Vacations By Rail offers train tours to regions that are ideal for aurora borealis spotting. If you're one of the lucky few people on the planet to travel to the southernmost continent on Earth Antarctica you'll have an adventure of a lifetime, especially when the aurora illuminates the sky. There is even a Facebook group calledOrkney Aurora Groupwhere local residents and enthusiasts post the latest information. Some of the best places to watch include the coast at Birsay, the beach at Dingieshowe, or the top of Wideford Hill. She will personally wake you up or send you an SMS when the aurora spectacle is high. [See more of Fairbanks:Things to Do|Hotels|When to Visit|Photos]. 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. The city is located in the northern region of the state, which is ideal for viewing the aurora borealis. (Martha Shuff/Courtesy of Voyageurs National Park). Fairbanks is the second-largest city in Alaska and a popular spot on the tourist circuit. Among northern states, Michigan was one of the first to embrace the dark sky preservation movement. 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. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. By day, you can explore local history and cultural museums to get a sense for Russian history. Absolutely! Canada, Denmark, Finland, etc.) Saariselka, Finnish Lapland. It provides one of the best views of the aurora borealis you can possibly see. October through March is the best time to chase the aurora borealis in Iceland. If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. Svart Hotel with a view of the northern lights. There are plenty of great places around the city where you can catch a glimpse of the "Green Lady." Ultimately, choosing your aurora viewing spot will depend on how far you're willing to travel . Despite this, you dont have to worry too much about light pollution interfering with your view. 5. Stay at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, which offers dark-sky experiences. Greenland Travel offers five-day winter tours to Kangerlussuaq that include visiting Greenland's ice sheet, dog-sledding and viewing the northern lights. These destinations will inspire even the most experienced aurora chaser. This massive glacier, which covers 80% of the country, is accessible in Kangerlussuaq. Visit Troms sells aurora-watching trips around the city of Troms in Norway. There are also other stargazing opportunities throughout the year at Headlands. Lapland is located within the Arctic Circle in the northernmost part of Finland. Additionally, the Faroe Islands are less developed than other parts of Europe and this remoteness ensures a lack of light pollution to interfere with your aurora viewing. Bundle up if youre headed into Acadia to see the aurora; the wind comes roaring in off the Atlantic in the winter months. Best of all, you can plan to visit any time of year in search of the dazzling aurora australis. The storms can drive the aurora further south from its usual position over the polar . For a custom guided tour to view the nighttime lights display, including the Milky Way and the constellations, you can hire Voyageurs Outfitters. best time and places to see Northern Lights in Alaska. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. But heres the good news: The time is right to get a glimpse of the aurora borealis. This is especially true during the winter months. Liard River Hot Springs, further north, is a bucket-list must. Located less than 10 miles from the Russian border in Finnish Lapland, this remote Arctic destination is a top-rated locale to view the northern lights due to the lack of light pollution. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content. Depending on the time of year, the six overwater cabins float on the Lule River or are frozen into it. 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. While the aurora occurs year-round, the winter months (from November to March) offer the best opportunities to witness it, as there is more darkness than light during the days. In order to increase your chances of seeing this spectacle, you should time your trip to anew moon. Romantic in a rustic-wilderness way, these steamy natural thermal pools are Canada's second largest. You can also visit Alatskivi Castle, go snowshoeing in the Mnnikjrve bog or explore Elistvere Animal Park. 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. Gwen Pratesi and Amanda NorcrossJan. The glass igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland. Credit: Unsplash But there's another phenomenon that causes the northern lightscoronal holes. Keep your curtains open and you may even see the Northern Lights from your room. 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. Expert aurora chasers recommend staying in the capital city of Hobart as a base. 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. The park's remote and wild location places it far from city lights, eliminating nearly all light pollution. 