The Northern Lights- when and where?
The best places to go depend on what you want to do when you get there. For a city break with a twist, Reykjavík in Iceland is hard to beat, although Tromso in Norway is equally popular. For a more remote break it’s best to head north into the Arctic Circle-the northerly parts of Finland, Norway and Sweden are known collectively as 'Lapland' and all offer great winter escapes where you be as active as you want with snowmobiling, husky sledding, skiing and ice fishing on offer.
There are some very individual and different places to stay in Lapland besides a classic cosy wooden log cabin. Quirky Ice hotels, igloos made of snow or even glass and unbelievable tree houses make a unique and once in a lifetime holiday. Santa is in situ in the lead up to Christmas, so a trip to see him could also mean a sighting of the lights as well!
In terms of which month to pick, the lights are generally viewed from September to March, when the nights are long, and the sky is dark. The aurora is at its most active around the equinoxes in March and September, however if you want to travel in September remember there won’t be any snow around yet! Most tours start in November, when snow has fallen, and the landscape is transformed into stunning wintery glory. It is a myth that the lights come out the colder it gets. However, there are less likely to be clouds obscuring the view when the temperatures drop. Another myth to debunk is that the waxing and waning of the moon makes a difference to the northern lights. Whilst a full moon does lighten the sky, and therefore possibly reduce the visual intensity of a display, the northern lights can be seen at all stages of the moon’s cycle.
There are two things which obscure a good view of the lights-cloud and light pollution. To increase your chances of seeing the lights, you really need to be in a location with very little light pollution, so away from built-up areas. If you’re on a city break to Reykjavík in Iceland or Tromso in Norway, there are tours you can take that leave the city and take you into the countryside by bus or car. Better yet, a short nighttime cruise is a great way to get away from artificial light and maximise your chances. There are a range of longer cruises up the west coast of Norway and you spend the entire voyage within the Arctic Circle, giving you the best opportunity to see the Northern Lights.
In terms of timings, the lights are commonly most seen between 17:00 and 02:00 but can be seen any time when the sky is clear, which is most of the time in winter when you're in the far north. They don’t usually exhibit for long – they may only show for a few minutes, then glide away before returning. A good display may last for no longer than half an hour, though, if you’re lucky, it could extend to a couple of hours or longer with the lights appearing to ‘dance’ across the sky. Most hotels will wake you up (at your request) if the lights make an appearance after bedtime. Depending on your location, you can even view the lights from your bedroom window.
The lights are a very special natural phenomenon. Despite the advice I’ve given above, I saw the lights in Finnish Lapland in early April when at dusk and the sky was partly cloudy, which just goes to show there is an element of luck involved too!
If you’d like to know more about where to go to see the Northern Lights, I’m always happy to discuss options and ideas with you, so please feel free to get in touch.