The Aurora, commonly referred to as the Northern Lights, is a natural light display of dazzling colours that lights up the skies across our Northern Hemisphere. Although it may look and feel like the colours that a UFO might shine out as aliens approach earth or a witch casting spell in a Disney movie, there's a simple explanation. This phenomenon occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth's atmosphere, producing a dazzling array of colors that can range from greens and pinks to reds, yellows, blues, and violets. The most common color seen in auroras is a vibrant green, which is produced when solar particles interact with oxygen molecules at lower altitudes, typically around 100 kilometers above the Earth's surface.

It's on most people's bucket lists to see the Aurora at least once in their lifetime, so we've rounded up the best northern locations to spot these mystical colours around the world:

1. In a Thermal Igloo in Finland’s Kakslauttanen resort

These enchanting arctic experiences (pictured above) began hosting tourists since 1974, in the heart of Finland's Lapland region. Imagine falling asleep with your loved one in a glass igloo, curled up and warm as the green hues dance magically above your heads? This unforgettable experience is available at the Kakslauttanen Glass IglooHotel. Their modern igloos are the perfect blend of modern luxury and natural beauty, providing a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Surrounded by nature, this unique property is located in the Saariselkä Fell region of Finnish Lapland. The property offers glass igloos and traditional wood chalets and has the world’s largest smoke sauna. The thermal glass igloos feature a bedroom with a glass roof and luxury beds. Some igloos include a bathroom with sauna, while others have shared shower facilities. The chalets feature cooking facilities, a seating area and fireplace. A private sauna is also included. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offers 2 à la carte restaurants, which serve Laplandic specialties such as reindeer and char-grilled salmon. The hotel’s smoke sauna even has its own restaurant, Savusauna. A nearby ice hole is ideal for cooling off. Husky and reindeer safaris can be arranged, and snowmobiling is also possible. Guests can also rent cross-country skis, Nordic walking sticks and snow shoes.

Find out more here: https://www.kakslauttanen.fi/

2. On a tour of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland

   
   

If you'd rather see the Aurora while freezing cold (no judgement) you should try a tour of the Glacier Lagoon in Iceland with the unpronounceable name of Jökulsárlón. The Glacier lagoon in Iceland is close to highway number one, about 370 km (230 miles) east from Reykjavík and it is told to be one of the greatest wonders of nature in Iceland. This lagoon is a recent one, the result of a warming climate. The surface is at sea level and sea water flows into the lagoon at high tide.

Huge blocks of ice constantly break off the glacier, Breiðamerkurjökull, and large icebergs float on the lagoon. The lagoon is not very wide but it is up to 250 meters deep which makes it the deepest lake in Iceland. Jökulsárlón, Iceland's most famous glacier lagoon, is located in Southeast Iceland along Route 1, about a 5-hour drive from Reykjavik. Admired for its breathtaking beauty, it is one of the country's most iconic landmarks.

The stunning Jokulsarlon, Iceland's largest lake, is a must-visit landmark where icebergs break away from an outlet of the vast Vatnajokull Glacier and drift gracefully toward the Atlantic Ocean.This iconic landmark is a highlight of any trip to Iceland, and there are many tours and things to do near Jokulsarlon.

3. On a snowmobile tour in Alta, Norway

If you want to be outside and moving then maybe a snowmobile tour is your best option!

On this trip, your guides combine the excitement of snowmobiling with experiencing the northern lights dancing across the sky. They take you along the old postal road up to the very edge of Finnmarksvidda to a mountain range called Beskardes.

Far away from the lights of the city this trip provides the ideal conditions to see the northern lights in a beautiful winter landscape. If you are lucky we will get to see the magnificent northern lights dancing across the sky on your trip, you'll definitely still be treated with a beautiful arctic night sky. While the tour isn’t focused solely on the lights, the dark winter evening offers a great opportunity to witness them. After mid-March, you may instead see spectacular sunsets.

The best part is: no prior experience is needed to drive a snowmobile. A regular driver’s license is required. Find out more here

4. Camp Ice Cap, Greenlandic Ice Sheet

If you're a real wilderness guy- why not try camping out on the Greenlandic Ice Sheet to feel nature’s strength? It'll be very blustery winds but it might be a great opportunity to see the Northern Lights. The chance to overnight on the Greenlandic Ice Sheet is typically reserved for research and expedition purposes, but to join our special camping experience, one need not be a glaciologist or die-hard adventurer: All that is required to join this unrivaled 2-day/1-night expedition is your sense of adventure and the pursuit of a unique life experience.

Only two ice sheets exist in the world, namely in Antarctica and in Greenland, where the settlement of Kangerlussuaq is fortunate to enjoy a distinguishing feature – it is the only place in Greenland where you can literally drive to the Greenland Ice Sheet and it is situated only 37 km from Kangerlussuaq! From all other locations in Greenland, you must hike, sail or fly.

This mini-expedition offered both summer and winter begins in our 4WD all-terrain vehicle, which features large panoramic windows, making it easy to enjoy the changing landscape along the way. We will drive approximately one hour to our destination, Point 660, and hold an important briefing on safety and the forthcoming activities.

Find out more here: https://albatros-arctic-circle.com/camp-ice-cap

5. Northern Light Resort, White Horse, Yukon Canada

Finally, you can combine all the above with an amazing stay in the Northern Light Resort in the heart of the Yukon wilderness, nestled among the towering peaks of dense forests of the Yukon Black Pine. The resort offers unparalleled hospitality, from which you can adventure outward, with a location just moments from Whitehorse, in Northern Canada.

The Northern Light Resort offers just eight elegant chalets, with each secluded sanctuary designed for rest, recharge, and for clients to begin each day anew. You can see the Northern Lights after or before unwinding by the fire with your feet kicked up, and wake up to majestic views of untamed nature just outside your window.

Find out more here: https://northernlightsyukon.com/