Alta

UNESCO Rock Art & Northern Lights Cathedral

Excursion

Price from 262 AUD

Difficulty level

Level 1: Easy - suitable for most people

Booking code

HRI-ALF9D, HRI-ALF5D

Duration

3 hours

Notes

Read the practical information below

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  • Take in the exhibition at Alta Museum about nearby discoveries of prehistoric rock art – the largest collection in Northern Europe

  • Get to know more about the history of Alta and enjoy views of Altafjord

  • Visit the landmark new Alta Cathedral, also known as the Northern Lights Cathedral

  • Understand the history and science of the Northern Lights through a fun and immersive exhibition and a unique presentation

We’ll meet our local guide and bus and begin a short tour of Alta city centre, covering day-to-day life in the city considered the northernmost in the world.

Our first stop is Alta Museum which chronicles the discovery of Northern Europe’s largest concentration of prehistoric rock art at the head of nearby Altafjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum is located next to the excavation site at Hjemmeluft and features some of the rock art on display, including ‘Pippi’, the first rock carving found in Alta. You can also walk through other exhibits about the Sámi, Kven history, the local slate industry, Alta River, and UNESCO.

Next up is the remarkable Alta Cathedral. The spiral of its titanium-clad spire symbolises the extraordinary phenomena of the Northern Lights. During the long Arctic nights, the striking façade even reflects the Northern Lights as they flicker all around. Downstairs, the interactive Borealis Alta exhibition tells us everything there is to know about the science and the Sámi myths behind the Northern Lights.

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