Nick Dow's blog : Northern lights: best places to see

Sky dances begin around September 21st to March 21st. It is during this period that the period of the autumn and spring equinoxes begins. However, there are regions where this miracle can be observed in August and even in April.
If you are ready to go to the very ends of the world for the sake of a good shot and unique video shooting, choose places closer to the Arctic Circle and as far as possible from urban illumination: Alaska, northern Russia, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. But don't limit yourself: you can also see the Aurora Borealis in the southern hemisphere.
The harbingers of the northern lights are flashes in the sun that can be tracked on special sites. A great resource to check out is the Aurora Service, which is run by a group of aurora hunters and tracks it in the northern hemisphere.
When there is information about severe solar disturbances, review the forecast for magnetic storms for the week and select dates close to their peak. This will help you plan your waiting time.
But even if all the factors coincide, be sure to study the weather forecast so that the overcast sky does not spoil the whole picture. We believe the weather will be kind to you.

Now let's take a look at the northern lights best places to see.

1 Northern Lights Cruise, Alaska

Cruise Alaska on the Queen Elizabeth is one of the best ways to see the Northern Lights, especially if you plan your trip in August or September. Alaska is lucky: according to Aurora, lights are most often visible there. This is the product of sunlight reflected from the polar snow and ice, and as a result of the refraction of the rays, a glow is obtained like the light of a rainbow. However, more recent research suggests that the northern lights are caused by radiation that is emitted as light from atoms in the upper atmosphere, as they are charged by fast-moving electrons and protons. The type of atom determines the color. A clear night on the sea and no light from the land is what you need for an ideal place to see the beauty of the northern lights with your own eyes and watch the stars.

2. Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa, Sweden

An unusual structure appeared on the Luleelven River near the village of Harads in Sweden, resembling a huge bird's nest from above, thanks to its round shape and logs randomly scattered over the roof. This unique place offers spa services for every taste - from baths to winter swimming in the ice hole. Guests can stay in secluded double cabins on the water, and for those who prefer a more classic style of living, the architects have designed several small houses on the banks of the river. All the conditions for a comfortable stay are created inside the houses, each of which is equipped with special hatches for viewing the Northern Lights without leaving the house.

3. Yakutia, Oymyakon

An ideal place where you can combine hunting for the northern lights with extreme recreation is Yakutia. And it is better to immediately go to the pole of cold - the village of Oymyakon, where in winter the thermometer drops to -50 degrees. The main thing is to think in advance where to stay, since there are no hotels here, you will have to choose only among guest houses. But harsh conditions are softened by a high probability of catching aurora: in April 2009, for example, there were as many as 316 hours of heavenly beauty. In between watching the light show in Oymyakon, you can go ice fishing and take a steam bath. And on the way back to Yakutsk make a stop in the village of Tomtor and visit a farm for breeding furry Yakut horses.

4. North Pole Igloos, North Pole

Want to see the Northern Lights for sure? Then head to the new North Pole Igloos hotel, which appeared at the North Pole in the middle of the Arctic Ocean in 2020. Travelers stay in heated glass igloos with glass ceilings and walls that allow guests to view the Northern Lights from the comfort of their bed. The cost of a monthly stay in such a unique hotel will cost travelers 6.4 million rubles. This price includes two nights in Svalbard, flights to the Pole, meals, lodging, security and a guided wildlife tour. But due to weather conditions, the hotel will only accept tourists in April. At other times access to the hotel is closed.

5. Butterfield & Robinson, Iceland

Butterfield & Robinson, which specializes in exclusive adventures around the world, has expanded its winter offerings with a new five-day Northern Lights Expedition starting in Reykjavik and including trekking through otherworldly landscapes. Here you'll hike with reindeer in the mornings, snowmobile at night, dog sled through pine forests and relax in a private hot spring under dancing northern skies.

6 Hidden Iceland

The Northern Lights can be found in one of the most beautiful places on the planet - in Iceland. Noisy waterfalls, hot geysers, icebergs and sea fjords await you on a tour of this country. In search of the northern lights, it is better to go by car, then you can travel all over Iceland! During the day, you will explore the local natural attractions, and when it gets dark, it will be time to catch the Northern Lights in beautiful places. It is worth going on a trip to Iceland in March, because it is at this time that you can find winter landscapes here, illuminated by the spring sun, which still sets beyond the horizon, giving beautiful sunsets, and the opportunity to see the northern lights.

7. Yellowknife, Canada

Every winter, thousands of tourists come to the small Canadian town of Yellowknife to see the northern lights. After all, this is one of the best places in the world to contemplate the miracle of nature. Aurora Village was built here for tourists, because, according to scientists, it is here that the aurora borealis is easiest to see: the place is remote from the ocean, the landscape is flat, and the sky is most often clear. They try not to freeze tourists, they give them face masks and warm shoes, and the benches where you can sit and admire the sparkling sky are heated here.

8. From an Icelandair aircraft

What is the most unusual way to enjoy the beauty of the Northern Lights? Of course from the air. Look out your window if you're flying on Icelandair at night near the Arctic Circle. It’s okay if you didn’t catch him on this flight, because Iceland’s leading airline has officially unveiled the new Boeing 757 with the northern lights right on board. The unusual liner was named Hekla Aurora, after the Icelandic volcano Hekla and the northern lights, which are called Aurora. Travelers flying with Icelandair can experience the amazing sight of the Northern Lights before they even arrive in Iceland, thanks to spectacular LED lighting that mimics the Northern Lights. With this effect, the airline hopes to increase the tourist attractiveness of Iceland.

9. Kola Peninsula, Russia

The beauty of the harsh tundra and the northern lights can be enjoyed already from the end of August, but it is most likely to catch it in winter, when the sun does not rise for a long time above the horizon. It is best to go to small settlements where there is no light pollution. For example, in Teriberka, where the famous "Leviathan" was filmed, watching the colorful phenomenon can be combined with walks to the ship cemetery, or to the "Dragon's Eggs" beach. For impressive northern landscapes, head to the Khibiny. Under your feet are snowy expanses and hills, and above your head is a sparkling blue-green sky.

10. Aurora 360 Experience, Canada

Consulta Meta (an organization recognized as extremist and banned on the territory of the Russian Federation) organized the Aurora 360 Experience trip to the Yukon in northern Canada, which includes a flight inside the northern lights. The five-day trip to the Aurora 360 Experience is organized from February 7th to 11th. It's not just a flight, it's also a series of activities, including traditional Yukon dinners, a visit to the Tahini hot springs, and a tour of the Yukon Wildlife Sanctuary. And you will also listen to an informative presentation by invited speakers. Flight tickets are not cheap. Such a trip will cost about $ 3,000.

11. Treehotel, Sweden

In the north of Sweden, there is an unusual landscape hotel Treehotel, where all the houses are located among tall trees in a pine forest. For example, a house is a mirror cube or a UFO house. Here you can see the Northern Lights or go ice fishing. Families with children should pay attention to the house called "Bird's Nest". Its facade is decorated with natural materials resembling small branches. From the side, the house looks like a huge bird's nest floating in the sky. The most romantic house is the "Cabin" with large panoramic windows overlooking the forest and the Luleelvin River. Fans of a luxurious holiday can stay in the Dragonfly.

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