Earth's Greatest Light Show

An inky black night sky, seemingly set alight by dancing lights in dazzling green, violet and gold… there’s surely fewer magical sights on our planet than the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, as they’re more commonly known.

While the incredible vision looks otherworldly, as if created and beamed down by a God from another planet, the phenomenon is actually an entirely natural light show. It’s a chemical reaction in the heavens, when the sun’s highly charged particles – whizzing their way towards the magnetic North Pole – collide with the earth’s gases.

Science lesson aside, as you read this, we’re already in prime Northern-light-spotting season. Between September – January, visitors have a higher chance of hitting the viewing jackpot.

If you’ve decided to tick the experience off your travel bucket list (rather than gazing longingly at Instagram posts), we’ve got the answers to your questions. From the essentials to insider information and the best vantage points – Inspired Travel Magazine is here to give you a fighting chance to see those magical dancing lights. So it’ll soon be you posting those envy-inducing images. (Just promise to send them to us!)

THE ESSENTIALS

Q: Where on the planet should I go to see them?

A: Any country crossing the latitude line of 66° 33´ 39”, aka the Arctic Circle, is the best location for catching a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis. So, we’re talking about Greenland, Canada, Iceland, Norway, and some areas of Sweden, Finland and Russia too. A little closer to home, you’ve got a chance of seeing them in some of Scotland’s most northerly – and scarcely populated areas – Wildaboutscotland.com recommends the Outer Hebridean isles of Lewis and Harris, or Rubha Hunish, the northernmost tip of Skye.

Q: Once I’m there, what can I do to maximise my chances of witnessing the lights?

A: We don’t want to be a party pooper, but it’s best to manage expectations. A common misconception is that the lights will show up every night. The truth? Like the weather, they can be unpredictable. However, one influential factor is just how low that mercury drops. The chillier it is, the better. When air is cold, it holds less water vapour, so there will be fewer pesky water molecules to ruin the view. Similarly, while it may seem magical if it starts to snow, the white fluffy stuff will also scupper your chances of a sighting. Clear, dark skies with zero light pollution are what you’re keeping everything crossed for.

Looking towards Bergen, Norway

Q: Are professional ‘light-chasing’ companies a good idea?

A: Yes! Experts are equipped with all kinds of clever gizmos to detect where the evening’s light entertainment is most likely to be. ‘Sky cameras’, installed in key places, show real-time activity of the Northern Lights – but it takes a trained eye to know when a pale grey cloud is in fact the Aurora Borealis. Better still? Consider booking with a specialist company, such as The Aurora Zone (theaurorazone. com). They offer the option of an ‘overnight safari’ on their holidays to destinations like Finland and Alaska. Guests can stay in remote cabins, under wide-open skies far from light pollution, so they have a very real chance of witnessing a display.

The lights come out to play in the Yukon night sky

Q: Will the lights look as dazzling in reality as they do in photos?

A: No; unless the ‘show’ is spectacular, you might not capture more subtle light flares. And your Smartphone isn’t going to cut it, ditto your GoPro or digital camera. Invest in/borrow a DSLR camera with a long exposure and wide lens. Lastly, the Aurora Borealis can be fleeting, so have all of the settings and equipment good to go, or risk getting a dodgy shot.

Husky action in the Yukon; White Pass, the Yukon

A starry, starry night

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Obviously, every Arctic Circle country will claim to have bigger, better and brighter Northern- Light action than their neighbours. Here’s our top three picks:

Tromsø, Norway

This harbourside city, described as ‘the Gateway to the Arctic’, is located 217 miles north of the Arctic Circle, and is easily accessible from the UK over the winter period. Norwegian flies non-stop from Gatwick in just over 3.5 hours.

Tromsø is surrounded by epic fjords and mountains, and within the city, you shouldn’t miss the Ishavskatedralen, or Arctic Cathedral. Heralded as an architectural masterpiece, its eastern side features a dramatic glass mosaic that mimics the appearance of a sheer façade of ice.The cool city of Bergen makes another great base for light chasing.

The Yukon, Canada

Savvy travellers will have Canada’s northwest corner on their radar. Fly into the evocatively named capital of Whitehorse and head to the Yukon River Valley, scattered with accommodation tailor-made for maximum viewing opportunities.

Incredibly, 80 per cent of the region remains pristine wilderness, so there’s plenty to explore in the daylight hours, from forested valleys to 5000-metre high mountains and thundering rivers. Wildlife is King here, with around 160,000 caribou, 10,000 black bears and 70,000 moose – far outnumbering the 36,000 lucky humans who call the Yukon their home.

Lapland, Finland

The Finns make the bold claim that the lights can be seen every other clear night between September – March. Lapland makes a good choice for families because a certain Mr Claus lives here. Fly to Rovaneimi (just 2.5 hours from the UK), and take the little ones to meet Santa in his ‘office’. Reindeer and husky rides are also an option in this frozen winter wonderland.