WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE HIGHLIGHTS OF ALTA TOUR – APPROX. 3 HOURS

About the wheelchair accessible highlights of Alta tour

Northern Lights Cathedral

On this accessible highlights tour of Alta, you make three stops. One of them is the Northern Lights Cathedral. This is Alta’s major architectural landmark and is dedicated to the beauty of the northern lights. You can see the cathedral in the first picture on the side. The impressive architectural building is much more than just a church. It is a meeting point for the community, a concert venue, and an event space for youth-related and cultural activities. Your wheelchair accessible highlights of Alta tour, includes a visit inside the cathedral. The entrances or a guided tour are not included in the price.

The opinions about the outside of the building are divided. Some say it looks like a factory and others love it. But everyone agrees that the inside is magnificent. The interior of the church consists of a combination of both spiritual and natural elements that you see in the design and artwork. Pay a visit to this cathedral and see for yourself what all the fuss is about!

Borealis Alta

This museum is all about experiencing the northern lights. The exhibition tells various stories about the northern lights and their magical qualities. It talks about the legends of the indigenous people, the Sami, and scientific explanations. The Sami believed that the lights were a manifestation of ancestral spirits and thought that waving at the lights was risky. In the museum, you find an interactive experience where you can wave at the ceiling so you can play with the northern lights. The museum is located in the northern lights cathedral, so with one visit, you kill two birds with one stone! Afterwards, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee at the café and talk about what theories of the northern lights you believed the most. The tour includes a non guided visit to the center.

Accessibility note

There is a ramp and lift. Borealis Alta is located underneath the church.  The church and Borealis Alta are always open when a cruise ship is in port.

Alta Museum

The Alta Museum features various permanent exhibitions. You have an exhibition that focuses on the part of the rock with art that is not accessible to visitors. You also have the option to visit three real rock art boulders, as you can see in the third picture. The other exhibitions are about faith and religion of the Sami people, the silver treasures and market, the research of the northern lights in Alta and much more. Again, the tour includes an inside visit, which is not included in the price.

Accessibility note

Alta Museum indoors is fully accessible for a wheelchair. Outside, in the rock art park, there are narrow wooden walkways. The western part, where the painted rock art is situated, is possible to visit with a wheelchair (not big electric).  The route is 1,2 km and has some steep parts. So it is advisable to have someone pushing the wheelchair. The museum bought a new wheelchair in 2017, that people can borrow for free.