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Trip to see the Northern Lights
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I would like to take a trip to see the northern lights with the family.
Has anyone done it? Where is the best place / best time of year?
Any good companies to go with and where best to fly into?!
Thanks v much!
Has anyone done it? Where is the best place / best time of year?
Any good companies to go with and where best to fly into?!
Thanks v much!
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In Europe, there are two places l'd suggest considering and they are lceland and northern Norway, e.g. Tromsø.
Pics: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=northern+lights&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GEiNUpGjC-ag7Aap1IGYCA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=602
Videos: https://www.google.co.uk/#q=northern+lights&tbm=vid
Article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/10448752/The-best-northern-lights-tours.html
This company offers good packages:-
http://www.transun.co.uk/experience/northern-lights
As for companies, I'd recommend planning it yourself as you'd save a packet compared to a package deal which can often be over priced.
Here is a link to a company that I stayed with two years ago, I'd rate them highly!
http://www.harriniva.fi/en/
Indeed this. I didn't want to say in my earlier post, but though I've been twice I've still not seen the aurora.
I caught a glimpse whilst working in Iceland, luckily, but I have friends who have done the special tours and saw nothing, unfortunately.
It's an amazing experience, I saw them the first night we were there, it's not quite how the pictures make it look, they aren't that bright as advertised on postcards, etc but its still spectacular.
I went in February and if you can get a cheap package deal, I definitely suggest Iceland. The Blue Lagoon is breathtaking and one of a kind. There's so much to do there too, more than most people think, whale watching, visiting the Eyjafjallajökull (the big Ash Cloud of 2010 that grounded everything), i've got the molten rocks from that volcano, the geysers.
I'm reminiscing about it all now
I can't remember the company I went with, they are always popping up on groupon, but I went with Wow Air. The stewardesses were so friendly on the flight and funny.
They're typically at their peak between Oct-March, with their peak intensity being completely at the mercy of the Sun. You're in luck so far as the Sun is currently going through a period called Solar Maximum and the ejection of the Solar Wind and Coronal Mass Ejections is at it's strongest, these ultimately go on to cause the aurora after interactions with the Earth's magnetosphere.
We went to Iceland last October and saw them from downtown Reykjavik, there are lots of organised night time tours but unfortunately you could end up driving around for hours to see nothing, it's very hit and miss.
I recommend renting a car and doing your own thing, for the prices of bus excursions we were able to do a lot more, at our pace, for a lot less. With a car you can get out of Reykjavik at night time and go off for wander if the weather's clear. I really can't recommend enough heading out towards Hellisheiði power station and watching them outside of the city limits, also the power station is worth a visit during the daytime too!
Another thumbs up for the Blue Lagoon, we went at night time and it was magical, less crowds, and you don't see the massive power station it's born from right next to you!! I've studied a lot of geology and we did some specified tours down into volcanoes and the likes, it depends how far (if at all) you're interested in science etc.
The only downside to going during the winter is the lack of daylight hours, we were finding it getting dark from around 4pm with the sun rising around 10am.
It's a wonderful country.
Yup! Orkney and Shetland give great shows! We had one just last week
I was there a few weeks ago and loved it. I was fortunate to see the lights too.
You can either book on a coach trip, hire a car and go hunting yourself, or have a private jeep tour.
Like the others have said, its an amazing place - I can't wait to go back.
I went on the Hurtgruten ferry which also offers fabulous views of Norway's stunning coastline from Bergen to Tromso, well worth it if you can afford it.
Saw them just down the road last year for the first time!
And if you want cheap car hire, and don't mind driving an 'older' vehicle, google sadcars. We had so much fun driving in foot high drifts in a 15year old 2wd Nissan whilst others were struggling in 4wd jeeps! Had blue lagoon to ourselves. Fun times.
Have chosen Northern Sweden via Norway by plane and train instead.
Stay at the Ice Hotel, then 5 days/4 nights in the wilderness Husky sledding.
Trips out other nights by horse riding and Reindeer sleigh.
If I see the lights it will be a bonus, but I wouldn't book a holiday just for that alone. I'm looking forward mostly to caring for the dogs.
My biggest worry is the flights are changed again, two have been already. I read my emails through my fingers now.
You haven't said the age of your children. So whether to do a Santa trip, or one like mine which isn't suitable for children?
Husky sledding on day trip is however, if your children like dogs. I wanted a once in a lifetime sleep on a bed made of ice for instance! I didn't want the commercialism of Santa type either, though I would have done that years ago, and with much pleasure.
White Circle is one company I looked at, but a Google will bring up many more, though I arranged it myself in the end to tailor make it as no one company could give all I wanted.
Ice Hotel is wonderful. We stayed in a standard room with a bed for 3. Just for one night.
I had booked somewhere else for the rest of our stay but it looked rubbish so returned to Ice Hotel cabin with two bedrooms. A sweet little lodge with a kitchen, warm and cosy.
We, myself and daughter, me 66 her 25 went on snowmobile taking it in turns.
Next riding Icelandic horses at night to view Moose. I hadn't ridden in 25 years and trying to mount in full ski gear plus polar overalls was a feat. It was a very quiet and lovely experience however.
The reindeer. I didn't like them on sight! I won't bore you but I chickened out. Daughter drove them for an hour and loved it.
Last was the Huskies, my whole reason for planning the trip.
I was unable to drive, but my daughter drove her own team. It was fine going out, it was the leader and me as the passenger and daughter driving her own team alone.
Coming back the leader said he wished to test the dogs, and it was Hell. If you are given the choice, don't say as I did to leave it to them. Stay on the easy route.
Having one edge of the sled against a bank of snow and the other on a sheet of ice, my girl was petrified and frozen as I was.
I was terrified for her, we don't know what it takes to overturn a sled and I was horrified that the leader was effing and blinding about her to me . Apparently one should put both feet on one runner. A runner is the width of a wiper blade.
He said upon landing that most of his travellers fall 4 or 5 times during a trip. My girl didn't fall once but she was terrified as the trip back was so tough. Her legs were trembling through strain and her feet were numb and very painful.
I removed her boots and massaged her feet, not cold but very painful. The leader said she just wanted a foot massage!?
There was a big CME last week and they were seen in many places in the UK so if they were missed last week then that's extremely unlucky.