Every bucket list, especially that of a traveller, should really include seeing the Northern Lights at least once. The spectacular display occurs when solar particles enter the Earth's atmosphere, and on impact emit flaming gases that produce various coloured lights. In the northern hemisphere, its scientific term is the aurora borealis, in the southern hemisphere it is known as the aurora australis. The most impressive shows last from a few minutes to several days and can be found in the following destinations.
Credit: berlinriderOulanka National Park, FinlandOulanka National Park, Finland
Oulanka National Park, Finland
Oulanka National Park is another great bet to see the Northern Lights early or late during the aurora viewing season, including October and November or March and April. This magnificent national park in the far north of Finland is set in a rugged landscape of outstanding beauty, filled with snowy forests with candlelit fir trees standing frozen in front of a backdrop of the northern lights. During the day, enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or even iglooing. You'll find comfortable wooden huts right in the park to lie your head down in at night, making a great base for combining a winter sports holiday with the chance to observe one of nature's greatest wonders after dark.
Credit: Bigstock.comHappy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, CanadaHappy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada
Happy Valley-Goose Bay, the hub of Labrador, is located along the Trans-Labrador Highway, a great place for viewing the Northern Lights in eastern Canada. If you can make it to the top of 'OMG Hill' at the Birch Brook Nordic Ski Club on a clear winter's night, you're likely to see an array of colours with the Northern Lights reflected on pristine, snow-covered trails. Besides watching the light show, this region is a snowmobiler's paradise and the town boasts a thriving arts community, with music, art and theatre on offer in a new theatre and a variety of festivals.
Credit: Bob LinsdellChurchill, Manitoba, CanadaChurchill, Manitoba, Canada
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Churchill is famous for its polar bears, making it an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy the lights along with the rare opportunity to see one of the largest bear species in the world. It lies below the auroral zone, with lights dancing in the sky more than 300 nights a year. Multi-day excursions are available to see the lights and bears, and the Churchill Centre for Nordic Studies offers the chance to learn more about astronomy and the aurora.
Credit: A. SparrowStewart Island, New ZealandStewart Island, New Zealand
Stewart Island, New Zealand
Technically, in New Zealand you are looking at the aurora australis, or the southern lights, but the spectacle is just as stunning on the other side of the world. On Stewart Island, located about 15 miles south of South Island, you will find a great place to see the display, particularly when there is a lot of flare activity. Even if you can't see them, the island is considered a last frontier for those who love wilderness, with less than 400 inhabitants, an abundance of wildlife and beautiful scenery.
Credit: Cooper's MoonTromso, Norway
Tromso, Norway
Tromso, often referred to as the 'Paris of the North, is a fabulous and easily accessible destination to catch the Northern Lights. This beautiful city teems with northern lights activity when the long summer days are over. Its location above the Arctic Circle makes it one of the best places on the planet to see the twinkling green lights. Jumping aboard the Norwegian Coastal Steamer Hurtigruten offers the opportunity to see the display along a fjord. You can also get wake-up calls to make sure you don't miss the opportunity to go out on deck when the lights appear.
Credit: Bigstock.comSvalbard, NorwaySvalbard, Norway
Svalbard, Norway
Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic located about 1,000 miles north of Norway, is an idyllic place for a unique polar adventure that includes the chance to see an incredible light show. The islands offer long clear winter nights and polar bears, and in the capital of Longyearbyen, the world's northernmost settlement, you will find tour companies offering two-day snowmobile expeditions using the city as a starting point. Going in December is the best bet. Not only are the skies completely dark on winter days, this month is generally dry, which decreases the possibility of cloudy skies blocking the aurora.
Credit: timo_w2sLuosto, FinlandLuosto, Finland
Luosto, Finland
In Luosto, northern Finland, Hotel Aurora offers a trip to the Northern Lights that includes seven nights of watching the lights appear while enjoying luxurious accommodation. Upon your arrival, you will be given a special 'Aurora Alarm' that will beep when the lights appear. Cool, clear evenings mean there is a good chance of catching the twinkling lights in the skies above one of Finland's largest lakes, Lake Inari. Numerous Arctic adventures are available during the day, including visits to a reindeer farm, husky rides through the snowy landscape, snowshoeing and snowmobile safaris.
