because, thanks to a few hours of natural daylight during the day, places like Sami Village, huskies, reindeer, and Teriberka can be visited, while the long dark hours of the evening and night are dedicated to aurora hunting.

So, you can see the Arctic nature and still have enough darkness at night for the Northern Lights.

How Is the Russia Northern Lights Tour Route?

Holitera's 2027 program combines three different Russian experiences into a single trip:

Moscow → Murmansk → St. Petersburg

The tour includes 6 nights of accommodation and starts from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Two domestic flights are used between Moscow – Murmansk and Murmansk – St. Petersburg. This allows time to be spent directly on destinations rather than spending days traveling by train or bus across Russia's vast geography. The domestic flights also include a 23 kg baggage allowance in the program.

Moscow: The First Stop in the Heart of Russia

It is hard to find a stronger entry point to start a trip to Russia than Moscow.

One of the first stops is undoubtedly Red Square.

The colorful domes of Saint Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin walls, and the historic GUM passage are all located around the same square. Especially in winter, Moscow's architecture mixed with snow creates a completely different atmosphere.

The program includes entry to the Kremlin and its cathedrals. The Kremlin is not only one of Russia's political centers but also a great historical complex that has been at the center of Russian tsars, the Orthodox Church, and state history for centuries.

Another characteristic experience of Moscow, the Moscow Metro Tour, is also included in the tour.

Some stations in the Moscow metro feature marble walls, large chandeliers, mosaics, stained glass, and bronze statues, giving the feeling of being in an underground architecture gallery rather than a means of transport.

Historic stations such as Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya, and Ploshchad Revolutsii are highlighted stops within the program.

After Moscow, the character of the journey changes completely.

We leave the city lights behind and fly north.

Murmansk: The Arctic Section of the Tour Begins

After an approximate two-hour domestic flight from Moscow, we arrive in Murmansk.

Here, we are no longer talking about a classic European city tour.

Snow-covered tundras, frozen lakes, the Barents Sea, reindeer, huskies, and long Arctic nights take center stage in the journey.

There is a total of 3 nights of accommodation in Murmansk.

And aurora hunting is planned on all three nights.

How Is the Aurora Hunt Conducted?

The term "Aurora hunt" is actually quite accurate.

Because for the Northern Lights, you don't go to a specific place and wait for the show to start at 9:00 PM.

Cloud movements, weather forecasts, and geomagnetic activity are monitored. We go to areas where the effect of city lights is low and change locations if necessary.

Sometimes the aurora can start very quickly.

Sometimes you need to wait for hours.

Sometimes light that appears faint gray or pale green to the human eye can come out as a much more vibrant green in the night exposure of a phone or camera.

Therefore, learning how to use your phone's night mode and bringing a small tripod if possible is really useful when going on an aurora hunt.

But the most important equipment is not the phone.

The right clothing.

What to Wear in Murmansk?

The logic of an Istanbul winter does not work for Arctic travel.

In the tour program, temperatures felt between -15°C and -30°C are anticipated for Murmansk days, and even lower on some open tundra days.

Therefore, layering is required.

Thermal underwear, polar or warm middle layer, a coat resistant to cold and wind, thermal socks, waterproof snow boots, a hat or balaclava, thick gloves, neck warmer, hand and foot warmers, power bank, and spare camera batteries are good preparations.

Especially remember that phone and camera batteries can drain much faster than normal at very low temperatures.

Instead of the "my coat is thick, that's enough" approach, the layering system always works better.

Sami Village, Huskies, and Reindeer

You should not think of the Murmansk tour as being limited only to nighttime Northern Lights hunts.

One of the daytime sections of the program is built around Sami culture.

The Sami are one of the indigenous communities living in the northern regions of Northern Europe and Russia for centuries.

The program includes visits to Sami Village, meeting reindeer, husky experiences, and Arctic activities. Local tour programs in the Murmansk region also list Sami villages, reindeer experiences, and husky farms among the basic winter activities of the region.

In the Holitera program, husky sled experience, reindeer feeding, and snowmobile experience with Sami sled are included in the main tour.

This is especially one of the strongest days of the tour for those who love taking photos and videos.

Teriberka: A Completely Different Russia on the Coast of the Barents Sea

Teriberka, located about 80 kilometers from Murmansk, is one of the most characteristic stops of the Russia Northern Lights tour.

You move through the interior of the Arctic tundra and reach the coast of the Barents Sea.

A full day is allocated for Teriberka in the tour program.

Among the sights to see are Dragon Egg Beach, the Ship Graveyard where the remains of old ships are located, and a waterfall that can be seen frozen in winter conditions.

