Dancing with the Aurora: A Northern Lights Odyssey
In a world full of endless possibilities, isn’t the natural phenomenon of the northern lights truly amazing?
These lights, seen in the cold, dark skies of the far north ( countries around the Arctic circle, namely, Norway, Sweden, and parts of Iceland, known as Nordic countries) illuminate the sky with an array of colors, from soft pastels to vibrant hues of green, pink, and purple. Sometimes moving slowly like clouds, sometimes in streaks. Reminding us of never losing our sense of wonder, hope, and awe and of life’s surprises!
The northern lights had been on our bucket list for quite a while, and after checking our schedules we could finally make it happen in April 2023.
This blog has been dished out to benefit tourists planning a trip to this part of the Universe, who need to know everything about the northern lights— where, and how! All key information you’ll find here.
The northern lights also known as aurora borealis are visible during the months of September to April in clear, dark, and cloudless skies. Tromso in Norway is a great base to set anchor to enjoy the northern lights. This picture postcard city is accessible by flights from Oslo.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see these intriguing, colorful lights for the majority of us, the ones we specifically travel for. Therefore, planning, packing (appropriate winter clothes), and prior reservations are necessary. The best way to be introduced to the lights is through a guided tour. There are various options — from group bus tours to private tours, cruises, and boats. Each has its own advantages, tourists can select the best according to their needs. I would recommend small group tours that are more flexible. An important word of advice — book the tours well in advance as they fill up really fast.
I would have loved to enjoy the northern lights aboard a cruise, sailing on the famous Norwegian sea, traversing through the famous fjords. Unfortunately, they were fully booked. So opted for a private van tour, which was excellent.
It is a bit challenging to spot the northern lights, as sometimes they may be hard to find. Therefore having a skilled guide accompany you is worthwhile. They are experienced in predicting where and when to find the lights and know how to track the weather. Additionally, making the trip interactive with accounts of their experiences; always hopeful and reassuring of successfully seeing the lights.
If you have two chatty and amiable guides accompanying you, your journey would surely turn out to be entertaining plus informative. And that’s what we were gifted with! Additionally, we learned a lot about Norwegian culture and lifestyle.
Often, you have to travel far outside the city for great views, which is the reason why it’s called the northern lights `chase’. You have to literally go on a wild goose chase in search of areas where the weather is clear, skies cloudless, and wait till it’s totally dark to catch those dancing lights. It is the most incredible experience, as the colorful lights shift and swirl, an ever-changing canvas of light is created, this combined with the stars almost seems as though you are being watched by beings from some other world.
For a relaxed and easy stay at Tromso, elaborated below are some useful tips and information:
Usually, tours start late in the evening, after sunset, and can last up to 6 to 7 hours, depending upon how much longer you want to be there. For night riders this would be a breeze, but for those who hit the sack early, staying awake is what you should be ready for !!
You have to bear the extreme cold to witness something as captivating as this! The sub-zero temperatures of the outside require you to be well-covered in thermals and winter clothes. Most tours provide thermals and snow boots in case it is not sufficient and offer hot drinks, like, soup, hot chocolate, and light snacks to guests. All this is included in the package.
There’s no better way to be comfortable in the freezing outdoors than to have a fire, which too is arranged by the guides. The tour operators ensure that guests are looked after well, providing enough flexibility, stopping at vantage viewing spots, and overall making it a pleasant experience.
