Between mainland norway and the north pole, this island realm of fjords, glaciers, mountains, and polar bears is, at 78 n, as far as you would want to go to see the northern lights. Check out our alaska aurora tips and korys fairbanks aurora advice. Ever wondered when was the best time to see the northern lights. Best trips to see the northern lights in 2020 capture the atlas. The aurora borealis can happen at any time of the year, but with the extralong summer daylight hours due to another phenomenon called the midnight sun, its too. Check the weather forecast, the solar activity level and youll be able to multiply your chances of seeing the northern lights by. The air then lights up, the colors a reflection of the different gases in the atmosphere. The northern lights make an appearance over finland about 200 nights per year.
Reykjavik excursions northern lights tour 2020 what to. How much does it cost a trip to see the northern lights in iceland. Fly from fairbanks to the remote village of coldfoot for a 3 day 2 night or 4 day 3 night trip to view the northern lights beyond the arctic circle. You can easily book a northern lights tour with us, where we take you to the best spot out of reykjavik to watch the. To see the northern lights you need dark skies and from earlyapril until lateaugust, the aurora may be blazing across the arctic firmament but it is visible only to scientific equipment, as the skies are just too light for the human eye to see the show. The aurora borealis can be seen in a variety of countries at a variety of times of year, so just choose one of these 15 destinations in north america, iceland, europe, or russia and make sure to check a calendar. A complete guide to seeing the northern lights travelpulse. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon, thus we cannot guarantee that you will see them during your trip. You will not see thousands of different packages for northern lights trips to see the aurora borealis on our website this is because our northern lights holidays are all about quality, not quantity. Immense glaciers, snowy peaks, majestic waterfalls. My boyfriend and i have talked about doing a trip to see the nl for ages and have heard that 2012 is supposed to have the best activity for the lights. Earths orbit is in a maximum of solar activity at these times of year.
I am in iceland for seven nights 714th and i would be happy doing a nl tour every one of those seven nights if i have to, in order to get a chance to see the lights. Best time to see the northern lights reykjavik message. However, if you are traveling in greenland from end of august to end of march, chances are good that you will be able to observe them, but best deep in the winter from mid november to mid march. Doze off watching the dancing display from within a glass igloo at romantic kakslauttanen resort, north of the arctic. From late august to midapril, travellers from all over the world search for the northern lights. Fall is the best season to get the clearest view of the dancing auroras.
Oct 04, 2016 finding the best places to see the northern lights means traveling to a destination as close to the auroral oval where charged particles from the sun light up the night sky as possible. Sep 28, 2014 the air then lights up, the colors a reflection of the different gases in the atmosphere. The northern lights or aurora borealis is a natural phenomenon that can paint the night sky with unearthly, surreal color. Abisko swedens premier destinations for the lights is 1015 degrees centigrade warmer these days. Northern canada and alaska are good spots to see the northern lights, but the climate is the biggest drawback. Venture to the nordic region on a northern lights tour for the chance to witness the aurora borealis light up the night sky. Karl tate, contributor if youre planning an auroraviewing trip, make sure not to schedule it. Joining an organised northern lights tour in norway can be expensive, but it makes a lot of sense if you want to get out into the countryside, learn some new photography skills or combine auroraspotting with another outdoor activity. Whether youre heading to north america, iceland or scandinavia, weve checked out. Find out the fors and against booking a northern lights tour in. The northern lights are visible mainly between october and march each year in the nordic region this is because the winter nights are dark enough for us to see the lights. See how the northern lights work in this infographic. To see the northern lights at their best, its not simply a case of heading as far north as possible. The arctic circle aurora overnight adventure departs from fairbanks by land or air and offers optional aurora viewing, dog sledding, and brooks mountain range excursions from your base.
