Let me say this loud and clear – the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are pure magic. No photo or video truly ever captures what it feels like to witness them dance across the sky. And the more you see them, the more they pull you in, like an addiction. Our local guide, who had seen countless Auroras in his lifetime, was so overwhelmed that he dropped everything, laid down in the snow, and laughed uncontrollably, gazing at the sky in awe. Yes, literally!
And for us – we hugged and shed tears of joy seeing the streaks of pink and green spread across the sky in a celestial dance. But here is the thing – the Aurora is elusive and unpredictable. May be that is why it’s often called Chasing the Northern Lights. And chasing this elusive wonder takes planning, patience, and a bit of luck. From our experience through Norway and Finland, here’s a complete guide with tips to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights and photographing them.
Best time to see the Northern Lights
Late September to March is considered the best time to see the Northern Lights. Even though there are chances to see it during the initial days of April, I would not rely too much on it due to days getting longer. That said, Aurora activity tends to peak around the equinoxes – thanks to increased geomagnetic disturbances during those times. So, if you’re planning your trip, try aligning it close to the spring or autumn equinox for better chances.
5 Tips for Planning your Northern Lights trip
Choose places with higher Aurora sighting history
While planning your trip, do not just go with traditional tourist places. Instead, try and add one or two offbeat places to your itinerary that have a history of good aurora sightings. This was the reason why we added Kilpisjarvi in Finland to our itinerary. This remote town close to the Norway border is directly under the aurora oval and as per statistics, offers the chances to see aurora on 75% of the nights. We stayed there for 2 nights and on the second night we could see a breathtaking show that lasted for hours. There are some other places in Lapland which offer great aurora sightings, choose which fits well into your itinerary.
Stay at least 3 Nights at Prime Locations
Chasing the aurora isn’t about covering ground, it’s about giving yourself time in the right places. The longer you stay, the better your odds. That’s why a 2-3 nights stay in one location is ideal – it gives you the buffer you need against unpredictable weather or low aurora activity.
We learnt this first-hand in Tromso, considered one of the best places to see the Northern lights. Out of our 4 nights there, we went aurora hunting on two – and only one rewarded us with a stunning aurora display during a guided tour. The other night, the clouds refused to budge even after hours of waiting. In Kilpisjärvi, we saw both extremes: one night was swallowed by a snow blizzard, but the next evening opened up to clear skies and gifted us a breathtaking, full-sky aurora show. So yes, that’s the point I was trying to make.
Book Accommodation away from the City Lights
Staying a little outside the city definitely boosts your chances. You’ll be away from light pollution, under darker skies, and might even catch the aurora without stepping out. This saves the trouble and cost of going on Aurora tours which are definitely not cheap. We could see the Northern lights right from our rooms in both Kilpisjarvi and Inari. Especially for Inari, looking at the magical sky in the middle of a frozen lake away from everything else was unlike anything else. Read More….
