J E R E M Y B A R B E R A

Y o u r G u i d e t o t h eN o r t h e r n L i g h t s

While trips to see the northern lights are captured in every

National Geographic catalogue to various top travel articles

from the Guardian, it can almost seen unattainable to

experience what is known to many as a journey of a lifetime.

Although it is no surprise that trips to see the northern

lights is in no way inexpensive, this does not necessarily

mean there aren’t cost-efficient ways to enjoy one of

nature’s most mysterious marvels in the sky.

Iceland

Iceland offers some of the most wallet-friendly options for

northern lights trips (apart from less-reliable Scotland). Short

breaks to Reykjavik, the world’s most northerly capital, can be

good value. From the capital, tourists can experience the

northern lights forty minutes to two hours from the city

center. No more than forty minutes from the Golden circle,

where visitors can take incredible photographs. Within the

golden circle lies sights ranging from the Blue Lagoon,

Gullfoss Falls, and Laugarvatn Fontana.

An exhilarating off-road super-Jeep aurora hunt, crossing a

magical frozen landscape and glacial rivers, is included on a

new three-night Reykjavik & the Northern Lights break. If you

happen to take a tour of Vatnajökull (the national glacier

park), be sure to take a tour with a well-versed guide who can

both lead and educate you about this masterpiece. Just

southeast of this national glacier park lies Jökulsárlón glacier,

which is also a breathtaking spot to take pictures.

Norway

Now in Norway, you can watch the northern lights from a

remote lighthouse or mountain top, while taking the

opportunity to see all the incredible wildlife in the area. In

Particular, Norway’s Lofoten archipelago is particularly

spellbinding in winter, which is really the best time to see the

northern lights. Similar to Iceland, the best time of the year to

see glaciers and ice caves is anywhere between November to

March. In fact, most companies and travel agencies do not

offer tours outside this window as it is dangerous for visitors

to see these top nature spots in warmer weather.

North America

For long-haul aurora hunting, the Yukon in north-west Canada

is among the best places to see this kind of light. Roughly the

size of France, the territory is 80% wilderness which not only

has minimal pollution, but also limited industry to interfere

with experiencing the northern lights.

The United States’ hidden gem, Alaska is another perfect

destination to experience the timeless beauty of the northern

lights. For truly a wilderness based experience, take the time

to visit Fairbanks and Anchorage, along with the natural

thermal waters at the Chena hot springs. If you have time, be

sure to visit the tallest mountain in the U.S. called Mount

McKinley.