The Best Places to See the Aurora Borealis

May 14th, 2012

Aurora Borealis is caused when energetic charged particles collide with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere. As a result, the charged particles originate in the magnetosphere and solar wind, and are directed by the Earth’s magnetic field into the atmosphere. Therefore, this creates a diffused or discreet aura. Aurora Borealis is the scientific term for Northern Lights as the aura can be in the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Lights are based in the Southern Hemisphere and are known as Aurora Australis.

There are five fantastic locations to view the solar explosions in the Northern Hemisphere, and these include:

Troms, Norway
Typically referred to as ‘the Paris of the North’, Troms offers a stunning display of Aurora Borealis. Experts often say that the best time to see the Northern Lights in this popular Norwegian destination is in December, January, February and March. Staying in the wilderness can also enhance the experience, as you can relax for the night surrounded by one of the most breathtaking sights in the world.

Abisko, Northern Sweden
Abisko is believed to be one of the very best places to see the Northern Lights due to the clear skies, and the fact that it has the least precipitation is Sweden. Clear skies and the sun’s activity are essential factors when embarking on Northern Lights holidays, so by heading to Sweden a person can improve their chances of witnessing the magical Aurora Borealis. The event usually starts at the beginning of December and is therefore the perfect way to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

Kiruna, Sweden
The little mining town of Kiruna is a popular option for Aurora Borealis, and the best views are available on top of the hills where you can really witness the stunning shades of the Northern Lights. There are also many additional activities to partake in when there’s no sign of the lights, such as husky sledging, meeting reindeer and trips to see the local wildlife. The Northern Light display usually appears from September to April.

Aurora Chalet, Northern Finland
One of the most magnificent winter locations to see the mesmerising Northern Lights is in Aurora Chalet, Finland. You can relax in the comfort of your chalet which makes a perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and then witness the awe-inspiring Aurora Borealis in one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations. It is believed the best time witness the lights in Luosto is from the end of August to the middle of April.

Iceland
Anyone looking for the holiday of a lifetime should consider Iceland. Not only is there so much to see and do, but it offers an exceptional view of the Northern Lights under the clear skies. Therefore, it is the perfect holiday destination for avid travellers, couples and groups of family or friends. The best time to view the event is from September through to April.

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Ice Divers Explore Beneath the Big Freeze

April 20th, 2012

Cold is a huge part of a North Pole holiday. We pride ourselves on offering very flexible arctic trips, Northern Lights holidays and chilly adventures in some of the most enthralling landscapes and cultures on the planet. We’re not afraid of a challenge, and neither are our ice diving clients!

We offer ice diving holidays in Iceland, Norway, Russia’s White Sea and the North Pole. Our trips are organised by skilled professionals who are used to taking charge of clients’ lives under and above the ice. Ice diving is all about composure and listening to your instructor. Breathe calmly and steadily, have fun and look forward to a warming cup of hot chocolate after the dive!

The world beneath the ice is still, slow, surreal and like nothing you’ll have experienced diving in warmer climes. Some of our past clients have described it as almost like being in space – endless, breathtaking and utterly beautiful.

Ice diving is usually thought of a sport for experienced divers, and most of our clients are familiar with scuba. It’s a physically demanding, potentially dangerous activity, so less experienced divers are required to train at the White Sea diving school before the North Pole ice diving expedition.

Our ice diving holidays are highly customisable depending on group numbers and skill levels.  Get in touch to create a package tailored to your group’s needs.

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Summer Snow Activity with the Kids in Tow

April 10th, 2012

There are some amongst us who just never stop being adventurers. That spirit of exploration still burns within us… and we’ve passed it on to the kids!

We’ve tried to make our holidays as flexible as possible, so you can pick and choose whether you spend your time dog sledding or trekking to the best spots for Aurora Borealis viewing. Adventure and thrills are a massive part of what we do, so we’ve done our best to create superb family-friendly North Pole holidays and arctic trips.

North Pole Cruise
A 16-day adventure including two-weeks aboard our icebreaker – “50 Years of Victory” – sailing to the North Pole. You’ll pass glaciers, polar bears and some of the most spectacular landscapes on earth.

Activity Holidays
Not all of our activities are suitable for children (e.g. ice diving) but there are plenty of challenges out there for budding young arctic explorers. Fancy a dog sledding trip, Icelandic horseback riding or rally driving? Not all our activities and holidays are listed on our website, so get in touch to create a bespoke package for your family.