Especially Dragon Egg Beach is extremely impressive photographically due to the large stones rolled around by waves for years and the icy coastal view formed in winter.

There is also an important operational detail here.

The road to Teriberka can sometimes close due to heavy snow or storms. In such cases, instead of losing the entire day, the Kirovsk alternative is planned in the Holitera program.

These details are actually very valuable when planning an Arctic tour.

Because in the north, the program needs to be managed not only according to the map but also according to weather conditions.

Lenin Nuclear Icebreaker

Murmansk is also one of the important centers of Russia's Arctic maritime history.

The program includes a photo stop in front of the Lenin Nuclear Icebreaker.

Put into service in 1959, the Lenin is considered one of the world's first nuclear-powered civilian surface ships and one of the starting points of the nuclear icebreaker fleet.

The tour includes a photo stop outside the ship; visiting the museum inside the ship is evaluated separately.

Then, with the third and final aurora hunt in Murmansk, the Arctic section of the tour is completed.

And we board the plane again.

This time the destination is:

St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg: The Splendor of Tsarist Russia

When you move from Murmansk to St. Petersburg, it is surprising to find two such different worlds within the same country.

After the tundra and Arctic simplicity of Murmansk, palaces, canals, cathedrals, and 18th and 19th-century European architecture greet you in St. Petersburg.

2 nights are allocated for St. Petersburg in the program.

On the first day, important points of the city such as Nevsky Prospekt, Palace Square, Kazan Cathedral, and Neva embankments are seen in the panoramic city tour.

However, the real heavyweights of St. Petersburg come the next day.

Catherine Palace and Amber Room

Catherine Palace, located in Tsarskoye Selo about 25 kilometers outside St. Petersburg, is one of the most ostentatious structures of Tsarist Russia.

Its blue, white, and gold Baroque facade alone is worth seeing.

But the most famous part of the palace is the Amber Room.

The original room, created with amber panels, mirrors, and gold details, disappeared during World War II. The room seen today was reconstructed after years of work.

Entry to Catherine Palace and the Amber Room is included in the Holitera tour.

Hermitage Museum: A Few Hours Aren't Enough, But It's Enough to Start

One of the most important stops in St. Petersburg is the Hermitage Museum.

The Hermitage is not just an art museum.

It is a large historical complex including the Winter Palace.

Official tourism sources of St. Petersburg state that the Hermitage collection reaches approximately three million works of art and cultural objects.

An incredibly wide selection is available here, ranging from Renaissance art to Russian imperial collections.

Seeing the entire museum in a single visit is simply not realistic. Therefore, progressing through important sections predetermined in a guided tour is much more efficient.

The inclusion of Hermitage entry in the Holitera program is particularly important because museum and palace entries in Russia tours can often be extra expenses added later.

St. Isaac's Cathedral and Church on Spilled Blood

The last day program in St. Petersburg features two important religious structures of the city:

St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Church on Spilled Blood.

St. Isaac's is one of the most prominent structures in the city's silhouette with its massive dome and magnificent interior architecture.

The Church on Spilled Blood carries the colorful domes of classic Russian architecture from the outside while having a very extensive mosaic decoration inside.

Entries to both structures are included in the tour program.

Thus, the journey begins at Red Square, passes through the Arctic tundra, and ends in the capital of Tsarist Russia.

What Is Included in the Holitera Russia Northern Lights Tour?

When comparing the price of a Northern Lights tour, looking only at the starting price can be misleading.

What should actually be looked at is the total package.

In Holitera's current program, Turkish Airlines Istanbul–Moscow outbound and St. Petersburg–Istanbul return flights, Moscow–Murmansk and Murmansk–St. Petersburg domestic flights, 23 kg baggage on domestic flights, 6 nights of accommodation in 4-star hotels, 6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 6 dinners, city transfers, Kremlin, Moscow Metro Tour, three nights of aurora hunting, Sami Village, husky sled, reindeer, snowmobile, Teriberka, Catherine Palace, Hermitage, St. Isaac's, and Church on Spilled Blood, among other main visits of the program, are included.

Therefore, when comparing two different Russia tours:

It is more correct to ask "How many euros will I have spent in total after the tour ends?" rather than "How much is the tour in euros?"

In the calculation on Holitera's current product page, the total value of main activities that might be encountered as extras in other programs is calculated to be approximately 755 €. This comparison is based on sector averages and is not directed at a specific agency.

Two special activities are kept optional in the tour: Murmansk Ice Floating experience and Ballet show in St. Petersburg. In the current program, Ice Floating is listed at 130 € per person, while the ballet price is determined according to repertoire and seat category.

