The magic of the Northern Lights at NORDEUROPA 2022

Destination Northern Lights

During the winter months, many travellers make their way to Northern Europe with the goal of spotting the Northern Lights (or: Aurora Borealis). 

A brief glimpse at this fascinating spectacle of nature requires time, patience and a small portion of luck. Patience in particular is often put to the test by Northern Lights observers. It gets very cold north of the Arctic Circle already in late autumn/early winter, so you have to be well-prepared to endure low temperatures. But when you finally can enjoy the softly dancing lights that appear like a curtain or a waterfall in front of you in the night sky, the efforts seem to be quickly forgotten. 

Hunting for the Northern Lights at NORDEUROPA 2022 

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 you are hunting for Northern Lights high in the north or a more southern part of Scandinavia, at our B2B Sales Workshop NORDEUROPA 2022 you will have the opportunity to meet many suppliers who can offer Northern Lights hunters the right travel products:

Syöte in Finland

Minna Hirvonen from the Syöte Tourism Association, takes part in the online event and has various Northern Lights products to offer. The Syöte region is known for its snow-covered candle trees in winter. When Northern Lights dance in the sky, the scenery is just perfect. 

The Winter Weekly Programme of Hotel Iso-Syöte includes a Northern Lights safari, and the Arctic Experience package of KIDE Hotel by Iso-Syöte includes a snowshoe hunt to see the Aurora Borealis.

Norwegian Travel Company

The Northern Lights adventure is a must in the programme of Norway's largest activity provider at the moment. The Norwegian Travel Company offers, for example, a Northern Lights hunt via minibus in the Tromsø region in Northern Norway or from a husky sled in the Kirkenes region. 

Lapland Resorts in Sweden

Lapland Resorts manages the ski resorts of Riksgränsen and Björkliden in Swedish Lapland, close to the border with Norway - here, the conditions for spotting the Northern Lights are perfect. In Björkliden, for example, Lapland Resorts offers a snowshoe hike to a so-called lavvu, a traditional hut, from where auroras can be perfectly observed.

Sign up now for free to attend NORDEUROPA 2022 and schedule meetings with, among others, Syöte Tourism Association, Norwegian Travel Company and Lapland Resorts, starting 24 January 2022:

This is what it looks like when the solar storm hits the Earth's magnetic field - here in Finland ©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. 

Northern lights and their interplay with nature can be captured artfully © 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: © Gaute Bruvik | Visit Norway
Small image Lapland Resorts:  © Asaf Kliger | Image Bank Sweden