Best Place to See Northern Lights . In fact, Svalbard is a group of islands located between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole. The aurora borealis occurs so frequently in Churchill that scientists have built a research station to study the phenomenon there. Idaho. Together with a visit to the festive visitor's center, you'll feel like you're immersed in a winter wonderland! But if you're lucky enough to travel to see the aurora australis, you'll be rewarded with brilliant displays of color in shades of green, blue, purple, pink, or orange and gold. This is a short-term forecast of the location and intensity of the aurora. best time and places to see Northern Lights in Norway. You can head to Russia and Norway on The Golden Eagle - Arctic Explorer - Quest for theNorthernLights (which includes a tour venturing out into the wilderness with a guest astronomer), celebrate the natural wonders of Sweden and Norway with TheNorthernLights& Lapland or explore Alaska on the Aurora Viewing at Bettles Lodge, where youll partake in a communal bonfire under the light-streaked skies of the Arctic Circle. Saadjrv is also close to the Vooremaa nature reserve, so there's plenty to do in the region when you're not watching the lights dance in the sky. This has earned it an International Dark Sky Park designation. Between mid-April and mid-August, the night skies are just too bright for visitors to see the aurora well. This area in Finnish Lapland is known for its stunning scenery, Smi culture, cross-country and downhill skiing, and Urho Kekkonen National Park one of Finland's largest parks. 5, 2023, Up to 60% Off + Exclusive 5% Guaranteed Priceline Coupon, Up to 50% Off Travel Plans with Top Expedia Promo Code, Discount Travel Plans with 50% Off on Hotels.com bookings, 50% Discount on Getaways with Barcel Resort & Hotels, Booking.com Promo Code Up to 50% Off + Extra 10% Off. During other times of the year, Cunard also offers special Northern Lights cruises in Norway. The jagged rock formations along the shore of the lake are popular with painters, which is what gives the location its name. In fact, this is considered to be one of the best places on the planet to see the Northern Lights. When it comes to lodging, the property features traditional rooms, suites, villas and cabins. Hands down, Alaska is the best place to see the northern lights in the United States, thanks to its geographic location and dark skies . How frustrating it can be to spend hours waiting for the northern lights, only to learn that your location is a bit off for the day's best viewing. 4. At FinlandsKakslauttanen Arctic Resortyou can spythe northern lights through a glass igloo. The northern lights sparkle above the teepees at Aurora Village in Yellowknife, Canada, the Aurora [+] Capital of North America.. To get there, head toAbisko National Parkand ride a 20-minute chairlift to the viewing tower. Its the only flight in the world to take off within the Aurora Oval. However, all hope is not lost if you seek to view the aurora australis in Antarctica. Visit Troms sells aurora-watching trips around the city of Troms in Norway. But it also happens to be one of the best places to see the Northern Lights as well, which appear in the sky on more than 300 nights each year. 4. Stay away from places with street lightning such as Lerwick or you will be disappointed. Head to the newNorth Pole Igloos Hotel, a pop-up glamping concept in the northernmost place on earth. Iceland is, for the most part, not a hugely developed country. However, you will have to contend with the light from nearby communities like Bar Harbor when trying to view the northern sky from Cadillac Mountain. At Hotel Rang, a luxurious lodge 90 minutes outside Reykjavk, the staff will wake you u pwhen the northern lights appear. New England is one of the most densely populated parts of the United States. If you are a true northern lights enthusiast, youll be delighted to find so many places in Scotland with great dark skies and good northern views. With its clear skies and mountainous landscape, Swedens Abisko National Park provides a very good opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Lisa Jacobs/Flickr. For a custom guided tour to view the nighttime lights display, including the Milky Way and the constellations, you can hire Voyageurs Outfitters. Here are some of the top places to see the aurora in County Donegal: While it doesnt make every list for where to see the aurora in Ireland, County Mayo has a few spots worth considering. One of the most unique ways to view the northern lights? The best time to visit is between December and March. Canada, Denmark, Finland, etc.) Travelers who fly on Icelandair can get a taste of the phenomenon before they even reach Iceland when flying on IcelandairsHekla Aurora plane, which is painted in the colors of an Icelandic winter landscape on the exterior. Widely referred to as "the Crown of the Continent", the park is a national gem for a multitude of reasons, not least because of the unparalleled views it boasts of the unfiltered night sky. The cruise ends in Bergen. Fairbanks, Alaska is one of the best places in the United States to view the Northern Lights. For optimum aurora viewing away from the light pollution, head to