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There are bucket lists and then there are bucket lists. Filled with the kind of once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences you’ve dreamed about enough to satisfy the itch, without ever actually making it there. Viewing the Northern lights in person usually features. We discovered this upon speaking to multiple young Indians who overcame every hurdle to see the unbelievably breath-taking natural phenomena only viewable from a handful of (mostly Scandinavian) countries. For one thing, they’re fickle. Even the best-laid plans can be foiled by nature’s whims. And for another, they’re so popular, there’s almost too much information surrounding them and where you should go to look for them. The Aurora Borealis or Northern lights as they are popularly known, can be spotted in Scandinavia, as well as, parts of Scotland, Canada, Alaska and Russia. In reality, it takes a healthy dose of good luck and good planning to make the most of the experience so we decided to hunker down and criss-cross multiple successful itineraries to create this guide for our readers to make well-informed decisions before they go.
We spoke to seven people who took a leap of faith and personal planning and got them to share the kind of dynamic insight no one travel site can ever offer. Between Acquin Pais — an event manager and model, Sukhmani Singh — a content consultant and photographer from Mumbai, Reshma Chhabria and Uday Kumar — a couple who have been on five Northen lights chases all across Scandinavia, Karan Amin — who recently quit his job to travel, Pakhi Mahajan Bharucha — a 30-year-old media professional and Radhika Shah, who’s a product manager and working with surgical robots, suffice to say this guide covers a lot of ground. And given their varying backgrounds and constraints–budget, time and personal preferences wise–there’s nuggets of useful information for just about every kind of traveler.
Maybe you get as lucky as Shah, who saw the Northern lights on her very first night in Iceland along with her best friend on their annual getaway trip (“Game of Thrones was filming in Iceland, so any excuse to stalk Jon Snow, right?”). Or perhaps you’ll learn to enjoy the other parts of the itinerary just as much as the lights themselves. As one of our lucky travellers said, “Hiking a volcano and a glacier in the same afternoon was an absolutely surreal experience. They were only 5 miles apart!”
So without further ado, here’s the result of endless rummaging through travel plans, and exploiting Google to an extent we never thought we could — a Homegrown guide to chasing the Northern lights in Iceland and beyond.
A]. WHEN TO GO?
Between September and March is unanimously agreed upon as the better time to chase the phenomena as the nights are longer and weather conditions conducive. However, around late December to early February there is a higher chance of encountering blizzards, which make visibility poor and also makes it dangerous to drive around, not to forget the extremely high chance of you getting stuck on some extremely beautiful but mind-numbingly cold remote location.
Though September to early October is often considered off season, the sightings during this period are not unusual. This time period could be perfect for those looking to travel without burning a whole into their pockets, and those looking to experience the Northern lights without the hassle of running into hordes of tourists. “We chose September as it is supposed to be the earliest month to see the Northern Lights and also because it is the shoulder season in Iceland, crowds are limited and places are relatively cheaper,” says Singh.
Having said that, there could be days you could encounter rainfall, but thanks to the fickle nature of weather conditions in these areas, rain does not mean that you wouldn’t be able to spot the Northern lights later that day.
Particularly for Iceland, November end to early March is the time when the nights are the longest, giving a longer window for the lights to appear.
B]. WHERE TO GO?
This is actually one of the most pivotal parts of your decision so really do your legwork before picking. The Aurora Borealis or Northern lights as they are popularly known, can be spotted in Scandinavia, as well as, parts of Scotland, Canada,Alaska and Russia. Scandinavia however, seems to be the most popular choice. Most of the people we spoke with chose Iceland as the destination to go view them. “I’d say stick to just Iceland. There’s just so much to do! We hiked a volcano and a glacier in the same afternoon and these were within five miles of eachother! It is truly the land of fire and ice. Why go anywhere else then?” said Shah. Chhabria and Kumar, who have been to Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway for their Northern lights chases also claimed to have experienced the best Northern lights display in Akureyri, which is in Northern Iceland. But for all those keen on going to Iceland, here is a fair warning courtesy Singh — “The country has more sheep than people.”
C]. WHERE TO STAY
Contrary to what you’d expect, accommodation does not need to be one of your top priorities while planning the trip. Accomodation is a part of the trip that has no considerable effect on the budget. Also, considering that most activities are to do with the outdoors, one ends up spending very little time at the place they’re staying at. So keeping that in mind, here is a list of popular choices for accomodation:
I. Airbnbs
With tourism being the main source of income for most of these destinations, thanks to the hordes of tourists the Northern Lights attract, there is no dearth of Airbnb options, which also happen to be the most popular choice among tourists. Airbnb offers a range of options varying from home stays to glamping in igloos with glass ceilings
Visit the Airbnb website for more information on the same.
