We weren’t supposed to see the Northern Lights.

That’s how this story starts — four Indian friends, crammed into a modest rental car, navigating icy Norwegian roads somewhere between Tromsø and nothingness, chasing an adventure we couldn’t quite describe. Our backpacks were stuffed, our playlists were chaotic, and our expectations? Let’s just say they were somewhere between “snowy hikes” and “a few good photos for the ‘gram.”

We’d reserved one of those Norway tour packages after weeks of research and WhatsApp arguments. Truthfully, it was a toss-up between Iceland and Norway, but something in the fjords, the mythology, and the hope of unspoiled wilderness drew us in. So we agreed to a week-long getaway — a combination of rough country, scenic train rides, and a grand wish: to witness the aurora borealis. But as all the guides and blogs cautioned us, no promises are made.

By day four, we’d already trekked through Tromsø’s snowy woods, taken a dip (a rather dubious one) in a frozen lake, and gulped down more hot chocolate than we could admit. This was no ordinary holiday — this was the spirit of an authentic Norway adventure holiday. We’d already encountered fellow travelers from Germany, Canada, even Brazil. But there was something special about our little team: four Indians from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai, united by curiosity and a rather unhealthy love for Maggi noodles, which we carried across continents like talismans.

That evening, we weren’t even bothering to look up. It was minus-15 outside, our fingers were numb through two sets of gloves, and our driver, Arjun, was cursing under his breath regarding black ice and potholes.

Then it happened.

Priya was the first to scream.

We thought something had gone wrong — a moose on the road maybe? But then we looked out through the windshield, and there it was. A sliver of green, dancing softly in the distance. Like smoke, only alive. I blinked. We all did. It didn’t feel real. But the sky — that sky — was slowly catching fire in the most ethereal way.

We pulled over on the side of the road, somewhere remote, our GPS signal long gone. No lights, no cities, just snow, trees, and us — four wide-eyed Indians standing on frozen ground, mouths open, hearts racing. The aurora kept shifting, growing, expanding. Greens turned to pinks. Pinks to deep violet. It was like watching music, or prayer, or a forgotten memory come to life.

In that moment, we weren’t just tourists on one of those Norway trip packages. We were witnesses. To magic. To nature. To a sky that didn’t care if we were ready for it or not.

We didn’t speak much. Not for a long while. Cameras stayed in pockets. The cold bit at our skin, but none of us moved.

Later, back in our cabin, wrapped in thermal socks and sipping strong black coffee, we tried to describe it. We couldn’t. You can Google it. You can see the pictures. But that feeling — of the Earth slowing down, of the sky whispering just to you — that doesn’t come through a screen.

That night, we didn’t sleep much. We kept the curtains open. Just in case it returned.

Looking back, it wasn’t just about the lights. It was about friendship. About leaving behind crowded cities and comfort zones. About choosing an adventure over a checklist. The kind of experience that changes how you see the world — and your place in it.

I always thought trips to Norway packages were for honeymooners or Instagram influencers. But now, I realize they’re for anyone who wants to feel small in the best way possible. If you’re even thinking about exploring the north, do it. Whether you’re going solo, with a lover, or like us — with your oldest, loudest, most chaotic backpacking buddies — just go.

There are countless Norway vacation packages out there, but choose the one that gives you room to explore. To get lost. To be surprised. The curated Norway adventure tours we found through Catch A Trip, had enough structure to guide us but left space for spontaneity — like pulling over on an empty road just in time for the universe to say hello.

We came for a Norway adventure holiday. We left with something no itinerary could promise.

And every time someone asks me, “Was it really that magical?” — I just smile.

You had to be there.