Churchill
The centre of a polar bear migration in October and November, the worlds' best place to see northern lights from January to March and a gathering point for thousands of beluga …
Things to consider
- Best chances for sightings are during winter, between September and April.
- The Aurora belt covers Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Norway and Svalbard, but our best sightings have always been in Churchill and Greenland.
- The Northern Lights are spectacular, breathtaking, and famously unpredictable. Make the most of your time in the Arctic by ensuring your days are action-packed too.
The Arctic trees surrounded by the lights
Watching the lights from the warm indoors
The Northern Lights dancing among the stars
Northern lights over the Greenland Ice Cap in Spring
Northern lights over Greenland
Northern lights over the Churchill tundra
Aurora over the Canadian Arctic
The Northern Lights illuminating the Arctic sky
Seeing the Northern Lights
The best time to see the Northern Lights
Winter is the best time to see the Northern Lights. It's not the temperature which makes a difference, but the appearance of the sky; it's only during the winter months that the skies are dark enough to make out the ethereal flickering. Best chances are between September and April.
Consider the rates of precipitation in your destination too, as a rainier month means more likelihood of cloud cover. In reality though, the changeable weather means snow, sleet, hail and rain can appear with seemingly very little notice, at any point during the season. Give yourself the best chance of a sighting by ensuring you spend at least 3 nights in your destination.
Best places to see the Northern Lights
Most frequent sightings are found around the 'Aurora Belt', a line similar to the Arctic Circle. Contrary to popular belief, the lights are therefore strongest and most regular around the edge of the Arctic, rather than getting brighter the further north you go.
The belt passes over areas in Canada, Greenland, Svalbard, Iceland and Norway, so there's a lot of choice on where to see them. Picking your destination should be the most important factor in your trip, and will depend heavily on what you want to get out of the Arctic. Whether your secondary focus is history, culture, dog-sledding, wildlife or icebergs, ask our specialists to find the right trip for you.
Hikers take in the views on Scoresby Sun, East Greenland
Ben says
There is nothing more absorbing than gazing at a sky alive with colour and movement. The Aurora Borealis is one of nature's most spectacular shows and is a memory that'll live with you forever!
Ben Rowley Arctic Consultant
Northern Lights Tours
Our favourite places to see the Northern Lights
More about the Northern Lights destinations
East Greenland
Few places in the world can claim to be as remote, underpopulated and little visited as East Greenland - three drawcards for any adventure traveller. The sheer scale, majesty and …
Greenland Cruises
Greenland assaults your senses with pure air, crystal waters, blue ice, staggering fjords, a fascinating past and a welcoming present. Whether you are whale watching in Disko …
Cruises to the Canadian Arctic
The Canadian Arctic is well known for its diverse wildlife, rich native culture and spectacular scenery. For those seeking the truly remote, an expedition deep within the Arctic …
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