Every year, we help hundreds of guests experience the sheer magic of the Aurora Borealis in person. This winter is shaping up to be one of the busiest in recent history, due to forecasts indicating that the Northern Lights in 2025 will be at their peak.
This is all due to the solar maximum over the Northern Hemisphere. This year, the solar flares that create the mystical lights will be more powerful than usual, resulting in brighter, more intense lights floating above the dark skies near the Arctic Circle.
If you’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights and are unsure what length of stay to book, or would like to know whether you’ll realistically be able to see the lights over a short break, we’ve put together some advice to ensure your experience is everything you’ve hoped for.
Considerations to Be Aware of When Selecting Northern Lights Destinations
Every guest should be conscious that the Northern Lights cannot be guaranteed. They’re a truly natural phenomenon, and while there are lots of things we can do to improve your chances of perfect Northern Lights viewing conditions, there is always a possibility that heavy cloud cover could mean they don’t appear or are only partially visible.
However, if you want the best chance of seeing the lights, we’d recommend that you:
- Pick a destination as far north as possible, with the most frequent Aurora activity in the Aurora zone, covering Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and Finnish and Swedish Lapland.
- Have at least some of your Northern Lights trip away from light pollution. Staying somewhere like Reykjavik means that even if the lights appear, they’ll be muted by the impact of artificial light in the city.
- Stay in accommodation that offers an Aurora forecast. Locals closely monitor the weather and can provide advance notice when conditions are ideal, allowing you to reschedule other activities or excursions to ensure you don’t miss out.
- Book Northern Lights chases with experienced guides, who know, for example, where to head to a higher elevation for a better view, or the areas in the Lappish countryside where the Aurora most often appears.
Although some aspects of Aurora hunting are unfortunately down to luck, these arrangements will boost your prospects of Aurora sightings by a big margin.
Choosing Between a Short Break or an Extended Holiday to See the Northern Lights in 2025
In an ideal world, it’s always best to stay in the polar regions for several days. This enhances the likelihood that your getaway will coincide with the next solar cycle, when you’ll be fortunate enough to have pristine Aurora viewing conditions.
That said, if you only have a few days or want to see the lights over a weekend, we can recommend packages that optimise your chances of seeing the lights.
These are either close to the North Pole or have departure dates in the peak Aurora period – steering away from the start and end of the season in late September and early April when the lights appear less often.
We recognise that your options may depend on a few variables, such as the ages of any children in your party, the amount of time you have available to travel, and the limitations around Christmas escapes for those with specific workplace closures or school holidays.
Families travelling with smaller children, for instance, might decide an extended break isn’t the right option. Even though cosy accommodations and roaring fires will keep everyone snug and warm, it’s not possible to spend hours outdoors, Arctic clothing notwithstanding, with little ones who won’t want to wait around each evening in case the lights appear.
Guests also choose weekend breaks to ensure they can enjoy the festive daytime activities, such as dog sledding, ice fishing, and snowmobile rides, before heading back to relax at home with family and friends over Christmas and New Year’s.
Whatever your preferences, there is a vast amount to see and do, with remote locations offering awe-inspiring natural beauty, snow-covered landscapes, and wilderness lodges, such as Wilderness Hotel Nangu in Ivalo, Finland, complete with reindeer sleigh rides and visits from Santa Claus.
What to Look for in Northern Lights Packages: Our Recommendations
As we’ve seen, you need a few things to happen for Northern Lights displays to be visible, including:
- Travelling to the right destinations where spectacular Auroras are common
- Visiting the northern regions at the best times of the year during the polar winter
- Minimal light pollution and cloud cover that can obstruct the view
- Expertise from local guides and hosts who offer Aurora alarms and accurate forecasts
We’ve collated some highlights of just a small number of our top-selling Northern Lights packages, including longer excursions and short breaks, to help you make an informed choice about the best holiday for you.
The Four-Day Three-Night Arctic Experience in Swedish Lapland
This adults-only short break is great for a weekend away, staying at the astonishing Máttaráhkká Northern Lights Lodge, where you can head to the summit of Mount Ednamvarri for an unrivalled view, where there is a complete absence of artificial light.
Other excursions include a stay in the famous Icehotel, snowmobile safaris, husky sledding and an incredible Aurora chase around the remote landscapes of Abisko National Park – where the chance of seeing the lights is as good as anywhere in the world.
Spend a Week Exploring the Arctic With Our Arctic Combo Tour
Our Arctic Combo is a seven-day, six-night holiday, starting in Tromsø, one of the iconic destinations considered an excellent place to see the Northern Lights. Visitors travel to Kirkenes on board the Hurtigruten coastal cruise line for a night in a Snow Hotel, stopping off at the North Cape along the way.
Guests can keep an eye out for the lights throughout their holiday at the gateway to the Arctic, with activities that range from the thrill of snowmobiling and dog sledding to King Crab fishing.
Experience an Extended Northern Lights Holiday in Greenland
Last but not least, the Greenland Arctic Adventure is ideal for those who want to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Arctic, spending ten days and nine nights travelling to Greenland via Denmark for an unforgettable winter adventure.
You can explore the charm of Nuuk, sail through the fjords, see the snowy countryside from an off-road UTV, and schedule a four-hour dog sledding ride where you’ll see the slopes of Sisimiut – and, with luck, be able to spot the Northern Lights!
To learn more about Northern Lights holidays, get in touch with the Baltic Travel Company team and explore the packages best suited to your adventure.
This entry was posted on Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 at 9:03 am; on the subject of Northern Lights.