II. Camping
If on a tight budget, camping is the way to go. We recommend investing in a sleeping bag and tent. As long as you have the appropriate gear and skills to pitch a tent, you should be just fine.
Mahajan suggests investing in a Camping Card. “It is is the easiest way to navigate around campsites in Iceland. A Camping Card gives you access to over 40 campsites. Also, it isn’t illegal to pitch a tent anywhere across Iceland as long as it’s not a residential property, but getting a Camping Card is a safer bet,” said Mahajan. Along with the Camping Card you get complementary discount coupons that help cut down your fuel (both diesel and petrol) costs. Camping Card is the ideal way to go for all those on a budget.
You can visit the Camping Card website for further information.
III. Couchsurfing
Iceland has a very active couchsurfing community. Couchsurfing is not just a great way of sticking to a budget, but has the added benefits of getting the locals’ insights and tips. Having said that, safety and comfort are things to be kept in mind when narrowing down on a place.
Visit Couchsurfing.com to know more about the options available.
IV. Hostels
Hostel dorm fares start at approximately INR 2,000 per night and a private room in a hostel will cost you about INR 8,000 per night. Hostelling International memberships can help get discounts to upto INR 400 for a dorm and INR 600 for private rooms.
Visit Hostelworld.com to view hostels available in Iceland.
V. Hotels
Staying at a hotel is the most expensive option and costs vary depending on services offered by the hotels.
Pro-tip: Kumar recommends staying in igloos if this is a trip you’re only going to take once in your life. Renting capers is also a viable option for the budget traveller.
D]. HOW LONG SHOULD YOUR TRIP BE?
Chasing the Northern lights isn’t a trip that can be made the most of in three to four days. This is also because the weather conditions are very unpredictable. One week to 15 days is what is recommended if you want to experience all that these bafflingly beautiful destinations have to offer.
E]. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
For the spreadsheet-loving traveller who thrives to schedule and more importantly for the traveller who couldn’t care less. Here is a check-list of things you should read up on before you head out on your Scandinavian escapade.
I. Weather Forecast
Weather conditions are a major determining factor when it comes to sighting Northern lights. Clear skies and solar flare are some factors that determine the extent of visibility of the lights.
Here are a few sources you can refer to for reliable Northern Lights forecast:
Iceland is said to have the best weather conditions in all of Scandinavia thanks to the warm Atlantic currents. Clouds too tend to clear faster increasing your chances of spotting the Aurora Borealis. The weather conditions fluctuate too quickly for it to get too cold, but if your teeth begin to chatter just hang in there and have faith in the famous Icelandic saying — “If you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes.”
The weather in Finland is quite fickle, so chances of seeing the lights are lower than other regions. Also, it tends to get very cold especially when the skies are clear. September is the best month to go visit in terms of weather. Last year, the temperature fell to a freezing -10 degree-celsius.
February is Sweden’s coldest month with temperature dropping as low as -40 degree-celsius with snowfall starting in October and ending some time in April. On the other hand, Norway isn’t as cold with the temperature dropping to -3 degree-celsius in January, however, it can get really cold when it rains.
Swedish and Finnish Lapland are the regions that experience the harshest winters.
Visit the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s website to keep a tab on Iceland’s weather.
Also, Trip Advisor is a useful source for determining other aspects of your trip as well.
Pro-Tip: “You cannot plan your trip around weather forecasts as the weather conditions in Iceland are dynamic and fluctuate a lot. It is advisable to not plan a trip only to view the Northern Lights and incorporate other activities in your itinerary as well,” says Reshma Chhabria.
II. Social Media
With everything just a click away, social media is a great way to reach out to bloggers and people who document Northern Lights or are based out of the destinations you are headed to. Chabbria, who has made five trips across Scandinavia to vie the Northern lights, recommends you follow Mia Stålnackeand Greg Evol on Instagram. “I started following them after my third time chasing the lights. They are super approachable and very forthcoming when it comes to suggesting places,” said Chhabria.
iheartreykjavik, Simona_br_photography , Midgardadventure andWheniniceland are a few other Instagram accounts to keep a tab on.
Regularly checking hashtags #northernlights and #auroraborealis could also be useful.
III. Keep A Map Handy
Go old school and print a few maps out with your preferred route and destinations marked. It makes life simpler and adds to the sense of adventure. For the directionally challenged, there is always the option of switching to our all-time favourite Google Maps.
