About the Aurora Zone - Northern Lights Holidays

We’ve been providing holidays in Finland, Sweden and Norway for nearly a decade. In that time, we’ve built up a huge network of local suppliers who live and work in the quiet, less visited destinations we feature.

In our opinion, there is absolutely no substitute for local knowledge especially when you are searching for something as elusive as the Northern Lights. Our partners in Lapland and the Arctic are born and bred there; they’ve grown up with the Aurora Borealis as an ever present companion. It’s that knowledge and sense of place that creates a huge advantage on a Northern Lights holiday.

Solar Maximum and the Aurora Borealis Update: A Double-Peak Solar Maximum

There’s huge excitement in Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) hunting circles right now. The lights are historically at their most frequent and spectacular when the sun reaches the peak of its 11 year activity cycle known as Solar Maximum and NASA is predicting this will happen in autumn 2013.

NASA has updated their prediction on the coming solar maximum and has announced there will be a double-peak. This means there will be two peaks with a high level of sun spots and solar flare. The first of the peaks will occur as previously predicted in late 2013 and this will be followed by a second twin peak in 2015. According to NASA, this is known as a mini cycle which will last for around 2 years.

In further depth, NASA’s prediction is based on the number of sunspots originating on our star’s surface and, as the name would suggest, Solar Maximum is when the frequency of sunspots peaks. Here is how the number of Spot-LESS days has totted up over the last few winters:

Spotless Days

Current Stretch: 0 days

2013 total: 0 days (0%)

2012 total: 0 days (0%)

2011 total: 2 days (<1%)

2010 total: 51 days (14%)

2009 total: 260 days (71%)

Source: www.spaceweather.com (updated on 02 May 2013)

Back in the Winter of 2012/13, we found a terribly useful page on NASA’s website http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml - which provided sunspot frequency data back to the turn of the Millennium.

Since we extrapolated the data, things have moved on and NASA has revised its forecast. Initially, they suggested that Solar Maximum would occur in May 2013 but very recently revised that prediction and now expect it to occur in autumn 2013.

In the media there was huge speculation that this Solar Maximum would be the strongest for 50 years but NASA’s is now predicting a weak maximum. Nevertheless, Solar Maximium means the lights will be at their best this winter and next and we’ve already seen many a stunning skies in the Auroral Zone since the darker nights kicked in at the end of August.

It’s got professional Aurora chasing photographers like Antti Pietikainen in Finnish Lapland very, very excited indeed and with good reason when you look at the image he captured way back in autumn 2011 (two years before Solar Maximum!!!).

“Last year’s Autumn Draconoids meteor shower peaked with full sky auroras. First two centimeters of snow and I was at my cabin in forest. I set the camera straight up against the aspen on the cabin yard. I had a break from sauna and almost slipped at the porch when I saw the sky on fire. I could stay out only a couple of minutes because I was barefoot on the winter's first snow.”

If it was that good then, what will Solar Maximum bring we wonder?

When and where to see the Aurora

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is “when and where is it best to see the Aurora?”

Well, there are two things that obscure or dull the Aurora Borealis; cloud and light pollution. We tackle both of these at The Aurora Zone.

In the Arctic, artificial light is generally related to population density so we’ve stayed well clear of the more heavily populated areas to help you see the best Aurora displays.

In terms of the best time to see the Aurora, well that is a hard one. The Lights are generally seen between September and April. We obviously can’t guarantee cloud free skies at any time and that these will coincide with an Aurora display, but we’ll use all of our local knowledge and experience to help show you the Lights. On some of our more active holidays however you will be mobile enough to hopefully out run the weather.

The science bit

The Northern Lights originate 91,000,000 miles away when solar flares hurl high energy particles into space. Clouds of these particles are known as plasma and streams of plasma are, in turn, known as solar wind.

When the solar wind meets the Earth’s magnetic field some of the particles are trapped and dragged down until they collide with the gases in the Ionosphere. This collision causes the particles to glow creating what we know as the Northern Lights.

The Lights’ movement which causes them to stream, arc, billow, swirl and flicker in the night sky is caused by the interaction of the Earth’s magnetic field with the solar winds.

The colours

Different gases predominate at certain altitudes within the Earth’s atmosphere and the type of gas determines the colour of the Aurora.

Myriad shades of green and, to a lesser extent, yellow are the most common colours because the majority of incoming particles collide with oxygen at an altitude of around 100km.

Multi-hued reds, purples, pinks, blues and violets appear less frequently as they are created by the particles colliding with lower lying Nitrogen molecules below 100km.

Possibly the most spectacular Northern Lights occur when the particles collide with high altitude oxygen (200km) creating a blue or vivid red Aurora.

Brains, know-how and native intelligence

Forecasting the Northern Lights is an unpredictable business which is why many Laplanders call them “The Temperamental Lady”. Even geophysicists are unable to accurately predict the Aurora Borealis much more than two hours in advance.

