Northern lights?

LilacLillie

I want to see the Northern lights on the cheap, around April time next year (flexible).
Is this a good time to try to catch them?
Anyone have ideas what would be the nearest/cheapest way of doing this and whereabouts?
I will be travelling with 4 friends.
Help please, especially from anyone who has done a similar trip.
Thanks in advance
LL

dzug1

April is not a good time - it's the nights are getting too short though they may be visible until mid-month.

November to February is best

http://www.discover-the-world.co.uk/en/special-interest/northern-lights.html is one source of information/holidays

poe.tuesday

if you want to do it cheap then wait until jan and look on last min.com and the inghams websites and get a last min deal to lapland/finland - we got a deal there for £160 each for the week including flights and accommodation - that will probably be your cheapest option, however, there is never any assurances that you will see the lights, we have been 5 times to finland and only seen them once - as for april - the sun is still out at 11pm so not a good time to go at all

alanrowell

At the end of April sunset in Helsinki is just after 9:00pm - and that's with summer time. No way is it going to be after 11:00pm even in the far north of Finland

The best time to go is March as that is when you are most likely to get dark CLEAR skies. Any earlier and you get more winter storms so even if there is an Aurora you wouldn't see it.

And as others have said, it's pot luck whether you see one as it's dependent on solar conditions.

You might find that your local airport offers "northern lights" flights where you basically fly north for a few hours in the hope that there an aurora. These are a lot cheaper than a holiday

poe.tuesday

I was there in april, in yllas and at 11pm it was still very bright, maybe the sun was not up but it was like daylight outside - that was my personal experience

the more north you are (closer to the artic / north pole) the longer the days are as you head into summer - yllas is aprox 1000km north of helsinki and the light if going to be very different

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_sun

LilacLillie

Sorry guys, I've not done any research yet and was tapping into the wealth of knowledge on here in excitement.
2 best friends that we met 10yrs ago next April on holiday, suggested we go back to where we met, Prague.
Well in 10yrs we are all Pragued out, so someone suggested we go chase the lights.
One friend did a bit of research looking at Canada but not everyone can afford that, so I just knew someone on here would know and jumped in.
I didn't mean to be lazy, it was the excitement made me jump in :j
Thank you all for replies and I will look into it all in a bit more detail now.
I would still appreciate any advice/tips/or deals that you see and likewise will post any I come up with.
Thanks again
LL

Arthurian

http://www.baltictravelcompany.com/fu/co4_ca40_p121/Finland-holidays/Finland-winter-holidays/Northern-Lights-Short-Break

Tromso is the place to go to, top of Norway. Mid February is the best time to see them. This short break looks like good value, but hopes you will pay for extra trips. Staying in the town at night is not the best place to see the lights, but you could be lucky. Some nights there will be a fantastic unmissable flashing display all over the sky, other nights will be nothing or just a measly streak of light. Just outside Tromso is a cable car up a mountain where you can wait to see them away from any light pollution - best time is around midnight. Do not use flash photography, especially if others are trying to use long, long exposures. Prices in Tromso are high compared to Prague. Polaria is a good place to visit, too - museum, aquarium, breathtaking film taken from a helicopter of Norwegian scenes. http://www.polaria.no/home.155300.en.html

EDIT: just seen the cable car seems to stop at 5pm now.

peachyprice

You can see them in Aberdeen.

LilacLillie

peachyprice wrote: »

You can see them in Aberdeen.

Thanks for your kind replies.

Anyone done Aberdeen? Or have idea where to stay there?
It is a bit nearer home, London, (which may not work out cheaper!).
LL

poe.tuesday

you would need to get out of aberdeen to see the lights as there is too much light polution, however, aberdeen does have a planetarium at the college so you could see if you could use it to see the lights

kimineycricket

Hi, I saw the Norther Lights earlier on this year, at the beginning of Feb. It was overcast and snowed alot so the chances were very slim, we didnt see them until the last night we were there (we stayed 3 nights). So so lucky!

I would also suggest making sure you dont go on a full moon. The extra light in the sky makes it harder to see the northern lights. We went on a full moon so were especially lucky to see them...we only saw them for about 20minutes then the moon came up a bit higher and it all disappeared.

A mate of ours organised for the 4 of us with a travel company - I cant remember the name of the company but it was run out of the Davii Lodge in Karesaundo (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g858369-d804027-r23827295-Davvi_Hotel-Karesuvanto_Lapland.html) If theres 4 of you, maybe ask for a discount??

It had a lot of bad reviews last year. I was worried as I checked the reviews after booking...but we found it to be perfect, simple accomodation, fun activities (husky sledding was amazing!) and good simple home made food (including reindeer spag bol!!!). It was a bit of a bus ride from Tromso though (all organised as part of the tour), but you end up in the middle of nowhere...which was awesome in itself!

One other suggestion...if you go anywhere that cold (like -25 and below) wear mitts not gloves, I have never ever been that cold before and my fingers were so cold they were aching!! Also pick up some of those glove warmer things that you can shake to activate from hiking stores - did wonders on the husky sledding

Good luck!

EDIT - sorry forgot to say where I saw the lights - Sweden! Lapland. LOL. Anyways if you're interested I've posted the links below