The Canadian Space Agency offers a live feed of the skies above Yellowknife, in Canada's Northwest Territories, during the fall, winter and spring when the sun goes below the horizon. So where should you go? If you live in Europe, the easiest thing to do is head to the far northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland. Many local people speak English in those regions and there are lots of tours available, assuming that quarantine protocols at the time of your trip permit these activities.
Visit Tromso's northern lights info. Or you could check out a number of dark-sky locations, such as northern Sweden's Abisko National Park. The company Blakley co-founded, Lights Over Lapland , has been offering aurora tours in Abisko since In , the company released footage from a spectacular all-sky aurora during a geomagnetic storm on March Lights over Lapland's Abisko aurora tours.
Iceland is also a good choice, although cloudy skies may make it difficult to catch auroras on any one particular night. If possible, leave yourself extra time to accommodate inclement weather. Iceland northern lights tours. ViaTour northern lights night tour from Reykjavik. Russia does have a decent swathe of the auroral zone in the northern zones, but such areas are relatively hard to get to and lack the tourism infrastructure most travelers want. You might get lucky and spot auroras while being in a more well-trodden area such as Moscow or St.
Petersburg, given those cities' relatively high latitudes, however. But make sure to stay as far away from light pollution as feasible. There are also plenty of options for good aurora viewing in North America. While far-eastern Canada tends to be cloudy, the shore of the Hudson Bay, the northern Canadian towns of Yellowknife or Whitehouse, or the west coast of Alaska are usually good bets.
The city of Fairbanks itself can be a great choice for seeing northern lights without needing to go too far in the wilderness. Alaska Tours' aurora tours. Northern Tales Yukon aurora tours. Northern Lights Tours. A traveler could also take a train across the auroral zone to the town of Churchill in Manitoba on the western shore of Hudson Bay — an area famous for its polar bear population.
Churchill Arctic Adventures tours. Most of these Northern Lights photos were a second exposure. Also, I bumped up the ISO to to bring in the lights more. Whether it be stars or Northern Lights the settings would be similar.
We are going for my 60th Birthday we have heeded your warning but have high hopes to see the lights at least one night? I was also going to set one burst? You need to photograph on manual using a shutter speed somewhere between seconds with a tripod.
We usually start with 20 seconds and work up or down from there. Also, we recently put together a guide on the Northern Lights in Iceland. Depends how quickly the auroras are moving. If they are moving quite slowly use ISO and secs but if they are moving quickly use ISO and seconds. A very long exposure on fast moving auroras tends to capture one huge green blur. And it is VERY rare to see colours with the naked eye, so look for anything that looks like a light grey cloud moving across the sky in strange patterns, DO NOT wait until you see colours, if in doubt just start clicking away!
And take plenty of camera batteries, I get through one every 2 hours on my Nikon D Wow, what a stunning set of photographs! I was very fortunate to see the Northern Lights … from above. I was flying from Denver to London at the end of September. It really was a spectacular site. Seeing them from a plane would be amazing too, Thomas! Sounds like you were very lucky. I saw them in Iceland in Dec and cried.
So beautiful. Did you also hear them sing? I did! Thanks LatinAbroad! What do the lights sound like when they sing? It was quite windy that night, which thankfully had blown away all the cloud cover, so we didn't hear much but the howling wind.
Hi, may I know which part of Iceland should I stay that has the highest chance of catching the Aurora? Hi Shirlyn, you have much less light pollution in the north of Iceland. Hotel Ranga on the South Coast also boasts being the best place in Iceland to see the Northern Lights, though that is because they have a Northern Lights watch every night.
The weather in Iceland is unpredictable and can change drastically within a few minutes. These photos are gorgeous! I love the tip about staying at a place that has wake up service because I would be horrible about getting up every hour!
Thanks Christy! I am horrible at getting up. That was the nice part about staying at the Icelandic farms. We could literally sleep with the curtains open to watch out the window and just stick our heads out the door to see if Northern Lights had come. Hi Maria! How amazing! No, it was actually quite windy that night so not only were we completely bundled up with hats and our hoods on, the wind was howling. What do they sound like when they sing?
I really want to see this. Those are some good tips, that I had no idea about. But really cool. Beautiful pictures by the way! Thanks Laura! If the Northern Lights were easy to see, they probably wouldn't be as special. Nature is mostly so unpredictable which I guess is what helps make spotting the aurora special; not everyone can get to see them.
Good advice about enjoying the destination and treating an aurora sighting as a bonus, less disappointing that way! Sounds exhausting though all those late nights and waking up in the middle of the night.
