The best places to see the Northern Lights /

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are a magical natural phenomenon in shades of green, blue, and sometimes red, found only in the Northern Hemisphere.

What Causes the Northern Lights?

Many studies have been devoted to this, but simply put, what you see is the reaction of electrically charged particles from the sun that are sent to Earth by the solar wind and collide with parts of the outer atmosphere, containing oxygen and nitrogen. The amount of charged particles ejected into space along with the speed of the solar wind determines how likely it is to see this natural phenomenon and in what strength.

Collisions with oxygen at more than 300 kilometers produce beautiful red auras, nitrogen at lower altitudes makes you see blue light, and when particles collide with this gas at even higher altitudes, brilliant purples and violets are created. When these colors are mixed in the air, there is also a chance to see the colors pink and white.

A fairytale experience

Experiencing this colorful spectacle in person has always been high on my wish list. In April 2023 my dream finally came true. I was lucky enough to admire the bright dancing lights of the aurora twice (!) during my adventures in Swedish Lapland. Above the frozen Lule River in Luleå, I enjoyed teeming streaks of green that finally disintegrated like a falling curtain in the night sky. A fairytale experience that will always stay with me!

Can’t wait to experience this special light show for yourself? Then you are lucky! We have entered a new solar cycle that researchers predict will be one of the most powerful ever with spectacular auroras to enjoy until about 2027. look forward to this unforgettable experience! To help you get started, we’ve listed the top eight places in the world to observe the Aurora Borealis:

Alaska

Rugged Alaska is sparsely populated and therefore has little light pollution, making the far north, the North Pole, a perfect location to witness the Aurora Borealis. About 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle and pristine Denali National Park, Fairbanks offers the best chance to see the Northern Lights when the sky is clear.

Other Activities: Visit the cities of Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, relax in hot springs, go cross-country skiing and explore the scenery of the fjords.

Best time to travel: from mid-August to the end of April.

yukon

The aurora borealis is seen regularly across much of Northern Canada, but the best spots for it are found in the very remote Northwest Territories. One of my colleagues was traveling in the Yukon last March and he was lucky enough to see the sky light up in every color imaginable. Reportedly it was the most spectacular aurora in years.

Other Activities: Visit the capital city of Whitehorse, traverse mysterious gold mining towns, hike Kluane National Park and Miles Canyon Nature Preserve, visit Takhini Hot Springs, and admire the striking Sign Post Forest with road signs from around the world.

Best time to travel: from the end of August to mid-April.

Finnish Lapland

Due to minimal light pollution, the Northern Lights are visible no less than 200 nights a year in Finnish Lapland, the area that borders Sweden, Norway and Russia. You can see it from your luxury tent at Aurora Glamping or in a glass Aurora Cabin at Northern Lights Village Saariselka or Lev.

Other Activities: Visit Santa Claus in Rovaniemie with your children or take a husky safari or snowmobile ride.

Best time to travel: from the beginning of September to the end of March.

Iceland

Travel from Reykjavik through Iceland’s diverse landscapes. Good places to see the Northern Lights are Snæfelsness Peninsula, Thingvellir National Park, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.

Other Activities: Go snow kiting and ice fishing, hike the lava-covered Landmannalaugar Valley on the rim of Hekla Volcano, and drive the ‘Golden Circle’ scenic route.

Best time to travel: from the beginning of September to the end of April.

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Greenland

Greenland lies largely within the Arctic Circle and is therefore an excellent location to see the Aurora Borealis. The best place for this is in the small town of Kangerlussuaq.

Other Activities: Meet the Inuit and visit the Russel Glacier in Kangerlussuaq.

Best time to travel: from September to early April.

Swedish Lapland

I saw the Northern Lights in Luleå, the place where the Luler River meets the Bothnian Sea. Other famous places to spot this light spectacle are Kiruna and Abisko National Park where the Aurora Sky Station is stationed. Jokkmokk, Jukkasjärvi and Porjus are also great places to see the Northern Lights.

Other activities: go ice skating and ice walking on the frozen Bothnian Sea in Luleå, try ice fishing and ice bathing, take a trip by snowmobile or husky and meet the Sami.

Best time to travel: from the beginning of December to the beginning of April.

Norway

With a location directly below the Northern Lights Oval and a stable continental climate with clear skies, the Northern Lights are visible most nights in Alta. Tromsø, located above the Arctic Circle in the center of the aurora zone, and the remote Spitsbergen archipelago off the coast of Norway are also great places to see the Northern Lights. From your bed in an “aurora dome” or during a night in an igloo hotel.

Other activities: spotting polar bears, arctic foxes and reindeer in the Svalbard archipelago, conquering the snow by fat bike, meeting the Sami, ice fishing and participating in the unique 12-day ‘Huritgruten’ cruise along Norway’s characteristic fjord coast.

Best time to travel: from mid-August to the end of April.

Scotland

There are nine Dark Sky Discovery Sites on Skye, making it one of the best places in Scotland for stargazing and seeing the Northern Lights. Further north you can also see the Northern Lights in Shetland, Orkney and Caithness.

Other Activities: Visit the mystical stone circle of Stone of Stennes and the ancient settlement of Skara Brae in the Orkney Islands, monumental rock formations and unique cultural heritage in the Shetland Islands.

Best time to travel: from the beginning of October to the end of March.

Jozef Verbruggen is director and owner of Untamed Travelling. Untamed Traveling is a travel designer specializing in high-quality, customized travel experiences around the world.

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