Last updated on June 9th, 2024 at 01:05 pm

Eager to witness nature unveil unparalleled magic right before your eyes? Then, you must add a trip that includes viewing the northern lights, aka aurora borealis, to your bucket list.

I can guarantee this once-in-a-lifetime experience is like nothing else. We say this confidently because we have been blessed with the great fortune of seeing the northern lights on more than one occasion.

As much as everyone is raving on social media that 2024 is the year to see northern lights (and they are all factually correct!), not everyone is going to be lucky enough to spot them on their first visit unless perhaps you take a guided tour.

In this post, I want to give you tips on seeing northern lights by yourself. But first, let’s start with the basics.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

What is an Aurora?

In layperson’s terms, the display of dancing green, purple, or red lights (or a mixture) in the sky is called Auroras.

Scientifically explained, Auroras are caused by electrically charged particles emitted by the Sun (also called solar winds). When these particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere, they hit its magnetic field and collide with Oxygen and Nitrogen in the atmosphere. In this collision process, they release extra energy in the form of photons, aka colorful lights or Auroras!

FUN FACT: This year, i.e., 2024, it is predicted that the solar storms will be at their peak. What does that mean? It means there will be plenty of opportunities to see powerful northern lights this year.

What is the Difference Between Auroras and Northern Lights?

The Auroras in the Northern Hemisphere are called aurora borealis, commonly called northern lights. The Auroras in the Southern Hemisphere are called Aurora Australis or Southern Lights. Did you know this little tidbit?

Where Are Northern Lights Visible?

The closer you are to the Arctic Circle, the stronger the intensity of the light’s appearance. Again, scientifically, this has to do with a stronger magnetic field residing near the poles of the Earth. The most popular countries for viewing the northern lights are:

1. Iceland
2. Finland
3. Norway
4. USA – Alaska
5. Canada – Northern region (including Banff)

You may even see the northern lights in the UK and Northern parts of the USA during geo-magnetic storms, predicted to be more frequent in 2024.

TIP: For the folks living in the US, it would be easier to see the northern lights in Iceland if you live on the East Coast or Alaska if you live on the West Coast.

Best Time to See the Northern Lights?

Ideally, you can start seeing northern lights from the middle of August to the middle of April. TIP: The best times to see northern lights would be between September and March. We visited Iceland in March ’23 and experienced a strong display at Kp7. Then we visited Finland at the end of December ’23 and saw a mild display at Kp2.

What time at night will you see the northern lights? This is a common question. The Kp index will determine this, and I’ve covered the answer to this in bullets 4 & 5 below.

Can You See the Northern Lights Without a Tour?

Absolutely! You don’t need a northern lights tour to see them; you can chase them yourself. Make sure to read the important tips below to be successful.

The term Aurora Chasing is often used since there is no guaranteed formula for viewing northern lights. It would be best if you were out and about chasing the right conditions in which aurora borealis are visible, and in most cases, you will see the best possible lights post-midnight.

Tips for Viewing Northern Lights Like a Pro

For a successful northern lights chasing trip, ensure you have most of the boxes checked below.

1. Pick the Right Location & Time of Year

As mentioned above, make sure you choose the right countries closer to the Arctic. Also, make sure you are visiting in the months between September and March.

2. Find Clear Skies

Clear skies are essential to spotting northern lights. If there is rain or cloud cover in the weather forecast, then it will be a no-show. You must keep checking the weather app and the KP index to predict how your aurora chasing will go that night.

Here are a few things that will help you find clear & dark skies:

• Check the local weather app to understand the cloud coverage forecast. For Iceland, use their official weather forecast website for cloud coverage, road closures, and Aurora forecasts.
• Be prepared to drive to the area without cloud coverage if possible for the best chances.
• Look at the sky above you to see if you can see stars clearly. If yes, then you are good to go.

It’s called chasing northern lights for a reason. Even the tours will be canceled if there is a 100% chance of rain and cloud cover in the entire region.

3. Find Dark Skies

Similar to clear skies, having dark skies with little to no light pollution is also the key. Here are a few things that will help you find dark skies:

• Choose your accommodation far away from ambient city light.
• Avoid traveling close to full moon nights. The days closer to new moon nights will give you the best dark skies for the best aurora visibility.

4. Download the Aurora App on Your Phone & Understand What the Kp Index Is

The Kp index is an indicator of the disturbances of Earth’s magnetic field. In other words, the higher the Kp index, the stronger the geo-magnetic storm and the better your chances to see the northern lights. The index tells you the score on a scale of 0-9, where 9 is a rarity when the geo-magnetic storms are crazy strong.

When we visited Iceland in March of 2023, we were lucky enough to hit the KP index of 6 & 7 for two nights in a row. A strong magnetic storm like that can be expected a lot more in 2024. We saw reds and purple in the sky on those two nights in Iceland. More commonly, you will start seeing green northern lights at the KP index of 2 or 3. Our photos taken on Dec 31st, 2023, from Finland above were at a KP index of 2.

There are many mobile apps available to track the Kp levels at your destination. These apps will also tell you what time of the day is the strongest Kp level. I used the “My Aurora Forecast & Alerts” app for Apple and Android. The Kp index fluctuates a lot if you are trying to see the prediction months in advance, but it will be pretty accurate within a day or two window.

