So whether it’s your first time witnessing this natural wonder or you’ve seen the lights dozens of times, 2024 will surely bring a northern lights display unlike ever before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the top 5 places to see the northern lights in 2024:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n- Troms\u00f8, Norway<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lapland, Finland<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reykjavik, Iceland<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fairbanks, Alaska\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The Canadian Rockies<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Top northern lights trips<\/h2>![](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/BIKW.jpg\")
Iceland's Classic Northern Lights<\/a><\/div>5 days<\/span><\/div>View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/BMSN.jpg\")
Northern Norway Explorer<\/a><\/div>9 days<\/span><\/div>View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/ipf\/BMXF.jpg\")
Finnish Lapland in Winter<\/a><\/div>8 days<\/span><\/div>View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhy now?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nExperts at NASA predict that the sun is about to reach a solar maximum \u2013 its highest period of activity in an 11-year cycle. This means that major disturbances from solar storms will make 2024 a super season for the northern lights<\/a>, and those who head north will be treated to exceptionally bright, brilliant and more frequent celestial shows. Plus, when storms produce more energy, the auroral zone expands, increasing the likelihood of seeing the lights in areas they’re not typically visible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Intrepid-Travel-Finland_Yllas_Northern-Lights-10-3.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis is a\u202fnatural<\/em>\u202flight show, of course, and while there’s no way to predict precisely when and where to see the lights, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space and Weather Prediction Center offers two online short-term forecasts of the intensity of the auroras that can provide a little insight. You can view them in 30- and 90-minute forecasts<\/a> and a North America-specific forecast<\/a> for tonight and tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNorthern lights NOT on your bucket list? Here’s why they should be:<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nSeeing the northern lights dance through the sky is the only way most of us can experience space weather… without the cost, risk and training of going into space, of course.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Space weather occurs when activity on the sun’s surface and subsequent solar wind fills space with a stream of charged particles that surge toward Earth at breakneck speed. The Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field typically form a protective shield against solar winds, but occasionally, a storm will send charged particles down the magnetic field toward the North and South Poles, where they slip through the barrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In layman’s terms: these sneaky little sun-charged particles collide and interact with the gases in our atmosphere, erupting into colourful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen particles glow green and red, while Nitrogen gives off blue and purple light. It’s not exactly what we’d call flying under the radar, but we’re not complaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t miss the shot: read photography tips from Intrepid’s photo experts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Intrepid-Travel-Finland_Yllas_Northern-Lights-above-Kuerkievari-accomodation-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of the most magical parts about seeing the northern lights is that no display will match the next because the aurora can appear in dozens of forms. You could witness rippling bands, waving ribbons, bright arcs or just an eerie green glow. Sometimes, the lights move so slowly it’s barely noticeable; sometimes, they flash and dance across the sky. Either way, there really is no such thing as “been there done that” when it comes to seeing the lights… because, trust us, you can never really get enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, for those of us who love all things space but aren’t astronauts or millionaires or just prefer to keep two feet gravitationally on the ground, seeing the auroras is the closest we’ll get to actually being in space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’ve ever had the northern lights on your wishlist, now is the time to cash in your annual leave, get your camera ready and head north. For your best shot at seeing the auroras, check out Intrepid’s range of northern lights trips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCross the northern lights off your bucket list in 2024<\/h2>
Top northern lights trips<\/h2>Iceland's Classic Northern Lights<\/a><\/div>5 days<\/span><\/div>View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Northern Norway Explorer<\/a><\/div>9 days<\/span><\/div>View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Finnish Lapland in Winter<\/a><\/div>8 days<\/span><\/div>View trip<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhy now?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nExperts at NASA predict that the sun is about to reach a solar maximum \u2013 its highest period of activity in an 11-year cycle. This means that major disturbances from solar storms will make 2024 a super season for the northern lights<\/a>, and those who head north will be treated to exceptionally bright, brilliant and more frequent celestial shows. Plus, when storms produce more energy, the auroral zone expands, increasing the likelihood of seeing the lights in areas they’re not typically visible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis is a\u202fnatural<\/em>\u202flight show, of course, and while there’s no way to predict precisely when and where to see the lights, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space and Weather Prediction Center offers two online short-term forecasts of the intensity of the auroras that can provide a little insight. You can view them in 30- and 90-minute forecasts<\/a> and a North America-specific forecast<\/a> for tonight and tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNorthern lights NOT on your bucket list? Here’s why they should be:<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nSeeing the northern lights dance through the sky is the only way most of us can experience space weather… without the cost, risk and training of going into space, of course.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Space weather occurs when activity on the sun’s surface and subsequent solar wind fills space with a stream of charged particles that surge toward Earth at breakneck speed. The Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field typically form a protective shield against solar winds, but occasionally, a storm will send charged particles down the magnetic field toward the North and South Poles, where they slip through the barrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In layman’s terms: these sneaky little sun-charged particles collide and interact with the gases in our atmosphere, erupting into colourful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen particles glow green and red, while Nitrogen gives off blue and purple light. It’s not exactly what we’d call flying under the radar, but we’re not complaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t miss the shot: read photography tips from Intrepid’s photo experts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of the most magical parts about seeing the northern lights is that no display will match the next because the aurora can appear in dozens of forms. You could witness rippling bands, waving ribbons, bright arcs or just an eerie green glow. Sometimes, the lights move so slowly it’s barely noticeable; sometimes, they flash and dance across the sky. Either way, there really is no such thing as “been there done that” when it comes to seeing the lights… because, trust us, you can never really get enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, for those of us who love all things space but aren’t astronauts or millionaires or just prefer to keep two feet gravitationally on the ground, seeing the auroras is the closest we’ll get to actually being in space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’ve ever had the northern lights on your wishlist, now is the time to cash in your annual leave, get your camera ready and head north. For your best shot at seeing the auroras, check out Intrepid’s range of northern lights trips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCross the northern lights off your bucket list in 2024<\/h2>