Hi Stuart! You are absolutely right! Congratulations Edna! What a fantastic place to honeymoon! Check out our Iceland category and feel free to send us a message if you need any suggestions! Great tips and what fabulous photos too. Also, this helped me out ALOT because im doing a project on the northern lights.. That is precisely why we wrote this post.
We received so many messages and comments implying that people think it is easy to see the Northern Lights. The truth is that it is not easy and actually requires effort. We don't want to discourage anyone from trying to see them, but we want people to be well informed about what they are in for!
No problem. There are so many misunderstandings about the Northern Lights. Like: just travel to Iceland and you will see the lights, and another one goes like this: You only see the lights if its freezing cold. Congrats on finally getting to see it! I was following you guys the whole way! Great post for future travelers to Iceland, thanks. Thanks, Cindy! Wow you were SO lucky!
But people have reported them here in Stavanger as early as last autumn! You are in Norway. You should go to the north. I would recommend keeping a close eye spaceweather. There was an explosion on the sun Sunday and of course people have seen the Northern Lights every night this week.
You are absolutely right, go for the destination not for the lights. Unfortunately, since you have to plan ahead it is the luck of the draw. Of course a big solar explosion happened Sunday and people have seen the Northern Lights every night this week. Thanks, Ali! The photo credit goes to Tim. He was snapping away while I fell in holes in the snow covered lava field.
Hi Talon! Hi Jenny! Definitely go to a destination that you really want to see and then hope you do see the Northern Lights. Sure, we wish we saw them every night. Thanks, Ally! If you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend you try to see them. Aside from the Northern Lights, there are so many great activities to do in destinations you can potentially see them!
Thanks, Ed! Tim definitely gets all the photo credit for the pictures. We were just so thrilled to see the Northern Lights! Amen on 1! I went to Iceland in March hoping to see the Lights, but was met with cloudy weather every single night. Luckily I had planned a ton of other activities because, come on, Iceland is amazing!
If that had been the main goal of my trip though? Agreed, Amanda! Iceland is amazing. Loved this post, Jennifer. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, experience and stunning photos. Happy sails from Gold Boat Journeys: Live. Thanks, Ellen! Lapland would be a fantastic and picturesque place to cross country ski.
Even better if you can ski under the Northern Lights! Thanks for sharing our tips on the Lappone Facebook page, Alessandro! Nature really is divine. And the best part is you get to see it! Thank you for sharing it with us through your blog. Yes, nature is spectacular and we feel so blessed to have witnessed the phenomenon.
I was to young to remember much about seeing the Northern Lights when I got to. I hope to see them again one day! As Ali mentioned, the lights are really high on her list. I am intrigued enough that Ali is willing to travel to a very cold place in winter to see them,. As I keep seeing more pictures, I do think I wioiuld like to see them. The wake up calls and the job of Aurora Hunter sound awesome.
Pretty cool that they are brilliant enough to be photographable. Tim saw them for the first time in early September in Iceland and the temperatures were still quite nice then. I think people just associate them with cold because of the places where you have to go to see them and because they are only visible between September and March.
I hope you guys get to go and that you see them! They are truly spectacular to witness. Great tips and shots! We still have yet to see the Northern Lights ourselves. I hope to see them one day soon myself. I have no doubt you will see the Northern Lights sometime on your travels, Deb! I saw the Northern Lights for about 4 hours on my second trip to Iceland, which was last January.
They were SO beautiful, an irridescent green, looking like dancing ribbon candy in the sky. Great tips on here! It can be frustrating, Sophie! I had no idea there was such thing as an Aurora wake up call. How neat! It definitely seems like you must be patient to actually see the Northern Lights. It definitely does take patience but once you see the Northern Lights, it is oh-so-worth the effort. Wow, wow, wow!
Amazing photos!! To keep it pretty simple here are a few tips. Use a tripod 2. Long shutter speed seconds 3. Wide Open Aperture F2. Bump your ISO up to around From there you just have to play around with it depending on how active or bright it is. Then just hope for clear skies and some solar activity. Did you use a specific lens though that you preferred for photography lie this?
You want a fast and wide lens for Northern Lights. The also makes a great lens for cities or landscape photography. Very cool!
Loved all your pictures. Thanks, Debbie! The Northern Lights are very special. Cross your fingers for us over the next week!
The northern lights is on my bucket list. I just have to convince my wife that is not very found of cold weather to go with me. Great blog thanks for the great info. You might try one of those glass igloos in Finland to avoid the cold!
