1. Introduction
2. Optimal Timing for Viewing the Northern Lights
3. Selecting Destinations in the Arctic
4. Maximizing Arctic Experiences
5. Budget Considerations with Group Travel
6. Advantages of Solo Travel
7. Exploring Less Accessible Areas
8. Alternative Options for Seeing the Northern Lights
The team at GoTravelDaily addresses a multitude of travel inquiries, sharing insights and strategies to facilitate an enjoyable journey. This particular query aligns well with the expertise of author Kerry Walker, who is passionate about cold, secluded regions, snow, and the northern lights.
Question: We are organizing a winter getaway to the Arctic, but are undecided whether to choose Finland, Norway, or Sweden. Which destination do you suggest? Additionally, we understand that viewing the northern lights is not guaranteed. What other activities are available?
Kerry Walker: Witnessing the northern lights dance in the night sky is an unforgettable experience. However, securing tickets is not an option, and the aurora borealis does not appear on demand. While the unpredictability of the lights adds to their allure, it can bring significant disappointment if one has invested considerable resources into a journey to the Arctic and the display fails to occur.
Before you prepare for possible disappointment, it’s essential to recognize that there are various strategies to enhance your chances, along with numerous alternative activities to enjoy during your stay if the lights remain elusive.
Optimal Timing for Viewing the Northern Lights
The northern lights are visible at polar latitudes from September through April; however, your best opportunity occurs during the dark days and extended nights of Polar Night (late November to mid-January), when the sun does not rise above the horizon. Your choice of location is significant: select a base situated directly under the aurora oval, which circumscribes the Earth’s geomagnetic North Pole. As a general rule, the more remote and darker the site, the better. Ultimately, success will depend on the clarity of the skies and the intensity of solar activity.
Selecting Destinations in the Arctic
The array of potential destinations is extensive. Finland often presents a more competitive pricing structure (especially if you secure favorable rates outside of the busy Christmas season in December) and is more accessible (with direct flights to Rovaniemi). Norway is renowned for its majestic mountains, whereas Sweden captivates visitors with its remote, lesser-known wilderness.
Maximizing Arctic Experiences
It is crucial to approach your Arctic journey with the understanding that witnessing the northern lights should not be the sole focus of your trip. They are an added bonus, rather than a foregone conclusion. Plan activities that you would be content to participate in irrespective of whether the lights make an appearance. The Arctic is enchanting regardless. When one envisions the Arctic, a desolate white landscape may come to mind; however, it is truly breathtaking: the soft hues associated with sunrises and sunsets, the immaculate snow and ice formations, and the frozen woodlands, hills, and mountains.
There are numerous avenues to appreciate this natural beauty. Winter in the Arctic does not equate to inactivity; instead, it calls for warmth in thermal gear and snowsuits while engaging with the snow and ice—be it in Lapland in Finland, Arctic Sweden, or Norway.
Even the tiniest villages often boast an abundance of activities, ranging from snowmobiling and dogsledding to reindeer sleigh rides, ice fishing, snowshoeing, skiing (both downhill and cross-country), sea kayaking, and ice floating. These undertakings are embraced by locals as much as they are by tourists.
Planning tip: While it may be tempting to attempt numerous activities, it is prudent to consider the challenging environmental conditions and severe cold. Adopting a less-is-more strategy, focusing on one major activity each day, will afford you the opportunity to truly appreciate your surroundings, observe wildlife, and absorb the profound stillness and grandeur of the Arctic.
Budget Considerations with Group Travel
If you are comfortable traveling in a small group, organized tours can be plentiful and may offer substantial savings, particularly if your itinerary is packed with activities. Reputable companies specializing in Arctic journeys include Intrepid, Exodus, Much Better Adventures, Responsible Travel, the Aurora Zone, and Discover the World. The advantage of engaging with a package tour is transparency in pricing, as most encompass flights, transfers, accommodation, meals, and activities.
Advantages of Solo Travel
If you prefer to undertake an individual journey, the Arctic offers vast possibilities. You may not have initially considered Finnish Lapland for skiing, where fells reach a modest height of 1000m (3281ft); nonetheless, it is worthy of exploration. Crowds are scarce, and the reliably cold polar winters create ideal conditions for cross-country, downhill, and off-piste skiing in resorts like Levi and Ylläs. For a more tranquil experience, venture further north to places like Saariselkä, serving as the entrance to the enchanting wilderness of Urho Kekkonen National Park, or Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park, adjacent to the Swedish border, for a breath of the cleanest air on the planet and a wealth of outdoor pursuits.
Exploring Less Accessible Areas
Swedish Lapland is lesser-known and slightly more challenging to reach (involving a flight to Stockholm followed by a connection to Kiruna). Nonetheless, the beauty is remarkable, especially if you establish your base in Abisko, which is adjacent to a stunningly wild national park and is recognized for offering some of the finest northern lights experiences, notably at the Aurora Sky Station. In Jukkasjärvi, the original Icehotel, which is reconstructed each year, stands out as a destination itself, offering an array of Arctic activities, from dogsledding and Sámi reindeer experiences to cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling, moose safaris, and photography workshops focused on the northern lights.
Norway is similarly captivating and features dramatic mountain landscapes. The islands provide picturesque vistas; consider visiting Lofoten or Senja, or venture to Rebbenesøya, just north of the easily accessible Tromsø, for options like Arctic camping and winter kayaking, skiing, and snowshoeing at Elements Arctic Camp. Situated midway between Norway and the North Pole and home to more polar bears than humans, Svalbard evokes a sense of adventure reminiscent of early explorers, especially when traversing the snowy terrain on extended dogsledding or snowmobiling excursions.
Alternative Options for Seeing the Northern Lights
Are you resolute about witnessing the lights regardless of circumstances? Consider embarking on a Hurtigruten Cruise. During the aurora season, this company provides a Northern Lights Promise on voyages extending beyond 11 nights—meaning that if the northern lights do not appear, guests are entitled to a complimentary week-long northbound cruise or a 6-day southbound journey to attempt once more.
This article was first published on October 27, 2023, and updated on October 3, 2024.
