All year round, people from all over the world reach out to us with many questions about Lapland and the Northern Lights. One of the most common questions is: when does the Northern Lights season start? Here, we try to answer this question.
We hope it helps you plan your Northern Lights holiday.
The Northern Lights are pure magic, created by solar activities. These activities influence the colors, duration, and intensity of the lights. In this blog post, I’d like to share some information about the Aurora season (also known as the Northern Lights season). From the questions our guests ask, I’ve realized that most people believe the Auroras only appear in winter.
The truth is, the Northern Lights can be seen all year round. Our main obstacle is the sun. During the summer, we have the Midnight Sun, which means the sun never sets 😊 Even if the Northern Lights do appear, we can’t see them because it’s just too bright outside.
By April, the days start getting longer, and by the end of April, we have a few hours of darkness at night. Interestingly, the sunrise and sunset take much longer here in spring and early autumn compared to the rest of the world. Between 7 PM and 10 PM, and again from 3 AM to 6 AM, the sun hovers near the horizon. The sky is somewhat bright but not fully daylight. This affects our ability to see the Northern Lights even if they’re dancing above us.
As a basic fact, everyone knows that June 21st is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. After that, the daylight decreases by a few minutes every day. By the end of August, we still have long daylight hours in Lapland. But come September, things change noticeably, and the daylight hours become just right for us.
So, for us, September marks the start of the Northern Lights season. Autumn is a fantastic time to enjoy the nature of Lapland and hunt for the Northern Lights. Many locals head to Lapland for hiking and to admire the natural beauty. Since the evenings are dark again, if the Aurora appears, we can see it.
In autumn, there usually isn’t any snow until late November or the beginning of December in most of Lapland. We might get some early snow, but it usually doesn’t stay long on the ground. Nonetheless, there are still many great activities to enjoy during your Northern Lights hunt in Lapland.
In the evenings, you can join our Northern Lights tours or relax in a cozy glass igloo. During the day, you can visit local reindeer farms, take a ride with energetic huskies, visit Santa at his office in Santa Claus Village, or shop for Lapland souvenirs. Autumn is also a great season for local berries and mushrooms, and many local restaurants feature these organic gifts of nature on their menus.
Remember, the Northern Lights are natural magic, and they love to play hide and seek. We do our best to catch them with well-organized, comfortable tours.
Join us for your next adventure in Lapland!