5. Be Prepared to Be Awake Past Midnight

The best lights are typically seen past midnight, between 1-2 am. Having said that, I have now seen the northern lights soon after 10 pm in Iceland & Finland. If your app says the KP index will be 2 or higher AND you have clear skies that night, I highly recommend that you keep checking the sky now and then.

Pro Tip: Point your smartphone camera to the sky to see if you spot green lights on the screen. The phone camera can catch faint northern lights better than your naked eyes. If the KP index is 3 or higher, then you will be able to see strong green lights without the help of a phone.

We hit the jackpot on both our trips, especially in Iceland in March of 2023 when there was a geomagnetic storm, and we saw reds in the sky along with green and purple. I would love to experience northern lights in Alaska next (manifestation!).

6. Be Patient & Flexible With Your Schedule

Increase your odds of seeing the northern lights by spending at least 3-5 days instead of just 1 or 2 days. This is only to give yourself a buffer time for the weather conditions to improve if it’s been snowing or raining.

Additionally, let’s say you find a breakthrough in the cloud coverage, but that happens to be an hour’s drive away from your current location, so be prepared to drive. It’s called Aurora Chasing for a reason! Be more flexible with your plans & itineraries, and be prepared to spend time in the car until you spot the green lights. If you are really lucky, you will see the northern lights straight from your cabin, but if you are not, then go chase them!

7. Dress Appropriately For the Cold Weather

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”

As this saying goes, carry your warmest parka jackets and winter accessories. We’ve written a post on how to dress up for extreme winter – give it a read for more information!

In a nutshell, below is what layering up should mean when visiting extremely cold countries. Always invest in high quality gear (look for deals and sales) over low quality, low price items. You will get what you pay for!

Tops – Shirts and Jackets

• Base layer – Long sleeve thermal or merino wool shirt to wear under your clothing.
• A breathable 2nd layer – A fleece jacket, sweatshirt, or wool sweater. I wore a thick shirt in Finland and fleece sweater in Iceland.
• A windbreaker 3rd layer – I recommend this layer if you go to Iceland but don’t own a thick parka. (I wore a sweater as my 3rd layer in Finland since it wasn’t very windy there).
• A warm outer layer – A good quality parka or winter jacket. I bought this Fjallraven parka recently, and it’s the best investment I’ve ever made. This parka was extremely warm in negative temperatures in Finland. But since I didn’t have this parka for my Iceland trip, I combined an Eddie Bauer windbreaker (3rd layer) with a Columbia winter jacket (4th layer).

Bottoms – Pants, Socks, and Shoes

• Base bottom layer – Thermal or merino wool leggings to wear under your pants.
• Outer bottom layer – Good quality snow pants with warm, fleece lining.
• Snow Boots – Make sure you purchase good quality water-resistant boots that are comfortable to walk in. I own a pair of Sorrels and Gaurav owns a pair of Vasque boots. In Iceland, since there wasn’t much snow on the ground in March, I was comfortable walking around with my Merrell hiking shoes.

Cold Weather Accessories and Extras

• Accessories – Warm hats, thick gloves, scarves, neck gaiters that can cover your face as well, and don’t forget sunglasses (snow-reflected sunrays can hurt your eyes), and wool socks.
• Hand & Foot Warmers – These might come in handy on those nights when the temperatures tumble downhill.

By layering up, you can easily shed the layers if you get hot in the car. We even dressed our toddler in similar layers, and he was a trooper in negative temperatures. Again, see our winter clothing guide for lots of options for men and women.

PACKING TIP: Carry all your thick jackets with you on the plane instead of packing them in your luggage. You will save so much luggage space and weight limit.

8. Photography Readiness

Nowadays, phone cameras have amazing night photography capability, so you will have no problems capturing great photos and videos with your smartphone. However, if you want high-resolution, sharp, and clear photos, then you will have to rely on a DSLR.

Tips For Photographing the Northern Lights:

• Carry a wide lens with the smallest f-stop possible, i.e., f/1.8 or f/2.8. We rented a Sigma 14mm f/1.8 lens for our Sony Alpha DSLR during our Iceland trip.
• Carry a sturdy tripod for those crisp shots of the night sky
• Set the focus on infinity
• Start with the ISO at 2400 and increase if the first shot is too dark. Most of my shots are taken at ISO 3200.
• Set the shutter speed to not lower than 1-2 seconds. Remember, the auroras are dancing fast, and any longer shutter speed can cause motion blur in your image.

9. Pray For a Magnetic Storm

Finally, rub that lucky charm of yours because even after all this planning, you’ll still need a whole lot of luck to witness aurora borealis.

10. Get Excited

If you feel overwhelmed after reading this blog post, just take a deep breath. This is only to get your expectation levels set while also getting you prepared for the action/vacation. Get excited about this amazing trip that you may be planning very soon. TIP: If you are going as a group, assign each one of you a task (i.e., one can be the weather tracker, the other can be the Kp tracker, third the driver, fourth the photographer, etc). Overall, remember to have a good time!

I hope you enjoyed this extensive guide to seeing the northern lights. Let me know if you have any questions by commenting below or on our Instagram.

Happy & Safe Travels!