Basics
Where and when to see the northern lights
Darkness, clear skies, a bit of solar activity – and the right place. How to plan your chances of seeing the aurora realistically instead of relying on luck.
Northern lights · Lapland · Lofoten · Iceland
Trips to the aurora – planned well.
Best season, forecasts, routes and packing lists for northern lights and winter trips to the far north. With our own photos from Lofoten and northern Norway and carefully researched facts. As of October 2026.
Photo: Northern lights over Lofoten, 23 December
SeasonLate August – early April
Polar night Tromsøapprox. 27 Nov – mid Jan
Polar night Lofotenapprox. 7 Dec – 5 Jan
Northern Lights ClubSeason briefing by e-mail
Best time to go
The aurora season month by month
In the far north auroras are possible from late August to early April. What matters is dark nights, clear skies and enough daylight for the rest of the day.
- Aug – First dark nights from late August
- Sep Tip Equinox, autumn colours, reflections
- Oct Tip Good balance of night and day
- Nov – Long nights, quiet pre-season
- Dec Polar night Polar night, Christmas mood, high prices
- Jan – Often coldest; more light from mid-January
- Feb Tip Lots of snow, days lengthen quickly
- Mar Tip Equinox, winter landscape
- Apr – Early April only, nights get light
Bars = length of the dark night (northern Norway/Lapland). “Tip” = a good balance of activity, weather and daylight.
Destinations
Four regions, one sky
Start here
The essentials
Basics
Understanding the aurora forecast – Kp index, Bz and clouds
Kp 2, Bz negative, 80 percent cloud – what does that mean for tonight? How to read aurora forecasts without getting lost in numbers.
Trip planning
Best time for northern lights in Norway – month by month
Polar night in December or autumn colours in September? Each month has its strengths. An honest comparison for planning your aurora trip.
Gear
Packing list for −30 °C and the polar night – also with kids
At −30 °C the system matters more than the thickest jacket. Our packing list for aurora trips – ready to tick off.
Our own products
Northern lights bundle – all three PDFs
Packing list −30 °C, guide “Lapland with kids” and Lofoten winter roadbook together – cheaper than buying them separately.
24,90 € 29,70 €
View product →
Membership
Northern Lights Club
Season briefings, route PDFs and checklists for northern lights and winter trips – once a month by e-mail.
from 4,90 € / month
Join →
Routes
Winter routes with maps
Stages, ferries and driving times – with numbers only where they can be sourced.
Routes
Lofoten in winter by car – route Svolvær, Henningsvær, Leknes, Reine, Å
Mountains rising straight from the sea, fishing villages in twilight and auroras above the road. How to plan Lofoten in winter by car – realistically and safely.
Routes
Route Tromsø – Nord-Troms – Skjervøy in winter (with ferries)
Fjords, ferries, the Lyngen Alps and very little light – the drive from Tromsø into Nord-Troms is one of Norway's most impressive winter routes. Here's how to plan it.
Read on
Plan, pack, set off
Trip planning
Planning Lapland with kids – season, places, activities, clothing
Reindeer, huskies, snow to the horizon – and temperatures where planning matters. What really counts on a Lapland trip with children.
Destinations
Tromsø in winter – polar night, northern lights, trips and practical tips
Northern Norway's largest town is the gateway to the aurora for many. What makes Tromsø special in winter – and how to use the days between the nights.
Photography
Photographing the northern lights with phone and camera – settings that work
Photographing the aurora is easier than many think – with the right settings. Getting the best out of phone and camera, with starting values instead of jargon.
Destinations
Iceland in winter by rental car – planning, roads, insurance, auroras
We are planning our Iceland trip for winter 2026/27. This is our planning basis – official sources instead of myths. After the trip we will add our own experience and photos.
Trip planning
Christmas in Lapland with kids – planning, Santa and alternatives
Snow, candles, Santa on the Arctic Circle – Christmas in Lapland is a dream for many families. A planning article with everything you should know early.
Activities
Husky safari with kids – how it works, age, clothing and animal welfare
For many children the husky ride is the highlight of the trip. What to expect and what to look for when choosing an operator.
Gallery
From our trips
Our own products
Planning guides to take along
Packing list, Lapland guide and Lofoten roadbook as PDFs – individually or in a cheaper bundle.
Recommended
Bundle · 3 PDFs · German
Northern lights bundle – all three PDFs
Packing list −30 °C, guide “Lapland with kids” and Lofoten winter roadbook together – cheaper than buying them separately.
24,90 € 29,70 € −16 %
PDF · 8 pages · German
Guide “Lapland with kids” (PDF)
Season, places, activities with age limits, cold, accommodation and budget planning – a compact PDF planner with checklists.
9,90 €
PDF · 6 pages · German
Lofoten winter roadbook (PDF)
Route along the E10 from Svolvær to Å, arrival options, winter rules, aurora plan and day planning – ready to print.
9,90 €
PDF · 7 pages · German
Packing list for −30 °C (PDF)
The complete tick-off list for Lapland, Tromsø and Lofoten in winter – for adults and children, ready to print.
9,90 €
Membership
Northern Lights Club
Season briefings, route PDFs and checklists for northern lights and winter trips – once a month by e-mail.
- Monthly season briefing with polar night dates, booking windows and changes
- Route PDFs (Tromsø, Lofoten, Nord-Troms, Iceland) to print
- Checklists and cheat sheets (Kp index, camera settings, packing list)
- Discount notes on new PDFs as soon as they are published
About us
We love planning trips to where it gets dark.
We are a Vienna-based company and have travelled to Lapland and the Lofoten Islands with our family; Iceland follows in winter 2026/27. Here we share what we researched while planning – with sources and without invented stories.
More about us →