8 epic ways to spot the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

Author : Unwild Planet

While the earliest known account of northern lights appears to be on a clay tablet in 568/567 BC, the most recent one can be on your social media! Just like millions of others, our team at UnWild Planet is obsessed with this natural light show and constantly looking out for places to spot them. Here are our favourite Eight epic ways to chase the Northern Lights and watch them play across the sky . Quick Facts -

What are the Northern Lights?

Energised particles from the sun colliding with earth’s atmosphere, creating a brilliant display of colours.

Where can you see them?

Countries across Scandinavia and Canada, Alaska and Scotland

When can you see them?

Dark, clear nights from September to March

How can you see them?

From a hot air balloon in Sweden

Seeing the northern lights and riding in a hot air balloon are experiences that top many people's bucket lists but what if we told you, you can experience them both together?

What to expect?

In Swedish Lapland, travellers can float into the Arctic skies and hover there, hoping to catch the light. The Aurora Hot Air Balloon experience will see the balloon take off and ascend up to 40 metres in the air. Don't know about you but we are excited just reading about it!

While Snowmobiling in the Arctic region

If you love adventure, this one's for you!

What to expect?

Picture this, you are driving through snow-covered forests and over frozen lakes on a snowmobile and the sky is clear, and the moon, stars, and even the Northern Lights are showing you the way. Perfect isn’t it? Tell us a better setting, we are waiting!

In a glass-roofed igloo in Finland

Keep seeing Instagram posts of an igloo under a lit sky? Then this is it!

What to expect?

In the far-flung Urho Kekkonen National Park (Finnish Lapland) above the Arctic Circle, a stay at Kakslauttanen can give you that picture-perfect photo. You can choose your accommodation from a choice of igloos built with a clear, thermal glass-domed ceiling or Combi-cabin igloos that come with open log fires and a private sauna to enjoy Northern Lights. What will be your choice?

In an ice hotel in Sweden

If you haven't heard about Sweden's Ice Hotel, you are missing out!

What to expect?

Located in the small town of Jukkasjärvi (a great spot for Northern Lights), the hotel is a full-fledged complex made entirely of snow and ice that is rebuilt every year (it melts in the spring). The exact design keeps changing but it always has a restaurant, artist-designed suites, frozen chandeliers, and some epic excursions!

On a Husky safari in Greenland

Journey out into the wilderness to experience the best of the northern lights on a husky safari, no less!

What to expect?

While day-time tours on a dogsled are popular, night-time safaris are when the experience truly comes alive. There is nothing more magical and breath-taking experience than riding with the dogs (like the locals!) under a star-filled sky, with northern-lights playing in the sky.

Finland

Inside an Aurora Pod in Canada

If you love the ‘Into the Wild’ van shot, this experience is for you!

What to expect?

Located in Churchill Manitoba, there are no roads to get to Aurora pods. And it’s this remoteness that makes it one of the best places in the world to see aurora borealis. Aurora Pod is a custom-designed vessel to provide a panoramic view of this awe-inspiring natural phenomenon in complete comfort. It has a glass roof and glass sides and has heated interiors to make it an epic experience.

In a Hot Spring in Alaska

Alaska is a popular place for chasing the Lights, but to make your experience unique, you can opt for a special hot springs experience.

What to expect?

These historic hot springs in Alaska were discovered in 1905 by two gold miners, and are now the location of a year-round resort. And the best part? The hot springs are located just under the most active band of northern lights. Locals will tell you that this is one of the best experiences, imagine sitting in soothing natural hot springs and watching the lights dance above your head!

On a cruise

One of the most popular ways to view the Northern Lights is via a cruise.

What to expect?

Explore the beauty of the Norwegian region as you pass by vantage Northern Lights points including Alta, where the first Northern Lights observatory was built in 1899.

Don’t these experiences sound absolutely perfect? We can arrange all this and more for you! DM us to plan an epic excursion across the Arctic or visit our website to know more about us.