Everyone wants to see the aurora borealis. Expedia’s Unpack ’25 report saw 61% of respondents wanting to see the Northern Lights. The current solar maximum (when the sun is at its most active every 11 years or so) has seen the Northern Lights glimpsed at more southerly latitudes than is possible, but to get a reliable show, you must head to the Arctic Circle, most reliably between September and March.
Beyond 2027, displays of the Northern Lights at lower latitudes will wane, but those at higher latitudes where the auroral oval sits almost permanently —including Alaska, northern Canada, Iceland, northern Norway, Sweden and Finland — will continue to host aurora displays.
1. Chase The Aurora With Wil
Lots of people think they know about the Northern Lights, having seen them once. A select few can predict them almost down to the minute. One of the latter is Wil Cheung, an experienced aurora chaser from the U.K., who’s seen the Northern Lights over 300 times and sends out incredibly accurate daily alerts on Facebook about when to see the aurora. His latest aurora cruise, from Liverpool in the U.K. into the aurora zone around Norway, during which he’ll use his ability to interpret real-time solar data to have guests out on deck during the all-important expansion phases. The cruise also includes professional photographers running workshops and lectures from astrophysicists. It will take place between Oct. 16 and 25, coinciding with the peak of the Orionid meteor shower.
2. Learn How To Photograph The Aurora
The tiny town of Churchill on Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada, is one of the best places to see polar bears in the wild from tundra vehicles. It’s also a mecca for aurora-hunters. This Northern Lights Photo Expedition from Natural Habitat Adventures features expert photographer guides, snowshoeing and dog sledding.
3. Ride The Northern Lights Train
Between Narvik in Norway’s Nordland and Kiruna in Sweden runs the Ofot line, one of the northernmost railway lines in the world. It’s there to take iron ore — 100 tons at a time — to the coast for export around the world. However, it’s known as The Arctic Train, taking tourists from the fjord in Narvik to Abisko National Park in Sweden. The latter is home to incredible landscapes, Aurora Sky, where you can ride a chairlift in the dark while surrounded by aurora up to a mountain for a gorgeous view over Lake Torneträsk.
4. Take A Journey On An Astronomy Voyage
This unique journey on MS Trollfjord up the Norwegian coast from Oslo to Honningsvåg in the far north and back over a leisurely 15 days, with lectures from expert astronomer, Tom Kerss, Hurtigruten’s Chief Aurora Chaser. This North Cape Line trip includes multiple stops and endless opportunities to view and photograph the Northern Lights.
5. Take An ‘Extreme’ Aurora Tour
Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, but finding a clear sky can mean a lot of driving in the dark, often in icy conditions. This “extreme” tour from Reykjavik eschews the typical two-hour tour that has only a small chance of success and extends it to an all-nighter. Lasting up to 10 hours from 5:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m., this tour can reach iconic places such as Kirkjufell — Church Mountain — on the Snæfellsnes peninsula in western Iceland, which is too far from Reykjavik to feature on most aurora tours. The driver and guide is also an experienced aurora photographer, who will capture images and share them with guests. As the name suggests, Viking outfits are available for quirky images against the backdrop of the aurora.
6. Hire A Private Aurora Guide
If you’ve seen the Northern Lights raging above you from Alaska or northern Europe, it’s natural to want to show your friends and family. Trouble is, if you do take them, you’re now in charge of finding them the aurora. Designed to give families and groups the best chance to experience the aurora dancing in Arctic skies, Lights Over Lapland has a four-day adventure in Abisko National Park, Sweden, for up to 12 people, spread over two traditional Swedish homes, accompanied by a highly experienced aurora guide with a 4×4 to get you all to the wilderness when the aurora appears.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