Definitely something special when you do see them. Thanks, great post — trying to plan a trip out there for spring with other half. Iceland is one of our very favorite countries and we going back again and again. Let us know if you need any other info for planning your trip. We have tons of posts about it!
I completely agree. I did not know what to expect when trying to find the aurora borealis in Iceland. We waited and were slightly disappointed at a faint show because pictures make the lights look WAY better.
However, our best showing was just outside of Reykjavik even with light pollution. Be patient and bundle up. Look for a ribbon of colors forming near the horizon in Iceland in March. Thanks, Angela! It does take patience and persistence to see them. Wow, great images and some good points too. I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights but have never had the chance.
Hoping to get up to Scandinavia in the next few years so I might see I I can get up there in winter. Pity they are so fickle! Nice post! Yes, the Northern Lights are beautiful and so special to see. Hope you get to experience them yourself, Ellen! Absolutely, Jennifer. Some do get lucky, but mostly it is a lot of patience and effort to see the Northern Lights. Northern Lights can be visible from September — March. Hope you have good weather for your trip! Gorgeous photos!
Agree that we should be going for the destination rather than the northern lights since its so unpredictable. There is a lot to do, especially for outdoor and adventure lovers in the Scandinavian countries where you can see Northern Lights.
Fantastic photography and tips Jennifer! We want to go husky sledding and see reindeer also, as well as experience other cultural and arctic experiences which will be polar opposites from our sunny lifestyle here. Having been to these places, where can you recommend? Have you been to the Lofoten Islands? Cheers, Rosey and Shaun. Hi Rosey and Shaun! Tromso is known for being the spot in Norway to see Northern Lights. It just all depends on getting lucky with clear weather and that the sun has been active.
Norway, Finland or Sweden are definitely the spots that you can easily go dog sledding and interact with reindeer. Hello like 2Musos we are also from Aus and planning at trip in early This is very helpful for my mom who wants togo see the northern lights.
I keep telling her not to have high expectations because I've read so many times that people travel to see them and see none… so your post is perfect for increasing our chances.
Suzette trysomethingfun. We used to occasionally see the Northern Lights growing up in Canada but I took them completely for granted. All comments very much appreciated. Thanks so much! Hi Tracy! Really beautiful and well done! I agree you need to go there for the destination and not for the lights! Thank you, Charu! The great thing about these destinations where it is possible to see the Northern Lights is that there are so many winter activities to do.
We hope she does get to see the Northern Lights Suzette. But we also hope she heeds our advice so she's not disappointed. It's definitely worth the effort when you do see them thought! Great tips and photos! Perspective and attitude is everything! I hope you do get to see them one day though!
I just hope I see it when I get there. Hi Grace! The Northern Lights are visible from September — March, so you have the same chance of seeing them. Just keep your expectations realistic! There is plenty to do in and around Tromso though that make it a great destination to travel to in winter. Thanks for sharing your Northern Lights tips. The Northern Lights wake-up calls are a great way to have a restful sleep without worrying that you are missing something. Hope you have the chance to see the Northern Lights sometime Anne!
Glad to hear you got to experience the Northern Lights, Emma! And yes, Finland is a beautiful country to visit. Superb photos. I totally agree with your points and I think the first one is the most important. I only saw the northern lights on my 3rd attempt and made the mistake the first time in Tromso of only having that to do. It wasnt the best trip because we had nothing else planned. As you say if you make sure you go for the destination first then you will still have a good time.
Great article. Would love to share photos and tips! One thing no one told me was that you need a bloody good camera and know how to set the proper settings!! This really is awesome. Just been reading your tips and so glad i have…. That will definitely be a fantastic birthday treat, Dawn! Stop by our Facebook page. We post alerts for the big solar storms and when you can expect great Northern Lights showings.
I think the best advice you gave is to go for the destination-seeing the lights is a bonus. We went to Iceland a few weeks ago with exactly that attitude. But on our first night they had what was called the best display in years!
We saw green, red and even purple. The lights came out before it was even fully dark and lasted well past the time we went to bed.
We got totally lucky. But the aurora reports have had almost zero sightings since we left 2 weeks ago. Wow, awesome photos Scott! At least it did for me when I went to Alaska. Get away from all ambient light if possible.
You can do this online. Some months may be more likely to have adverse conditions snow, fog, etc. Otherwise you could miss the show. Follow Solarham to check out the solar conditions. Aurora Borealis Notifications on Facebook also puts out notifications on auroral sightings in Alaska.
There are multiple web cams in different locales throughout the northern hemisphere that will show when the aurora make its appearance. Seeing the aurora is a very special experience. I am planning Iceland just to see Northern light from sept 3 to sept 9, and hoping to see them.