skjuhli. That means that in the New England states, its hard to find a good dark sky! Some have not only witnessed the Northern Lights for hours here, but observed a rare red Aurora. Share this to help others enjoy the night sky! Voyageurs is working toward an International Dark Sky Park designation to highlight and preserve the vast views, which it hopes to earn in 2020. International Falls, MN 56649, USA. Fairbanks is the second-largest city in Alaska and a popular spot on the tourist circuit. Icelandair captain Sigrur Einarsdttir,a woman pilot who has spent more than 30 years flying beneath the Arctic skies,has become an expert in seeing the northern lights. Lake Saadjrv is a major recreational area with beaches, as well as nearby cultural sites and museums such as the Ice Age Centre. What better way to minimize the cloud cover then getting above them and being surrounded by the northern lights? says Icelandairs Sigrur Einarsdttir, who has witnessed the lights on multiple occasions in flight. The tundra of Kalaallit Nunaat (the Greenlandic name for the country) is one of the best places on the globe to see the aurora, especially from October to April. Thanks to a winter storm blowing in, The Northern Lights may be visible here in Connecticut! Its a truly fascinating place to stay while you wait for the Northern Lights to appear. 9. Created by energized particles from the sun hitting the Earth's upper atmosphere, the aurora appears as a wave of light that dances across the night's sky. As the days shorten in length, you may encounter dustings of snow across the otherworldly landscape and ice starting to form on the water's surface. Escape the hustle and bustle of our nation's capital with one of these refreshing weekend getaways. Additionally, the Faroe Islands are less developed than other parts of Europe and this remoteness ensures a lack of light pollution to interfere with your aurora viewing. The storms can drive the aurora further south from its usual position over the polar . The southernmost destinations in the world offer the chance to see the aurora australis or southern lights. The northernmost point in the county, this small peninsula has unobstructed views to the north all the way to the Arctic Circle! Glacier National Park. But there's another phenomenon that causes the northern lightscoronal holes. There are many small villages throughout the country where you can view the show during the long and dark winter, but the capital city of Reykjavik also offers many options for accommodations, restaurants and other activities for your visit. While the aurora occurs year-round, the winter months (from November to March) offer the best opportunities to witness it, as there is more darkness than light during the days. Connecticut is on the edge of visibility for a Northern . This is due to its high latitude and proximity to major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. September to November and February to March are the best months to view the aurora, as the skies are clearer than in December and January when they can be cloudy due to snow. But where should you go if youre trying to see the aurora borealis? Read on to discover the top destinations where you can see the kaleidoscopic northern and southern lights. And the best place to see the Northern Lights in Scotland is in the Shetlands. Reykjavk makes an excellent base camp for visitors looking to explore everything that Iceland has to offer. Among northern states, Michigan was one of the first to embrace the dark sky preservation movement. Visit for the Jasper Dark Sky festival in mid-October and, in addition to the view of the stars, youll get hands-on science and astronomy events. And another perk: Cunard is celebrating its 180thAnniversary with special sales available on many voyages between July 2020 and May 2022, including Alaska. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of State and local tourism boards before traveling.). Northern Lights and arctic circle tour in Fairbanks. There, on a clear night, you'll get an unfettered look at the sky, which from September through March, is often ablaze with bright colors. In fact, under the right conditions, you can see the northern lightsanywherein Finland! Fans of the Northern Lights in Sweden look forward to the long winter evenings. Those can last for months, and, as Rodney explains: "as the sun . Atop this forest sits Perlan, which houses the only planetarium in the country and a museum featuring exhibits about Iceland. Gwen Pratesi and Amanda NorcrossJan. While there, you can also spend a magical evening outdoors under star-filled skies during a sleigh ride through the snow-covered forests. You can also watch for elephant seals, leopard seals, wandering albatross and other species of birds. Borealis Basecamphas domes designed especially to offer you a view of the northern lights from the comfort of yourbed. All of the rooms have luxuries like wood-burning stoves and skylights for optimal viewing. Late-season expedition cruises to the last continent offered in March also bring the opportunity to view the southern lights and enjoy Antarctica's fleeting summer. Troms, Norway. Viewing the northern lights in Iceland with Butterfield & Robinson. However, these auroras are sudden and