Therefore, it is more correct to evaluate the phrase "all extras included" in practice as the inclusion of the main sightseeing and activity program.

2027 Russia Northern Lights Tour Dates

Two Northern Lights tour options are listed in the Holitera system for the 2027 season.

The first departure is January 23 – January 30, 2027, and the second departure is between January 31 – February 7, 2027.

International flights are planned with Turkish Airlines from Istanbul Airport to Moscow Vnukovo for outbound and from St. Petersburg Pulkovo to Istanbul for return. Flights TK419 and TK404 are located in the current flight schedule.

It should not be forgotten that flight times may be changed by the airline before the operation.

How Much Is the Russia Northern Lights Tour Price?

As of August 20, 2026, the per-person price visible in the system for Holitera's Russia Boutique Northern Lights Tour is 2,450 €.

The price is calculated per person in a double room, and availability and price must be rechecked at the time of reservation.

You do not have to pay the entire reservation in one go.

In the current Holitera payment model, the reservation can be secured with a 20% down payment, and the remaining amount can be divided into a payment plan to be completed 30 days before the tour departure. Payment can be made by credit card or transfer/EFT.

What Do Solo Travelers Do?

One of the frequently asked questions in Northern Lights tours is:

"I am coming alone, do I have to pay an extra fee for the room?"

In the Holitera program, there is an option for same-gender room sharing for guests traveling alone.

In this option, two solo participants are matched in a double room, and no extra fee is charged for room matching.

For those who wish to use their room alone, there is currently a 350 € single supplement in the program.

This system can provide a serious advantage for travelers who want to join a Northern Lights tour alone.

Does Russia Require a Visa? Current Status 2026–2027

There are different applications for Russian visa requirements depending on the passport type for Turkish citizens.

According to the latest information from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ordinary, i.e., brown passport holders are subject to visa for Russia, but Turkish citizens can benefit from Russia's electronic visa system.

Holders of special and service passports have visa exemption within specified stay durations.

Turkey is among the countries eligible to obtain an electronic visa in the official e-visa system of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Significant conveniences exist for the Russian e-visa as of 2026.

The application can be made no earlier than 86 days and no later than 4 days before the planned entry date. The official system states the processing time as four calendar days, and no invitation letter or classic consulate appointment is required.

Single-entry electronic visas issued after August 23, 2025, are valid for 120 days and allow a stay of up to 30 days after entering Russia.

Since visa rules can change, we recommend checking the current application definitely from official sources before travel.

Are There Problems with Payment, Internet, and Communication in Russia?

The topics most wondered about by guests planning a trip to Russia are payment methods, internet access, and daily communication. Especially in recent years, different applications in Russia have sometimes created question marks for individuals traveling independently.

As Holitera, we do not view our Russia operations as limited to flights, hotels, and sightseeing programs.

Thanks to the collaborations we have developed with tourism committees and local tourism stakeholders in Russia, we plan and resolve operational issues related to internet, payment, communication, and daily needs that our guests might encounter during their travels.

Therefore, guests traveling with Holitera do not need to worry separately about issues like "How will I use the internet in Russia?", "Will I have problems with payments?" or "How will I communicate there?" before their trip.

Thanks to the field experience we gained from past Russia operations, solutions needed are planned before the tour, and necessary guidance is provided to our guests.

Our aim is to leave bureaucratic or daily difficulties that make Russia feel like a different country as much as possible in the background.

Holitera guests go to Russia only to travel.

Throughout the journey from Moscow to Murmansk, and from Murmansk to St. Petersburg, issues like payment, internet, and communication cease to be obstacles ahead of the travel. Our guests move with the comfort of traveling in their own country as much as possible, while our operations team continues to provide support throughout the journey.

Especially for those traveling to Russia for the first time, this operational support becomes one of the most important advantages of the tour. Thus, you can devote your energy not to daily technical details but to exploring Moscow, watching the Northern Lights in Murmansk, and experiencing the historical atmosphere of St. Petersburg.

How to Take a Northern Lights Photo?

Phone cameras have made aurora photography much easier in recent years.

If you are using night mode on an iPhone or Android phone, hold the phone as steady as possible. A small tripod makes a big difference.

When the aurora is strong, a few seconds of exposure may be sufficient. With weaker auroras, the phone camera can capture more colors than the human eye.

Therefore, it is important to know that the very bright green auroras you see on social media may not look exactly the same to the naked eye.

The human eye sometimes perceives movement in the sky initially as an open green or gray curtain. As the activity intensifies, color and movement become much more distinct.

It is nice to take the photo.

But don't forget to put your phone in your pocket for a few minutes and look up at the sky.

Some moments stay in memory in 4K version.