What’s my best chance to see the northern lights?
Original post: Another World Adventures
What’s my best chance to see the northern lights?
I’m in the business of helping people have a one-of-a-kind adventures. Journeys of a lifetime. Of making dreams come true. So you’d think that I’d be a pro at making that same thing happen for myself.
But it isn’t always that easy.
In January 2014 I travelled to Iceland for a five day adventure week. Part of this week was an evening spent admiring the natural phenomenon known as aurora borealis – the Northern Lights. But that same night, the only night we had available to see the lights, an arctic storm blew in and we didn’t get to see them. Simple as that.
I’m not shy about reminding our clients that wildlife sightings and viewing natural wonders aren’t guaranteed. The reality is that sometimes the rare leopard doesn’t show up for the safari and sometimes it’s a cloudy day when you get to the top of Machu Picchu. For me, this is a part of what makes an adventure an adventure. You never know what you’re going to get.
But whilst I didn’t get to see them this year, here are some tips on how to give yourself the best chance to see the Northern Lights in all their glory.
Generally speaking, winter (in the north) is the best time to view the lights. There are longer periods of darkness and the nights are more often clear of clouds. During the summers, the nights are lighter and so even if the aurora is active, it will be less visible because the aurora light is not as strong as the sunlight. March and September are the best months as the lights are most active during the equinoxes each year. In terms of location, the best places to see the lights are Northwestern Canada (think Yukon), Alaska, Finland, Norway, Greenland, Iceland, Sweden, and Siberia.
Forecasting for the lights is a pretty accurate system. There is an excellent website maintained by The Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska which forecasts auroral activity in all regions. However, if you can give yourself the time it’s good to have up to a week for viewing. Even if you see the lights on day one, you won’t get bored going back again and again. You can improve your photography skills from day to day, see more and different brilliant colours, and just soak in this amazing natural phenomenon.
Consider combining a search for the Northern Lights with other activities so even if luck is not on your side, you’ll still have a fantastic holiday. We’ve chosen some amazing multi-day adventures which in addition to the Northern Lights, offer a range of activities from dog sledding in Finland to whale watching or snowmobiling in Iceland.
Best of luck and remember, a little luck, a little patience, and an open heart and mind for whatever adventure life sends are all that’s needed.
Rissy
Our top picks for Northern Lights adventures to make you go ‘OOOOH’:
