The Northern Lights – a magical lightshow at the top of the world

If you’re looking for a genuine winter spectacle that’ll make you forget about the low temperatures, what could be better than the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights? They’re visible in high-latitude regions between November and February, so let’s head to our top three destinations to see this incredible natural light show.

Alaska

First up, we’re going to Anchorage, Alaska. It might be pretty remote, but Alaska’s utterly magical under the Northern Lights. Since there’s so little man-made light in this part of the world, the skies are crystal clear and dark enough to provide a perfect view of the dancing, colourful Aurora.

You can rent a car in Anchorage, as it’s the most accessible city in Alaska, and drive half an hour to the Chugach State Park where you can view the Northern Lights over Wolverine Peak. The immensity of the mountains, coupled with the glowing lights of the Aurora, will make for an amazing show. If you ask the locals, they should be able to point you in the direction of some other little spots in Anchorage where you can catch them.

Other things to do in Alaska:

• If you’re feeling adventurous, which we’d hope you would be when travelling to Alaska to watch the Northern Lights, you can drive four hours north of Anchorage to Denali National Park. With endless landscapes and beautiful scenery, it’s a great place to go for trail walks, rafting or other outdoor activities.

• And there are plenty of places around Anchorage and further afield that offer glacier tours either by land or by boat: a definite must-see when visiting this part of the world. If you’ve got the time, head down to Glacier Bay National Park to enjoy
kayaking, flightseeing, or a range of other activities.

• Fairbanks is the largest city in Alaska and we recommend visiting the Chena Hot Springs on the outskirts for some relaxing and pampering.

Norway

The Nordic countries are hugely popular for Aurora watchers, which is why our next stop is in Tromsø, Norway. Tromsø does have an airport, making it more accessible than lots of other towns or cities in northern Norway.

It’s best to head a bit outside the city to experience the lights in all their glory. Rather than picking out one spot, why not do a tour of a number of places? Taking in those surreal lights from a different area each night is a great way to make the adventure even more special.

There are lots of small islands and lakes within an hour’s drive of Tromsø, so you can really do some exploring.

Other things to do in Norway:

• There are lots of winter activities in Norway. But whale-watching is a particularly stunning experience that’s popular in this part of the world, so check out Whale Safari.

• Why not rent a boat in Ersfjordbot, 15 from Tromso, and enjoy a Norwegian fishing trip? Catch some fresh lobster and crab, watch the sun set… and sit back to soak up the Northern Lights.

Shetland Island

Then there are the remarkable Shetland Islands in Scotland. You can rent a car from Sumburgh Airport in the south and head up to Melby, just over an hour northwest of Sumburgh, for a clear view out to sea, away from light pollution.

To be fair, Tromsø or Anchorage might be a better bet if you’re only looking for the Northern Lights, but the Lights are just one reason to visit the Shetland Islands. Made up of over 100 islands, the group is absolutely stunning and should be visited at least once in your lifetime.

With lots of historic places to visit, an array of wildlife not found anywhere else in the world, outdoor adventure activities and many more things to do, the Shetland Islands are an excellent holiday choice. We recommend visiting during the months of December and January to get the best chance of seeing the lights.

Other things to do in Shetland:

• You can go and visit the famous Shetland ponies and see the many different sea mammals, including seals and porpoises, which surround the islands.

• There are also a number of music and culture events that can make for an enriching holiday – with or without the Northern Lights.