We have built up an extensive range of trusted and knowledgeable Aurora guides, photographers and experts throughout Northern Scandinavia and combined with our 6-point Aurora hunting plan, we are quite simply your best chance for seeing the Northern Lights. What are the Northern Lights? One of the great things about the Village is that so many of the facilities are on site. Typically, an ideal amount of time within the Arctic Circle is around 8-10 days. Utsjoki, being the northernmost region of Lapland, is the best place to see the wistful waltz of the Northern Lights. As a matter of fact, autumn and early spring are the best time for catching the northern lights, as solar activity is quite intense and reliable. There is even an Aurora Alarm that will wake you up so you won't miss it. The best time to visit Finland depends on what you're wishing to do as the winter season from December through to April is ideal for dog sledding and winter sports (Feb and Mar best time to go for daylight) whereas the arrival of the spring in May sees the sun making a welcoming return prior to the long hot summer days from June to August. Let’s do a small test. We’ve gathered all the best Northern Lights info right here. The Aurora Zone was born from a desire to share Mother Nature’s greatest wonder with our clients. Chances of seeing the lights are slightly slimmer in September and November, but for travellers who don’t deal well with extreme cold, it may be the best option. The more complicated answer begins in the heart of the sun, where particles are formed by intense nuclear reactions. September and October are considered autumn months in Norway. The equinox months of September and March often have some of the best northern lights activity. There is a reindeer farm and paddock and most snowmobile and Aurora activities start at the Village too, making life nice and easy. There aren’t many places where you can potentially watch the Aurora from the comfort of your own bed! Their meetings create dazzling light shows, which we get to see as breathtaking auroras. If you’re in the Arctic, and it’s dark outside, you have a 50/50 or better chance of seeing the Northern Lights on any given night. The easy answer is magic. It’s our mission to pass this knowledge on to you, providing you with the very best chance of experiencing the magic for yourself on your Northern Lights holiday. This all gives you the chance to take home the most memorable souvenir from your holiday. Another common color is violet, which comes from nitrogen in the atmosphere. At night it is all about the Northern Lights though and here and you can search for them on snowmobiles, on snowshoes, and in minibuses. The beauty of this is that you will often see the Northern Lights overhead and reflected in open water at the same time. In other words, autumn and winter are the best times to see the auroras. Some of our staff have seen spectacular displays of the Northern Lights from these fells. The best months to see the Northern Lights are usually September and March, when there’s around 12 hours of day and night. Activities Abroad is the UK's leading family activity holiday company. Eventually, these particles are fired from the sun during times of high solar activity. In practice, in northern Norway, Iceland, Greenland & Finland, you need to plan your Northern Lights tour between the period starting at the beginning of September and extending until the middle of April. Hear the Sounds of Lapland – Your SCAPES Bucket List. Click here for more information    Got it! Even without the northern lights, Iceland is an otherworldly place to visit, with glaciers, … At night it is all about the Northern Lights though and here and you can search for them on snowmobiles, on snowshoes, and in minibuses. Many hotels and most glass igloos also offer personalized aurora alerts, so you don’t have to worry about sleeping away while the auroras dance overhead. There are many websites and tracking services like, myths and legends surrounding the auroras. You have probably heard about the midnight sun in Lapland during the summer months as the sun never sets. Of course, the Northern Lights are like the weather … in fact, they are weather, sent to us by the sun. For example, a baby conceived under the Northern Lights will be beautiful and lucky. The easiest way is to go on an aurora safari with an experienced photographer who can help you get the most out of your camera, whether it’s an expensive DSLR or even your phone. Seeing the Aurora Borealis is one of the world’s most amazing travel experiences. The best time to travel to see the northern lights is between September to March. The Best Time of the Year The best months to see Aurora in Finland are September-October, February-March. The blue twilight of the Polar Night lasts from mid-November to mid-January, and is an ideal time for meeting Santa Claus and having a genuine Christmas experience in Rovaniemi. When is the best time to see northern lights The season for northern lights in Finland is quite long and stretches from September through March. In northern Lapland, chance of seeing the lights are about every other clear night. The best place to watch the Northern Lights in Finland is as close as possible to the Arctic Circle in Lapland. This section explains everything you need to know about the Northern Lights. So, if you came to Finland just to see the Northern lights then book a trip from Helsinki to Northern parts of Finland to ensure better probability to see the lights. Destinations include Scandinavia, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and the Mediterranean. September and October are usually the only months when the Northern Lights are visible at the same time as the lakes and rivers remain ice-free. To read our privacy policy click here. The weather is in balance – it is not as warm as the summer period, but it is more bearable than the harsh winter months. People of the Arctic have had different interpretations, myths and beliefs about the Northern Lights. Aurora guides will often take you out to a secluded spot, where you can enjoy the winter night, a campfire, and a cup of coffee or six while you wait. There are many websites and tracking services like Aurora Alert that let you follow the auroras. Our bucket list has all 8 ways to experience those sounds. Finland also offers more localized aurora alerts, like the Pyhä Aurora Alerts and the Luosto Aurora Alerts. Ever wanted to know where the Northern Lights come from, how we observe them, and where you can see auroras for yourself? In exceptional times, these powerful red auroras have even been seen as far south as the Caribbean! 