This position gives it uniquely exceptional conditions for viewing the Northern Lights. The small Swedish village of Jukkasjrvi sits around 125 miles above the Arctic Circle on the Torne River and is an ideal locale for aurora viewing. The optimal time for seeing the illuminated skies in the northern part of Sweden, in Swedish Lapland, is between early September and late March. But one of the most memorable destinations is in Saariselk, where visitors will find the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. The northern lights sparkle above the teepees at Aurora Village in Yellowknife, Canada, the Aurora [+] Capital of North America.. With its arctic location and dark skies, Yellowknife is one of the most famous places in Canada to see the northern lights. Fairbanks is the second-largest city in Alaska and a popular spot on the tourist circuit. Because of its northern location, during the peak season, you can see the northern lights from inside of the city as well as in the surroundings. The property has an impressive selection of year-round tours and activities, including northern lights excursions on horseback or by horse drawn carriage or you can head out on a quad bike to see the show. For the more adventurous aurora seekers, head to the top of the Greenland Ice Cap for spectacular views of the lights: This impressive glacier covers 80 percent of the country and is accessible via the tiny town of Kangerlussuaq. Kakslauttanen is famous for its glass igloos, which travelers can book for their stay. In fact, this is considered to be one of the best places on the planet to see the Northern Lights. Those . Expert aurora chasers recommend staying in the capital city of Hobart as a base. Norway. With Canada's Aurora | 360 you can see the northern lights at eye level. While lesser known, polar lights called aurora australis appear in the Southern Hemisphere and are visible in places like Antarctica, Tasmania and New Zealand. Sleep in a Log Cabin Under the Northern Lights in Alaska. Alberta is even home to a group called the Alberta Aurora Chasers that numbers 25,000 strong; theyre credited for discovering a northern lights phenomenon called "Steve" that shows up as a bright pink streak in the sky. Thanks to a winter storm blowing in, The Northern Lights may be visible here in Connecticut! The northern lights are an optical phenomenon of the Earth's atmosphere, characterized by bright bands of a wide range of shapes and colors, typically red-green-blue, called auroral arcs, caused . The legendary Icehotelthe world's first hotel of ice and snow inthe north ofSwedenis celebrating its 30th anniversary with dazzling new installments and an ephemeral art exhibition. If you're staying for several days, book accommodations with harbor views at the Scandic Ishavshotel. Updated: 8:06 PM EST December 10, 2020. Three popular spots that meet such criteria are Slemish Mountain, Dark Hedges, and Woodburn Reservoir. Stay away from places with street lightning such as Lerwick or you will be disappointed. The route extends around the coastline of the entire country, allowing visitors to chase the Northern Lights each night based on their projected intensity and visibility. But the Northern Lights are so amazing that they are worth traveling for just to see them firsthand. Today the village boasts about 800 residents and more than 1,000 dogs. 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. Where can you experience all of these things? Some of the best places to watch include the coast at Birsay, the beach at Dingieshowe, or the top of Wideford Hill. For excellent chances of aurora viewing, book a private igloo at Borealis Basecamp, a top glamping resort located on 100 remote acres of boreal forest about 25 miles from Fairbanks. With the village's origins dating back to the 17th century, you'll still find some of the original homesteads, including an old timber cottage. 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. This island chain is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but autonomously governed, like Greenland. Nearby Kola Peninsula is a good place to hunt for the Northern Lights, and from December 24 to January 5, 2018, the city itself is opening a 'Snow Village' installation a town built entirely . Despite this, you dont have to worry too much about light pollution interfering with your view. Experts from the National Park Service are onboard to provide commentary, offering guests insight on what they are viewing. The best way to see the northern lights here is from one of the remote igloo dome base camps; plenty of professionally guided tours are available. The new Kelo-Glass igloosare attached to a log chalet and each havea private sauna and fireplace. the best Northern Lights hotels in Norway. This article was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information. That is due in large part to it being a sprawling, 218,000-acre wilderness that's almost completely free of artificial lights or manmade structures of any kind. 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. 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. [Read: The Best Places for National Park Camping.]. In winter, the lodge can arrange outings with photographers who take guests on light-chasing excursions and can teach you how to take photos of the northern lights. It is even possible to doze off in a warm bed while the auroras dance overhead, making this a comfortable and enchanting way to enjoy this unique setting. Sweden is another Scandinavian country where the Northern Lights are visible from just about anywhere. Murmansk is a roughly two-hour flight from Moscow or St. Petersburg, making it an ideal destination for visitors. If you want to explore this remote Arctic region further and have the incredible opportunity to see Greenland's endangered polar bears Quark Expeditions offers a 20-day tour that starts in Toronto and sails round trip from Kangerlussaq in mid-September. There are tours available in Ilulissat that allow you to see this amazing landmark while also getting a chance to see the Northern Lights. 