Wicked Travels Winter 2015 | Page 13

The lights can appear any time during the night, though 9pm through 2am seems to be a prime time for viewing. Some hotels in the Northern Lights area have an “aurora alarm,” which can alert guests when the lights start to appear, so that you don’t need to stay up waiting for them. To increase your chances of seeing the lights, give yourself as many days as possible in your viewing location. When you see the sky light up with mysterious, swirling multi-colored lights, you’ll be astounded, and glad that you gave yourself enough time to experience this thrilling sight.

Best places to see the Northern Lights

Plan your journey in advance and head toward the North Pole. Tromso in Norway may be your best place to see the aurora this yeer. This city’s location is just above the Arctic Circle.. Another ideal spot is Abisko, a region in the Swedish Lapland that was scientifically demonstrated to be a perfect spot for a Northern Lights shows as the micro-climate here is unique. In the winter, the sky is perfectly clear and the wind barely makes an appearance. There’s a famous phenomenon that happens often 70 km away from Torneträsk Lake that's called “blue hole of Abisko”. Basically, the sky remains clear in spite of the surrounding weather conditions, which is pretty incredible.

As soon as you choose one of these frosty areas, get in touch with a travel agency and ask about tours. You’ll stumble upon all kinds of car and bus tours; be ready to hear that all of them offer amazing viewing spots. If you’re a hiker used to the cold weather, opt for guided treks. Mountain Guides have incredible offers, and their package also includes a Glacier Walk. How cool is that? Arctic Adventures is another operator you should get in touch with. They offer Northern Lights tours from Reykjavik and Akureyri with packages starting from 150 euros.

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About The Author: This article was shared by Peter Smith and BalticTravelCompany.com