In fact, under the right conditions, you can see the northern lights anywhere in Finland! Aurora village is the best place to go to see the northern lights. Life is lonely here all year long, and ice cold during winter, but Yellowknife has one very special, otherworldly talent to show off to those who make the pilgrimage. They offer great activities during the day like drive your own dog sled team which is what we did and it was amazing. 30 March 2018 The lights are accessible 240 days a year with the exception of the summer months (June, July, and August) when the sky doesn’t get dark enough – … If an aurora alert caught you downtown, you can head to Bush Pilots Monument, located up the hill in Raccine Park, Old Town… Late in the evening, Mike lights a campfire in front of the cabin. Privacy, warmth, cozy and cheap. It is luxury in the heart of the wilderness, and the lodge has become popular as a corporate retreat – no mobile phone service can help relax the most stressed-out manager. Making up Canada’s second largest Province, The Northwest Territories start above the 60th parallel. Aurora village is the best place to go to see the northern lights. What the heck is the Aurora Borealis. A crackling campfire keeps visiters to Blackford Lake Lodge toasty warm (photo: Tessa MacIntosh). (more…)... Watch as the sky catches on fire at Canada's wonderful Blachford Lake Lodge. Also try British tour operator Ski Safari (01273 224060, skisafari.com) has add-on trips to the Yukon to see the northern lights in winter. Compared to other destinations, there are a lot of places you can see the Northern Lights in Canada. Few experiences are as awe-inspiring as seeing the northern lights and Yellowknife, Canada is one of the best places on earth to see this magnificent show. When Blachford’s owner, Mike Freeland bought this land 30 years ago, there was nothing here but a few cabins. At night the aurora lights stream across the whole sky big and bright. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Once again, I have to be patient. yeah, I’ll make that claim. The very best place to see aurora borealis in Canada — if not the world — is the Northwest Territories, where they’re generally visible 240 nights a year.The optimal timeframe is either fall or winter (though summer is pretty good, too).. The amazing Northern Lights occurs by the interaction of solar wind with the Earth’s magnetic field. Located on the Ingraham Trail near Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories – it is the best place in the world to see the Northern Lights, better known as Aurora Borealis. (Such as it is in the far north.) After two nights remaining awake without any sign of the lights on the horizon, I want to finally see the Aurora Borealis dance across the arctic sky – outside of the city, in a special place only accessible by seaplane. The Aurora Borealis seems to have got under my skin. best Northern Lights hotels in the world. Situated in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories region, Northern Lites Motel is set 1.3 km from Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. She tells me about being touched by the Northern Lights as a child. Several voyages to choose from, including Midnight Sun and Northern Lights expeditions, Accompanied by expert Expedition Team and onboard state-of-the-art technology. If you want to see the northern lights in Tromsø there are several easy ways to do this. The sky remains pitch black. If you’d like to read more about other unique experiences in Canada, here are some of our favourite picks from our list of 100 things to do in Canada before you die: Book a selected departure of Discover Japan or Japan Uncovered tours by 16 October and upgrade your flights to Business Class for only $999 per person, return! There are numerous ‘fly-in’ log cabins around Yellowknife, which cater specially to hobby fishermen. Veil upon veil of light darts across the sky, reflecting its brilliance in the water. Yellowknife is the best location in the world for viewing the aurora borealis. Clear skies, stable weather conditions, and proximity to the arctic circle make Yellowknife an ideal place to witness this incredible natural phenomenon. Blachford Lake Lodge, on the other hand, is a five-star facility in the middle of this pristine wilderness. To give you a sense of perspective, part of the territory lies inside the Arctic Circle. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk as well as free WiFi. Then they collapse and reappear in a new place. Seeing the Northern Lights in Finland – Flickr by Carston Frenzi. You might have to walk a little way outside the city for the best view, but it can sometimes be seen even within its limits. The way they swirl above your head and dance across the sky entrances all who are fortunate enough to witness the magic of the aurora borealis. But does that mean you are guaranteed to see the northern lights in Yellowknife? We are. The starry sky unfolds above me like a glittering panorama, almost intoxicating but still blacker than black. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. A cruising journey by sea through the Northwest Passage, from the wilds of Canada to the little–discovered wonders of Greenland, mesmerises with the... Get amidst a giant Canadian caribou herd in the frozen Nunavut territory. But there is no need to give up comfort. Viewing Northern lights. In fact, the city of Fairbanks sits right beneath a band of aurora activity, with its own forecast system and hot springs where you can keep warm in the bitter cold. Canada, and especially Yellowknife is a fantastic place to seek out the midnight Zen of the northern lights. The best time of day to dee the northern lights is the nighttime! It’s literally in the middle of Blachford Lake, so the only way to get there is through a scheduled bush plane. Mar 25, 2017. Here are some of the best places to view northern lights in Yellowknife: Dettah Ice road – Get to School Draw Avenue and you will come across an entrance to the Dettah Ice Road. Yellowknife: the best place to see the Northern Lights Blachford Lake Lodge is situated in pristine Canadian wilderness, perfect conditions for viewing the Aurora Borealis (photo: Martina Gebrovska). The best time to visit Yellowknife … One of the best places to see the northern lights is Tromsø in Northern Norway. As I quickly learned on my recent … You can see them directly over the town center on a strong night. Stars glitter like diamonds embedded in black silk as the hours pass, and it isn’t just the fire that is waning. Seeing the Northern Lights in Canada – Best time and places, How to photograph Northern Lights – Best settings and tips. Tromsø is easy to get to with direct flights from Oslo. