5 Best Destinations To See The Spectacular Northern Lights

Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are breathtaking natural phenomena when the myriad colorful lights of nature dance on the horizon in a stunning motion. It's a natural wonder visible in a certain period of the year.

Chasing the Northern Lights is on everyone's travel bucket list. An experience that many people wait years—or even a lifetime—to fulfill. Others say, it is very elusive and needs good timing to catch one.

Weather conditions, atmosphere, season, all of these need to be in good timing for the Northern Lights to show up in the sky. Usually, it takes place during long hours of darkness and clear night skies.

Northern Lights sighting in Lapland, Finland

So why Northern Lights form?

As we know, Northern Lights are natural phenomena and no state-of-the-art technologies can even produce or summon the Northern Lights to show up. It is a natural celestial occurrence.

So how it is formed? "When charged particles from the sun strike atoms in Earth's atmosphere, they cause electrons in the atoms to move to a higher-energy state. When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon light. This process creates the beautiful aurora borealis or northern lights" - according to www.earthsky.org

Northern Lights sighting in Norway

It was Italian astronomer, Galileo Galili, the father of Astronomy, who coined the words "Aurora Borealis" in 1619. Aurora comes from the Roman goddess of Dawn, Aurora, and Borealis comes from the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas.

In the Northern Hemisphere, it is called "Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis", while in the Southern Hemisphere, it is called "Southern Lights or Aurora Australis". More detailed explanation about Northern or Southern Lights HERE

Though it occurs from late September to early April, it frequently occurs and can be best seen during winter when nights are longer and the sky is clearer.

The best places in the world to catch the Northern Lights are usually closer to the Arctic Circle: Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

Here are the best places where you could catch the Northern Lights:

1. Tromso, Norway

Located above the Arctic circle in the heart of the aurora zone, the city is widely regarded as one of the world’s best places to see the Northern Lights.

Tromso is located in the Northern part of Norway and is usually dark between the afternoon and morning from late September to early April, thus, offering stunning aurora views.

2. Finnish Lapland - Located in the Arctic region in Northern Europe, Finnish Lapland is one of the most popular Northern Lights viewing destinations. Aurora Borealis can be visible in this part of Finland almost 200 nights a year in a clear sky, sometimes between September and March.

It can be best experienced at a glass igloo in Santa's Igloos Arctic Circle in Luosto. This resort town is about 72 miles north of the town of Rovaniemi, the capital of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland. Rovaniemi is also known as the hometown of Santa Claus. A small glass igloo costs about $512 dollars per night.

3. Jukkasjärvi, Sweden

The optimal place for viewing the aurora borealis in Sweden is in the northern part of the country, in Swedish Lapland.

Visitors to this region can see the illuminated skies during the darkest months, from September to March. The small Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi sits about 124 miles above the Arctic Circle on the Torne River and is an ideal locale for aurora viewing in Swedish Lapland.

4. Reykjavik, Iceland

For optimum viewing away from the light pollution, head to Öskjuhlið. This densely wooded area in Reykjavik has walkways and paths where you can see the nighttime show.

Atop this forest sits Perlan, which features the only planetarium in the country as well as a museum with exhibits about Iceland's nature and geography. Another location in Iceland where aurora borealis can be best viewed in at Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.

5. Fairbanks, Alaska

One of the most popular destinations for Northern Lights viewing in the US is Fairbanks, Alaska. Its Aurora Season kicks in between late August and late April.

Fairbanks is under the “Auroral Oval,” a ring-shaped zone over the far north where aurora activity is concentrated.

Additionally, Fairbanks’ low precipitation and distance from coastal areas contribute to consistently clear nights. All combined variables make the Fairbanks region an outstanding destination for possible aurora borealis viewing.

Meanwhile, the Southern Lights or Aurora Australis can be best viewed in New Zealand and Australia from May to August and during the spring equinox in September when the night is longer.

How much does it cost to see the Northern Lights?

Two of the world's most popular destinations to see the Northern Lights are Lapland, Finland, and Iceland. These locations near the Arctic region have longer nights during the winter season.

Igloo houses in Rovaniemi

According to Tour Radar, their Arctic Finnish Lapland Winter Tour Package for eight (8 days) is approximately US$2,780.00 for each person or Php139,000.00 The itinerary will begin in Finland's capital, Helsinki, and will end in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland. The price includes: hotel accommodation, tour guide, meals, transport

The best period to travel to Finland to witness the Northern Lights is between September to March. Rovaniemi is famous for the Santa Claus Village and glass igloo houses. To check the availability of igloo accommodation in Rovaniemi, go to this LINK

Most of the tour packages we have seen online about Iceland trips to see Northern Lights only offer a package tour within its capital, Reykjavik. But since the city is not an ideal place to catch the Northern Lights, travelers need to look for a tour package that brings them to the countryside where the environment is not overly populated and pollution is rare.

Camping in Iceland to catch the Northern Lights

The best place to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon. It lies by the Vatnajokull glacier. As with most places in the world, even within the Arctic region, "luck" is a factor when chasing aurora borealis in Iceland.

Northern Lights Exploration Tour in Iceland usually starts at (8 days) US$1,678 or Php83,900.00. The price includes hotel accommodation, transportation, meals, a tour guide, and sightseeing around the capital and other destinations. The best period to travel to Iceland to witness the Northern Lights is between September to March.