26 September 2023 , 15:44
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Seeing the Northern Lights is on most people's bucket lists, and the good news is that according to scientists, now could be some of the best times to see them.
As the days shorten and darkness descends upon the Northern Hemisphere, the best countries for seeing the Lights have an increasing number of opportunities to witness the natural phenomenon. The sun's poles reverse every 11 years, triggering bursts of solar activity that result in the mesmerising display. Scientists predict the next solar maximum will occur at the end of 2024, meaning the next few years will be a time for the lights to shine.
The Aurora has already been spotted in Scotland, and early autumn trips to Scandinavia and the Nordics are becoming increasingly popular. Sue McAlinden from specialist operator Best Served Scandinavia reports a surge in interest post-pandemic, with over a 10% increase in enquiries specifically about autumn aurora breaks. She cites the warmer weather and fewer crowds as key advantages of travelling during this season.
Seeing the Northern Lights is at the top of many Brits' post-Covid travel bucket lists (Lev Fedoseyev/TASS/Getty Images)Travelling in autumn can also mean that you can keep the costs down - for example when the Mirror took a look, we found flights from £15 to some of the Aurora hotspots.
Popular destinations like Iceland, which is notoriously expensive during Northern Lights season, can also become somewhat more feasible (although still expensive). "The autumn months are a great time to hunt for the Northern Lights for a multitude of reasons," Liz Cairns, head of product and partnerships at Flight Centre, said of Iceland. "Not only is travel more affordable during these months, the region is also less crowded than in the summer and less chilly than in the winter."
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If you are considering a trip to finally tick the Aurora off the bucket list, there are some great packages too - check out some of the highlights below...
Once-in-lifetime Northern Lights holidays
- Four-night Extraordinary Finnish Lapland itinerary is priced from £3,100 per person (based on two sharing), including full board accommodation, flights and transfers. To book, visit scottdunn.com or ring 020 8682 5030.
- Five-day Land of the Northern Lights is priced from £1,125 per person (based on two sharing). This includes accommodation, activities, and flights. For bookings, visit flightcentre.co.uk or dial 0208 296 0407.
- Five-day Autumn Adventure trip, priced from £1,910 per person. This package includes half-board accommodation, engaging activities, and flights. To book your adventure, visit best-served.co.uk or dial 0203 318 6898.
- Four-night Best of Arctic Autumn trip is available from £3,160pp (based on two sharing), inclusive of full board accommodation, activities, flights, and transfers. To secure your booking, visit sunvil.co.uk or call 020 8758 4722.
- 10-day 'Northern Lights on a Winter Arctic Cruise' package starts from £2,495 per person (based on two sharing), which includes flights, transport, activities, accommodation, and some meals. Departure dates are February 2, 13 or 24 in 2024. To book your spot, visit greatrail.com or ring 01904 521 936.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]