Scandinavia's magical Northern Lights often occupy a very lofty spot on many people's travel goals, and with good reason. This stunning natural phenomenon is caused by collisions between electrically charged particles entering the earth's atmosphere from the sun. These collisions cause a myriad of tiny bursts of light, or photons, which make up the aurora visible to us. This natural light show can be seen from above the magnetic poles in both the northern and southern hemispheres, and in the north are known as 'Aurora Borealis'.
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The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis to be precise, can appear in many different forms, from sporadic wisps of muted colour to shimmering ribbons of bright light. The shades visible also vary depending on the type of gas particles that collide, but the hues are most commonly an assortment of green, pink and violet. The subsequent kaleidoscopic light show can last anything from a few minutes to all night long, depending on the solar winds, which results in one of Scandinavia's most inspiring natural treasures in a region that is very much 'powered by nature'.
The Northern Lights can be elusive and unpredictable, and sightings are never guaranteed. The lights are best seen on clear, dark nights between late August to early April. With fewer daylight hours, winter brings greater opportunities to view the phenomenon, with darkness falling at 6pm and lasting until 6am. It is important to view the lights from an area with little to no light pollution, as although the lights can occur at any time throughout the day, the dashes of brilliant colour are often only visible with the naked eye against a pitch black sky.
Great Rail Journeys passengers on our Northern Lights tours are provided with the best possible conditions from which to view the magical light show. Those travelling on the The Northern Lights & Lapland tour journey to a quiet location in the Lofoten Islands. The minimum light pollution here results in fantastic conditions from which to hunt for the Northern Lights, which create a breathtaking scene as they dance over the winter landscapes. We also visit Bodø, a coastal city beneath the auroral oval which is known to provide stunning views of the magical aurora on clear nights. On the Northern Lights over Swedish Lapland tour, we enjoy an expedition into the wilderness of the snowy tundra, where we embark on a photography safari with an aurora photographer and expert. Our viewpoint in the heart of Abisko National Park is renowned as one of the best locations in the world from which to view the aurora.
Seeing the Northern Lights is a truly unique experience. A stunning spectacle that is never the same twice, those lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the fantastic, surreal cascade of colours are guaranteed to remember the experience for a lifetime.
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