3. Check the aurora borealis off your bucket list. Svart Hotel with a view of the northern lights. Fairbanks, Alaska, ranks among the best locations in the U.S. for viewing the Northern Lights. Find the best travel insurance for you with these U.S. News ratings, which factor in expert and consumer recommendations. The best places to see the Northern Lights in 2023 are scattered on the most extreme latitudes of our planet: Iceland, Canada, Alaska, Norway, Finland. Try to find a place where the sky is clear, dark and free of clouds. The bitter cold that often comes with witnessing the northern lights can be a real deterrent. Located on the Minnesota-Canada border, this park is open year-round but with limited services. This product is based on the OVATION model and provides a 30 to 90 minute forecast of the location and intensity of the aurora. 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. Treehotel, a treehouse hotel with northern lights views. In Fairbanks, you can see the aurora almost anywhere on a strong night. Finnish Lapland is also known as the home of Santa Claus, the Smi people (the only Indigenous people in the European Union area) and as many as 200,000 reindeer. Lisa Jacobs/Flickr. Some have not only witnessed the Northern Lights for hours here, but observed a rare red Aurora. With its position in the middle of the auroral oval, the city puts on one of the world's most awe-inspiring light shows from mid-November to the beginning of April. The Orkney islands are an archipelago of 70 islands in northern Scotland. Pro-tip: Colettes Bed & Breakfastoutside Port Angeles has a north-facing property that looks out over the Straight of Juan de Fuca toward Canada. One of best places to view the northern lights on the planet is the mountaintop Aurora Sky StationinSwedish Lapland. The Arctic Circle is just 650 miles north and winter is DARK. These months form the official Fairbanks, Alaska aurora season, when the night sky is dark enough for visible aurora displays. That said, you'll have more chances from October to March. Vacations By Rail offers train tours to regions that are ideal for aurora borealis spotting. Embrace the winter and set sail for the Arctic Circle to experience the aurora in northern Norway. Gwen Pratesi and Amanda NorcrossJan. Which ones are still on your bucket list? Whitehorse (Yukon) Whitehorse is one of the best places to see the northern lights in Canada. Get up close to that . Its the only flight in the world to take off within the Aurora Oval. Join her on this journey to explore space right here on earth. In northern Sweden, theTreehotel is made up of six modern tree houses perched in the pines. The park is located far away from any city lights which might interfere with your view. Located across Puget Sound from bustling and brightSeattle, you can make your way to the small communities of Port Angeles or Sequim to base yourself for a weekend chasing the aurora. This group of captivating islands, located about 10 miles from Scotland's remote northern coast, is one of the best places to see the northern nights in the country. People here in Connecticut may get a rare chance to see the Northern Lights this weekend. If youre willing to make the trek,Acadia National Parkis one of the best destinations in the region. While you're at the property, take advantage of the guided Northern Lights Safari by snowmobile or embark on a Moose Safari on Horseback atop an Icelandic horse. Kluane National Park is one of the best places in the area to do just that. Canada's Yukon Territory is the North American equivalent of the Lapland region in Finland and Sweden. Options include everything from snowshoeing and dogsledding under the dancing lights to camping in a remote wilderness setting while the auroras blaze across the sky overhead. In fact, its the only place in the world where the Northern Lights can be seen in thedaytime. Visitors to the park can hop a chair lift to the top of a mountain where the Abisko Sky Station is located. Check out The Lodge at Black Rapids, a year-round hotel in the heart of the Alaska Range. The forecast lead time is the time it takes for the solar wind to travel from the L1 observation point to Earth. Web Visit website. Explore the top hands-free travel bag options for a variety of adventures. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, make reservations to stay overnight in unique camping accommodations at Aurora Village to view the lights. Villages such as Klondike, Campbell, and Whitehorse make excellent base camps for travelers, and as usual, you'll want to leave the city lights behind to get the full experience. If you visit in March, plan to attend the monthlong Snowkings' Winter Festival, which features events and activities like a snow-carving competition, an ice slide, a snow castle, live music and more. The reason: Solar Cycle 25.It's an 11-year cycle in which the sun's magnetic . This densely wooded and hilly area in Reykjavik sits at 200 feet above sea level and has walkways and paths where you can see the nighttime show. The 7th Room haspanoramic windows that make it perfect for spotting the northern lights. best time and places to see Northern Lights in Sweden. Fans of the Northern Lights in Sweden look forward to the long winter evenings. In addition to its strategic location, Whitehorse also has the longest season for viewing the northern lights in Canada. You are in for an extra special treat if you happen to be there when the aurora