Iceland's Classic Northern Lights<\/a><\/div>Northern Norway Explorer<\/a><\/div>Finnish Lapland in Winter<\/a><\/div>Why now?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nExperts at NASA predict that the sun is about to reach a solar maximum \u2013 its highest period of activity in an 11-year cycle. This means that major disturbances from solar storms will make 2024 a super season for the northern lights<\/a>, and those who head north will be treated to exceptionally bright, brilliant and more frequent celestial shows. Plus, when storms produce more energy, the auroral zone expands, increasing the likelihood of seeing the lights in areas they’re not typically visible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis is a\u202fnatural<\/em>\u202flight show, of course, and while there’s no way to predict precisely when and where to see the lights, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space and Weather Prediction Center offers two online short-term forecasts of the intensity of the auroras that can provide a little insight. You can view them in 30- and 90-minute forecasts<\/a> and a North America-specific forecast<\/a> for tonight and tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNorthern lights NOT on your bucket list? Here’s why they should be:<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nSeeing the northern lights dance through the sky is the only way most of us can experience space weather… without the cost, risk and training of going into space, of course.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Space weather occurs when activity on the sun’s surface and subsequent solar wind fills space with a stream of charged particles that surge toward Earth at breakneck speed. The Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field typically form a protective shield against solar winds, but occasionally, a storm will send charged particles down the magnetic field toward the North and South Poles, where they slip through the barrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In layman’s terms: these sneaky little sun-charged particles collide and interact with the gases in our atmosphere, erupting into colourful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen particles glow green and red, while Nitrogen gives off blue and purple light. It’s not exactly what we’d call flying under the radar, but we’re not complaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t miss the shot: read photography tips from Intrepid’s photo experts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of the most magical parts about seeing the northern lights is that no display will match the next because the aurora can appear in dozens of forms. You could witness rippling bands, waving ribbons, bright arcs or just an eerie green glow. Sometimes, the lights move so slowly it’s barely noticeable; sometimes, they flash and dance across the sky. Either way, there really is no such thing as “been there done that” when it comes to seeing the lights… because, trust us, you can never really get enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, for those of us who love all things space but aren’t astronauts or millionaires or just prefer to keep two feet gravitationally on the ground, seeing the auroras is the closest we’ll get to actually being in space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’ve ever had the northern lights on your wishlist, now is the time to cash in your annual leave, get your camera ready and head north. For your best shot at seeing the auroras, check out Intrepid’s range of northern lights trips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCross the northern lights off your bucket list in 2024<\/h2>
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis is a\u202fnatural<\/em>\u202flight show, of course, and while there’s no way to predict precisely when and where to see the lights, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space and Weather Prediction Center offers two online short-term forecasts of the intensity of the auroras that can provide a little insight. You can view them in 30- and 90-minute forecasts<\/a> and a North America-specific forecast<\/a> for tonight and tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeing the northern lights dance through the sky is the only way most of us can experience space weather… without the cost, risk and training of going into space, of course.\u202f <\/p>\n\n\n\n Space weather occurs when activity on the sun’s surface and subsequent solar wind fills space with a stream of charged particles that surge toward Earth at breakneck speed. The Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field typically form a protective shield against solar winds, but occasionally, a storm will send charged particles down the magnetic field toward the North and South Poles, where they slip through the barrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In layman’s terms: these sneaky little sun-charged particles collide and interact with the gases in our atmosphere, erupting into colourful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen particles glow green and red, while Nitrogen gives off blue and purple light. It’s not exactly what we’d call flying under the radar, but we’re not complaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t miss the shot: read photography tips from Intrepid’s photo experts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most magical parts about seeing the northern lights is that no display will match the next because the aurora can appear in dozens of forms. You could witness rippling bands, waving ribbons, bright arcs or just an eerie green glow. Sometimes, the lights move so slowly it’s barely noticeable; sometimes, they flash and dance across the sky. Either way, there really is no such thing as “been there done that” when it comes to seeing the lights… because, trust us, you can never really get enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, for those of us who love all things space but aren’t astronauts or millionaires or just prefer to keep two feet gravitationally on the ground, seeing the auroras is the closest we’ll get to actually being in space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’ve ever had the northern lights on your wishlist, now is the time to cash in your annual leave, get your camera ready and head north. For your best shot at seeing the auroras, check out Intrepid’s range of northern lights trips<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNorthern lights NOT on your bucket list? Here’s why they should be:<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCross the northern lights off your bucket list in 2024<\/h2>
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