Enchanting Northern Lights Holidays

The entrancing Northern Lights are a popular highlight on many travellers' wish lists-and for good reason. This mesmerising natural display occurs when electrically charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth's atmosphere, creating bursts of light, or photons, that form the aurora we can see. This light show is visible near the magnetic poles in both hemispheres and is known as the 'Aurora Borealis' in the north.

A holiday to see the Northern Lights offers fantastic options for a winter break. Our Northern Lights holiday packages take you away from city lights, giving you the best chance to witness the aurora in its full glory. Whether you'd like to ride a husky sleigh in Swedish Lapland, cruise to the Lofoten Islands, or sip a drink at the famous Ice Bar in Kiruna's Ice Hotel, all our Northern Lights tour packages include expert-led excursions to find the Northern Lights.

With Solar Cycle 25 nearing its peak in 2025, there has never been a better time to book your Northern Lights holiday. Browse our collection now and start planning your ideal experience.

Excellent

13,798 reviews on

Find out more with a free brochure and enjoy weekly travel inspiration and offers in our e-newsletter.

Order brochure

Best time to see the Northern Lights

These wintry months are considered to be prime time to view the lights, clear skies and a fresh blanket of crisp white snow are perfect conditions for spotting this elusive wonder.

The arrival of summer signifies the coming of the 'Midnight Sun', making the Lights almost impossible to spot as the north of Scandinavia is in almost constant light.

It may be possible to catch a glimpse of the lights in the reflective waters of Scandinavia's icy lakes during the autumn.

With the landscape changing dramatically and the nights becoming longer it is a brilliant to view the Northern Lights, although some cloud cover can shield the display.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Northern Lights?

Where are the best places to see the Northern Lights?

Where will we travel on a Northern Lights holiday?

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed on these holidays?

What type of accommodation is provided?

What should I pack for a Northern Lights holiday?

Why choose Great Rail Journeys for a Northern Lights holiday?

Is this holiday suitable for all ages?

The Northern Lights

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.