The Northern Lights – when the sky is on fire
The Northern Lights, with their different hues and shapes, are truly awe-inspiring, especially when they dance across the sky. If you are dreaming about seeing this beautiful phenomenon, the best way is to join a Northern Lights tour. Chasing the Northern Lights is our strength, with our experience spanning more than 17 years and 8,500 tours.
What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are a natural phenomenon occurring in the Northern Hemisphere.
When conditions are reunited, they appear in the night sky displaying dynamic patterns (curtains, shafts, or spirals) of colored lights (mostly green but also red, purple, or more rarely blue).
What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are a natural phenomenon occurring in the Northern Hemisphere.
When conditions are reunited, they appear in the night sky displaying dynamic patterns (curtains, shafts, or spirals) of colored lights (mostly green but also red, purple, or more rarely blue).
Charged particles from the sun, released during solar eruptions, are dragged into the atmosphere and steered towards the poles by the Earth’s magnetic field.
These particles then collide with gases present in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. This collision releases flashes of coloured light that we see as the Northern Lights.
The different colours depend on the gas particles involved at different altitudes: low-lying oxygen causes the most common green colour; red is produced by oxygen higher in the atmosphere whereas blue and purple hues come from nitrogen.
What causes the Northern Lights?
What causes the Northern Lights?
Charged particles from the sun, released during solar eruptions, are dragged into the atmosphere and steered towards the poles by the Earth’s magnetic field.
These particles then collide with gases present in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. This collision releases flashes of coloured light that we see as the Northern Lights.
The different colours depend on the gas particles involved at different altitudes: low-lying oxygen causes the most common green colour; red is produced by oxygen higher in the atmosphere whereas blue and purple hues come from nitrogen.
Why is Tromsø one of the best places to see the Northern Lights?
Tromsø is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights because the city is located inside the aurora oval, a doughnut-shaped ring above the Earth’s Geomagnetic North Pole, which extends from Alaska to Russia via Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
The advantage when coming to Tromsø to see the Northern Lights is that the temperatures in winter are not that cold: an average of 0°C to -5°C in the city thanks to the Gulf Stream!
There is also a variety of accommodations and attractions to make your stay even more comfortable and fun!
Why is Tromsø one of the best places to see the Northern Lights?
Tromsø is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights because the city is located inside the aurora oval, a doughnut-shaped ring above the Earth’s Geomagnetic North Pole, which extends from Alaska to Russia via Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
The advantage when coming to Tromsø to see the Northern Lights is that the temperatures in winter are not that cold: an average of 0°C to -5°C in the city thanks to the Gulf Stream!
There is also a variety of accommodations and attractions to make your stay even more comfortable and fun!
When can you see the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway?
You can see the aurora borealis in Tromsø (as well as Narvik and other places in Northern Norway) from September to early April, when the sky is dark enough, usually from 6pm to 1am – with a peak between 10 and 11pm.
Generally speaking, the best time to see the Northern Lights are around the equinoxes – March/April and September/October – as the level of aurora activity is higher.
However, the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, just like the weather, so we can’t know for sure when and where they will occur.
Their appearance and intensity are very much dependent on the sun’s activity.
When can you see the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway?
You can see the aurora borealis in Tromsø (as well as Narvik and other places in Northern Norway) from September to early April, when the sky is dark enough, usually from 6pm to 1am – with a peak between 10 and 11pm.
Generally speaking, the best time to see the Northern Lights are around the equinoxes – March/April and September/October – as the level of aurora activity is higher.
However, the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, just like the weather, so we can’t know for sure when and where they will occur.
Their appearance and intensity are very much dependent on the sun’s activity.
How to see the Northern Lights?
It’s important to consider the following elements if you wish to see the Northern Lights:
- Go outside of the city to avoid any light pollution
- Choose a night when the sky is as clear as possible
- Wear warm clothes as it can get cold at night!
- Patience!
- Go on a Northern Lights excursion to maximize your chances. A professional guide will use their local knowledge and ability to read the weather and aurora forecast to find the best areas to see the Northern Lights on a specific night.
Let the chase begin!
What Northern Lights tours do you have?
Our two main tours to chase the Northern Lights by bus are Aurora Safari Camps and Aurora Safari Minibus.
We also have Northern Lights cruises and combos with other activities like a Northern Cuisine dinner, snowmobiling, or reindeer sledding with chances of northern lights.
Let the chase begin!
What Northern Lights tours do you have?
Our two main tours to chase the Northern Lights by bus are Aurora Safari Camps and Aurora Safari Minibus.
We also have Northern Lights cruises and combos with other activities like a Northern Cuisine dinner, snowmobiling, or reindeer sledding with chances of northern lights.
We have tours departing from both Tromsø and Narvik.
The Northern Lights have fascinated people throughout history and continue to do so. We have developed and produced a series of quality aurora activities for you.
Today, the aurora borealis draws people from all over the world to the Arctic for chases in the hope of seeing this natural phenomenon and taking home a Northern Lights photo.
The Northern Lights have fascinated people throughout history and continue to do so. We have developed and produced a series of quality aurora activities for you.
Today, the aurora borealis draws people from all over the world to the Arctic for chases in the hope of seeing this natural phenomenon and taking home a Northern Lights photo.