A Cheaper Way to See the Northern Lights
Written by AndySeeing the Northern Lights is an experience that all travelers aspire to achieving in their lives. The lights are a natural phenomenon that inspire awe and wonder in the lucky few who witness them.
Seeing the Northern Lights can be costly. It’s an event that’s limited to few locations around the world and not a guarantee as they depend on various weather conditions. But you can take steps to experience the beauty of the Northern Lights without having to spend too much of your travel budget.
Mysterious Lights
The Northern Lights are created by the magnetic activity of the sun. As electrons travel toward earth along a magnetic field, they make contact with the particles of air in the sky. The result is a beautiful and haunting spectacle of colors.
The effect depends on the conditions that are occurring in both the sun and the earth. As a result, the Northern Lights aren’t always visible when you want to see them. Therefore, you want to plan accordingly to ensure that you get the most out of your trip.
Where to see the Northern Lights
There are a few locations that are ideal for seeing the Northern Lights. Areas located between 66 to 69 degrees north provide the most ideal viewing. This includes parts of Canada, Alaska, Russia, Greenland, and Scandinavia.
The best chances of seeing the Northern Lights usually happen in Reykjavik, Iceland or Tromsø, Norway. Both locations have long seasons of darkness that increase the likelihood of catching the natural phenomena.
Budget conscious travelers recognize Iceland as a better choice. Visiting Iceland has become inexpensive relative to previous years, and more airlines now make their way to Iceland, further reducing the cost of flights. Some airlines such as Iceland Air offer package deals to visit the Northern lights that include tours and hotel stays.
Northern Lights on a Budget
But there plenty of options available when traveling on a budget. Fairbanks, Alaska has proven to be a reliable location for viewing the Northern Lights. In fact, many scientists use this location due to its consistency in viewing conditions.
Flights from Seattle to Alaska can be inexpensive and many rooms can be found under $90 a night. Once in Fairbanks, the Northern Lights can be seen with just a few miles of driving.
Another option for catching the Northern Lights is to find inexpensive cruises in the Arctic Circle.
Many cruise lines offer packages that are less expensive options for travel. A weeklong excursion can be as little as £1,100 and includes visits to various towns along the way.
If you wake your way to Iceland, tours are available to make it easy and affordable to see the Northern Lights. Reykjavik Excursions runs regular Northern Lights tours that allow you to retake the trip if you don’t see the lights on your initial run.
If seeing the Northern Lights is on your travel bucket list, there are a number of ways to experience this natural phenomenon. Although limited to a few areas in the world, the Northern Lights are still easily accessible. Researching inexpensive flights to Alaska and available tour packages will help you finally catch a glimpse of the beautiful and mysterious Northern Lights.
Tags: budget travel, northern lights, Travel