The northern lights appear as a spectral light show of green, yellow, purple and blue. Jun 06, 2017 northern winters are generally the best season to view the lights. Where to see the northern lights conde nast traveler. Optional daytime excursions include dog sledding and a trip. Cheapest places to see the northern lights on a budget. The aurora borealis actually appears in a ring around the arctic, commonly known as the auroral oval, and the areas under this oval include lapland, iceland, northern canada and alaska. The best northern lights holidays, tours and tactics. Plan a trip to churchill every season and you can truly do it all. But catching this spectacular natural show is as much about being in the right place as it is about being there at the right time. The best time to see the northern lights is from midseptember till midapril as thats when we have full dark nights here in iceland. Dont forget you can book and pay for your holiday online. Reykjavik excursions northern lights tour, reykjavik. The arctic circle aurora overnight adventure departs from fairbanks by land or air and offers optional aurora viewing, dog sledding, and brooks mountain range excursions from your base camp at coldfoot, alaska. The kola peninsulas proximity to the northern lights viewing zone also makes it a key area, and the town of murmansk is a popular base to stay inif you can handle the below freezing.
Learn the fascinating story of alaskas arctic from your guide. Weve hand picked the best deals around to see the aurora. The best hours to witness the lights are obviously during dark hours sometimes even from 7 until late. Hoping to see the northern lights in iceland but not sure whether to book tour. Dec 20, 2018 bucket list travelers, prepare to cross off your trip to see the aweinspiring northern lights.
Northern lights book cheap holidays, flights, hotels. Find manitobas best northern lights viewing experiences. If youd like to stay within the european continent, norway tromso or finland are your best bets. If youre looking for an organised tour to see the northern lights, this photo adventure near abisko is hard to beat. Your personal travel consultant will craft your magical winter itinerary to northern europe, with accommodation, activities and transportation organised for you. Top 10 places to see the northern lights fodors travel guide. Seeing the northern lights is the holiday of a lifetime for many yet it doesnt have to break the bank.
Whether youre heading to north america, iceland or scandinavia, weve checked out the best time for viewing the aurora borealis, taking into account the weather conditions, hours of daylight, lunar calendars and historic records of sightings. Best northern lights trips to book now with deals starting from. It is important to see the northern lights as just one of many thrills of a winter trip to iceland. The northern lights appear only at high latitudes on dark nights from september to march, and lucky stargazers can witness anything from an ethereal green glow on the horizon to pulsating scarlet streaks across the sky. Best places to see the northern lights tripadvisor vacation. Northern lights in iceland useful information iceland. Reykjavik excursions northern lights tour 2020 what to know. Which in turn means that iceland is one of the greatest places on earth to see the northern lights. I know many people think superjeep is overpriced, but i have read that they are one of the if not the top companies with the highest nl seeing rates, so i plan to go out. The northern lights are pretty fickle, you might take a trip and see nothing.
You can book specialised northern lights holidays to alaska, norway, iceland, canada, finland and sweden or if you happen to be visiting at the right time of year, you can book a northern lights tour while you are there. The 6 best places to see the northern lights in the world. You may even see the lights as early as the second week in august. To get the best opportunity to see the northern lights in iceland, you have four options. Northern lights tours in alaska best aurora viewing. Best time to see the northern lights responsible travel. Mar 25, 2017 the northern lights aka aurora borealis may seem like a phenomenon that only happens in farflung locales too out of reach to even try making the trek think again. Dec 15, 2017 plan a trip to churchill every season and you can truly do it all.
This is a beautiful area to explore with lots of fun activities to enjoy, but. Everyone dreams of seeing the northern lights one day, right. While peak viewing times for the aurora borealis are between january and march across manitoba, the lights are visible for up to 300 nights of the year in. The ultimate guide to the northern lights in iceland. Aurora overnight adventure northern alaska tour company. The opportunity to see the northern lights so far south earlier this month was the. Karl tate, contributor if youre planning an auroraviewing trip, make sure not to schedule it in the. Each destination has been handpicked by one of our passionate travel experts, allowing us to create truly bespoke, tailormade luxury northern.
Or, work with a local itinerary specialist to book a custom northern lights package. A trip to the formidable troll wall inland cliff, a kayak safari and a hike up a minimountain are among the optional activities on cunards 12night norway and northern lights. If youre going to make a special trip to see the northern lights, your best bets are either the month of september or the month of march. While there not many places from where people can see the southern lights, the lights over the north pole are best seen from the following places. However, if youd like to avoid the crowds, alaska is a great option. You never know when or where theyll dance in the sky but there are ways to improve your chance of seeing them. Luxury northern lights holidays northern lights trips by. Planning a northern lights vacation northern lights. Where and when to see the norhtern lights in iceland. Get a chance to view the aweinspiring northern lights with our holidays to. The tour is run in small groups and gives you the chance to capture stars and the milky way plus hopefully lots of beautiful aurora in the beautiful abisko national park.
