The ancient Greeks thought the northern lights were created by a chariot racing across the sky, alerting the sun and moon gods to the new day. To the Vikings, the dancing lights were reflections bouncing off the Valkyries’ armor as the female warriors traveled through the heavens, while the Finns thought the squiggles were the tracks of Arctic foxes, running so fast their furry tails left vibrant streaks of color in their wake. To modern-day travelers, the aurora borealis is a bucket-list item, an elusive natural phenomenon typically glimpsed by only the most dedicated of stargazers.
This year, those seeking out Mother Nature’s most spectacular light show are in luck: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the sun is approaching the apex (called the solar maximum) of its roughly 11-year cycle. The months of increased solar activity leading up to the peak—expected in late 2024 through early 2025—will give travelers the best chance to see the lights in the past two decades, and hotels and tour operators are rising to meet the demand of those seeking celestial experiences.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1357654597/1717055600/articles/13LxytL971717068049573/7076209112.jpg]
While the lights have been spotted in Montana and Wisconsin, and even as far south as Arizona, areas north of the Arctic Circle remain the safest bets for securing the once-in-a-lifetime experience— with the lights visible in some parts of the region for upwards of 200, or even as many as 300, nights per year. Nordic countries are seeing an increase in light hunters as a result, according to Torunn Tronsvang, founder of the tour company Up Norway. But she says her clients are not “merely ticking off destinations—they are seeking to craft enduring memories and share unique stories,” citing tours that include photography lessons, surf instruction, dogsledding, and ice fishing. (Up Norway even offers a package inspired by Frozen.)
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1357654597/1717055600/articles/13LxytL971717068049573/9631639297.jpg]
There are a variety of luxe options for travelers seeking adventures as unique as the lights themselves. Deep in a Swedish forest is the Treehotel, an icon of alternative design known for its artfully designed treetop cabins. Sign up for ice dining and enjoy a three-course meal in a tent on the ice under the northern lights. Or check into a floating cabin at Arctic Bath, a hotel and spa on Sweden’s Lule River. And don’t miss the Icehotel, also in Sweden, which is, yes, made of ice and rebuilt every winter with rooms sculpted by artists. There you can ride a snowmobile well beyond any light pollution to enjoy a dinner (like reindeer stew) under the aurora borealis. Also away from it a...
This year, those seeking out Mother Nature’s most spectacular light show are in luck: According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the sun is approaching the apex (called the solar maximum) of its roughly 11-year cycle. The months of increased solar activity leading up to the peak—expected in late 2024 through early 2025—will give travelers the best chance to see the lights in the past two decades, and hotels and tour operators are rising to meet the demand of those seeking celestial experiences.
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1357654597/1717055600/articles/13LxytL971717068049573/7076209112.jpg]
While the lights have been spotted in Montana and Wisconsin, and even as far south as Arizona, areas north of the Arctic Circle remain the safest bets for securing the once-in-a-lifetime experience— with the lights visible in some parts of the region for upwards of 200, or even as many as 300, nights per year. Nordic countries are seeing an increase in light hunters as a result, according to Torunn Tronsvang, founder of the tour company Up Norway. But she says her clients are not “merely ticking off destinations—they are seeking to craft enduring memories and share unique stories,” citing tours that include photography lessons, surf instruction, dogsledding, and ice fishing. (Up Norway even offers a package inspired by Frozen.)
[https://cdn.magzter.com/1357654597/1717055600/articles/13LxytL971717068049573/9631639297.jpg]
There are a variety of luxe options for travelers seeking adventures as unique as the lights themselves. Deep in a Swedish forest is the Treehotel, an icon of alternative design known for its artfully designed treetop cabins. Sign up for ice dining and enjoy a three-course meal in a tent on the ice under the northern lights. Or check into a floating cabin at Arctic Bath, a hotel and spa on Sweden’s Lule River. And don’t miss the Icehotel, also in Sweden, which is, yes, made of ice and rebuilt every winter with rooms sculpted by artists. There you can ride a snowmobile well beyond any light pollution to enjoy a dinner (like reindeer stew) under the aurora borealis. Also away from it a...
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ELLE (Digital) - 1 Issue, June/July 2024