11, 2017 12:07 pm EST The city of Fairbanks, Alaska, is a great place to start. READ MORE: Where To Go Next: 27 Best Places To Travel In 2020. . From soft to firm and everywhere in between, these travel pillows are the best options for your next trip. Mullet Peninsula, connected to the mainland at the town of Belmullet, has extensive coastline with expansive northern sky views. You can even take a sleigh ride through the snow to a campsite on Lake Inari, where no light pollution at all makes this one of the world's best places to catch the aurora. Sleep in a Log Cabin Under the Northern Lights in Alaska. There, visitors will find the Orkney Islands, a place that remains largely uninhabited even in the 21st century. And hardcore skiing families should set their sights on the remote Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, where you can lounge in the outdoor hot tub and scout the sky for the auroras after a day spent heli-skiing the pristine surrounding slopes. While its far from Norway, Svalbard consistently ranks among the best places to see the northern lights in the world because its so far north it almost seems like youre at the north pole! Hands down, Alaska is the best place to see the northern lights in the United States, thanks to its geographic location and dark skies . The town of Churchill, Manitoba, in Canada, is best known for its polar bear population, which congregates in large numbers along the shores of Hudson Bay. Check out The Lodge at Black Rapids, a year-round hotel in the heart of the Alaska Range. See the aurora borealis, aka the northern lights, across the northern tier of the U.S. this week, from Maine to Montana to Washington this week. There you have it: the 25 best places to see the northern lights in the world. The northern lights over the waters of Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota. [Read: The Best Places for National Park Camping.]. In the two-story timber-frame lodge, owners Annie and Mike Hooper showcase Alaskan artists, with works on display throughout the property. Maine's Acadia National Park is also a designated International Dark Sky Park that offers opportunities to see the Northern Lights. However, these auroras are sudden and short-lived. However, all hope is not lost if you seek to view the aurora australis in Antarctica. The Best Northern Lights Trips In The World Gallery By /Dec. In fact, they have awhole section about iton their website! In fact, Svalbard is a group of islands located between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole. For optimum aurora viewing away from the light pollution, head to skjuhli. The historic luxury property is situated along the lively waterfront area, close to the ferry terminal. Hotel Kangerlussuaq , 3910 Kangerlussuaq, Greenland; +299 841180 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. That means theres no artificial light around to obscure the extraterrestrial view. The northernmost point in the county, this small peninsula has unobstructed views to the north all the way to the Arctic Circle! 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. 2:47. There is a chance that people in parts of Connecticut could get the rare chance to see the Northern Lights tonight after a change in the forecast late last night and it comes at a time when we . This massive fjord was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 and is something anyone visiting town must see. You can learn more about my mission here or read about me and the rest of the team here. (Fairbanks is substantially farther north than Anchorage, and more close to the Auroral Oval.). Washington Observatory, a scientific and educational nonprofit atop that peak, has seen the northern lights about three dozen times in the past 15 years . Fairbanks, Alaska. The aurora borealis occurs so frequently in Churchill that scientists have built a research station to study the phenomenon there. The researchers at the facility recommend that travelers looking to see the Northern Lights plan their visits for August and September or January through April. However, if youre going to see the northern lights in Washington,Olympic National Parkis one of the best spots to see it when skies are clear. While lesser known, polar lights called aurora australis appear in the Southern Hemisphere and are visible in places like Antarctica, Tasmania and New Zealand. She grew up in Alaska, has lived across the U.S., and traveled around the world to enjoy the night sky from many different perspectives. Artists Point, Grand Marais, Cook County - This location in Grand Marais supplies beautiful views of the lights at night and Lake Superior during the day. Bonus: The towns street lights are turned off every night to help maximize the viewing. I founded STG to help others learn about and experience the night sky. Northern Lights and arctic circle tour in Fairbanks. Northern lights arcing over the Hotel Ranga in Iceland. For your stay, reserve accommodations at The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart. Around 150 miles above the Arctic Circle, located along the road to the Arctic Sea, Saariselk is the northernmost ski resort in Finland. 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 mountainous island is the only place on the planet where it's entirely possible to see the aurora 365 days a year due to its latitude and its moderate seasonal and light changes. Reykjavik, Iceland. In the wilder, higher reaches of Lapland in northern Finland, Saariselka hits the bucket-list northern lights holiday mark, as it is served by Ivalo international . These months form the official Fairbanks, Alaska aurora season, when the night sky is dark enough for visible aurora displays. Seeing the Northern Lights is an event that often gets a spot on many bucket lists, but traveling north toward Alaska, Canada and the North Pole might not be necessary to accomplish it. 