7 unique ways to experience the Northern Lights
From a cabin in Svalbard to hot springs in Alaska.


The mysterious Northern Lights have long captivated the human imagination, inspiring an array of myths, legends, and folklore through the ages. Today, these magical dancing waves in the night sky continue to intrigue travelers, compelling them to venture north to chilly, remote destinations across Greenland, Norway, Alaska, and more for a chance to glimpse the hypnotic greenish-blue hues.
Seeing the aurora borealis is simple enough, once you’re in the right place, preferably on a cloud-less night: Just head outside after dark and look up. But for a richer, more immersive experience, consider some of these unique Northern Lights tours, excursions, outings, and adventures.
Float across the North Atlantic Ocean

Marvel at the Northern Lights while traveling in the footsteps—or, rather, the boat wakes—of the Norsemen who settled coastal Norway during the Middle Ages on a special aurora cruise aboard the Viking Venus. This 13-day cold-weather journey is specifically designed to give travelers a front-row seat to the captivating colors. Departing from London in January, February, or March, the vessel travels east to Amsterdam before veering north to Bergen, Norway. It then glides up the coast, stopping in the quaint Norwegian towns of Narvik, Tromsø, and Alta along the way.
Take in the dazzling polar lights from the comfort of the ship or during an excursion on land, such as an overnight stay in an igloo hotel in Alta or from a catamaran in Tromsø.
Ski or snowboard down glittering slopes

Amp up your ski vacation on a hill where you can also ogle Earth’s best light show. For a pinch-worthy adventure on the slopes, head to Banff National Park, which is home to three world-class ski areas, each with its own personality and terrain: Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay.
All three resorts immerse travelers in the raw wilderness of the Canadian Rockies, offering a collective 8,000 acres of fluffy powder to explore. For the best chance to see the Northern Lights, check the forecast and head to Banff Sunshine Village—with almost no light pollution and clear winter skies, the ski area is an ideal viewing destination. (And if you miss the glimmering greens and purples once you get back home, you can always switch on the resort’s “aurora cam” live stream.) Travelers also rave about Sunshine Village’s Snow Hosts, who are available to take you on complimentary tours of the mountain.
Travelers say: “I would absolutely recommend the [Snow Host–led] tour as you will ski a variety of terrain on all of the lifts and you'll learn a bit about the history of the ski hill, the families that helped build and shape the business and even the province. There were fun little, out-of-the-way places I never would have discovered without the tour.”—@mshain
Eat reindeer stew in a cabin outside Longyearbyen

The Northern Lights make regular appearances in Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the world. Situated on Svalbard, a Norwegian-run archipelago at 78 degrees north latitude, Longyearbyen experiences several months of total darkness (as well as several months of 24-hour daylight). This so-called polar night makes the colorful spectacle of the aurora borealis—which can occur at any time of day during the dark season—an even more welcome and awe-inspiring sight.
One of the coziest ways to experience the Northern Lights in Longyearbyen is at Camp Barentz, a remote outpost at the base of Breinosa Mountain about seven miles outside of town. Hurtigruten Svalbard guides pour drinks and serve soul-warming bowls of bidos, or reindeer stew, while sharing the science and legends of the aurora. Travelers stay toasty next to a roaring fire inside a 16th-century replica cabin and can pop outside for glimpses of the brilliant celestial shapes throughout the evening.
Soak in a soothing hot springs

While it’s true that you generally need to travel north to colder climates to see the Northern Lights, you don’t have to shiver—or suffer—while you get your fill of the aurora. On the contrary, you can be toasty warm while gazing up at the night sky when you scope out the Northern Lights from a hot spring.
Outside of Fairbanks, Alaska, Chena Hot Springs Resort offers crystal clear skies, little-to-no light pollution, and soothing mineral waters from which to take in the views. In addition to soul-warming geothermal waters, the resort also runs aurora viewing tours, dog-sled outings, ice-fishing excursions, and snowmobile treks. There’s also a dazzling ice museum that shouldn’t be missed.
Travelers say: "We took the snow machine tour to the yurt up the mountain on our first night [at Chena], so ready to see the northern lights. The ride goes essentially straight up, very loud, and bumpy. We were the last to board, and ended up in the front with the driver. I later found out how great this was! He was courteous in answering questions. This was actually one of my favorite parts of our entire trip."—@486patb
Sleep in an igloo or ice hotel

Drift off to sleep with views of the Northern Lights from your bed inside a glass-paned igloo. You can find these magical lodging setups in a variety of locales that experience the polar lights, including Greenland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
Some are simple and cozy, allowing the aurora to take center stage, while others are a bit more lavish. At Levin Iglut in Finland, for example, the igloos go way beyond basic—here, you’ll find luxe glass-enclosed suites, complete with a private terrace and outdoor jacuzzi for watching the shimmering hues in the night sky. For a totally unique experience, check into a room made entirely of snow and ice, like the ones at Sweden’s Icehotel. And if the Northern Lights bring on a surge of romance, there’s even an intimate, icy wedding hall, too.
Travelers say: "Not only did we catch the aurora borealis from our beds on our last night [at Levin Iglut], we also enjoyed is proximity to downhill skiing, the complimentary show shoes, the cocktails-by-fire, and the delightful warming hut where we roasted sausages and marshmallows and drank good cold Finnish beer. My 11-year-old loved racing down the small hills on the many sleds around the property, as well her cozy bed under the stars."—@lulu63
Request a Northern Lights wake-up call

If you’re worried about snoozing through your alarm at a hotel, it’s common practice to request a wake-up call from the front desk. But some Northern Lights lodging destinations take this amenity to a whole new level.
Upon request, travelers can get a special aurora borealis wake-up call so they can jump out of bed, pull on some warm clothes, and head outdoors to catch Mother Nature’s performance. Iceland’s Hotel Húsafell offers this free perk, as do Hotel Rangá and Hotel Budir. Guides on Gondwana Ecotours’ Northern Lights trips in Alaska offer this handy service, too.
Travelers say: "A couple of tips [for Hotel Húsafell]: housekeeping is done 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. rather than in the morning. The restaurant gets really busy so book your tables before you arrive. The hotel is about half an hour from the nearest supermarket, and the fridge in your room is empty so stock up if you think you might need anything specific."—@vespamartini
Take a photography lesson

Watching the aurora with your own two eyes is as easy as looking up, but capturing the moment to show friends and family back home? That can be a bit trickier. Instead of fumbling with your camera and distractedly missing most of the show, take in the Northern Lights while gleaning tips and tricks from the pros during a photography workshop.
Head to Fairbanks, Alaska, to get expert-level tips and tricks from the photo guides with The Aurora Chasers. Capture jaw-dropping snaps of the auroras on a small-group tour in Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland with Beyond Arctic. And even if you’re an experienced shutterbug already, you’re bound to learn something new when you join a trip to Iceland hosted by the knowledgeable guides with Arctic Exposure.
Travelers say: "Being new to this, I didn’t realize the science behind it. The guides here use weather apps and data from NASA to pinpoint the ideal time to go hunting for the lights. But the best part is the guides are also great photographers capturing images of you and the Aurora Borealis to take home. If you don’t have your own winter gear, Beyond Arctic has snow suits, gloves, boots, etc. Get ready for a fun night. The whole group is great but ask for Ryan."—@jaw63102

