Are Northern Lights Holidays Worth the Hype?

 

Aurora Borealis, also known as the northern lights, are still widely regarded as one of the most splendid natural wonders.

Pictures with neon colors of green, purple, and pink painting the sky during the night usually make travelers’ adventurous hearts yearn for excitement.

But for those planning their next winter vacation destination, the question remains: Is it really worth having Northern Lights holidays?

A dive into Aurora Borealis.

For all those tourists out there, the it is quite clearly a positive response that Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is an atmospheric brilliance in the Earth’s polar region resulting from particle impacts with the magnetosphere.

This collision produces flashes of different colours in the nightscape, apparently green, pink and violet.

While the attractions created by people are generally exciting and captivating, the appearance of the Aurora draws cold, but it is a wonderful feeling.

Some might adore mythical creatures and desperately need aliens in their lives, but being an admirer of Mother Nature and getting an urge to feel like a cosmic being, nothing will compare to watching the lights move across the sky under the darkness of Arctic weather.

Why the challenge?

Of course, Northern Lights holidays are not without their difficulties. 

The most obvious challenge is the cyclic and unpredictable nature of the Aurora sparking challenges in its industrial utilization.

That means you can be sure you’ll see them slammed on the horizon; often their appearances hinge on solar activity, clear skies, and lack of light pollution, even in the most visited places in the Northern Lights tour routes.

Visitors may experience that they require some tolerance, because even if the Internet connection is poor, there can be cloudy days or low solar activity.

Some people love that aspect of it, but then there are people who rely on those auroras to be at a certain place at a certain time and if it doesn’t happen then they are disappointed.

The other difficulty is specifically the surroundings. Although it may be observed in some tropical countries, most hunting grounds of Northern Lights last during falls to winters of Arctic or subArctic places; for instance; Norway, Finland, Iceland or Canada.

These winter vacation destinations are characterized by a fairly extreme climate, mostly below freezing during winter.

It causes shivering and other issues if a person is not well prepared that they will stand outside for hours waiting for the lights to appear.

Northern Lights tour: An affordable fiet?

Instead of sleeping in a hostel or overpaying for a local’s bed, you are forced to spend thousands of dollars to see nature’s show because Northern Lights tours can be pricey when undertaken in areas that call for special equipment, guides and aircraft.

If you don’t want high-end accommodation or expensive Northern Lights tours you can find cheaper alternatives such as hostels or even chasing the lights on your own, however, even if the main purpose is the Northern Lights, this will cost some money, especially if you planned this trip in combination with such activities as dog sledding or snowmobiling.

I would like to note, however, that the difficulties involved in a Northern Lights holiday are rarely a match for the benefits that the tourists get to enjoy.

Worthy North Lights packages have not only the main attraction of aurora but also include other interesting activities that would justify the entire trip even if the lights are not spotted.

Besides the Northern Lights, I wanted to feel the trueKelley: atmosphere of being in the Arctic — sled dogs and a snowy trail, a cozy glass-roofed cabin where one can wake up surrounded by stars.

Most winter vacation light destinations also provide chances for cultural activities like getting to know the native Sámi people of Finnish Lapland or visiting Attractions in the Ice Hotel in Sweden, thus turning the trip into something that is not just the lights.

Magical Getaway to Winter vacation destinations.

Getting away from the crowds of Iceland or Tromsø, try some quiet and even incredibly Infrequent locations.

There is a lake known as Inari in Finland; it is a beautiful and lovely place mostly covered in low light and no pollution from artificial light is experienced thus can be ideal place to watch the Aurora alone.

They are also seen in the Fisher man’s archipelago, the lesser-known region of Lofoten in Norway, which boasts of fishing stations and fjords.

For an even greater thrill, travel to Svalbard in Norway which is among few places in the world that can be called polar settlement.

It’s basically for 24 hours during winter, and the months without totality are perfect for witnessing northern lights, and other attractions such as ice cave tours and polar bear tours will make the journey worthwhile.

Northern Lights holidays can promise a good dose of culture and food for those that are interested in such things.

In Finland, you are privileged to get acquainted with Sami culture: reindeer farming and Polish reminiscence food such as Bidos — Reindeer stew or Loimulohi — blazed salmon.

Boast of a king crab feast in a desolate fishing village in Norway and taste sweet dessert made from a rare arctic berry called cloudberries in Sweden. 

The Murmansk region of Russia is another offbeat destination for foodies to taste all the cold dishes and to try ice diving.

Festivals are also good for your trip. Now, the Polar Night Festival in Tromso invites concert and cultural performances during these extended Arctic nights, and the Skábmagovat Film Festival held outdoors in snowy Inari brings indigenous Sami moviemaking to life.

That is why, after Christmas, only a dozen kilometers away from the nearest reindeer farm transformed into a northern winter wonderland with light installations, sleds with reindeer and other facilities connected to Santa Clause.

So what’s the final verdict?

All in all, Northern Lights holidays are as fascinating as everyone says they are when you manage your expectations well.

The Aurora Borealis is a spectacular light show that is naturally occurring and like most commonly known natural events, it can only be enjoyed with the proper understanding and patience.

It means that you should have the goal not just to arrive at the destination — to ski the steep slopes, for example, — but to travel through snowy areas, interact with the people, participate in such fun activities as dog sledding or ice fishing, and suchlike.

As far as Northern Lights themselves are concerned, they can hardly be promised and yet, all the rest of it — the Arctic, the adventure, the chance to contemplate one of the greatest spectacles on Earth — make a Northern Lights holiday a unique one.

Take the best warm wear, be ready for anything and get ready for a trip that could turn out to be the high point as far as your existence is concerned. 

Let these facts turn to your itinerary for your next trip.

Check out MICEcafe Journey to explore the northern lights.