Where to see the Northern Lights

Seeing the northern lights is for many a bucket list experience that has to be seen to be believed. The northern lights, or aurora borealis, occur when charged particles from the sun enter the atmosphere and collide with atoms and molecules. These create the bands of light, or photons, that you see – different collisions create different colours resulting in a majestic array of colour across the night sky.

Most auroras appear in the auroral zone giving many options of where to see them. Whilst seeing the northern lights is never guaranteed, travel between late September and early April, between the autumn and spring equinoxes in Iceland, Russia, Norway, Greenland, Sweden and Finland provides the best chance. Here is a low down of our favourite destination for experiencing the northern lights to help you decide which one is for you.

Iceland

As well as offering stunning landscapes, waterfalls, black sand beaches and friendly locals Iceland is a top spot for hunting the aurora. To maximise your chances head into the countryside away from the bright lights of the city or hop onto a boat and head out from Reykjavik harbour to see the lights dancing over the ocean. You may even be able to witness them from your hotel hot tub! Iceland is located in the northern light oval so there are many chances of seeing them here there are also lots of other things to do including whale watching, food tasting and sightseeing. Iceland is a country of natural beauty waiting to be explored with the northern lights at their best during late autumn to early Spring

Norway

Venture into the Arctic Circle to the far north of Norway or further to the Svalbard archipelago for the best chances of seeing the northern lights. The sun remains below the horizon during the dark nights between late November and late January giving the opportunity of seeing the aurora both day and night. The lights can however be seen from late autumn to early spring.

The Lofoten Islands provide fabulous opportunities to hike, snow mobile, husky sled or play golf under the northern lights however if you are looking for true wilderness with plenty of adventures and wildlife spotting opportunities then Svalbard is the destination for you. This remote part of northern Norway is a pristine arctic frontier with a blissful lack of crowds and an isolated position. With very little light pollution Svalbard is one of the best spots to see the northern lights. You may not experience true luxury or gourmet food experiences but whilst husky sledding or snowmobiling during the long winter polar night the sky above you may well be lit up by the stunning aurora.

Greenland

Greenland only inland town, Kangerlussuag, boasts 300 nights of clear sky a year making this an ideal spot to witness the stunning aurora. Icebergs as tall as skyscrapers bow to the northern lights overhead in UNESCO listed Ilulissat. Situated 200 miles north of the Arctic circle, chances of seeing the northern lights here are extremely high.

Finnish Lapland

The northern lights are usually visible here for 200 nights of the year; every clear night between September and April.

Explore Lapland resort towns and venture across the surrounding landscapes by reindeer sleigh or husky sled.  Stay in a log cabin or for magical skyward views, a glass-ceilinged igloo. This is the ideal family destination at Christmas if seeing Santa is on your agenda.

Several of the Greenstar team have visited some of the destinations featured here so to chat about seeing the aurora borealis, exciting snowscape adventures or which spot is right for you, do give us a ring or pop into the office in Claygate.