In our opinion, the best judges are the locals and their knowledge is one of the most important factors in tracking down the Aurora.

We always employ local guides on our Aurora Zone holidays because nobody knows the terrain and environment better and they have an almost intangible sense of when and where the Lights will appear. They live and work within The Aurora Zone and have a unique understanding of what makes the Aurora tick and where to see them.

Our senior product manager, Jo Doran, always recalls her very first conversation with Jouko Lappalainen who owns the Nellim Wilderness Hotel.

Jo: “Do you think we’ll see the Northern Lights tonight Jouko?”

Jouko: “I think so, at about 10.10pm.”

And a few hours later:

Jo: (watching her first ever Aurora at 10.12pm): “Wow!”

We think this short conversation illustrates how important local knowledge is in the quest to see the Northern Lights. You’ll always need a little bit of luck when searching for the Aurora but a local guide will always give you a distinct advantage.

The Aurora Borealis is a naturally occurring phenomenon and even top space scientists acknowledge that their appearance is difficult to predict. You’ll always need a bit of luck when hunting for the Northern Lights but, over the years, we’ve found what we think are the very best Northern Lights hot spots.

We’ve discussed this long and hard with our partners in the North and come up with a formula for seeking out Nature’s free light show and ensuring that we maximise your chances of ticking the Aurora Borealis off your wish list.

1. Avoid Light Pollution

All our Aurora hunting holidays are situated in destinations with very low population densities.

For example, many people cite Tromsø as a great place to see the Northern Lights. It is, but you have to get outside the city to see a full blown Aurora unobscured by the light pollution created by around 60,000 residents. The same applies to large ski resorts and getting outside their confines can be an expensive business.

In the destinations we feature, you may well be able to see a clear and magical Aurora by simply stepping outside or taking a short walk down to a frozen lake.

2. Local guides

Local knowledge of the winter terrain, the best Aurora viewpoints and the local weather patterns is absolutely crucial. Our partners in Norway, Finland and Sweden live and work in the Auroral Zone. You don’t get that with a representative flown over from the UK.

This is key to our Northern Lights holidays, especially those where you will be out and about hunting down the Aurora.

3. The Auroral Zone

All of our Northern Lights holidays are situated slap, bang in the middle of Northern Europe’s Auroral Zone and have excellent Aurora sighting records.

4. Aurora Alerts – The leisurely way to search for the Aurora

On our more leisurely or less active Aurora hunting holidays in Luosto, Finland, we supply you with an “Aurora Alert”. About 30km down the road in Sodankylä there’s the Geophysical Observatory where some seriously clever people are constantly monitoring the night sky.

On arrival at your hotel, you will be given an “Aurora Alert”, basically a mobile phone, and when the scientists at the Observatory detect the Aurora in the Luosto night sky, you will receive a text message alerting you to its presence.

The rest is up to you. It may be possible to see the Lights from your own bedroom but it’s far better to get wrapped up and outside as quickly as possible. Regardless, it’s a very clever way of maximising your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis.

5. Mobility – Escape the Aurora obscuring cloud cover

If there is heavy cloud cover where you are staying then you will not see the Aurora, it’s as simple as that. Mobility is key to escaping the cloud and seeing truly great Auroras.

On our more active Aurora hunts, you will be out and about at night pursuing the Northern Lights. This might be on a snowmobile or in a heated minibus but one way or another our guides will be doing their absolute best to give you the advantage over other Aurora wishlisters.

6. Aurora Borealis Holiday to suit all tastes

Not everybody wants to head out into the Arctic night in sub-zero temperatures so we’ve created four levels of Aurora hunting holidays ranging from “Leisurely” to “Very Active”.

fig.1 Diagram shows Aurora times

The Northern Lights

To witness a full blown Aurora is a privilege. At its very best, the beauty of Mother Nature’s free light show is almost impossible to describe. The best we can do is ask you to close your eyes and imagine a billowing curtain of multi-coloured light dancing, shimmering and flickering wildly across a vast Arctic sky.

From the right vantage point it is an awe inspiring, emotional and humbling experience that has reduced many watchers to tears. How can anything be so beautiful.

The phenomenon of the Northern Lights has fascinated the Sámi people for centuries and there are more than 20 folk tales that attempt to explain their existence. In many parts of Lapland the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are known as the Firefox. Legend has it that the tail of a running fox brushing against the powder snow causes the sparks in the sky. It is also said that the Arctic Sea contains so many fish that the sun's light is reflected off their scales and creates the patterns in the sky.

Today's science means that we now know that the Aurora Borealis displays we see are caused by electrically charged particles in space hitting the earth's atmosphere. When they collide with oxygen and nitrogen particles they emit excess energy as light.

Although the Aurora Borealis can be seen from northerly parts of the United Kingdom the occurrences are rare and the intensity of the displays tend to be low. The further north you travel the better your chances of viewing the Lights so all the destinations we feature provide great opportunities to witness nature’s very own free light show during an Aurora Zone Northern Lights holiday.

