One of the most unforgettable experiences you can have in Scandinavia is witnessing the Northern Lights. If you’re lucky, you can catch a glimpse of the beautiful green and purple waves dancing across the night sky on a clear night.
Now is the time to start planning your Northern Lights expedition because winter 2025/26 is expected to be the peak of the Aurora Borealis.
What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights, also called the Aurora Borealis, are caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with the Earth’s atmospheric gases. Solar flares release charged solar particles, which come to earth’s atmosphere through solar winds.
The collisions between the particles and gases in the Earth’s atmosphere release light particles that manifest as the hues of green, pink and purple that you see in the sky.
When and where to catch the Northern Lights
The Northern Lights often appear near the poles because Earth’s magnetic field directs charged solar particles toward the polar regions. So, the best place to view the auroras are in locations like Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland and other auroral zone regions.
For the best chance to see the Northern Lights, plan your visit between late August to mid-April under dark and cloudless skies. The skies are darkest in the winter months, making them ideal for aurora viewing.
The solar maximum is predicted for 2025, according to NASA. This means that solar activity will be at its peak, therefore a great time to view the Northern Lights.
Check out these amazing Scandinavian tours that include Northern Lights tours
*The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are a naturally occurring phenomenon – sightings are weather dependent and not guaranteed.
Northern Lights in Majestic Iceland
7 days | September 2025 – April 2026
- Destination specialist escorted tour
- Hunting for the Northern Lights in the countryside
- Visits to Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon
- Touring the south coast
- Escorted tour, with time at leisure in Reykajvík
Aurora Exploration- Iceland
9 days | September 2025 – April 2026
- Escorted tour
- Searching for the Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights
- Visits to Vatnajökull Glacier and Jökulsárlón
- Lagoon Relaxing at the famous Blue Lagoon
- An encounter with the unique Icelandic horse
Arctic Lapland Adventure
13 days | December 2025 – March 2026
- Semi-Escorted tour
- Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish Lapland
- Spend the night in a glass igloo room!
- Visit the Snowhotel Norway coastal cruise
- Reindeer and husky safaris
Winter Delights- Tromsø, Norway
7 days | November 2025 – March 2026
- semi-independent itinerary
- Hunting for the dazzling Northern Lights
- Exploring Tromsø, Capital of the Arctic
- Reindeer and dog sledding excursions
- The beauty of the arctic winter
Check out this itinerary with a Northern Lights guarantee!
Norway by Land & Coastal Cruise via Hurtigruten or Havila Voyages
16 days | Most days, all year
- Staying in Bergen, the Gateway to the Fjords
- Experience Norway in a Nutshell with the Flåm Railway
- Visiting western ports along Norway’s stunning coast
- Accommodation on a world-class ship Stops in the Lofoten Islands
Hurtigruten Northern Lights Promise
Since 2014, Hurtigruten has promised their guests a free voyage if Norway’s Northern Lights don’t occur on their voyages of 11 days or more between autumn and spring.
They’ve even extended their promise, starting it from 20 September instead of October, and continuing it until the end of March.
Havila Northern Lights Promise
Experiencing the Northern Lights is the cherry on top of any Norwegian adventure, and Havila is so confident you’ll witness the spectacular phenomenon during your journey, they’re making you a promise: if the lights don’t show up, your next voyage is on them—free of charge.
From 1 October to 31 March, sail with Havila on the 12-day Round Voyage, and they promise the magical Aurora Borealis will make an appearance. If nature plays shy and the lights don’t grace the skies on your trip, you’ll receive a complimentary 6- or 7-day voyage on them. Your choice: head northbound on their Voyage North from Bergen to Kirkenes or sail southbound on their Voyage South from Kirkenes to Bergen. It’s their way of ensuring you get your Northern Lights moment, no matter what.