The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are Mother Nature’s own light show, one of travel's most mesmerizing natural phenomena that nothing man-made can beat. Electrically charged particles from the sun interact with Earth's atmosphere, creating shimmering curtains of green, purple, pink and occasionally red that dance across the night sky. 

Standing in the glow of this mystical Arctic phenomenon is on many a travel bucket list. 

The bad news is there’s a specific time – and place – to see the Northern Lights. The season really starts close to fall, and lasts through the winter months, when Arctic travel is coldest and least accessible. 

The good news? There are at least three ways position yourself for the celestial memories of a lifetime. 

1. By Sea: Arctic Cruises - and a Northern Lights Guarantee 

One of my favorite ways to experience the Northern Lights is from the deck of a ship, undiluted by city lights, with a panoramic view of the heavens. 

Timing is everything. Most Arctic expedition cruises operate during the Arctic summer before the aurora get going. There’s a sweet spot: end of season September departures get you the tail end of nicer weather but still a good chance of Northern Lights. 

I shot the top video on an expedition cruise aboard Seabourn Venture, where everyone  - including the captain and crew! – were surprised when the Northern Lights showed up in August! 

There are also dedicated winter voyages along Norway's spectacular coastline.

Norway’s coastal cruise line, Hurtigruten, offers a Northern Lights Promise on qualifying coastal voyages of 11 days or longer: if the aurora doesn't appear, guests receive a complimentary return voyage, subject to conditions.

Its former sister company, HX Expeditions (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions), has a separate Northern Lights Promise on qualifying Arctic expedition voyages, offering future cruise credit if the lights don't make an officially recorded appearance.

No one can guarantee Mother Nature will perform on demand, but Arctic sailings – especially in the right time of the year! – can get you closest to an intense aurora experience at sea.

2. By Rail: All Aboard the Northern Lights Express 

There's a new way to chase the Northern Lights: by train! Norway and Sweden are putting a fresh spin on the romance of rail travel with journeys into prime aurora-viewing territory.

In Norway, the Northern Lights Train departs from Narvik on an evening excursion along the historic Ofoten Railway, one of Europe's most spectacular northern rail routes. The train stops at remote Katterat, far from city lights, where passengers can watch for the aurora against a backdrop of Arctic wilderness.

In Sweden, rail operator Snälltåget is introducing a special Northern Lights journey in November 2026, traveling from Malmö via Stockholm, Kiruna and Abisko to Narvik in Norway. The multi-day adventure combines overnight rail travel with time to explore the Arctic.

And if you can't choose between ships and trains, Hurtigruten's Follow the Northern Lights itinerary combines scenic rail journeys, a Norwegian coastal cruise and even a night in a glass igloo.

It's an appealing twist on an old-fashioned journey: let the train take the strain while Mother Nature provides the entertainment.

3. By Land: The World's Best Northern Lights Destinations 

Prefer to keep your feet on terra firma? These destinations combine excellent aurora-viewing opportunities with unforgettable winter adventures.

Tromsø, Norway: The self-styled gateway to the Arctic offers Northern Lights excursions, reindeer experiences and dramatic fjord scenery.

Finnish Lapland: Why stand outside shivering when you could watch the heavens from a heated, glass-roofed igloo? Add husky sledding and snowy forests for a winter wonderland.

Iceland:Waterfalls, glaciers, geothermal lagoons and volcanic landscapes provide extraordinary foregrounds for aurora photography. Escape Reykjavík's city lights for better views.

Yukon, Canada, and Alaska, U.S.A: Close to home, both these destinations lie beneath the auroral zone and are celebrated for Northern Lights viewing, with wilderness lodges, dog sledding and guided nighttime excursions.

My advice? Book several nights between September and March – not just a quick weekend thinking the Northern Lights show up every night. 

Choose accommodations with aurora wake-up calls, and don't make the lights your only reason to travel. After all, even when the sky doesn't cooperate, an Arctic adventure is one of the thrills of a lifetime.

START YOUR TRIP!

Story and top video: Lynn Elmhirst, cruise/ travel expert and journalist

Images: Getty

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