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. They're free and fun for everyone! Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa in Sweden promises to be the best place to witness the northern lights. Head to Yellowknife, which is known as theAurora Capital of North America, thanks to its prime location and excellent viewing conditions. But it also happens to be one of the best places to see the Northern Lights as well, which appear in the sky on more than 300 nights each year. Borealis Basecamphas domes designed especially to offer you a view of the northern lights from the comfort of yourbed. In the winter months, Washington State isnt known for clear skies; the states reputation as a rainy and cloudy place is well-earned during the aurora-viewing season. There, youll find suggestions on recommended forecast tools as well as a few tips to help you maximize your chances of seeing them. best time and places to see Northern Lights in Sweden. With its arctic location and dark skies, Yellowknife is one of the most famous places in Canada to see the northern lights. Its a truly fascinating place to stay while you wait for the Northern Lights to appear. Web Visit website. One of the most unique ways to view the northern lights? largest offer of Northern Lights hotels in the world. [See more of the Scottish Highlands: Things to Do | Tours | Hotels | When to Visit | Photos ]. The most basic rule for catching the northern lights is to go somewhere dark - and with Iceland's sparse population, there's no shortage of places that fit the . At night, the Northern Lights are best viewed from the east so . The Stamford Town Center will turn into a 20,000-square-foot interactive holiday event featuring reindeer, lights and more until Dec. 24. Stewart Island is regarded as one of the top spots to see the brilliant display in New Zealand, with 85% of the island encompassed by Rakiura National Park, so there are few people and virtually no light pollution. If youre willing to make the trek,Acadia National Parkis one of the best destinations in the region. For a festive holiday experience in the winter, visit the Santa Claus House in the city of North Pole (around 15 miles southeast of Fairbanks). Other activities visitors can enjoy in late summer include a ride on the Riverboat Discovery or panning for gold. Since Earth's magnetic field is weaker at the poles, more particles from the solar winds enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles there, making the lights more visible in these regions. It's the southernmost island that's populated in the country. Its on every astrotourists bucket list and its one of the most popular bucket list activities for non-space geeks too: see the northern lights. Slemish Mountainprovides excellent foreground forastrophotography; its located outside the town of Ballymena but far enough to reduce light pollution. Read on to discover the top destinations where you can see the kaleidoscopic northern and southern lights. Hostelworld is a great resource for affordable (under $30 per night) accommodations around the world to spot the northern lights. The summer months, between December and February, make it more difficult to spot the aurora, but there's still a chance you'll catch a glimpse of the lights between midnight and 4 a.m. For accommodations during your aurora-chasing adventure, reserve a room with a view over Halfmoon Bay and the Foveaux Strait at Stewart Island Lodge, an intimate bed-and-breakfast. The hotel also organizes an ice-cap tour nearby. In fact, under the right conditions, you can see the northern lightsanywherein Finland! Due to its location above the Arctic Circle, it also happens to be one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. McGulpin Point and Johnson Point are both good viewing spots; McGulpin Point Lighthouse is just outside the park but also a good contender. Lisa Jacobs/Flickr. Year-round aurora viewing is also possible on evenings with clear dark skies, but the best time to see the show is during the winter. Fairbanks, Alaska is one of the best places in the United States to view the Northern Lights. Alaska is in the Aurora ovalwhich is where the lights are most frequently seen. The Nellim Wilderness Hotel also offers aurora-focused "kotas" (inspired by traditional Smi huts), as well as cabins and bubble-shaped accommodations for two where guests can watch the dancing lights from their warm, cozy beds. Some have not only witnessed the Northern Lights for hours here, but observed a rare red Aurora. Places to spot the aurora close to town are Inganess Bay and Wideford Hill. Troms, Norway. Copyright, Juan Pelegrn. Visitors to Troms will find plenty of local guides who offer aurora tours. 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. Let us know in the comments! If catching the aurora borealis has always been a priority on your bucket list, these are the best places for you to go. 5, 2023, Up to 60% Off + Exclusive 5% Guaranteed Priceline Coupon, Up to 50% Off Travel Plans with Top Expedia Promo Code, Discount Travel Plans with 50% Off on Hotels.com bookings, 50% Discount on Getaways with Barcel Resort & Hotels, Booking.com Promo Code Up to 50% Off + Extra 10% Off. 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