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. In Yellowknife, it is typically visible for an average of 200 nights per year what makes it one of the best places in the world to see this natural phenomenon. That said, the city of Rovaniemi is among the best places in Finland to see the Northern Lights. This oddly named city is not on any well-trodden tourist route, being north of the 60th parallel in the Canadian Northwest Territories and pretty far away from everything. Yellowknife, Canada is famous for being one of the best places in the world to see the Aurora Borealis, commonly known as the Northern Lights. Even more mystical is the indigenous legend that claims that the Northern Lights come from the eyes of deceased animals that granted their eyes to the heavens in order to light the way for mankind. 6 Best Places to See the Northern Lights Lane Nieset. (more…)... Find your next incredible journey on Australian Traveller. They offer great activities during the day like drive your own dog sled team which is what we did and it was amazing. With long winter nights, dry crisp air, and close proximity to the magnetic north pole, Canada’s Northwest Territories are one of the best places in the world to witness the northern lights. The best places to see the aurora borealis offer little to no light pollution, clear skies and no precipitation. Unfortunately for sun worshipers, that season does not coincide with summer. There are plenty of spots throughout the city to watch the northern lights. We travelled to Rovaniemi last winter with a mission: to see the Northern Lights. All rights reserved. There is wireless internet, a bar, a lounge, even an outdoor jacuzzi, plus a chef and full culinary team standing by to tend to the guests. He built the lodge himself and opened it to the public in 1999, offering numerous cabins to allow self-sufficient trappers to structure their own trips. Northern Canada is one of the BEST places in the world to see the northern lights, and Yellowknife has a fairly long aurora season. Can you actually hear the Northern Lights? With that being said.. here are a few of my the best shots: (more…)... Go deep into the frozen reaches of Canada in Nunavut with an Arctic Watch adventure. You’ll want to head to Finnish Lapland — a region bordering Russia, Norway and Sweden — for your best chances. Thanks to its northern latitude, Alaska is the closest you’ll get to a guaranteed chance of seeing the Northern Lights. Explore Norway in winter or summer, up to the Arctic Circle and beyond or to North Cape. BY Birgit-Cathrin Duval. And then the sky seems to explode. To get to the hotel, you’ll have to take one of the company’s bush airplanes, which takes you directly to … It’s a beautiful little town that has been nicknamed the Paris of the north. Explore the Arctic Northwest and meet giant Canadian mammals, and even bigger icebergs. The entire country is basically prime real estate to see the northern lights in its full glory. These are the best places to see the northern lights in 2020. Getty. For the most part, these cabins are simple, yet functional. The best hotels to see the Northern Lights. From Iceland to Alaska, explore 11 of the best places around the world to see the Northern Lights Spirals and ornaments appear, as if drawn by spectral hands, and dance across the horizon. While I’m preparing for the night to come, I meet Goota Ashoona, an Inuit artist who practises the centuries-old family traditional sculpture in her Ashoona gallery, based in a small, rickety cabin in Yellowknife. We stand there, agape, finding no words to describe what is unfolding before us. 30 March 2018 . The region is renowned as one of the best places in the world - possibly the best - to see the lights, thanks to its northerly latitude and favourable weather. These are small lighthouses, scattered throughout the city, alerting residents to go out and marvel at the skies colored with dancing lights. © Australian Traveller Media 2021. Soar your way to one of the world's great waterfalls. The phenomenon is caused by the aurora belt, an electromagnetic field floating like a halo over the Earth, hundreds of kilometres above the North Pole. Sometimes they hesitate as if watching us, and then suddenly change shape and take flight. Mike and his wife Tessa place special importance on ecological management, beginning with their meals and ending, so to speak, with composting toilets. A cultural and gastronomic trip through Northern Spain and on board luxury trains thoughtfully equipped for your comfort. Could Goota Ashoona be right? Overall … Looking for more amazing things to do in Canada? With no light pollution to obstruct the experience, the Torfhus Retreat ($1,185 per person for three nights) is the perfect place to view the northern lights. The Northern Lights are best seen in the winter months, and when the K-index is high. There is really no reason to fly to Yellowknife. Explore handpicked destinations along Norway’s beautiful coast, departing directly from the white cliffs of Dover. Rovaniemi in Lapland. Now $125 (Was $̶1̶5̶5̶) on Tripadvisor: Explorer Hotel Yellowknife. BLACHFORD LAKE LODGE, the best Northern Lights hotel in Yellowknife This is one of the most remote Northern Lights hotels in Canada and, without a doubt, the best for enjoying the green lights away from all the light pollution. After dinner in the dining hall, you'll have access to your own teepee, where you can start your aurora borealis watch, or stake out a more secluded spot (snowshoeing and other activities are available). . When the charged solar-wind particles reach the atmosphere, they cause the air molecules to illuminate. The city of Yellowknife is equipped with special Northern Lighthouses. By Nat at Love and Road. It feels as if the air is crackling with electricity. Autumn – If solitude is your thing, take a scenic bush plane ride from Yellowknife to elegantly rustic fly-in Blachford Lake Lodge & Wilderness Resort. The Blachford Lake Lodge is located in the middle of Lake Blachford, not far from Yellowknife, one of the best places to see northern lights in Canada. 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