Trip to see the Northern Lights

starjumper · 17 February 2008 at 9:38PM

Hubby and I have been willed some money with specific instruction to spend it on travel. We both would love to go on a trip to see the Northern Lights, has anyone every been and what is the best way of seeing them?
Any top tips. I know this is a bit vague but we're clearly in the very early planning stages. We're quite keen though to make this the holiday of a lifetime.

Muchos gracias.

pboae · 17 February 2008 at 10:13PM

How about the Ice Hotel in Sweden?
http://www.icehotel.com/

We went in March 2003, and it really was a trip of a lifetime. We saw spectacular Northern Lights every night. I've seen them in other places, but the whole atmosphere and setting of the Ice Hotel, made it 100 times better.

jamescredmond · 18 February 2008 at 4:34PM

starjumper wrote: »

Hubby and I have been willed some money with specific instruction to spend it on travel. We both would love to go on a trip to see the Northern Lights, has anyone every been and what is the best way of seeing them?
Any top tips. I know this is a bit vague but we're clearly in the very early planning stages. We're quite keen though to make this the holiday of a lifetime.

Muchos gracias.

if you really want to make it a trip of a lifetime then consider Alaska/yukon.

if the budget is tighter then consider finland/norway.

if it's tighter still, consider a 3 hr flight from UK airports that come with a pre-flight lecture and in-flight commentary ( using this method only guarantees an 80% chance of view).

the best year for views, according to my research, will be early 2010.

God, how I envy you!

moonrakerz · 18 February 2008 at 4:45PM

Even without the Northern Lights, Iceland is beautiful !

http://www.icelandtotal.com/home/faq/detail/store65/item2374/

Incapuppy · 18 February 2008 at 4:47PM

One of the possibilities is to combine it with a cruise.

For that and other ideas the following websites may be useful:

http://www.fjordtravel.no/program_arctic.html

http://www.visitnorthernlights.co.uk/

http://www.cruisingholidays.co.uk/norway/

http://www.exodus.co.uk/destinations/europe/sweden/northern-lights?&CMP=KNC-PPC&HBX_PK=northern+lights+holiday&HBX_OU=50

http://uk.canada.travel/northern-lights/?s_kwcid=northern%20lights|1695928059

http://www.arctic-experience.co.uk/northernlights/

alanrowell · 18 February 2008 at 7:08PM

starjumper wrote: »

We both would love to go on a trip to see the Northern Lights, has anyone every been and what is the best way of seeing them?

Spend several years wintering in the Arctic - the Northern Lights aren't something that is turned on when it gets dark, people in the north go for years without seeing them.

DON'T book a trip "to see the lights" book it for other reasons and if you see the Lights treat it as a bonus

Northern Canada BTW is a good place to go - and consider doing it in March as you are more likely to get clear skies

starjumper · 18 February 2008 at 10:12PM

Wow, thanks guys this is brilliant.

I think we're going to combine it with an ice safari or some whale watching but all these links and advice will certainly help clarify things in our heads. Plus (thanks for the tip jamescredmond, if we can hang on till 2010 then we'll have saved extra spending money).

Huge thanks to all x

jen_jen_2 · 18 February 2008 at 11:20PM

i think a cycle of good conditions finished lately. this article says 2012/13!!

http://www.visitscotland.com/aboutscotland/Geography/northern-lights

i assume the further north you are the better, have fun, i'm sooo jealous

moonrakerz · 20 February 2008 at 9:27AM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/ttv/news.jhtml?bcpid=1365202579&bclid=1155306408&bctid=1423838735

Trip to see the Northern Lights

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