Northern Lights Hunt

Catching sight of the ethereal Northern Lights, also known as aurora borealis, is at the top of many a Singaporean’s bucket list. The Northern Lights are not a magical or mystical phenomenon (though they certainly seem like it), but the result of gaseous atmospheric particles reacting with the sun’s charged particles.

Here’s where you can catch sight of the Northern Lights.

Iceland

There’s a reason Iceland has seen such a spike in tourism since the Northern Lights frequency peaked in 2013. It’s one of the best places to see the Northern Lights, which can be spotted just about anywhere, even occasionally in Reykjavik in spite of light pollution.

To sweeten the deal, Iceland is a fascinating travel destination thanks to natural wonders such as the magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall and the Þingvellir National Park where you can see the rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. After exploring the great outdoors, there’s nothing like taking a dip in the Blue Lagoon, a world-famous geothermal pool in Reykjavik.

Tromso, Norway

The Northern Lights can be seen in many parts of Norway, with one of the best being Tromso, located on the other end of the country from Oslo. While catching sight of the Northern Lights is not unheard of in Oslo, Tromso is definitely worth a visit, not just for the Northern Lights, but also for the charm of the city.

Tromso is home to many unexpected museums such as the Polar Museum, where you can learn about Arctic hunting, and the Perspektivet Museum, a photography museum that showcases Tromso’s diversity. Taking the famous cable car up Mount Storsteinen for stunning views is also highly recommended.

Lapland, Finland

While the Northern Lights can be seen in many parts of Finland, Finnish Lapland not only gives you a high chance of catching them but is also home to lots of tourist infrastructure designed to make the Northern Lights viewing experience an unforgettable one. For instance, you can choose to view the Northern Lights from the comfort of your own glass igloo or aurora dome.

Finnish Lapland is also home to the famous Santa Claus Village located in Rovaniemi. It’s Christmas every day at this Santa Clause theme park, where you can get up close and personal with Santa and his reindeer and feast on Finnish cuisine at the world’s only ice restaurant.

Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska, and also a great place to spot the Northern Lights while discovering the stunning landscapes of the US’s most sparsely populated state. There are good viewing spots anywhere from 3 to 40km from the city center, and tour agencies can take you to them if you’re not up for the drive.

While you’ll see lots of features that are typical of American cities such as a proliferation of chain stores like Wal-Mart, there is lots of evidence of Alaskan culture, too. Enjoy local goodies like salmon bake, take a cruise on the Chena River and visit the vast Denali National Park.

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