Northern Lights
From hot air balloons to mobile meals, hunting the aurora is more fun than ever before. Here are the best new ways to see the northern lights this season.
Days are darker and considerably colder, but winter promises one great delight: an opportunity to see the northern lights.
Already, there have been good reports of strong activity with some solar flares strong enough to show up as far south as Ireland.
There are no guarantees, of course, but the uncertainty is all part of the fun.
And with several exciting new activities available for this season, aurora hunts have even greater appeal.
WALKING IN THE AIR
One of the downsides of searching for the aurora in Finland is coping with chilling temperatures that can easily dip down to minus 25°C. Remedying the problem, the Hotel Iso-Syöte (from €124 for two people sharing, hotelli-isosyote.fi/en) built a glass panel walkway offering panoramic views of the aurora and surrounding landscape.
Sleep in traditional log cabins and rooms spread throughout the forest – or opt for the Bear Cave suite, with interior walls made from stone, pine and lichen. Located in Finland’s southernmost fell, 90 miles from the Arctic Circle, the opportunities for aurora viewing are excellent.
A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
Clear skies and a lack of light pollution are essential for aurora viewing, so it’s good to get as far off the beaten track as possible.
Although thousands of tourists head to southern Iceland every year, few venture to the remote Westfjords region. Historically, roads have been badly paved and difficult but a new route – the Westfjords Way – opens up the isolated area. Measuring 950km long, it runs through fjords, waterfalls and mountains. You can hire a camper van (from €54 per day off peak happycampers.is) for a flexible journey and follow vedur.is for the latest aurora forecasts.
HOT AIR BALLOONS IN THE COLD
According to Sami folklore, if you listen hard enough it’s possible to hear the aurora pop and crackle. Take the chance to tune in by getting up close on a hot air balloon, an exciting new activity set to launch in Swedish Lapland in February 2022 (visit laplandballooning.com).
Organised by a company who run ballooning experiences in Kenya’s Masai Mara, the evening trips will use balloons tethered to one spot for optimal aurora viewing. For a longer trip, take the morning ride above the snow covered landscapes of the Råne River Valley and its frozen lakes and forests, keeping an eye out for winter wildlife far below.
You can stay at the company’s own luxury Arctic glampsite, Aurora Safari Camp, to be close to the action (aurorasafaricamp.com).
AURORA-LIT DINNERS
Dine out on fi ne food beneath a ceiling of electrifying views with the new Aurora Hideaway Dinners. The small mobile restaurant moves around the Luleå archipelago depending on cloud cover and light viewing opportunities.
Travel out by snowmobile to reach the evening’s chosen spot and spend three hours enjoying a three-course meal (from €192 per person, visit brandonlodgelapland.com). Combine it with a stay at Brandon Lodge which offers a wide choice of winter adventures including husky sledding, a snowmobile forest safari and a Northern Lights sled tour.
AURORA AT HOME
If you don’t fancy a long-distance trip, why not head over to the northern coast of Ireland?
According to Tourism Ireland, it’s the best place to get a glimpse of the spectacle of northern lights here at home. There is no guarantee you will see the pink, green and blue. So to increase your chances, check that you have the right solar conditions (visit astronomy.ie for their Aurora Alerts), clear skies to the north, and no light pollution.
That’s why most light chasers go and try their luck at the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal - not only is it remote, it’s Ireland’s most northerly point. Visit ireland.com for more tips and advice, including how to photograph the light show.