An arctic cruise itinerary is also possible to view the northern lights from the waterside, seeing the aurora reflected in the water. The aurora borealis can be seen in a variety of countries at a variety of times. The opportunity to see the northern lights so far south earlier this month was the result of two solar flares. Northern lights trips join one of our northern lights trips. Book your iceland northern lights tour attractiontix. While peak viewing times for the aurora borealis are between january and march across manitoba, the lights are visible for up to 300 nights of the year in manitobas northern region. Immense glaciers, snowy peaks, majestic waterfalls, relaxing thermal baths, fewer crowds, and the vibrant city of reykjavik, are reasons enough to go. Over the last few years, iceland has become the most popular choice to see the aurora borealis and we can understand why.
Optional daytime excursions include dog sledding and a trip to the famous attigun pass. Bucket list travelers, prepare to cross off your trip to see the aweinspiring northern lights. Check the weather forecast, the solar activity level and youll be able to multiply your chances of seeing the northern lights by like, a million time at least so yes, thatd all for today folks, good luck in your attempts to see the northern lights and see you later. You will not see thousands of different packages for northern lights trips to see the aurora borealis on our website this is because our northern lights holidays are all about quality, not. Despite the bonenumbingly cold temperatures, norways far north has become the place to be in winter. To observers at far northern latitudes, theyre a frequent occurrence, but many who live in more temperate climates have never seen them, even though theyre sometimes seen as far south as 35 degrees north latitude. Five northern lights tips to know before you book your trip. Book your northern lights tour iceland in advance with attractiontix and save. The 7 best places to see the northern lights and southern lights.
To see the northern lights you need dark skies and from earlyapril until lateaugust, the aurora may be blazing across the arctic firmament but it is visible only to scientific equipment, as the. Top 10 places to see the northern lights responsible travel. Having said that, there is so much to see and do in northern scandinavia that 24 hours of. The best time to see the northern lights is on a dark, clear night. Instead, plan one, or maximum two days in advance, no more. Icelands northern lights adventure boundless journeys. Northern lights tours in alaska best aurora viewing vacations. Whether you choose to view the northern lights from the warmth of a tundra buggy, a cozy viewing lounge, or a heated dome, you.
These options will include expert guides to maximize your chances and explain what you see. Youre going to hear a reading of a travel article written by journalist anna. The northern lights or the aurora borealis capture the imagination of people around the globe but unless you live at the northern tip of the world, you will need a little careful planning to see this. However, if you are traveling in greenland from end of august to end of march. Best places to see the northern lights tripadvisor. The first is to hunt for them without leaving the town you are staying in. The aurora borealis actually appears in a ring around the arctic, commonly known as. Arctic norway is ideally located in the middle of the northern lights zone. Tromso city is situated among islands, breathtaking fjord landscapes and dramatic mountain peaks. The long periods of darkness and clear nights provide an ideal view. There are few phenomena that capture the imagination like the aurora borealis. Finding the best places to see the northern lights means traveling to a destination as close to the auroral oval where charged particles from the sun light up the night sky as. As the lights stem from particles entering at the earths poles, the best places on earth to see the northern lights will be in and around the arctic circle. Oct 19, 2017 a trip to the formidable troll wall inland cliff, a kayak safari and a hike up a minimountain are among the optional activities on cunards 12night norway and northern lights voyage from.
Northern lights in iceland useful information iceland travel. What you may be able do very inexpensively is see the film pictures of light by the swisscanadian. Northern lights holidays and trip packages are in high demand with travellers from around the world wishing to see this phenomenon so we would urge early booking. The northern lights or the aurora borealis capture the imagination of people around the globe but unless you live at the northern tip of the world, you will need a little careful planning to see this phenomenon. In this latest episode of trip notes, we head to alaska.