Seeing the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is a hugely exciting experience, and it’s about more than sitting in your hotel room and waiting to see if the lights make an appearance. Instead, our guests head out into the snowy wilderness, board Arctic expedition voyages, or join a husky sledding team to see the Northern Lights in a unique and unforgettable way.
Many guests ask for recommendations about the best ways to see the world’s greatest light spectacle, or request advice about Northern Lights chases that are just as comfy and appropriate for little ones as they are for bigger kids in their party.
We’ve created a top ten list to highlight some of the most loved and highest rated Northern Lights holidays, as reviewed by our wonderful guests and repeat travel clients.
The Ten Highest-Rated Northern Lights Adventures
As a team of independent travel specialists, we endeavour to ensure every guest has the ultimate Northern Lights adventure.
While the below 10 suggested activities are commonly considered the ideal way to see the Aurora, we welcome you to get in touch if you have any specific requirements and need expert guidance to ensure your Northern Lights holiday is everything you’d hoped for.
1. Seeing the Northern Lights on a Reindeer Safari
Starting at number one, Northern Lights tour packages that incorporate reindeer sleigh rides and safaris to authentic reindeer farms are massively popular, as they offer a remarkable blend of cultural activities to learn about the Sami Nordic culture and the chance to see the lights.
Locations like Rovaniemi in Finland, also known as the home of Santa Claus, offer varied ways to meet, see, and even learn how to lasso friendly reindeer. You can see the Aurora while whizzing over the powdery white snow in the beauty of the Arctic countryside.
2. Staying Overnight in a Romantic Glass Igloo
Our second most-requested excursion is a holiday venturing into the northern hemisphere with a night or two staying in a traditionally designed, yet modernly cosy glass igloo. These private cabins are warm and luxurious, featuring laser-heated glass that ensures you get the full experience of the Aurora lights with zero interruption.
Perfect for couples’ Northern Lights holidays, glass igloos offer a panoramic view of the dark sky during the polar winter, coupled with Aurora alarms and wake-up services to ensure you’ll never miss out on the lights when they’re at their brightest and most vibrant.
3. Snowmobiling Northern Lights Chases
If your perfect Northern Lights adventure would be centred around snowy activities in the heart of the Arctic Circle, heading into the snow-covered forests and frozen lakes miles from light pollution on a snowmobile has to be one of the greatest ways to see the lights against a backdrop of the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Snowmobiling conditions are excellent throughout the Arctic and Nordic region across the winter, and you can keep watch for rare wildlife species, with options for children to ride as passengers and for adults to steer their very own vehicles for the ultimate in exhilaration.
4. Northern Lights Hunts on a Husky Sled
Our fourth suggestion is to consider a Northern Lights trip that includes husky sledding, learning about these amazing animals who form a fundamental part of the Arctic culture, and who race at tremendous speeds through the snowy landscapes with excitement and contagious energy.
Dog sledding teams and their knowledgeable guides offer a distinctive and special way to see the lights on a small group tour, riding as a passenger on a husky sled, heading to hidden gems and secret viewpoints, and even having the chance to guide your very own dog team to gain an authentic Lappish experience.
5. Cross-Country Snowshoeing and Skiing During Northern Lights Tours
The top Northern Lights destinations, including Finnish or Swedish Lapland, Greenland, Norway, and Iceland, are incredible places. From the summer Midnight Sun season to the stunning raw beauty of the polar winter, with clear skies and solar activity, these regions provide outstanding conditions to see the lights.
If you love winter activities and challenging yourself to try bucket list adventures, consider taking the chance to try cross-country skiing or guided snowshoeing tours as a gentler alternative to see the Aurora. Venture out into the trails, cross deep and untouched snow, and enjoy a pace that is as fast or as leisurely as you feel comfortable with.
6. Booking a Luxurious Room in an Ice Hotel
Guests seeking to see the lights in the winter months without compromising on comfort, and who are looking to see the Aurora during the solar maximum, can’t beat an ice hotel, with astonishing sculptures, unrivalled views, and a magical ambience.
Ice hotels are sculpted in Scandinavian and Nordic countries with an exceptional level of artistry. They provide options to watch the Aurora while reclining in an outdoor hot tub, sipping delicious cocktails in an ice bar, or retiring to your private accommodation to watch from your very own ice bed – complete with warm reindeer pelts to ensure your comfort.
7. Watching the Aurora Around the Fire at a Secluded Wilderness Camp
During the peak of the Northern Lights season, wilderness camps come into their own, with rustic cabins, charming tree houses like the extraordinary Swedish Treehotel in Norrland Forest, and exclusive lodges where guests can spend as much or as little time as they wish socialising with other travellers and making the most of the amenities on offer.
There is little as great as savouring a warm hot chocolate or mulled wine in proximity of the North Pole around a roaring campfire, watching the natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights dance across the night sky.
8. Northern Lights Cruises and Fjord Tours
The icy fjords, coastal waters and lakes of Northern Europe within the Aurora Zone provide a brilliant way to see the glory of the solar activity in the Earth’s atmosphere from a different perspective. Breaks onboard Arctic expedition vessels, luxury cruise ships and small boat tours around the fjords are always in sustained demand from adventurous travellers.
One of the best things about seeing the lights from the water is that you eliminate artificial light. There are options to book a private cabin, schedule a RIB tour over the icy waters, or arrange ferry crossings and connections onboard ships that are specially engineered to handle the rigours of the Arctic oceans.
9. Enjoying the Northern Lights From a Santa Claus Village
Destinations like the Santa Claus Village in Finland, situated in Rovaniemi, are magical for families with little ones and present a Christmas escape like no other! Visitors can meet Santa in person, alongside his friendly reindeer, join in with festive celebrations and traditions, and of course see the lights during a short break or extended trip.
Family-focused resorts maximise the Christmas holiday atmosphere with fine dining, carol singing, and snowman building, providing a great way for families to enjoy the full Northern Lights experience while ensuring the children have just as brilliant a time as the adults.
10. Aurora Lights Hunts With Small Group Jeep Tours
Finally, Aurora hunting jeep tours are a great way to visit some of the most remote, unpopulated locations, with many Northern Lights tours providing guests with options to personalise their experience or adapt their tour based on the weather conditions and cloud cover.
Zipping over the snow, traversing the black sand beaches and heading over the frozen lakes in Finnish Lapland on a specially equipped jeep is one of the best outdoor adventures, while being easily accessible for guests who want a less strenuous, but equally magical experience.
This entry was posted on Monday, August 11th, 2025 at 8:27 am; on the subject of Sweden.