For a very different sort of ‘natural encounter’, choose a Northern Lights break to the Norwegian city of
Tromsø and, with luck, you will witness ribbons of green, pink, yellow and blue light swirling across the night sky. The aurora borealis is unpredictable, but this just makes seeing it in all its glory all the more thrilling. Occupying the same latitude as Alaska, this island city affords some of the best opportunities to see them anywhere in mainland Europe, but that's not the only reason to travel there – by day you can visit its small but fascinating museums, join a dog-sledding or ice-fishing excursion, or explore on snowshoes or cross-country skis.