The northern lights are on almost every traveller’s bucket list. But when we think about seeing them, Norway or Finland usually comes to mind. Sure, they’re beautiful, but they can be expensive, and let’s be honest, the crowds can make it hard to really enjoy the view. The good news is, there are some lesser-known spots that offer amazing views of the northern lights with fewer people around. They might be a bit harder to get to, but the experience is totally worth it.
Yukon, Canada
One of the best places to see the Northern Lights is Canada’s Yukon Territory. This vast northern region is known for its wild landscapes and long winter nights. Because the Yukon is far inland, it has a dry and stable climate, which means fewer clouds. Clouds are the biggest obstacle when it comes to aurora viewing, so this works in the traveller’s favour. The Yukon also sits directly under the auroral zone, and on many winter nights, the sky lights up in bright shades of green, with flashes of purple and pink.
During the day, visitors can explore Whitehorse, learn about the Gold Rush era, or try activities like dog sledding and snowshoeing before returning to the quiet darkness at night.
Abisko National Park, Sweden
In Sweden, Abisko National Park is famous among people who want to see the northern lights. It is in Lapland and has a special weather feature called the ‘Blue Hole.’ Mountains around Abisko keep clouds away, so the sky above the park is often clearer than nearby areas. Even when other towns are cloudy, Abisko usually has open skies, giving visitors a better chance to see the lights.
The park is calm and beautiful, with frozen lakes and snow-covered mountains. Many travellers take a cable car to the Aurora Sky Station, a spot built for watching the northern lights from one of the clearest skies in the region.
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
If you want a quiet and remote place, Greenland’s Kangerlussuaq is perfect. This small town is near the huge Greenland Ice Sheet and far from big cities and bright lights. The air is very dry, so the sky is often clear. With almost no city lights, the northern lights look bright and clear. Watching them over the icy land feels magical. During the day, you can walk near glaciers or just enjoy the amazing Arctic scenery.
Murmansk, Russia
Murmansk in Russia is a different kind of place to see the northern lights. It is the biggest city north of the Arctic Circle, but it is still a good spot for aurora viewing. The city has lights, but just outside Murmansk is the open Kola tundra, where the sky is dark and wide. Murmansk is in a good position to see the northern lights, which appear often in winter. It is also usually cheaper than other Arctic destinations. Seeing the lights over a busy port city, with its history and tough weather, makes the experience special.
Hanle, Ladakh, India
One of the most surprising places on this list is Hanle in Ladakh, India. Seeing the northern lights from India is very rare and should not be expected. But Hanle is one of the darkest places in the world because it is high up and has very little artificial light. During times of strong solar activity, faint glows like the aurora have sometimes been seen on camera from this area, low on the northern horizon. Even if the northern lights don’t appear, Hanle’s night sky is amazing, full of stars, planets, and the Milky Way. Seeing even a hint of the aurora here would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
