Aurora Hunting in Lapland

Over Finnish Lapland the aurora borealis appears on as many as two hundred nights a year, curtains of green and sometimes red light rippling across the dark Arctic sky. The far north, away from city lights, offers some of the most reliable viewing in Europe, from lakeside villages to glass igloos built for watching.

What you actually see

• The northern lights - green and occasionally red curtains and arcs across the night sky.
• Dark-sky viewing spots - frozen lakes and fells away from all light pollution.
• Glass igloos and cabins - accommodation built to watch the sky from a warm bed.
• Aurora over snow - the winter landscape lit by the dancing light.

When to go

The dark months from September to March, on clear, cold nights away from lights and around the hours near midnight. Autumn offers open water reflections; deep winter offers snow and the best darkness.

Honest expectations

The aurora is never guaranteed - it needs clear skies, darkness and solar activity all at once, so patience and several nights improve the odds. Cloud is the great enemy, and Lapland has plenty. Dress for serious cold, since good displays mean standing outside in the dark for a while.

Nearby

Inari and its Sami museum, the Saariselka and Levi resorts, and Kilpisjarvi in the far arm are all classic bases.