Ice Hotel
A stay in one of our ice hotels in Sweden, Lapland or Canada is literally an experience like no other. We meet loads of great adventurous families left speechless by the brilliance of an ice hotel holiday – it’s certainly a restful night’s sleep like no other!

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Facts on the Northern Lights

March 20th, 2012

The Northern Lights, or  aurora borealis as they’re officially known, often appear on the “things to do before you die” list. What isn’t often explained are the facts about when, how and where to see the lights for yourself. It’s not as simple as you may first think, and you’ll probably need the expertise of a company specialising in this kind of travel in order to maximise your chances of seeing them.

That’s just it – the lights aren’t there all year, and sometimes this natural phenomenon doesn’t happen. They don’t tend to be visible until quite late in the year, when most people are planning Christmas shopping instead of Christmas holidays, but this is the best time to see the lights.

They’re not to be confused with the Southern Lights, when you’d have to make a special expedition to the Antarctic peninsular or other far-flung place. The Northern Lights are just as spectacular and surprisingly accessible as they often appear over Northern Scandinavia, which is a holiday destination in itself.

Knowing the best viewing places and the right times of year when sightings are in their prime takes an expert travel company – anyone can organise a flight to Norway or Iceland and then leave it up to luck, but that’s not acceptable to most travellers who came to see the lights. If the Lights are on your bucket list, give us a call and we should be able to find a package to suit your needs, whether alone, with friends or loved ones or in a large group.

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A Honeymoon on Ice

March 10th, 2012

The traditional stance when deciding where to go for your Honeymoon usually involves somewhere hot, sunny and secluded. Newlyweds want to relax, enjoy the scenery and the sun and, of course, each other. If you’re the more adventurous type though, why not keep the seclusion and scenery, but swap the sun for ice?

You don’t have to book a North Pole holiday (although you could), there are luxurious options available – just because you’re on ice, doesn’t mean you have to slum it on your Honeymoon. The Ice Hotel in Sweden is a good option, giving you an experience where everything is taken care of – and making sure you’re equipped to deal with the low temperatures too. Frostbite should be the last thing on your mind as you spend time with your other half.

If staying in a hotel isn’t your thing, then you could get more active and go ice diving, for example. It’s something far more memorable than lying on a beach all day, and you’ll remember the experience for the rest of your life. Also, think of the pictures that you’ll take home to your new in-laws, with no redundant beach scenes in sight!

These are just some of the options available to the couple who want to do something different for their honeymoon. Talk to us about your particular needs and we’ll find the package to suit you. Yes, they are in cold climates, but you’ll have the warmth of spending quality time doing something different with your new husband or wife.

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Enjoy an Incredible Trip to the North Pole

February 20th, 2012

With Christmas having just passed, you could be forgiven for thinking that a North Pole holiday might involve a visit to see Father Christmas. While this may be a favourite hangout for him and his elves, this destination has many other delights in store for visitors that offer the same magic and wonderment but a lot more adventure!

Choose to visit on a cruise from Helsinki or go on an adventure flight to Longyearbyn with a day trip to the North Pole included. You can even make a phone call home from the very northern most part of the world and celebrate with a glass of champagne. This is a once in a lifetime experience that you’ll remember forever and be talking about for years!

Or if you fancy a spot of ice diving, we have an expedition which runs for 8-10 days in April, with the possibility to extend the programme with additional dives. The nature of ice diving requires you to have special training because of the dangers associated with being under the water with only one point of exit, although you will of course be secured to the surface through a harness. Spend three days of your trip carrying out this amazing experience at the North Pole, before returning to Longyearbyen, where you may even see a polar bear if you’re lucky!

As well as the North Pole, we also have other great Arctic trips such as Northern Lights holidays, so check out our wonderful once in a lifetime packages today.

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Experience the Beauty of the Northern Lights

February 10th, 2012

The ‘Northern Lights’ are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun which are attracted to the earth’s magnetic poles and then glow when they collide with the earth’s gases. At the North Pole we have the Aurora Borealis, and at the South Pole we get the Aurora Australis. The Aurora Borealis means ‘red dawn’, but the moving lights you can see on Northern Lights holidays are actually shades of red, green, blue, violet and white. The different colours are the product of gases at different altitudes.

