3 Best Countries to See the Northern Lights

3 best countries to see the Northern Lights.

The phenomenon of Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis is named after a Roman Goddessand rightly so because when the skies light up, it is truly ‘divine’. From a scientific viewpoint it is sufficed to say that it is caused by electrically charged particles from the sun striking the Earth’s atmosphere. But experiencing the Northern Lights can be quite the spectacle. Although the beautiful light display can only be seen in the late fall and winter months and only from the northern-most areas of the world. If it is your dream or on your bucket list to experience the Northern Lights or the ‘Aurora Borealis’, we suggest you look at these three best countries to experience the grandeur.

Iceland

Iceland, which is known as the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’, is perched on the edge of the Artic circle. And the Northern lights are just an icing on the cake for a country blessed with such beautiful natural landscapes.As the skies are a lot darker, winter is the best time of the year to view the northern lights. While they can be seen as early as in August but the best time to see them in Iceland is from October to March. Some of the best places for viewing are in Western Iceland, including Akranes, Borgarnes, and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Even if you can’t make it to these smaller villages, you can still see the northern lights from the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. Located on the very edge of the Arctic Circle in Iceland, it offers one of the most accessible ways to see the Northern Lights.

Sweden

Sweden, known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun’, is nestled on the east of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Lapland province of Sweden, with its arctic plains, mountains, and glaciers make it a prime destination for viewing the northern lights. And the best months to view the northern lights in Sweden are from September to March. Located in Abisko, the Aurora Sky Station is considered as the best places on earth to experience those marvellous northern lights. If you are rather adventurous, you can ride the longest chairlift in Sweden to access the best views in the world at Mount Nuolja. Also, Kiruna, which is the northern most city in Sweden, is famous for being the perfect place to view the aurora and the midnight Sun as well. It is located along the north of the Arctic Circle. Attractions for tourists,such as the ‘Ice hotel’,are the perfect places to experience those breath-taking moments.

Norway

Norway carries the theme of the “Land of the Midnight Sun” along with Sweden. It also shares the Scandinavian Peninsula along with Sweden and Finland. But, it is often regarded as the brightest jewels of Scandinavia.Northern Norway has some of the best places in the world to see the northern lights, including Alta, Tromso, Harstad, and the Lofoten Islands. Alta is also the home of the world’s first Northern light observatory and has been aptly named as the “Town of Northern Lights”. Another Aurora Borealis observatory located in the island of Senja gives truly breath-taking views of the Northern lights. The observatory built on a hilltop offers a mesmerizing 360 degree view of the marvel. The best time to witness the northern lights is between late September and March as it gets dark from early afternoon and stays dark till late in the morning.

You have to remember that viewing this phenomenonis not a walk in the park. It requiresmaking a few efforts from your end such as staying awake in the freezing cold of the night and waiting for those short and sporadic periods of Aurora sightings. You have to make sure that you are prepared for this, so layers of warm clothing are the first things you should pack.And carrying a good camera to capture the northern lights would be ideal but even smartphones today are equipped to handle low light and can surprise us with great pictures. Though staying awake in the night will be a tiring task, once you see the magical display, the sleep lost will be well worth the memories gained.

Author BIO

Yogi and Suchna believe in taking the road less travelled and stumbling upon some hidden gems along the way! For over a decade, they’ve mapped their way across various continents, sniffed out unusual routes, discovered new flavours and stayed at quirky hostels. TheVillaEscape is their expression of soul travel. To check Iceland Tour From India you can catch up with them at TheVillaEscape.