short-lived. There is even a Facebook group calledOrkney Aurora Groupwhere local residents and enthusiasts post the latest information. The Aurora Sky Station is one of the best vantage points to see the aurora in the park, with experts on hand to answer questions about the science behind this fascinating phenomenon. Travel company Off The Map decided to ease the pain by offering two mobile methods for the enthusiastic aurora seeker. If you're lucky, you may just experience something magical. To fully immerse yourself in this experienceand the parkthat is one-third waterstay on ahouseboatand think about the adventures the fur traders this park is named after experienced on these same waters many years ago. Destinations known for northern lights are often expensive. This 13-day cruise itinerary departs from London for the North Sea with stops in ports of call that are top aurora-viewing locales, including Bod, Troms, Alta and Narvik. You may opt-out by. Embrace the winter and set sail for the Arctic Circle to experience the aurora in northern Norway. Visitors can expect to see the lights on an average of four out of five clear nights during aurora season, which lasts from August 21 to April 21. I hope you find resources here to help you do just that. [Read: The Top Things to Do in Michigan.]. Another good location to chase evasive Northern Lights is the remote wilderness of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James in Northern Quebec. Lets just say these are all of the best places to see the northern lights in the world you just have to choose how far youre willing to travel! Located along the U.S.-Canada border between Minnesota and Ontario, Voyageurs National Park is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in the continental United States. Every list on the internet has their own suggestions for the best places to see the northern lights! Natural Habitat Adventures, a leader in responsible wildlife tourism, is introducing itsvery firstArctic expedition exclusively for women: the seven-dayNorthernLights and Arctic Cultures. Inspired by the Arctics intrepid female explorers, this epic journey was designed by expedition leader Annie Van Dinther. HARTFORD, Conn Mother Nature may be providing her own, rare, holiday light show for Connecticut! Lastly,Woodburn Reservoiris one last spot to try and see (and photograph) the aurora at the right time of year you might even get a lovely reflection in the water, too. The Shetlands are one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Scotland. The northern lights over the 7 Fells Hostel in Finland. The northern lights are most visible here between the end of August and April and approximately 200 times a year so there are many opportunities for aurora spotting. Some years they can be seen as early as August. But it's possible to see the northern lights at any time during the season from mid-August to early or mid-April. This natural wonder can be found here up to 150 times a year. During the summer months the Milky Way is visible across the sky and late summer evenings entertain visitors with meteor showers. These destinations will inspire even the most experienced aurora chaser. Before we get into the best places to see the northern lights in Iceland, first thing's first: it's all about timing. In fact, they have awhole section about iton their website! This product is based on the OVATION model and provides a 30 to 90 minute forecast of the location and intensity of the aurora. Vacations By Rail offers train tours to regions that are ideal for aurora borealis spotting. In order to increase your chances of seeing this spectacle, you should time your trip to anew moon. Northern lights arcing over the Hotel Ranga in Iceland. Several destinations in Estonia are popular with local aurora chasers, but Saadjrv is one of the top picks for consistent sightings. The Faroe Islands, Denmark. Jkulsrln is a breathtaking glacial lake, and is one of Icelands greatest natural wonders and most popular tourist attractions. Seeing the Northern Lights is an event that often gets a spot on many bucket lists, but traveling north toward Alaska, Canada and the North Pole might not be necessary to accomplish it. That said, you'll have more chances from October to March. A few places to see the spectacular light show include along the coast at Birsay or on the beach at Dingieshowe. In the U.K., the Northern Lights are known as the "Merry Dancers," and the best place to see them is on a remote archipelago off the northern coast of Scotland. They can also learn more about the aurora borealis from guest speakers during the flight. Hotel Kangerlussuaq , 3910 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland; +299 841180 This beautiful place is under the Auroral Oval, a ring-shaped zone showcasing much of the action. Use the airline's app or make an international call if your flight has been canceled. Expert aurora chasers recommend staying in the capital city of Hobart as a base. Ryan Knapp, a meteorologist for the Mt. There are tours available in Ilulissat that allow you to see this amazing landmark while also getting a chance to see the Northern Lights. On the shores of Great Slave Lake, travelers have a 95% chance of spotting the lights. US Travel: 25 Best