THERE’S nothing quite like the thrill of seeing the northern lights or ‘aurora borealis’, as they are also known. Watching the sky come alive with other-worldly lights is a truly soul-stirring encounter and on many people’s bucket lists.
This year is set to offer one of the best opportunities to see the northern lights in a decade or more, due to a natural phenomenon where the sun’s polarity flips, which happens approximately every 11 years. And there is no other place on earth that offers a better chance of spotting the lights, than Northern Norway. This is because large areas of the aurora zone are inaccessible for travellers and winter temperatures in the majority of inland areas within the aurora zone are very extremely low. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, however, the coastal areas of Norway have a milder climate than other locations at the same latitude. These areas are also much easier to access by several flight connections from all over the world.The aurora belt hits Northern Norway in the Lofoten islands and follows the coast all the way to Nordkapp, Europe’s northernmost point. The interest in trips to Northern Norway to watch this spectacular natural lightshow has soared in recent years and visitor numbers are expected to receive a further this year. In the last five years there has been a 130 per cent rise in commercial bed nights in the three most northerly counties in Norway, creating a growth value of around $18.8 million.Exciting arctic adventure packages combine a chance of spotting the elusive lights along with dog-sledding or snowmobiling through the frozen plains, sleeping in an ice hotel, whale watching, ice fishing, photography tuitions, cross-country skiing and coach tours. Tourists can go hunting the lights on board the traditional Norwegian coastal steamer, Hurtigruten, calling at 34 ports of call along the beautiful frozen coastline of Norway.