5 reasons to go to Lapland to see the Northern Lights in 2024-2025
Are you planning your next winter holiday and would like to see the Northern Lights? Then you absolutely must visit Lapland! Don't wait, the ideal time is now and we'll explain why!
Who doesn't dream of seeing the Northern Lights at least once in their lifetime? This incredible natural phenomenon seems almost magical and supernatural! If a starry sky is enough to enchant us, then adding dancing green or purple lights to the mix makes the sight all the more impressive!
However, many of us live in regions where the aurora borealis phenomenon does not exist. So you have to travel close to the poles to have a chance of seeing them. One of the most famous regions for the Northern Lights is Lapland: the northern region of Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Have you been thinking about organising a trip to see the Northern Lights? Don't wait any longer - the perfect time is now!
1. A region with ideal observation conditions
If you want to see the aurora borealis, you'll need to go to a place where this phenomenon occurs regularly to increase your chances. As a general rule, any region located near the poles and in a belt called the "auroral oval" is a good place to see the aurora!
Did you know? Auroras can occur at both the North and South Poles! At the North Pole, they are known as the Northern Lights. In the southern hemisphere, they are known as the southern lights. These two types of aurora are known as polar aurorae.
If you live in Europe, Lapland is the region of choice for watching the Northern Lights. Firstly, the region is located near the poles, where the aurora are created on Earth. Secondly, it's a sparsely populated region where it's easy to get away from light pollution at night and so create the perfect conditions for admiring the aurora. What's more, with the long winter nights in Lapland, you'll double your chances of spotting the Northern Lights, and you might even see your first aurora at 4pm! With these first two criteria met (being close to the poles and far from light pollution), you'll only need 2 prerequisites to make your dream come true: good solar activity and clear skies!
2. Maximum solar activity in 2024-2025
While clear skies are a difficult factor to predict in advance when organising a trip to Lapland to watch the aurora, there is one thing you can be sure of: the year 2024-2025 is characterised by maximum solar activity. Be that as it may, with its dry, cold climate in winter, Lapland still offers a great chance of enjoying clear skies.
Solar activity is an essential criterion for observing the aurora borealis, as it is solar flares that cause the aurora. Solar flares send charged particles towards the Earth. These particles are then attracted to the Earth's magnetic poles, where their interaction with the Earth's magnetic field produces the aurora borealis.
However, solar activity is not a constant phenomenon. Sometimes it intensifies and other times it is weaker. In the end, it works like a cycle of about 11 years: the solar activity cycle. As it happens, we are currently in a period of high solar activity, which is causing the aurora borealis to be even more intense at the poles, and can even sometimes extend further south when solar activity is at its peak! To enjoy these exceptional conditions again, we'll have to wait around 11 years. So don't wait, and plan your trip to Lapland now!
3. An experience accessible to all
Northern lights watching has one major advantage over other typical Lapland activities: it's easy to get to. You don't have to be sporty or walk for miles to see the Northern Lights. You can easily find a quiet spot to sit and wait for the phenomenon to happen.
What's more, you can also enjoy the show from the most comfortable place of all: your bed! In fact, many unusual types of accommodation allow you to spend the night in an igloo, a glass cabin or a tree house with a roof offering an unobstructed view of the sky. Rather than waiting out in the cold, you'll be in perfect conditions to wait and watch the starry sky.
Aside from these accommodation options, there are plenty of Northern Lights-watching activities available to everyone. In Finland, for example, you can enjoy a Lappish barbecue near Rovaniemi while you wait for the aurora. In Norway, you can go aurora-hunting by bus from Kirkenes. It's a magical time to be with your loved ones!
4. A dream setting for your outdoor activities
For the more sporty or those who want to do a bit of exercise, it's also possible to enjoy an outdoor activity under the Northern Lights. Imagine dog sledding under the Northern Lights! Of course, it may sound too good to be true, more likely to happen in a Jack London novel than in reality! But it wouldn't be out of the question in Lapland!
In fact, that's exactly what this dog sledding excursion in Kirkenes, Norway, offers you: combine the magic of the Northern Lights with the magic of dog sledding! Meet these adorable dogs and let them take you on an adventure through the unspoilt landscapes of Lapland. A professional guide will be on hand throughout the excursion to tell you interesting anecdotes about mushing and the Northern Lights.
If you want a little more thrill, why not try snowmobiling in Abisko, Sweden? This fun sport will give you a chance to admire the sky while getting your adrenaline pumping on the Arctic tundra. The only prerequisite is a driving licence!
Finally, you can adopt a slower pace during a snowshoe hike in Kilpisjärvi, Finland. This sporty activity is still accessible and will allow you to warm up a little while you wait for the auroras to appear. If your children are over the age of 10, you can join this excursion to share a friendly moment with the whole family, and perhaps even marvel at the aurora!
5. An opportunity to take some great photos
Calling all amateur photographers! What would you say to taking photos of a natural phenomenon as magical as the Northern Lights? It would be a unique opportunity to immortalise this breathtaking moment! You could have sublime photos of you and your loved ones in Lapland!
If you've never photographed the Northern Lights before, there are dedicated Northern Lights photography workshops in Finnish Lapland. This is an opportunity to expand your knowledge of photography with a professional. With his guidance and advice, you'll be able to easily photograph the Northern Lights yourself the next time you see them.
What are you waiting for? Peak solar activity is happening right now in Lapland! Don't miss out and plan your trip to Lapland with Manawa now!
For even more inspiration, check out our article on the best things to do to see the Northern Lights.