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So my wife is 40 next February and has always wanted to see the Northern lights. Thinking of taking her away for a few days. Looking for ideas of where to go, who to book with etc
First thing to check is how strong they are likely to be next February.
We had a *really* good year this year, i could sit in the garden and watch them horizon to horizon where i am.
The ex lives in the middle of the village and could barely see anything. It's not been that good for 20+ years according to the locals.
And no, it doesn't come out very well on a mobile phone camera. 🙁
Anywhere in northern finland, sweden or norway will do the trick for location though.
Google the blue hole. A place where the local weather creates a remarkably cloud free place to view it
Pck somewhere nothely that you want to visit any way, Iceland, Faroes, North of Norway, Sweden or Finland. Plan a holiday that would have Northern Lights as a bonus, but would still be pretty cool if you don't get to see them.
There was a thread on this a while back. I would aim to go as far north as possible as the probability and intensity increases. Even better if you could fly to your destination in the dark as being high-up, looking north really helps. I’ve seen it numerous times but even on a week-long trip to the Arctic in winter, you might only see it once or twice.
I would go for Northern Finland or Sweden over Norway or Iceland simply on the basis that you’re further from the sea/fewer clouds/more settled weather.
Latest phone models do have night vision, but intensive colours only occur with long exposures - it’s very much paler to the naked eye. You need to be away from any light pollution/street lights.
Alternatively, you could up to the Moray Coast…
but would still be pretty cool if you don’t get to see them.
Definitely this.
Friends have gone "to see the lights" and spent a week somewhere dull and seen nothing.
The beauty of most of the interesting places with bonus lights are that the places are fairly small and easy to travel out of. You can probably get from the centre of Oslo to somewhere to see the lights i.e. virtually no light pollution, in half an hour or so.
Went to do this pre covid, agonised over best location and time to go but no one told the Northern Lights so we didn't get to see them (oh well we'll go back and try again ;)).
Like others have said above pick a place you'd like to be,with stuff you want to do and where you might see them too 🙂
James
FYI
https://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/inspiration/experiences/northern-lights/cruises/
The mrs took me on their up Norway coastal cruise, I actually enjoyed it, off the boat every day, moving scenery, spectacularly expensive alcohol, really decent food, interesting talks, good staff, decent facilities.(*prebook any shore expeditions you fancy)
Have a look at Ranua Resort.
We were there in 2018 (january) for a long weekend. Didn't see the lights (cloud) but didn't sit down for 5 mins. The zoo is epic, snow shoeing, Skidoo trip, Reindeer farm, cross country skiing etc. Stunning.
Go to the ice hotel, and abisko observatory.
Cool places to visit, high chance of lights if there are any about.
Plan a holiday that would have Northern Lights as a bonus, but would still be pretty cool if you don’t get to see them.
Absolutely this! There’s no guarantee at all that they’ll appear, even if the solar conditions look promising. The sun has its own ‘weather’ conditions that contribute to the aurora, but the best conditions might just be at the wrong position of Earth in its orbit/rotation.
I’ve seen the aurora, along with a mate, as we were driving home from seeing our then girlfriends at nursing college in Basingstoke. It was about 1am, and I happened to see something odd out of the car side window, so I pulled over and got out. He asked what the problem was, and I said, just tell me that you’re seeing what I’m seeing. We stood by the side of the A4 near Avebury, mouths open in stunned silence for several minutes.
It was an extraordinary experience, and shows that they’re notoriously unpredictable.
My Wife and I have seen them in Sweden, at The Ice Hotel, and while holidaying in Yllas and Saariselka in Northern Finland.
It takes time and effort plus a good portion of luck!
Luck = clear sky and lot's of solar activity
Time = getting away from artificial light, being up late (past midnight is best) and patience
It's a life changing/affirming experience when it happens and has reduced me to tears on one memorable occasion!
...not a great idea to start crying when it's -25 Celsius!!!!!