Northern Lights magic at NORDEUROPA 2024

Northern Lights Supplier at NORDEUROPA 2024

In winter, Northern Europe attracts travellers with the fascinating goal of experiencing the Northern Lights - a spectacular natural spectacle that requires more than hope. Time, patience and a pinch of luck are indispensable companions on this magical journey. Patience in particular is put to the test by Northern Lights spotters. Even in late autumn/early winter, it gets freezing cold north of the Arctic Circle, and careful preparation is crucial to persevere in the low temperatures. However, when you get to enjoy the soft dancing lights that appear like a curtain or waterfall in the night sky, the previous efforts are quickly forgotten. Discover the fascination of the Northern Lights and let yourself be enchanted by this winter magic.

Chasing the Aurora at NORDEUROPA 2024 

According to past experience, the Northern Lights season lasts from the end of August to the beginning of April. However, this period only applies to regions in the far north. In the south, you can only keep an eye out for the Northern Lights between October and February. Of course, these statements always depend on other factors – the Northern Lights have also been seen in the sky in far more southerly regions. You can find out which circumstances have to be met by reading below. At this point, we can already inform you that Swedish Lapland, Finnish Lapland, Northern Norway and the north of Iceland are very suitable places to look for Northern Lights in Northern Europe. 

Whether up north or in the more southerly part of Scandinavia: At our B2B Sales Workshop NORDEUROPA 2024, tour operators will have the opportunity to meet many suppliers who can offer the right travel products to northern lights hunters. Here we present a selection of them:

Best Arctic AS

Best Arctic AS is a new brand that replaces the leading activity provider Tromsø Safari. Best Arctic includes Bussring — the largest coach company in northern Norway – and The Arctic Route, a series of tourist adventure routes that offer a comfortable way to explore northern Norway, Sweden and Finland. Best Arctic connects Arctic destinations with The Arctic Route and a wide variety of Arctic experiences. Based in Tromsø and Narvik, Best Arctic offers guests Arctic activities all year round. 

Kinos Safaris

Kinos Safaris has been offering safaris in Levi for 20 years. In winter, snowmobile safaris, snowmobile rental, ice fishing and aurora excursions are offered. In summer, sea boat trips, canoe tours, fishing trips and equipment rental. An Arctic evening picnic is offered here at Sirkkajärvi, where you can admire the Northern Lights while enjoying a cosy picnic by the lake. If you need more action, you can experience the mystical Northern Lights in the sky or the breathtaking sunset during an exciting snowmobile ride through the unspoilt nature of Lapland at night.

Kiruna Sleddog Tours AB

Kiruna Sleddog Tours is an outdoor company based in Kiruna, northern Sweden, offering activities and accommodation. It also offers aurora accommodation and dog sledding tours in Europe's last wilderness. Under the impressive spectacle of the Northern Lights, Kiruna Sleddog Tours offers activities where you can glide through the landscapes of Swedish Lapland and enjoy the breathtaking nature. 

Lapland Resorts

Lapland Resorts operates the Björkliden and Riksgränsen ski resorts, as well as Sweden's highest mountain station, Låktatjåkko. All three ski resorts are located in the far north of Sweden. We offer mountain experiences with that certain something and you can experience the Northern Lights in Björkliden. The area around Björkliden is known as one of the best places on earth to observe this natural phenomenon. With very little light pollution and often clear skies, the conditions here are ideal for catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

Brändön Lodge & Pine Bay Lodge

Brändön Lodge & Pine Bay Lodge also participating in the online event and has various Northern Lights products in store. Located 30 minutes north of Luleå on the coast of Swedish Lapland, the company has been in the international tourism business for over 20 years, focusing on individual travellers and small group leisure tourism. First-class activities, adventures, food and accommodation are offered. Accommodation is either in two-bedroom wooden cabins or traditional hotel rooms. Brändön Lodge & Pine Bay Lodge, for example, offers the option of an Aurora Hideaway dinner or a Northern Lights nature tour by sled and much more. 

Visit Narvik

Visit Narvik is a unique destination in summer and winter, surrounded by majestic mountains and deep fjords. Visit Narvik offers the best of the Arctic in terms of activities. The Northern Lights season starts in September, and with the Northern Lights Train you can follow the Northern Lights on Norway's northernmost railway line. If clients like dog sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, Northern Lights hunting and gourmet Arctic cuisine, Narvik is the perfect choice. 

Arctic Retreat AB

Tucked away in the boreal forests, on a bend at the foot of a rapid in the River Råne — a hidden gem in Swedish Lapland: Arctic Retreat AB. The traditional wooden cabins all have floor-to-ceiling windows facing north — perfect for keeping an eye out for the elusive Northern Lights. An evening snowshoe hike is organised to try and catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. A Northern Lights photo tour is also on offer. A professional photographer will pick you up and take you on a Northern Lights photo tour. You drive to a great viewpoint nearby and learn how to photograph this amazing phenomenon.

Register now for NORDEUROPA 2024 free of charge and make appointments with the exciting suppliers mentioned above from 15 January.

So sieht es aus, wenn der Sonnensturm aufs Magnetfeld der Erde trifft – hier in Finnland © Markus Kiili | Visit Finland

More information on the Northern Lights

Three factors contribute decisively to seeing the Northern Lights: absolute darkness, a clear sky and proximity to a pole. To ensure darkness and avoid the danger of light pollution from settlements, one should be in the middle of nature. Unfortunately, it is impossible to influence the weather – which is why time is just as crucial. 

Scientific miracle 

The scientific name of the colourful spectacle in the north is 'Aurora Borealis' (the distinction between north and south is important; auroras occurring in the southern hemisphere are called 'Aurora Australis'). And although natural sciences and magic are usually mutually exclusive, this does not apply to this light phenomenon. Despite the scientific explanation, it doesn't even lose its magic once you experience it.

Northern Lights are triggered by eruptions on the sun. These cause electrically charged particles to be ejected into space. It then takes around 79 hours for the particles to hit the Earth's magnetic field along the poles as a solar storm – these are the moments when the Northern Lights appear, which, with a bit of luck, can be marvelled at in the clear night sky. 

Digital and technological assistance 

Today, about 100 years after science first discovered what causes the northern lights, modern technology makes it easier to actually find them. On its website "Auroras Now!", the Finnish Meteorological Institute, after registration, provides information in the form of free notifications when solar activity has been detected that makes the magnetic conditions particularly favourable for Northern Lights in the sky over Finland.

For example, at the Arctic Snow Hotel in Rovaniemi, Finland, a designated employee even takes on this job – including a wake-up service for hotel guests when Northern Lights have been spotted.

Nordlichter und ihr Spiel mit der Natur können kunstvoll festgehalten werden © Asko Kuittinen | Visit Finland

A photo safari to the Northern Lights

Once you have discovered the Northern Lights, capturing the phenomenon with a camera is still a bit of an art. If you wish to keep a memento (or perhaps rather a proof photo for your loved ones at home), you need good camera equipment as well as some expertise. Many providers in Northern Europe have specialized in Northern Lights photography and are happy to help travellers on their tours. Nevertheless, we recommend that you don't just enjoy the moment through the camera lens. It is only truly impressive when you stand in front of the dancing wall of light and marvel at it in all its glory. 

Header: © Sami Matias | Unsplash