The Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis as it is one of nature’s most majestic as well as aesthetic experience for any who witnesses it. It is not something that happens every day and most importantly not something that appears universally. Very few places in this globe are blessed with the slights of the Aurora Borealis. But, with booming technological enhancements and the ease of travel have made the Northern Lights experience easier than ever before. So, let us take a virtual tour around some of the best places to see the northern lights.
- Alaska
If you are in the United States of America, Alaska is the best place to head to, to experience the mind-blowing northern lights. The Fairbanks in Alaska has a crystal clear skies, chilly weather and beautiful nights which make it one of the most suitable places to experience the phenomenon of Northern lights. Alaska is not just to be visited only for the northern light show in the sky. Alaska is one of the most beautiful places in the world to experience nature at its utmost truthfulness. You can visit the Kenai Lake, Mendenhall Glacier and the Denali National Park And Preserve. A visit to Alaska has both your days and nights sorted. If you are planning a tour for the best places to see Northern lights in Alaska then September to March would be the best time to visit Alaska.
- Sweden
Abisko in Sweden is one of the best places in the world to experience the majestic Northern Lights. Witnessing the sky turn into purple, pink and green is one of a kind experience in the world. Sweden has always been a famous place to explore Aurora Borealis. There are four primary spots which are recognized as some of the best places to see Northern lights in Sweden. The four places being Kiruna, The Aurora sky station in Abisko, Porjus and Jukkasjärvi. The best way to have the northern light experiences in these places is by camping overnight and glancing at the Aurora Borealis. The best time to visit Sweden to experience the Northern lights is between September and January. Make sure to prebook a northern light activity for the best-guided experience.
- Finland
Finland is yet another country where you can experience the Northern Light phenomenon at its complete glory. Having situated itself right in the middle of the Aurora Zone, Finland is one of the best places in the world to experience the Aurora Borealis. Finland is one of the countries which promotes tourism and accommodations suitable for a Northern Light exploration. Right from glass igloos, to A-framed cabins to luxury villas and resorts, Finland has a lot of accommodations that elevate the Aurora experience in the country. Finland also has other fun activities that one can do along with the Northern lights experiment. The best time to visit Finland for the northern light experience would be either February – March or September – October of a year. Some of the best places to see Northern lights in Finland are Luosto, Nellim and the famous Rovaniemi.
- Iceland
The Dawn of the North is best viewed from Iceland. Iceland is one of the Go-To destinations for experiencing the Northern lights. It is popular to set up a camper van or pitch a tent and to then gaze upwards. It is also a popular activity to soak oneself in one of the thermal hot springs and gaze upwards to experience the light show in the sky. Iceland also has a lot of experience companies offering prebooked Northern light activities. The landscape of Iceland is one of the most beautiful in the world and should be experienced. The volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls add to the experience of watching the Aurora Borealis. If you are an adventure junkie you can go for a hike on to the majestic mountains or the beautiful beaches. The best time to visit Iceland to experience the Northern lights is between September and April. Iceland is one of those all year round destinations that can be experienced in all of the seasons. Some of the places that you should visit are Seljavallalaug Pool, Hvammsfjordur, Reykjavik, Thingvellir and Threngsli. On your trip to Iceland, I would recommend you to hire a car or a camper van and drive yourself to see some of the best places to see Northern lights in Iceland.
- Norway
Norway has always been a special destination to visit and to experience the Aurora Borealis. Norway has everything going for it, right from magnificent landscapes to great food, great culture, ease of access for people to camp and enjoy nature firsthand. Norway is one of those places where the Northern lights experiences only elevates your vacation and Norway in itself has a lot to be explored. Some of the best places to visit in Norway and especially for the Aurora are Alta, Andoya, Bodo, Harstad and my personal favourite the Lofoten Islands. Even during the non Northen lights seasons, these places are heavenly to visit and to explore. The best time to visit Norway for the Northern lights is between October and March. I would urge you to experience the Norwegian way of living and lifestyle on your vacation. These are the memories and experiences that you will cherish for the rest of your time.
Well, experiencing these aesthetic northern lights is in the bucket-list of many and people wait for years or even a lifetime to experience this since the conditions have to be perfect for the dramatic display to take place. Nevertheless, this unique phenomenon certainly deserves all the efforts to witness it and is worth a lifetime!
Quick Tips for Aurora Spotting:
- Skip the big cities: Even light pollution can impair the visibility of stars and the northern lights. So, wherever possible, leave behind the large cities and head to the small towns seeking out for dark skies.
- Go around with an experienced guide / get insights on the of realtime aurora sightings: All the regions from which the lights can be experiences have realtime alerts to let people know about the aurora sightings. Take a look before you head out!
- Go in the best season: The Aurora lights are more prevalent during the wintertimes as a result of the long hours of darkness. So, choose the most suitable months mainly when the skies are clear.
- Dress warmly: Arctic expeditions can be quite adventurous and unpredictable. So make sure you wear good layers of woollens before you leave and dont forget pack in some snacks and hot drinks which can make your wait pleasant.
- Filming aurora: This can be quite puzzling, so if you wish to capture those dreamy pictures amidst the northern lights do your research ahead of time and make sure to carry a tripod.
- The Aurora Wake Up Call: Many hotels out there have their own experts, computerized telescopes and observatories that can help spot the northern lights. Well, interestingly they give you an ‘Aurora Wake Up Call’ if the Northern Lights appear while you are asleep so that you don’t miss it.
Your Journey Doesn’t End Here:
So, which of these places is on the top of your Northern lights bucket list? If you are looking for the best places to see Northern lights in Canada then you can definitely consult a local travel guide to plan your itinerary very well. To make things easier reach out to the travel guides and experts to personalize your family tour packages and make your dream holiday come true. Happy Experiencing!
