Help Re: Seeing the Northern Lights

Can anyone out there help with practical experience of best time / year / location to see the Northern Lights ? It's my partner's wish to see them as her 50th birthday present. I blame "Local Hero".

Thanks

Paul

March and September are the best months of the year to see it and in Alaska. I did some research into this previously but not been yet myself..

btw, months mentioned are best due to darkness of sky and comfort of the viewer (i.e it is not too cold!!)

Hammerfest in Norway is supposed to be good ( made popular by Bill Bryson in 'Neither here nor there'.)

Best location is Spitsbergen apparently, but it is very far north and is therefore viewed as only for 'hardcore' travellers.

Fairbanks in Alaska is a common viewing location.

Best Months to see it are October to March, but obviously travelling in winter is difficult

DD

[Scrooge]

A few of us looked into this last year.

For those in the UK the places places listed in Norway seemed like a good place.

In the US..well Canada in fact Yellow Knife and Edmonton got the thumbs up.

Cheers m'dears.

October works well as that's (a) the month of the birthday and (b) contains a half term week. May be a combo with an ice hotel and some dog sledding. Not sure I fancy the cruise option...

Paul

I'd investigate Iceland as it makes for a great weekend away.

We saw them in Iceland during the first week of November.

Did a small tour, minibus, they only operate when there is a chance of seeing them, not guaranteed even if a clear night. Glad we went with them, as although more expensive, we saw the other tour operator, all 3 coach loads of them, parked up waiting - and they never actually saw them - we overheard folks taklking at breakfast the following morning.

After 4 hours of driving around at midnight and just when the guide was going to give up they came out. We parked up on a snow clad hill with the black star studded sky above broken by the dancing green lights. Absolutely magical. Don't bother with trying to get photos just watch. You can buy books with better photos than you can take.

Check the moon phases as they are brighter when there is no moon.

Good luck and enjoy.