1. This is especially easy if you try our Tailor Made itinerary as you can plan your time according to how active you wish to be. Some sources will recommend November to February, as they are the darkest months with the longest possible window to see the lights, however these sources often fail to take into account that these months can have the worst weather with lots of rain and snow. You can see the northern lights in Sweden, Norway and Finland, but not Denmark Visit between October and March for the best chance to see the aurora Norway has the most spectacular scenery, but can be expensive to visit Sweden and Finland both offer quirky accommodation, from igloo-style cabins to hotels made of ice Best Time to Visit Rovaniemi to See the Northern Lights. In northern Lapland the lights shine about every other clear night between September and March. Check our tips to keep warm by dressing right, and read the Aurora Hunter’s check list to keep safe & capture dreamy photos. Look out the window. Bring layers, food & water, buddy-system, flashlights, cellphones, hand warmers & more. Auroras can be the spirits of the dead, or fire caused by the tail of the mystical firefox, or magic spells cast by the unseen forces of light and dark. Autumn (August to October) As the cold weather comes to Finland in the autumn, this is your first chance in the calendar year to see the northern lights. The Aurora Zone is THE original Northern Lights holiday company. How likely am I to see the Northern Lights? In the southern hemisphere, it’s a privilege almost entirely confined to the frosty plains and mountains of Antarctica. From what I read, it will be summer there? The best place to see the Northern Lights. But auroras regularly appear everywhere in northern Lapland, whether you’re in the city streets, standing on the shores of the Bothnian Bay, or even amid bustling ski resorts. The best season to see the northern lights in Iceland is from September to mid-April – these are the months where there are full dark nights. Autumn and Spring – the Best Northern Lights Seasons Watch the video Even though many people associate the Northern Lights with cold and snowy winter scenery, the most active seasons are actually autumn and spring when the earth’s orientation towards the sun maximises the probability of solar flares interacting with the planet’s magnetic field to generate this phenomenon. Once the snow has arrived things can get a bit livelier and our holidays include a variety of unforgettable options such as dog sledding and snowmobiling. By continuing to use this site you agree to the use of cookies. (One such geomagnetic storm in 1859 disrupted and destroyed telegraph systems across Europe and North America.). This creates a lot of northern lights … If you are visiting only Helsinki, keep looking in the Northern sky in the evenings to get a glimpse of the colourful lights. You are just 1 km from the town and can also take advantage of the shops and downhill ski slopes during your stay should you wish to do so. It’s not common, but if the daytime weather is just right, you might hear something even rarer than the auroras themselves. When we take into consideration cloudiness and the best averages for clear skies, there is one month that is a … Your personal information is safe with us and will never be passed on to third parties. Considering their name comes from the gods themselves, it’s no surprise there are many myths and legends surrounding the auroras. But there are some guidance to raise your chances to see it. To sum everything up, the best time to visit Finland to see the Northern Lights is from October to April, but for the snow and little warmer weather the ideal time is probably March. Aurora borealis (and its southern sister aurora australis) are phenomena that really only appear in the skies near the North and South Poles. The aurora can be visible on a clear winter’s night any time between September and March – and sometimes outside this period. We recommend that you spend at least 3-4 days to see the northern lights, though the more time the better. SCAPES is all about letting Lapland work its magic on your soul. Some time in late August, the sun finally dips far enough below the horizon that stars once again appear in the skies above Finland. We offer a wide range of options here from our 3-night Glass Igloo Aurora Escape and our four-night Window to the Northern Lights (both of which have Christmas and New Year departures) to our tailor-made holidays which allow you to fully tailor your time either during the autumn or winter months. That’s why we see most auroras as green. The igloos are open for booking from late August through the month of April that coincides with the Northern Lights season. 8 Best Places to see the Northern Lights in Lapland. Looking for more magical skies? Capturing the Northern Lights for that perfect Instagram post is a challenge, but it’s one that many in Lapland have risen to meet. We have daytime hikes and husky rides using a wheeled cart and we have cultural delights such as a visit to the Sámi Siida Museum and even gold panning! Our holidays at the Northern Lights Village provide opportunities for a wealth of unforgettable options. The northern lights tend to be visible any time from late August to mid-April. The etymology of Northern Lights should be pretty obvious, but what does aurora borealis mean? The best time of year for aurora viewing You are more likely to see the northern lights in winter, between the months of October and April. The lights are most clearly visible when there is little to no external light, so cold, dark winters are perfect. | Each of the cabins faces North and the half glass roof points your gaze directly towards the sky. If you opt into emails, you may unsubscribe at any time. Although the best place to see Northern Lights is the Kilpisjärvi region, in Finnish Lapland, the Aurora Borealis can also be seen as far south as Helsinki.In fact there are about 20 days in a year when the lights can be seen in Southern Finland, the main problem being the high levels of light pollution and the difficulty in finding dimly lit areas. Very importantly when hunting the Northern Lights from your duvet, is the clever timer switch which can be used to melt any snow on the roof within 10-15 mins, so there is no need for you to have to leave your cosy accommodation to sweep the roof. Best Time To See Northern Lights In Finland The Northern Lights are visible between the months of September to March in Lapland. Lapin Materiaalipankki | Adventure by Design, Aurora forecasts are a popular way to keep tabs on those slithery specters. Caused by storms sent from the sun itself, seeing the Northern Lights is a transformative experience, a gift from the cosmos itself. 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