Churchill, Canada
Plan a trip to Churchill every season and you can truly do it all: get up close to beluga whales in summer; go on polar bear safari in fall; and get a front row seat to the northern lights in winter (or go in September when all three can sometimes overlap). Come mid-January, the same heated tundra vehicles used for observing polar bears in autumn transform into aurora borealis-mobiles, with open sky decks for optimal viewing. If possible, visit in February or March with Frontiers North Adventures for Dan’s Diner, an experiential gastro-tourism event that combines tracking the northern lights, traversing the frozen Churchill River by Tundra Buggy®, and enjoying a feast by a top Canadian chef.
Yellowknife, Canada
Love the idea of the northern ;ights, but not so into the freezing cold? Look no further than the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, which has a second aurora borealis observation season in late summer/early fall, in addition to the traditional winter viewing months. Pick one of the Northern Lights-based packages at the fly-in Blachford Lake Lodge on remote Blachford Lake, where it’s possible to watch the phenomenon from the main house’s expansive glass windows, the hot tub, and even the dining room. Note that while worth the visit, the luxury here lies in the location, not the amenities. (You’ll have to share bathrooms in the main lodge, while cabins have private ensuite composting toilets).
Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
There’s really no bad place to watch the Northern Lights in Greenland, but accessibility can be the main challenge in this sparsely populated (some 56,000 residents) yet enormous 836,300-square-mile landmass. (In comparison, Iceland is just 39,769 square miles). For the optimal Greenland experience, head to Kangerlussuaq in the country’s central-western reaches, which is blessed with more than 300 clear nights per year. Surprisingly, this town of 540 residents has an international airport with regularly scheduled flights, making it fairly easy to reach.
Shetland, Scotland
Known in Shetland’s local dialect as “Mirrie dancers,” there indeed seems to be a fairy-like magic to the aurora’s shimmering green ribbons on these remote Scottish islands. Visitors to the UK’s most northern destination can consult Wild Skies Shetland, an Unst-based charity which aims to showcase the local skies through exhibitions, maps, and accessible apps. Come between October and March for the best chance of seeing the aurora, and plan your trip to coincide with one of the archipelago’s famous winter fire festivals, like Lerwick Up Helly Aa (held between January and March), a celebration of Shetland’s Viking past. Make the most of your time in Shetland by booking Belmont House, a neo-classical Georgian country home and category-A listed historic building, where—with a little luck—you may be able to see the aurora shining over the manicured gardens and sea.