The best times to see the lights are in early autumn and spring and we have holidays available for Norway, Iceland and Sweden. While you can of course organise your own trip into Scandinavia in the hope of seeing the lights, this can be expensive and you may not even end up in the right place for optimum viewing. Here at Arctic Direct, we have several tailored packages to the best locations, which include all flights, transfers and hotel stays, plus some activities or the opportunity to add these in, such as ice diving in Iceland. Seeing the Aurora Borealis is also not always possible as the best viewing depends on the atmospheric conditions and solar activity. The best thing about our package is that we don’t run to a fixed schedule. We organise your trip to see the lights on the day where you will have the best chance of experiencing this wonder, which can only be established once you are there.

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Best Places in Europe to see the Northern Lights

January 24th, 2012

Europe has some great destination options when it comes to viewing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).

Abisko, Sweden
In the far north of Sweden lays the small town of Abisko. Abisko has its own micro climate that creates the clearest skies and least precipitation in Sweden, thereby making it one of the very best places on earth to see Aurora Borealis displays. Furthermore, Abisko also has a dedicated viewing facility (the Sky Station) that visitors can use to observe the Northern Lights. To get to Abisko, visitors need to take an internal flight from Stockholm to Kiruna and then transfer themselves a further 60 miles on to the town.

Tromso, Norway
Tromso can be a very intriguing place to take a North Pole holiday as the majority of the lights visible from here are green. The city itself is a culturally active destination so there are plenty of things to see and do away from the spectacle in the sky.  Tromso is a large city and so is easy to reach from Norway’s capital, Oslo.

Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland’s capital is always a good option for Northern Lights holidays as it is a dynamic city that has lots of activity options in addition to the lights. When viewing the lights in Reykjavik, you will most likely need to head away from the city as the street light pollution may detract from the quality of your observations. Reykjavik can be easily reached by direct flights from London.

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The Importance of Timing when Observing the Northern Lights

January 10th, 2012

The Northern Lights (also known as Aurora Borealis) are a spectacular galactic display that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. Indeed, this natural phenomenon really is guaranteed to make your jaw hit the floor, as the sight of varying neon colours sweeping across the night sky is simply awe-inspiring.

When is the best time to see the Aurora?
Assuming you have done a bit of research and found out where the best places are for Northern Lights holidays; you will next need to work out when is the best time to go. Although auroral displays can occur throughout the year, in general the best time to see them is in the winter (November, December or January).

Make sure you’re prepared
Naturally, this time of year is typically cold anyway, but amongst the northern latitudes where Aurora observation is best; the cold temperatures can become very challenging indeed therefore it is vitally important that you are adequately attired so that you can wrap up warm. Once you are happy, warm and settled at your location, you should start keeping an eye on the sky from around 9pm and keep your head craned towards the heavens until the early hours of the morning.

So has this whetted your appetite to experience a North Pole holiday for yourself? If so, explore our pages further to find out more or speak to one of our advisors directly by calling 0800 4586011.

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Icelandic Horse Trail Riding Holidays

December 22nd, 2011

Do you love horses and nature? You’ll love our Northern Lights holidays. The ideal holiday for you is our Icelandic Horse Riding package. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with animals, and enjoy nature and the Northern Lights.

This holiday includes flights, transfers, 3 nights accommodation in stable cottage, riding lessons and tours, viewing of the Northern Lights and local wildlife, a visit to the Icehotel, and full board.

This four day holiday package includes an introductory lesson or ride in the forest on day one, and two full days of  trail riding. Enjoy the nature around you as you ride in the gorgeous countryside and snowy scenery of Sweden. Share campfire stories and companionship  around the camp fire over your evening meal at the end of the day.

Every opportunity is taken to ensure that you get a glimpse of the Northern Lights while you are on your holiday. See Aurora Borealis from near the stables on many nights, and enjoy community meals around the camp fire.

Spot wildlife from the trail including moose, reindeer, ptarmigan, wolverine, arctic hare and more. And on the third day, book an optional dog sledge safari or snowmobile trip.

For a truly unique holiday you will remember forever, get in touch with Arctic Direct today. Let us help you book the holiday of your dreams.

Book your North Pole holiday today on the main web page or ring us for more information on: 0800 458 60 11.

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