Credit: bigstock.comAbisko National Park SwedenAbisko National Park Sweden
Abisko National Park Sweden
One of the best places on the planet to see the Northern Lights is at the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko National Park in Sweden. If you don't mind unravelling, you can even spend the night at this research facility. There is no electricity and only a camp bed, but with the surrounding mountains and the prevailing favourable winds combining to create some of the most cloudless skies in northern Scandinavia, it is likely to be worth the inconvenience. Within 20 minutes by chairlift you'll reach the station in the late afternoon and enjoy a hearty dinner of stewed moose before heading back and waiting for the big light show. If you happen to fall asleep, you'll be woken up when the aurora appears.
Credit: Bigstock.com Banbanks, AlaskaFairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
Alaska is one of the most famous places to see the lights, with the city of Fairbanks often cited as one of the best spots to see them in the United States. It is also home to the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, which provides forecasts of Aurora viewing conditions. Of course, to get the best view, you will have to get away from the city lights and into the vast wilderness areas. At the Chena Resort, guests enjoy watching the display from a hot spring that is well connected to the Fairbanks airport. The resort also alerts guests when the lights appear via an aurora alarm service and is home to the Aurora Ice Museum, the world's largest year-round frozen environment, as well as offering a variety of activities such as dog sled rides and plane tours.
Credit: Bigstock.com Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Canada's westernmost territory is considered perhaps the best place to see the Northern Lights in the entire world. While a sighting can never be guaranteed, no matter where you are, the lights are most likely to be seen here between January and March. Whitehorse, the territory's capital and only town, is a good base for a wide range of wilderness activities, including dog sledding, ice fishing and snowmobile tours. The Northern Lights Centre, the national research base for this polar phenomenon, is open at night, welcoming visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking aurora.
Credit: jack_spellingbaconIsle of Skye, ScotlandIsle of Skye, Scotland
Isle of Skye, Scotland
The Isle of Skye, connected by bridge to the west coast of Scotland, is not only one of the most extraordinary destinations in the world, in winter, you have an incredible opportunity to see the Northern Lights shining in unpolluted skies, along with the Milky Way and more stars than you can imagine. Of course, the British Isles are also known for very cloudy skies, which aren't exactly ideal for sky watching, but on those occasions when a thick cloud cover breaks for a moment during the long winter nights, you'll have a good chance of witnessing an incredible spectacle. The Orkney Islands, Shetland and other parts of the north of the country are also prime spots in Scotland due to the very low light pollution.
Credit: nick_russillKangerlussuag, GreenlandKangerlussuag, Greenland
Kangerlussuag, Greenland
Kangerlussuaq is home to the only international airport in Greenland, serving as a gateway to the rest of the country. It enjoys an average of 300 days of clear skies each year and is another top destination for aurora researchers. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark and clear night from early autumn September to early April. They can be seen from anywhere in the country, although many believe that seeing the lights during a dog sledding adventure is the most unforgettable way to do it. You can take a short tour with Wogac between October and April, or a three-day expedition between February and April to the west coast town of Sisimiut.
Credit: Bigstock.comMurmansk, RussiaMurmansk, Russia
Murmansk, Russia
Murmansk is located in the cold north of Russia, on the Kola Peninsula. Here, the Northern Lights can be seen up to 200 times a year. Since the main part of the peninsula lies beyond the Arctic Circle, in summer the sun does not set beyond the horizon for about six weeks. In winter, polar nights reign. At the Lapland Reserve, locals find the aurora in the middle of pagan Saami monuments, sacred lakes and 600-year-old trees. The best time to see the phenomenon is between February and March or September and October, when the sky lights up with pale greens, fiery reds and purples everywhere from several hours to several days.
Credit: Ehrenberg KommunikationFaroe Islands, DenmarkFaroe Islands, Denmark
Faroe Islands, Denmark
The Faroe Islands, located north of Scotland between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic, is a province owned by Denmark and famous for its Viking folklore and puffins. The archipelago consists of 18 islands connected by tunnels, with ferries and helicopters also serving as public transport. With mountain peaks often shrouded in fog, it is worth travelling here for the scenery alone. Keep in mind that the weather also means you'll have to hope it clears to see the iridescent lights - even if you don't, the islands are worth a visit.