The magic of the Northern Lights at NORDEUROPA 2023

Northern Lights Supplier

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 2023

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 2023 you will have the opportunity to meet many suppliers, who can offer Northern Lights hunters the right travel products:

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.

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. 

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. 

Register now for NORDEUROPA 2023 at no charge and make appointments with Visit Narvik, Best Arctic, Kiruna Sleddog Tours and Brändön Lodge & Pine Bay Lodge, among others: 

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 play 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.