01 February 2024 , 11:47
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Nearly six in 10 Brits (57%) are dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights this year – and they could enjoy the spectacular sight for as little as £68 a night next month, according to travel experts.
With the aurora borealis set to be the most visible it has ever been this year, it is perhaps no wonder that the natural wonder is topping travel bucket lists for 2024. One in three adults (34%) claim they would feel “disappointed” if they never got to see the world-famous phenomenon, according to a survey of 2,000 people.
As a result, travel brand Expedia has compiled a Northern Lights Insider Guide, revealing the top trending hotspots to glimpse the display this year. And luckily, it seems you won't have to travel far – as it will be visible in Aberdeen, Scotland, in March, with a hotel room setting you back just £68 for the night, based on average daily rates from previous years.
Other low-cost destinations to help tick off the bucket list activity this year include Lapland in October, which will cost just £83 a night – nearly half the price of visiting in December, January, or February. And room rates in Greenland in December are just £86 a night – a year-on-year saving of £79, compared to February and March.
Nearly six in 10 are dreaming of glimpsing the aurora borealis display in 2024 (SWNS)The research, via OnePoll.com, found that seeing the Northern Lights is more of a priority for Brits this year than visiting the Pyramids of Egypt (31%), or strolling along the Great Wall of China (28%). Melanie Fish, from Expedia Group Brands, said: “Planning your Northern Lights adventure might feel like navigating uncharted territory, but we want to make it easy for travellers to make this trip a reality. From Churchill to Tromsø, the free guide shows where to stay for under £148 a night, or how to bundle a whole trip together for under £1,500. There’s even a photography guide, to make sure you know how to capture the memory.”
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Expedia also revealed Norway remains the ultimate hotspot for seeing the celestial display, with hotel searches for Tromsø increasing by 40% in 2023. Churchill was the top Canadian destination for Northern Lights viewing, boasting a 140% increase in historical hotel searches year-on-year.
Other trending hotspots included Yellowknife and Yukon, which both saw increases of around 20% year-on-year – continuing its momentum from 2022, which saw demand for both destinations spike over 105%. For more information on how to make the most out of your Northern Lights trip in 2024, visit here.
EXPEDIA’S BEST TIMES AND PLACES FOR BUDGET-FRIENDLY NORTHERN LIGHTS TRIPS, BASED ON HISTORICAL AVERAGE DAILY RATES:
- February: Faroe Islands, rates at £96, a £60 contrast from the most expensive month, September
- March: Aberdeen, priced at £68, £9 cheaper than April
- April: Tromsø, marked at £117, a £63 saving compared to January
- September: Finland, costing £108, £71 less than December
- October: Lapland, priced at £83, nearly half the cost of December, January, and February
- November: Yellowknife, rates at £109, 10% cheaper than January and February
- December: Greenland, costing £86, a £79 difference compared to February and March