Best Aurora Borealis in 20 Years – Here’s What You Need To Know
National Geographic and other credible sources have predicted that this year will be one of the most exciting years to witness the Aurora Borealis aka the Nothern Lights. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see it yet, now’s the time!! With that said, I’m here to give you 5 tips to maximize your trip to see the Northern Lights this year.
Tips For Seeing The Aurora Borealis On Your Trip
- Go During the Correct Times: The Northern Lights are visible starting in the middle of October up until the middle of April. For higher chances of seeing them, don’t go right in the middle of October or April and instead go 2 weeks after before starting and ensign times. Ex: Go 1st week in November or 1st week of April
- Best Times To See Them: 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The darker the time, the higher the chance of visibility.
- How to Maximize Your Chances: Travel closer to a new moon )when it’s completely dark). The full moon emits light that makes it a bit more difficult to see the northern lights. When I saw them in Iceland, it was during a full moon and we still saw them, just during a new moon, we could have seen them better.
- Utilize Aurora Forecasting Apps: National Geographic recommends, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, Aurora Alerts, and My Aurora Forecast & Alerts
- Start Booking Early! Since these are prime times to go, it’s best to get ahead and book! The more people start to book a specific flight, the higher the prices go. I’m seeing flights for about $470-$500s from NY to Norway, Finland, Sweden & more! SAS Airlines offers some cool layovers in Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Finland & more so I’d consider booking with them. Other locations to see the lights are in Canada, Alaska, Iceland & Russia!
- Book a Layover In Iceland! One of the best ways to have a chance of seeing the northern lights on a trip to Europe is by doing a layover in ICELAND! Check out my experience here!
There You Have It!
I mean, if this is your sign to book a trip and see the Nothern Lights, then I’d not ask any questions and Just Book It! It truly is one of the wonders of the world and seeing it in personal cannot compare to all of the photos that you see online. With that said, start blowing up your group chat or travel solo! Happy travels. xoxo, Vee
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