Two-minute guide to the Northern Lights

No matter how they are known around the world; the Fire Fox, the Temperamental Lady, the Aurora Borealis, nature’s illuminations have fascinated, inspired and terrified travellers since the beginning of time.

However, there’s much, much more to a trip to see the Northern Lights than simply wrapping up against the cold, waiting and hoping that one of nature’s most spectacular light shows will illuminate the Arctic sky. Rather than the main draw, the lights should be a bonus to an authentic, exciting winter escape, a chance to experience traditional ways of life, to discover adventure and be filled with wonder at the beauty of a world encased in snow and ice.

Photo by Beverly & Pack

The best way to see the lights is to get away from it all, to escape bright city lights and plunge into real darkness. This usually involves a snow-mobile trip out to more remote areas, but for a really authentic Arctic experiences we recommend choosing a wilderness stay where local guides will give you a taste of rural life and tell stories of the myths and legends surrounding the lights while you toast marshmallows over a roaring fire.

In Iceland get away from easily accessible Reykjavik and head to the north-east. It’s extremely scenic, but much, much less visited giving tourists a more personal experience than is possible in the larger towns. It also tends to be much drier and less cloudy, and clearer skies mean much more chance to see the lights as they dance across the horizon.

Not only does it underpin responsible tourism, but going local is also the best way to see the lights. Local guides not only know the most beautiful settings to watch the show, but are also the people who love where they live and want to keep it special. In Lapland, one of the best places to view the lights, and one of the most accessible for UK tourists, local guides introduce guests to traditional Sami culture.

These nomadic reindeer herders are the traditional inhabitants of the northern reaches of this part of Europe and a chance to experience their customs, language, heritage and traditional skills such as ice fishing brings an incredible cultural focus, and helps put the Northern Lights into a traditional Sami context. Karasjok, near the Norwegian/Finnish offers real cultural immersion, and Menesjärvi, deep in Sami territory in Finland, more remote wilderness adventures.    

Photo by Tarja Mitrovic

Alongside cultural gains, choosing to watch the Northern Lights with a local guide in a remote area will also appeal to adventure enthusiasts. But ditch the snowmobile and instead try out more traditional activities such as showshoeing and cross-country skiing that offer a more environmentally friendly alternative, and the chance to discover the silence of the snow without the roaring of engines.

For a feeling of speed across the ice, a day spent husky sledging offers excitement and an insight into not just a mode of transport but a way of life. Longer trips, including stays at remote huts, allow tourists to fully immerse themselves in this way of life – learning to care for the dogs, to understand the environment around them and to taste traditionally cooked food. While these experiences are common in Scandinavia, tourists travelling to Alaska or Iceland to see the Northern Lights may need to discuss opportunities for similar alternatives with their tour operator.

Seeing the hypnotic, beautiful Northern Lights for the first time is an unforgettable moment, but what makes this type of holiday even more magical is the opportunity for authentic experiences in the remote Arctic environment, both by night and by day. In choosing traditional activities with local guides, travellers are not only immersing themselves in a unique and fascinating way of life, but are also helping to support communities for whom tourism is a key source of income.  And it makes for a much more unique and fascinating holiday.

For more ways to experience the authentic Arctic during a trip to watch the Northern Lights take a look at responsibletravel.com’s two minute guide to Northern Lights watching: http://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/northern-lights-watching