Oh, Magical Aurora Borealis!
What can possibly be as enchanting as God’s own fireworks? The greens, blues, and violet hues of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights swirling in the sky are no less than a cosmic wonder.
The spectacular light show occurs when electronically charged particles from solar flares collide with gas atoms in the earth’s upper atmosphere. There are many legends around the Aurora, including one where the locals call it the Bridge of Heaven, crossed by warriors.
And like many others, I was naïve enough to believe that all I needed to do to catch the action was to hop onto a flight and get to the “best viewing point” somewhere in the arctic. It has taken me five trips to Norway, Sweden and Finland, a fair amount of guidance from experts and a good dose of luck to understand fully how to increase my chances to catch these dancing lights on a cold Arctic night. This guide has all the tips and tricks for you to follow and improve your chances of seeing this beauty. Would love to hear your experience if you do get lucky with nature’s most phenomenal cosmic show!
How to improve your chances of Northern Lights/Aurora sighting
- Aurora Hunting or Chasing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)
The Aurora is unpredictable. There’s no format or formula to predict the occurrence of the lights. Experts constantly monitor KP-index apps for the level and direction of activity. They drive endlessly all through the dark hours in the best direction to catch the show. Your best bet is to hop on to a well-reviewed tour to chase them through the night. If you’re feeling adventurous, there are snowmobile tours and even horseback riding tours for added thrills, depending on which city or country you’re in.
- From the comfort of a glass igloo!
For Aurora lovers who want to experience the magic from the warm, cozy confines of their luxurious glasshouse, this is the perfect, most romantic way to do it. Nothing quite compares to the open sky right up above you with streaks of greens and violets flashing through the polar night.
My igloo recommendation is the lesser-known Golden Crown Levin Iglut. The family-owned estate is in Kittila – Finland. It is run by the family and their staff who are warm, friendly, and helpful. Another gem on their estate is the Northern Lights House, replete with a Jacuzzi, steam, and sauna overlooking a valley. It also has the aurora mood lighting for the perfect dinner setting.
Book well in advance as these igloos run out quickly even before the Aurora season begins. The Northern Lights House is usually booked out during the summers as visitors come up north to enjoy the midnight sun.
- Pick a bed and breakfast on an Arctic island
My most preferred option off late is staying with the locals at a bed and breakfast somewhere away from the city, on an island. Choose a house with an open view of the northern skies. On my latest trip to Norway this year, I chose a beautiful 2 bedroom Arctic cabin on Lofoten Islands. Renting a car kept us mobile. Most importantly, it let us do the Aurora hunting ourselves on nights we felt daring enough to venture out into the wilderness. Interaction with host families has always been a great value add to my overall experience!
Top Tips
Best locations: Tromso, Norway is one of my favourite locations up north. It has great flight connectivity. I usually transit Oslo or Stockholm to get to Tromso or Lofoten Islands, which is another 2-3 hours flight time. It is an ideal Northern Lights viewing spot that also falls in one of the relatively warmer Arctic zones. Once in Tromso, the Aurora hunt, guided or not, takes place outside of city limits to keep out the city lights. It allows you to build a strong night vision in preparation for the show.
Best time of the year: September – March. Dark nights are a prerequisite to seeing the display of colours. Also, the colder it gets the better the display appears. That makes the Arctic winters the best time to visit.
Ideal weather: Clouds are a deal-breaker. The one thing you need to keep an eye on is the weather. Cloud cover can obstruct even the most spectacular Aurora display happening in the background. Moonlight on the other hand is not much of a problem. Our first experience was on a full moon night and it was just as spectacular.
Appropriate Clothing: I cannot emphasize enough how cold the Arctic winters can get! As a desert-ling who has spent most of her life in the Middle Eastern heat and sands, knee-high snow and temperatures of -20C to -30C can feel near-fatal (at least it feels that way!). It is OK if you do not want to invest in super warm clothing. Snowshoes and snow overalls are available for rent locally at 10 Euros a day.
Other Activities
- Alaskan Husky experience. The 2-hour sunset experience typically includes a tour of a Alaskan husky farm, replete with divine hot cakes and traditional Norwegian coffee in a warm traditional hut. You can meet the dogs and cuddle adorable husky puppies before setting off on a sled to enjoy the pink and orange hues of the sky as the sun goes down.
- A snow castle tour is another must do while you’re at it. A bunch of enthusiasts and sculptors get together to build the ice castle every year with rooms carved to perfection. Typically equipped with a chapel inside, the castle is popular for weddings, even at -15C.
- Reindeer sled experience through the forest is another activity to tick off anywhere in the Arctic region of Norway or the Finnish Lapland.
The Aurora Borealis is a mesmerizing phenomenon. But be prepared to be awed with the life and culture up in the Arctic region just the same. It is a thrilling experience, one that should feature high up on every traveler and non-traveler’s bucket list.
Visa and Flight Matters
A Schengen visa is essential for most nationalities, especially for Indian passport holders. I used a multiple-entry visa that I obtained from the Netherlands Consulate in Abu Dhabi (through VFS services). It’s important to note that Norway (and most Scandinavian countries) are particularly strict if you first enter into their borders using a new Schengen visa of another country.
There are frequent flights from Dubai – Oslo. However, to get to Tromso or Lofoten Islands (two of the most scenic and ideal spots for Aurora), there are a number of connecting flights from Oslo via Bodo.
Travel Date: Every winter since 2015
*These are first-hand experiences, findings, views or opinions, which are purely my own. They are not paid for or promoted content.