Pro-Tip: “You don’t need to navigate much around Iceland. Most tourist attraction are on the Ring Road. Just cover the entire stretch of the the Ring Road and you should be just fine as far as attractions are concerned. Also, it’s very difficult to get lost here, it’s just one long winding road, so it doesn’t really matter if you go clockwise or anti-clockwise, you’ll still see everything that there is to see.” -Pakhi Mahajan
F]. TRAVEL AGENTS AND GUIDED TOURS YOU CAN TURN TO:
It is advisable to go see the Northern Lights with smaller groups led by photographers as tour groups consist of close to a 100 people making the viewing experience rushed and not as enjoyable. Also, smaller groups can access much remote locations and at the same time photographers know of picturesque locations that are less crowded.
However, guided tours by photographers are more expensive as compared to regular tours. So, it is advisable to opt for two to three nights with the regular tour and one to two nights with a tour led by a photographer in order to balance expenses.
Amin recommends The Pravasi, which is a travel agency based out of Mumbai that helps curate travel plans.
You can also contact Mia Stålnacke and Greg Evol on Instagram to know more about guided tours by photographers.
Gray Line is a popular company that organises tours for larger groups.
Pro-Tip: “Photographer led tours ensure you have good quality photographs as capturing Northern Lights on camera is not all that easy. Also, quality of sightings increase as you go further away from city lights.” says Reshma Chhabria.
G]. HOW TO GET AROUND
Renting a car and driving around seems like the most popular choice amongst the travellers we interviewed. “Going on a road-trip is the best way to experience Iceland. You also get to see multiple rainbows through the course of the drive. And when I say rainbows, I mean vivid rainbows,” says Amin. Opting for local car rentals is a more economical and convenient option as compared to international car hiring chains. There is negligible traffic on the roads, which makes it easier to drive. Also, Indian driving licenses are valid in Iceland. However, Chhabria recommends otherwise. “If you’ve never driven in snow before, Iceland is not the place to try your hand at it. With the fluctuating weather conditions and global warming, the snow melts faster than usual, making the roads extremely slippery and dangerous,” she offers up in way of advice.
Other options to get around are hitchhiking, using the local bus service or car pooling using Samferda.
Pro-Tip: Mahajan recommends VIP Cars, which is the rental service she used while in Iceland.
H]. BEYOND THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Iceland has a lot more to offer that just the Northern lights. Whale watching in Husavik, the geo-thermal spa at the Blue Lagoon, golden circle route that includes geysers and geo-thermal blowholes, Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss waterfall, Sólheimasandur plane wreck, walking along black sand beaches and wandering into lava tubes, scurrying around active volcanoes, and visiting open farms while watching Icelandic horses strut past you are other things you could do. For the Game of Thrones fanatics — go visit the Myvatn lake, which is the filming location for Jon Snow and Ygritte’s romantic cave scene.
Rovaniemi and Kittila in the Finnish Lapland, outdoor activities like ice fishing, reindeer sledding and snowmobiling, sitting by frozen lakes and camping in igloos made of glass are a few things to your itinerary for Finland.
Husky sledding in Kiruna in the Swedish Laplandwhere where you can mush your own sled through the Swedish tundra, snowmobiling, the Ice Hotel and the Abisko National Park, where according to Kumar you can treat yourself to “amazing elk meat” are Swedish attractions you cannot miss.
In Norway, be sure to visit Geirangerfjord and Loften Islands, ride the Hurtigruten Coastal ferry and hike in the Jotunheimen National Park.
Visit Lonely Planet for more tourist attractions and activities to do.
Pro-Tip: It’s advisable to not plan your trip solely based on the northern lights, as there are chances you might not see them. So, make the most of the opportunity and unleash the adventurer within.
PRO-TIPS FROM THE TRAVELLERS WE SPOKE TO
I. “Be well equipped to handle the rain. The winds in Iceland are strong and cold. So if you have managed to get wet the wind typically feels like shards of ice piercing through your wet clothes. You need all the clothing protection you can carry because Iceland is an outdoorsy country,” said Singh.
II. “Get your camera basics right, it isn’t easy to capture the northern lights at the first try. Phone cameras don’t do justice to the lights. Also, there are times when you might not be able to see the Northern lights clearly with your naked eyes, but you can still capture them quite clearly with the right camera settings,” said Mahajan.
III. It is advisable to carry a travel tripod or you could end-up doing what Amin did — “All I had was a go-pro, so I fixed it to my head looked up at the sky and stood there in the freezing cold for all of two hours. I wouldn’t recommend it for obvious reasons.”
VI. The Northern lights’ visibility is said to dwindle between 2019 and 2021. “A very good and lesser know alternative to Northern lights are the Southern lights also know as the Aurora Australis,” suggested Amin.
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