The optimum time to see the Aurora Borealis is between 9pm and 1am in the morning. Be careful not to go to bed too soon or you may miss out. The intensity of the displays can vary and may start with a small stationary glow or arch in the night sky before building into a spectacular show.

The Aurora Borealis is a purely natural phenomenon and therefore cannot be guaranteed whichever destination you choose. However, the further north you travel and the further away from man-made light you are, the better your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

You particularly need to avoid the sodium glare of the large towns and especially bigger ski resorts which is why our Northern Lights holidays offer night time and overnight safaris that will give you the perfect opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis as we take you deep into the darkness (and our guides know all the best view points!).

In addition our Aurora Borealis holidays are, with one exception in Tromsø, based in rural areas where you simply need to step outside to gaze at the vast Arctic sky. This would not be the case in a large ski resort where you’ll need a snowmobile to escape the light pollution.

Whatever you believe about the Aurora Borealis, be it the science of the myths, there is no more spectacular experience on Earth than sitting in a winter wonderland watching the Lights dancing across the sky. It is truly magical! Choose from our Northern Lights holidays and see the Northern Lights with the Aurora Zone.

You don’t have to go on an Arctic Winter Cruise to see the Northern Lights

Not everybody wants to go zipping off into the wilderness on a snowmobile or with a team of huskies nor do they want to join the cruise crowds plying their way up and down the Norwegian Coast in search of the Aurora. Consequently, all our trips have an activity rating from “Leisurely” to “Very Active” which means you can choose a Northern Lights holiday that suits just your specific preferences.

By the same token, not everybody wants to travel beyond the Arctic Circle in the depths of winter. To avoid the really low temperatures we’ve also included some trips from September onwards which is when the lights become visible again after the midnight sun has waned.

The Aurora Zone was created to provide Northern Lights Holidays to suit everyone!

Not everybody wants to race across a frozen lake at 11pm on a snowmobile in pursuit of the Aurora Borealis. To cater for as many people as possible, we’ve developed a comprehensive range of holidays which we’ve graded according to the intensity of the activities we’ve included.

On our more active Aurora hunts, you’ll be active by day and by night making the absolute most of Lapland’s vast winter wilderness. At the other end of the Aurora chasing spectrum, we have leisurely and gentle grades where you can simply relax or try a few easy paced activities such as dog sledding or ice fishing.

Each holiday has an activity rating from “Leisurely” to “Very Active” and follows our simple but highly effective four point plan:

1. Our Northern Lights holidays are situated within Scandinavia’s prime Aurora Zone

2. Our Northern Lights holidays are led by local guides and/or photographers with an unparalled knowledge of the best Aurora vantage points

3. Our Northern Lights holidays are in locations far removed from the heavy light pollution created by large towns, cities and ski resorts

4. Our Northern Lights holidays include nocturnal excursions in search of the Aurora Borealis: whether it’s in a heated minibus, on a snowmobile or from a wilderness camp, our aim is to find the very best viewpoints

Please note that these grades are fairly subjective and if you have any questions about any of our Northern Lights holidays then the very best advice we can offer is talk to us. We’ve all been out there searching for the Aurora Borealis and we’ll be delighted to discuss the suitability of the trips with you.

Leisurely
We get hundreds of people enquiring about our holidays but concerned that the weather will be too inclement or that the activities will be too strenuous. Hence, we devised our “Leisurely” Aurora Borealis holidays which include a few very gentle activities or none at all during the day and some fascinating evening excursions in search of the Aurora.

Gentle
A “gentle” Northern Lights holiday will always include some activities during the day as well as those all important nocturnal excursions. However, the activities will be either what we think of as tasters such as a 1 or 2 hour husky safari or passive, for example, a boat trip on a Norwegian fjord.
We’ll get you out and about at night but not necessarily under your own steam, a heated minibus or snowmobile pulled sleigh are the more likely modes of transport.

Active
It’s worth remembering that snow in the Aurora Zone creates a vast winter playground which is just waiting to be discovered in any number of ways. A husky safari, driving through snowy forests on a snowmobile, ice fishing, snowshoeing, a reindeer pulled sleigh ride – some or all of these will be included during the day on our Active Northern Lights holidays. Generally speaking, these safaris will be between 2 and 4 hours and are designed to create a complete winter experience.

Naturally, once darkness falls, you’ll also be out and about chasing down “The Temperamental Lady”.

Very Active
Active by day, active by night, you may well become exhausted but these Northern Lights holidays are the very best way to experience everything the Arctic has to offer as well as maximising your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis.

Most of the time, you’ll have huskies and snowmobiles doing a lot of the work for you but long periods in sub-zero temperatures can be extremely tiring no matter how well wrapped up you are. Consequently, a reasonable level of fitness will greatly enhance your enjoyment on these Aurora holidays and with a positive mental attitude and a smile you will make the absolute most of it.