Many people who see the elusive Northern Lights will tell you it’s the experience of a lifetime. One of nature’s most awe-inspiring attractions, the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, is the colorful dancing display created in the night sky when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with the earth’s atmosphere.
You can glimpse this spectacular phenomenon from late August to early April, with the darkest fall and winter months ensuring the most successful viewings. Whether you travel to Canada, Alaska, Iceland, Scandinavia or Russia—there are amazing deals on a variety of Northern Lights tours and vacation packages. Here are five cities you won’t want to miss for this bucket list-worthy experience.tours4fun.com/…ding/northern-lights-tours
#1 Fairbanks, Alaska
Alaska’s second largest city, Fairbanks is home to 30,000 of the state’s 100,000 people. The city is conveniently located in the interior of Alaska and is a hub between the coast and the Arctic Circle. It’s often called the “Aurora Capitol of the World” since the Northern Lights can be seen here on average 243 days a year!
Whether you want to stay in town or use Fairbanks as a jumping off point for a number of nearby adventures, you’ll find a variety of tours to experience the Northern Lights. Enjoy luxury camping at the Borealis Basecamp where you can stay in a heated igloo and enjoy hot chocolate under the stars. Chena Hot Springs, just 60 miles from Fairbanks, offers an impressive ice museum and the opportunity to watch the Aurora while soaking in its healing warm waters. Or, head to the top of the Murphy Dome, one of the area’s highest peaks, and watch the Northern Lights above the tree line with an incredible panoramic view of the night sky.
#2 Yellowknife, Canada
Located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, Yellowknife’s long clear nights make it another one of the best places in the world for viewing the Northern Lights. Experience a guided hunt for the mystical Aurora Borealis and then dine at the classy Aurora Village lodge restaurant. Or, just absorb the beautiful sky from comfort of heated tee-pee.
Yellowknife is also a great destination for year-round outdoor activities. In winter, enjoy dogsledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing and seeing Yellowknife’s famous ice castle. If you’re visiting closer to summer and fall, discover hiking, riding in a horse drawn wagon and going on a wildlife tour to see bison.
#3 Reykjavik, Iceland
Experience one of nature’s most amazing phenomena in one of the world’s most naturally stunning countries. Iceland features a wealth of natural wonders including waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, hot springs, volcanic craters, black sand beaches and more—all within its popular Golden Circle. Its capital Reykjavik is a great place for kicking off a variety of Northern Lights adventures.
Try a night cruise tour sailing from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor, where you’ll get a chance to take in the magical Northern Lights display in the dark blue yonder of Faxafloi Bay. Go Aurora hunting in Thingvellir National Park after a relaxing day soaking in a natural hot springs on this tour. Or, take a night tour from Reykjavik in the comfort of a heated motor coach while sipping on hot chocolate.
#4 Tromso, Norway
While much of Northern Scandinavia is a great place for seeing the Northern Lights, Tromso is the most popular destination for kicking off an aurora adventure. Located 400km north of the Arctic Circle, this small city bills itself as Norway’s gateway to the Arctic. With its own international airport, Tromso is more convenient to get to and a great place for traveling through the very most northern regions of Norway, Sweden and Finland within a relatively short time.
From Tromso, find a variety of aurora hunting tours that will take you to the best locations for seeing the Northern Lights based on that evening’s weather conditions. There are also a variety of Aurora Camps not far from Tromso that provide luxurious heated tents while you wait and a smorgasbord of Scandinavian wilderness food cooked over an open fire (Think: delicious sausages, pancakes and coffee.) Your best chances for catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is to take a multiday tour.
#5 Murmansk, Russia
The world’s largest Arctic city, Murmansk is home to roughly 300,000 people. Despite its remote Northern location, this thriving metropolis features all the modern amenities of a big city—restaurants, museums, shopping and a wide range of hotels—deep in the Arctic. Formed only 100 years ago, Murmansk is a port town located on a comparatively ice-free bay off the Barents Sea.
While fairly remote, Murmansk is popular with travelers who like experiences well off the beaten path. Experience a Northern Lights tour from Murmansk that includes a variety of winter activities. Enjoy snowmobiling, dogsledding or going for a sleigh ride. Feed reindeers and explore a village of the native Saami people. Around Christmas time, be sure to visit the Snow Village—a fairytale-like world built entirely from snow and ice.
For more unforgettable ways to see the Northern Lights, click here.
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I see a wonderful article on the best places to see the Northern Lights. I will surely travel to all places. I wasn't aware that you can even see them from Murmansk, Russia. I learnt a lot from your post. I am sure your post will go a long way in helping people to see the Northern Lights. I really appreciate the efforts you have taken to write this wonderful post. The Northern Lights really look amazing in the pics!
Wow! I wasn't aware that there were so many places around the world to watch the Northern Lights. These lights never fail to mesmerize me. No wonder why they are one of the seven wonders of the world. I really appreciate the efforts you have taken to make the people aware of the various places from where one can see the Northern Lights. Thank you for sharing this article. I must say I really enjoyed reading your article. Thank you.
Wow! I wasn\'t aware that there were so many places around the world to watch the Northern Lights. These lights never fail to mesmerize me. No wonder why they are one of the seven wonders of the world. I really appreciate the efforts you have taken to make the people aware of the various places from where one can see the Northern Lights. Thank you for sharing this article. I must say I really enjoyed reading your article. Thank you.