Places To Visit In 2020, Where To Go Next: 27 Best Places To Travel In 2020, Ranked: The Worlds 10 Worst Cities To Live (3 Are In The US), This Cruise Line Is Making History With The First Women-Led Cruise, This is a BETA experience. However, almost every town on the south shore of Lake Superior offers a solid chance to see elusive northern lights. I had the chance to visit Mayo Dark Sky Park last year just after they received dark sky park designation, and can attest that its incredibly dark here! Like Norway, Finland has plenty of great places to spot the Northern Lights, particularly in its Lapland region. The forecast lead time is the time it takes for the solar wind to travel from the L1 observation point to Earth. This Viking Ocean Cruises itinerary is offered from mid-January to mid-March. CONNECTICUT A solar storm that made a "direct hit" to Earth Tuesday and more developing storms could trigger aurora borealis displays in Connecticut and in areas where the northern lights . Made famous for being home to many of Canadas polar bears, the Arctic area of Churchill, Manitoba is a popular destination for winter wildlife expeditions. That makes it a great destination for stargazing in general and for experiencing the aurora borealis specifically. Since Earth's magnetic field is weaker at the poles, more particles from the solar winds enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles there, making the lights more visible in these regions. Where and when to see Northern Lights Best place and time to see Northern Lights. The town of Churchill, Manitoba, in Canada, is best known for its polar bear population, which congregates in large numbers along the shores of Hudson Bay. The northern lights over the waters of Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. T he northern lights are an atmospheric phenomenon in which undulating waves of green, purple, and red lights dance across the sky. If you're up for a chilly overnight adventure, reserve accommodations at the world's first Icehotel 365 in one of its artist-designed cold suites. The auroras are active in Voyageurs all year round and can be seen during any month of the year. Find the best travel insurance for you with these U.S. News ratings, which factor in expert and consumer recommendations. Finding an app that gives you real time data and focuses not only on the intensity of the lights at that time but also the potential cloud cover is vital. A great site to check out is Service Aurora, which is run by a group of northern lights chasers and tracks the aurora borealis in the northern hemisphere. In northern Sweden, theTreehotel is made up of six modern tree houses perched in the pines. If you're up for the Arctic adventure, December is the ideal month to visit Abisko National Park, which is regarded as one of the best places on Earth to see the lights dance across the sky. This makes them a good destination to see the northern lights in winter! If you're patient and the weather cooperates, chances are, you won't be disappointed. Fall and winter are the best seasons to witness the aurora, also known in local dialect as the "Mirrie Dancers." This spectacle is more elusive since there's less land mass in this part of the world and fewer viewing spots to see the show. Romantic in a rustic-wilderness way, these steamy natural thermal pools are Canada's second largest. Lapland is a region that stretches across the northernmost sections of Finland and Sweden and is home to the Indigenous Sami people. The northern reaches of Norway are nicely nestled within the Arctic circle, and the mega-long nights in winter make perfect aurora viewing conditions. In the two-story timber-frame lodge, owners Annie and Mike Hooper showcase Alaskan artists, with works on display throughout the property. Kraig Becker is a writer based out of Roanoke, Virgina who has covered adventure travel and product reviews for TripSavvy since 2013. This position gives it uniquely exceptional conditions for viewing the Northern Lights. Jaakkola Reindeer Farm offers this 2.5-hour Seeking the Northern Lights with Reindeer tour by sleigh ride; it includes a stop to warm up at a bonfire camp with snacks, hot beverages and local fireside stories. best time and places to see Northern Lights in Sweden. It's also a quieter time to visit as many of the expedition lines have moved their ships to warmer regions around the world. There are some accessible places . By day, you can explore local history and cultural museums to get a sense for Russian history. People here in Connecticut may get a rare chance to see the Northern Lights this weekend. Sweden, theTreehotel is made up of six modern tree houses perched in the city! Offer the chance to see elusive Northern Lights long winter evenings amazing landmark while also getting a chance see. Aurora australis in Antarctica landscape, Swedens Abisko National Park in Minnesota was designed by expedition leader Annie Dinther., as well as nearby cultural sites and museums such as Lerwick or you will be.! South from its usual position over the Hotel Ranga in Iceland destination for stargazing in general and experiencing... A truly fascinating place to stay while you wait for the most unique ways view! 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