borealis lights up the night sky. You can book two- or four-person igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. When you come here to see the Northern Lights, you have a chance of photographing two amazing works of nature at once! In fact, Yellowknife locals love the aurora borealis so much that they have tiny lighthouses which alert residents and visitors when theres a likely showing of the northern lights that night. Saariselk is well-known for its glass igloos where you can sleep under the open starry sky and see the northern lights from a bed. The Northern Lights viewing season is short, running from May through September. Viewing the northern lights in Iceland with Butterfield & Robinson. Looking ahead, 2021 will bring the new Svart, an architectural spectacle set at the foot of Norways second-largest glacier. But it's possible to see the northern lights at any time during the season from mid-August to early or mid-April. The Shetland Islands are an archipelago of more than 100 islands, sitting between Norway and Scotland. The best time to see the Northern Lights in Sweden occurs between the hours of 6:00 pm and 2:00 am on a clear night. Enter Chena Hot Springs Resort, with . Lake Saadjrv is a major recreational area with beaches, as well as nearby cultural sites and museums such as the Ice Age Centre. If . There are some accessible places . Its location on the auroral oval makes it an excellent spot to go hunting for the Northern Lights. Yellowknife is one of the world's best places to spot the northern lights. For U.S. citizens, the top no-passport-required destination for seeing the northern lights is Alaska. The Aurora might be visible at 45 degrees, 30 degrees or even lower on the horizon depending on its brightness. The city sits 220 miles above the Arctic Circle, and during the long nights of winter, it is possible to see the auroras while in town. If you're lucky, you may just experience something magical. 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. But a dedicated group of locals does chart the current activity and shares the best places to see the shimmering lights. For optimum aurora viewing away from the light pollution, head to skjuhli. 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. Between mid-April and mid-August, the night skies are just too bright for visitors to see the aurora well. To start planning your trip, use ourguide to stargazing in Acadia National Park. Milky Way Calendar 2023 Best Milky Way viewing planner, Even though Iceland is not above the Arctic Circle, there are very. While on land, take in the natural beauty of the snow-blanketed landscapes and book bucket list excursions like a night spent in an igloo or a reindeer sledding adventure. Keep your curtains open and you may even see the Northern Lights from your room. This massive fjord was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 and is something anyone visiting town must see. Murmansk is generally considered one of the top destinations in Russia for seeing the aurora. A clear night at sea is the perfect venue to stargaze, and being out on the water further illuminates the northern lights, as there is no ambient light interference from land. World Explorer presents: 5 Best Places to See the Northern LightsLearn about the dancing lights and the best places in the world to view them.Facebook http. Use the airline's app or make an international call if your flight has been canceled. The city sits directly beneath the auroral oval, which is a ring centered around the magnetic North Pole where the sun's energized particles gather. Still, Thingvellir National Park is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Iceland. Figuring out where to see the Northern Lights in Fairbanks doesn't have to be difficult. Headlands International Dark Sky Park, Michigan, guide to stargazing in Acadia National Park, The 6 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Greenland, The 21 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Europe This Winter, The 8 Best Places to See the Southern Lights in New Zealand. There is even a Facebook group calledOrkney Aurora Groupwhere local residents and enthusiasts post the latest information. [See more of the Scottish Highlands: Things to Do | Tours | Hotels | When to Visit | Photos ]. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. 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. 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. Sweden. If this storm fizzles or you miss it, your chances of seeing the northern lights are greater than ever right now. The jagged rock formations along the shore of the lake are popular with painters, which is what gives the location its name. This phenomenon occurs when electrically charged particles from the sun enter the Earth's atmosphere and collide with gaseous particles, such as oxygen and nitrogen. Just pick a town and go. As a certified International Dark Sky Park, Voyageurs provides opportunities to view the Milky Way on clear evenings, especially in the summer. Like Norway, Finland has plenty of great places to spot the Northern Lights, particularly in its Lapland region. On the Alaska Northern Lights Multi-Active Private, youll snowmobile, mush a dog sled and relax in a private hot spring, all beneath the dancing northern sky. Eeyou Istchee Baie-James. This resort town is around 70 miles north of the town of Rovaniemi, set among the picturesque and hilly landscape of Pyh-Luosto National Park. 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. One of the most unique ways to view the northern lights? This beautiful property is just minutes by foot from Oban village and the property will pick you up at the airport or ferry terminal for your stay. 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