August 2023

The top five places to see the Northern Lights this winter

Chief Adventurer at CamperDays Max Schmidt, shares his top spots to witness the spectacle between November –March 

The Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as the Northern Lights, are beautiful displays of dancing light that have inspired awe, captivation and even fear throughout history. It’s therefore unsurprising that viewing this natural phenomenon is on many people’s travel bucket list.

Max Schmidt, Chief Adventurer at CamperDays, the booking.com of campervans, says, “The natural occurrence - causing hues of green, red and purple to dance across the sky - are caused by solar storms on the surface of the sun, forcefully expelling clouds of electrically charged particles which collide with the Earth’s magnetic field. These particles then collide with atoms and molecules already present in the atmosphere, heating them and causing them to glow resulting in a magical light show.

“As the sun becomes more active and auroral activity increases due to the current solar cycle, which is expected to peak in 2024 and 2025, it’s a great time to book that bucket list trip to see the Aurora Borealis. Travellers will have a much greater chance of spotting the lights than they’ve had in 11 years due to the ‘solar maximum,’ where the sun is at its most active.

“Whilst the best place to spot the spectacle is as near to the north pole as possible, where the pull of the Earth’s magnetic field is the strongest, there are a number of spots across the Northern Hemisphere that can provide awe-inspiring views of the Northern Lights throughout the winter months. Wherever you plan on viewing this spectacle, just remember that research and thorough planning is vital.”

Below, Max shares his top spots to enjoy the Northern Lights this winter… 

Norway

Well-positioned within the Arctic circle, Norway benefits from extremely long nights during the winter months (18 hours in December) - perfect for spotting the Aurora Borealis. 

With higher chances of a dark, clear sky and high solar activity, September through to March is the best time of year to travel, with Tromsø, known as the Arctic Capital, regarded as one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. Plan to spend at least five days there in the winter season in order to be in with the best chance of spotting them.

Canada

A large portion of Northern Canada falls into the Aurora Zone, so it’s a great place to head to witness the natural spectacle. For the highest chances of catching a glimpse, travel between October and March, when the hours of darkness are highest in the region. 

Due to its latitude and location one of the best spots to witness the spectacle is in Whitehorse, Yukon. Fondly named the “Aurora capital” of Yukon, Whitehorse is a 30 hour drive from Vancouver. Hire a campervan and experience one of the most scenic road trips on earth through the Canadian wilderness, enjoying views of the Rocky Mountains and Muncho Lake on your way to spot the dancing lights.

Iceland

The extreme dark of the Icelandic winter between September and April offers fantastic views of the Northern Lights, with it being one of the best places in the world for your chance to witness the magnificent natural display. 

Whilst Reykjavik, an extremely popular destination amongst aurora-spotters, offers views of the Northern Lights from the town, viewing them from inside the Oskjuhlid Forest is a truly magical experience. 

For your best chances of spotting the spectacle however,  embark on a road trip to the more rural Westfjords and northern Iceland, where you’ll experience longer hours of darkness and less frequent cloud cover. What could be more magical than spending night’s under the stars and being rewarded with the best light show on earth?

While spotting the elusive Aurora Borealis is never guaranteed, many hotels in the Icelandic countryside offer a special Northern Lights wake-up service to ensure you never sleep through. 

Greenland 

With more than two thirds of the country lying within the Arctic Circle, minimal light pollution and an incredibly low population density, your chances of spotting the Northern Lights in rural Greenland are high should you visit during winter. The further north you travel the more you increase your chances of seeing this spectacular light show, 

While its location allows for views of the Northern Lights all year round, the best time to visit is between November to mid-March as you’ll enjoy some of the best light displays while avoiding the coldest of the winter months. Fly into Greenland via Copenhagen before hiring a campervan and setting off on your journey to Kangerlussuaq on the island’s west coast, which boasts almost 300 clear nights per year, making it the perfect place to enjoy the spectacle.

Scotland

You don’t have to head to a far-flung location to experience the Northern Lights! If you’re looking for somewhere closer to home, embark on a road trip to Scotland, where you can enjoy the dancing lights in the more remote northern islands of Shetland, Orkney, Harris, Lewis and Skye. 

With long, cold nights and clear skies providing perfect conditions, you will have plenty of opportunity to witness the beautiful spectacle throughout the winter months.