northern lights over thingvellir in south west iceland

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Northern Lights Holidays

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SOLAR CYCLE #25

Experience tells us that if you visit a destination within the auroral oval between September and March, you have a good chance to experience nature’s greatest light show on a clear night.

That is why we don’t typically focus on planning holidays around the 11 year solar cycle. But it’s hard not to get excited by the buzz around the current Solar Cycle #25, which started in 2020 and is expected to peak later this year. Many scientists are reporting that this solar cycle could be one of the strongest on record. So NOW is the time to start planning your aurora escape.

Northern Lights Destinations

We recommend that you choose the destination to suit your interests based on the experiences available in each.

  • Iceland
  • Sweden
  • Norway
  • Finland
  • Canada
  • Alaska
  • Greenland
northern lights over hotel ranga in south west iceland

Iceland

This stunning volcanic island captivates visitors at any time of year, but the September to April have a special charm with the added bonus of being able to see the northern lights in Iceland. We recommend staying away from the bright lights of Reykjavik in one of our countryside locations, either exploring independently or on a small group tour.

  • Explore geysers, waterfalls and volcanic landscapes
  • Combine aurora viewing with orca watching from Grundarfjordur
  • Bathe in hot tub while watching the celestial light show at Hotel Ranga
  • Enjoy a New Year adventure including venturing inside a glacier
Iceland Northern Lights Holidays
northern lights over the icehotel in Swedish Lapland

Sweden

Swedish Lapland offers some truly special opportunities for viewing the northern lights. We recommend combining Abisko Mountain Station with a stay at the Icehotel to optimise your chances of seeing the aurora. With a wide range of exciting activities on offer, you’ll experience stunning snow-covered landscapes and the spectacular polar light of the Lapland region.

  • Visit the world-renowned Aurora Sky Station in Abisko
  • Combine aurora watching with a stay at the spectacular Icehotel
  • Stay in a beautiful lodge beside a frozen seascape near Lulea
  • Mush your own team of huskies on a wilderness adventure
Sweden Northern Lights Holidays
northern norway malangen resort aurora over fjord

Norway

From the dramatic scenery of the Lofoten Islands to the cultural city of Tromso, explore the fjord indented coastline of Norway all the way up to the North Cape. Northern Norway is a land of wide open spaces and little light pollution offering superb opportunities for seekers of the northern lights.

Norway Northern Lights Holidays
finnish lapland northern lights dance over forest istk

Finland

Log cabins set amidst the brilliant white snow and pine forests of Finnish Lapland provide the truly splendid backdrop for watching the aurora borealis. Head high above the Arctic Circle into the pristine wilds of Lapland where opportunities for viewing the northern lights can be combined with a range of exhilarating activities.

Finland Northern Lights Holidays
canada alberta northern lights treeline ctc

Canada

With its northern provinces extending deep into the Arctic Circle, Canada offers some fantastic locations to see the northern lights in wilderness locations. Combine a host of thrilling winter activities with picturesque snow-covered scenery and Canadian hospitality. With options in both The Yukon and Alberta, combine with a longer tailor made holiday in Canada.

  • Enjoy winter activities and spa relaxation in a wilderness resort in the remote Yukon Territory
  • Combine aurora viewing with a polar bear watching in Churchill
  • Encounter wildlife such as caribou and moose
Canada Northern Lights Holidays
alaska northern lights green and pink colours istk

Alaska

The Wilderness State of Alaska offers the perfect location for a winter adventure as well as the opportunity to see the northern lights. A destination offering a range of winter activities, we recommend heading into the Arctic Circle on the famed Dalton Highway to a remote camp right beneath the auroral oval.

greenland northern lights over ice filled fjord

Greenland

Though less accessible during the true winter months than our other aurora destinations, Greenland offers some exciting options during the shoulder seasons. Combine a search for the aurora borealis on an adventure cruise along Greenland’s east coast and into Scoresby Sund, departing in September or enjoy a thrilling husky adventure in East Greenland during March and April

  • Join a coastal cruise into Scoresby Sund early in the aurora season
  • Consider an early autumn coastal cruise
  • Or explore the frozen wilderness by husky sled

When to see the northern lights

The northern lights are visible under dark skies from late August to April, preferably under a clear, cloudless sky. Usually seen between 5pm and 2am, it is important to be away from artificial light. No month guarantees better sightings than another but December to February offer the longest hours of darkness, while the months of autumn and spring are likely to offer more stable weather conditions and often see more aurora activity around the equinoxes.

Where to see the northern lights

Anywhere within an area known as the auroral oval that sits above the Arctic and sub-Arctic offers opportunities for seeing the northern lights. The most easily accessible of these destinations are Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Norway, or travel further afield to Canada and Alaska. Our premium locations include the Aurora Sky Station at Abisko in Swedish Lapland, Hotel Ranga in Iceland’s southern countryside and just outside Tromso in northern Norway.

Read our guide to the northern lights, what causes them and where and when is best to see.

  • iceland south east aurora over jokulsarlon jw
  • sweden lapland abisko aurora sky station evening view rth
  • canada northwest territories blachford lake with lone figure and aurora bll
  • red aurora borealis seen over lapland istk
  • nellim aurora bubble view