I am also globe traveller, female, senior and enjoying travelling, mostly alone. Seen almost the whole world and now picking spots and see the countries not travelled yet.
I will be taking tours so hoping they know where to go and what to see. Your blog helped me a lot and very good pics and advice.
Was in Rovanimani and went to Inari to see midnight sun, great place…. So best of luck to both of us! Thanks for the tips!
I understand that the Northern Lights are unpredictable, but do you know if that is a good time to try to chance on the auroras? In early September is it more likely to see them in one city over another? No, the problem with late August and early September is that it is still light until around 10pm and is light again by 5am in Reykjavik even less hours of darkness in Tromso during the period , so the window to possibly seem them is much shorter.
Hi Jennifer! These are some awesome pointers, thanks so much for posting about your experience. I just moved to the upper peninsula of Michigan where reportedly they are seen quite often.
I did however see some possibly? It was sorry of pulsating through the sky. I was pretty sure it was lightening but had never seen such an abundance of activity without any rain or thunder, the sky lot up every few seconds.
It was a bit cloudy. Again, very determines to see them, particularly the pretty colored ones! Any input much appreciated:. Northern Lights are only colored to the naked eye when they are very strong and bright, otherwise they usually look like light green or whitish wisps moving through the sky. They can be very fast or slower moving, sort of looking like a weird cloud. Thanks for the tips xx. Awesome, Louise! So glad that you got to see them. Head on over to our Facebook page and share some with us.
Thanks for all your posts, on the Northern lights, our turn is coming. They know how to host a good party there! So glad I stumbled across you! I am heading to Iceland in December with my husband for his 40th birthday… Northern lights tour booked for the first night and keeping everything crossed!
What a great birthday gift, Rowena! Let us know if you have any questions about planning your trip. Do you think a digital compact camera with manual options on a tripod will be ok to capture the lights if they appear? Keep your fingers crossed! Your trip to Iceland sounds wonderful. With 10 days there should be a pretty good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. While it may be possible to get some pictures of the Northern Lights with you Panasonic Lumix, it will be a little difficult.
Be sure to practice learning the controls and just try to take some star pictures at night. The concept is rather similar and knowing what buttons you need to hit will be much easier once your familiar with them.
Anyways, enjoy your trip and I hope you get to see them. I had visited Reykjavik for the 4 days 3 nights! And I am so blessed that get to see the northern lights on the re-book second night as first night was cancelled due to the rain and cloudy sky. Visited Oslo for gateway to Tromso, have stayed 4 days 3 nights at the Lauklines Kystferie private island in Tromso, and I am blessed to see the northern lights on the second night and dancing northern lights just right in front of my cabin.
Stayed in Tromso city for 3 days 2 nights, second night we get to see very light green northern lights but cover by the clouds, was so happy and quickly prepared camera try to get the northern lights but failed as later strong wind and rain came by, but managed to take 1 image. Hi, may I know if december or March will have a better chance to spot the northern lights?
And if sweden or iceland is better? If so, is there a recommended particular spot? Hope to hear from you soon! I would recommend March over December simply because the typically snow falls in December. Abisko, Sweden statistically has more days of viewing the Northern Lights than anywhere else in Europe and due to the microclimate, the weather is much more stable than in Iceland.
I love your post! During this time, the Arctic sky is dark enough for the Northern Lights to be visible in the right conditions. The aurora is at its most active around the equinoxes in March and September. The Northern Lights most commonly appear between pm and am. To see the Northern lights, the sky needs to be dark and clear of any clouds. For more detailed information, read our full guide on what causes the Northern Lights.
While there is no guarantee of spotting the Northern Lights, being in the right place at the right time helps, which is why Hurtigruten feels confident enough to offer the unique Northern Lights Promise , on our day Roundtrip Cruise along coastal Norway.
But there are forecasts available. The forecast corresponds to the planetary magnetic index on a scale of one to nine, with one being very low activity and nine very high. The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska has an excellent website , which allows you to view predicted activity in all auroral regions. You can also sign up for Northern Lights forecast email alerts that tell you when activity rises above four to five on the Kp-index. Yes and no. The Solar Cycle refers to the number of sunspots present on the surface of the sun.
This cycle lasts somewhere between years. The Northern Lights become more active and intense around Solar Maximum and in the three to four years immediately following the peak. During this time, the Northern Lights may be visible further south than usual, due to the increased number of electrically charged particles reaching the Earth. However, the polar auroras do not depend on sunspot activity at all.
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