To main content
Information on upcoming sailings and your health and safety
Hurtigruten logo Hurtigruten logo 8665520371
Find Your Cruise Destinations Offers Health and safety My Booking
  • Find a Voyage
  • Destinations
  • Our Ships
  • Special Offers
  • Excursions
  • Get Inspired
  • My Booking
8665520371
  • Switch to United States
Search
  • Land Adventures
  • Map
  • Why Cruise with Hurtigruten
  • About Hurtigruten
  • Practical Information
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Register for our Newsletter!
  • Request a Quote
  • Order Brochures
  • Press
  • Contact Us
  1. Home
  2. Inspiration
  3. The Northern Lights

2022/2023 Season Sale

Defy the Ordinary

Book Today

2022/2023 Season Sale

Defy the Ordinary

Book Today

Updating your booking
Info: We at Hurtigruten use cookies to optimize our websites for your needs. By using this website you consent to our cookie policy
The northern lights over Hamnøy, Lofoten
The northern lights over Hamnøy, Lofoten Photo: Stian Klo Photo

The Northern Lights

Everything you need to know about nature's own mesmerizing light show, the Aurora Borealis, and how to see them.

It's dark. You're outside, and everything is quiet. Suddenly, a flicker of light in the sky grabs your attention; pale and modest at first, it soon becomes intense and vibrant, transforming the dark sky into a mighty display of nature's power. It’s hypnotic and impossible to ignore.

But perhaps strangest of all: There is complete silence. Cascades of green, yellow, violet, and red dance across the sky in silent harmony. The Northern Lights are like a mighty symphonic ballet with muted sound...

The Northern Lights and Where to Find Them

The Northern Lights are also known as the Aurora Borealis, a name given to them by scientist and astronomer, Galileo. Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Borealis is derived from the Greek name for the north wind, Boreas.

The Northern Lights appear to those on the ground in different forms. They can look like a swirl of colors dancing through the sky, rays of light reaching up into space, and sometimes they appear as a giant fissure stretching across the sky.

They manifest as a dynamic light show across the skies high up in the Northern Hemisphere near the Arctic Circle. The lights are strongest right beneath the auroral ovals, which makes northern Norway a prime spot for Northern Lights sightings.

Facts About the Northern Lights

Thank the Sun for the Northern Lights

Beyond Science: What causes the aurora borealis?

The unearthly beauty of the aurora borealis mesmerizes all who stay or travel in the polar regions.

And like most natural phenomena, it has a prosaic explanation: The Northern Lights are caused by electrically charged particles, high in energy, entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

And those particles originate from the sun.

The Aurora Season Lasts for 7 Months

Technically, the Northern Lights are present for much of the year.

There just aren’t enough hours of darkness to see them during the summer months, even above the Arctic Circle.

The winter season in the Arctic lasts from late September to late March/ early April. During this time, the Arctic sky is dark enough for the Northern Lights to be visible in the right conditions. 

Have more questions about the Northern Lights?

  • Aurora borealis above the snowy island Vestvågøya, Lofoten
  • A view of the northern lights from MS Lofoten
  • Snowmobiles under the Northern Lights
  • The northern lights over Lofotr Viking Museum
  • Photo: Swen Stroop, Ørjan Bertelsen and Allen Hwang

History of the Northern Lights: Myths and Legends 

It's no wonder the aurora borealis have influenced folklore and stories through the ages. Imagine gazing up at green, red, and purple lights flickering across the sky. Captivating, for sure. Scary? You bet. Today we know the science behind the lights, but back then, stories painted them as everything from bridges to the afterlife and football players to dangerous monsters and warning signs.

Having influenced art, history, and religion, the myths and legends behind the Northern Lights are a fascinating insight into the mindset of different people across continents:

9 Reasons to See the Northern Lights with Hurtigruten

The Northern Lights have enthralled mankind for a long time. Even today, they captivate travelers who venture north to the Arctic. On a voyage with Hurtigruten along the Norwegian coast, the aurora borealis comes to you. Here's why a cruise with us is the best way to experience the Northern Lights:

1. The Northern Lights usually appear multiple times and at multiple locations during your cruise with us.

2. The Northern Lights will often appear directly above the ship, and our outdoor observation decks offer brilliant, unobstructed front-row views.

3. Being at sea avoids the artificial ambient light common on land, so the Northern Lights will appear brighter and more vivid.

4. While in northern Norway, Hurtigruten sails directly beneath the Auroral Zone, an area of consistent auroral activity.

5. Of the 34 ports we visit from Bergen to Kirkenes, 22 are north of the Arctic Circle, offering plenty of opportunity to see the Northern Lights.

6. The lights can make appearances in Norway as early as September and as late as May; Hurtigruten sails every day, all year.

7. There is no time limit, so you can enjoy them for as long as they appear.

8. Onboard announcements ensure you don't miss a single sighting.

9. There are no hidden fees or separate excursions just to see the lights.

Hunt the light on a sailing with Hurtigruten. Video: Ole Christian Salamonsen

FAQ: Your Journey to See the Northern Lights with Hurtigruten

Traveling to see the Northern Lights in Norway? Here's a guide with the most frequently asked questions about cruises to see the aurora borealis.

Learn more about:

  • What temperatures to expect
  • What to pack
  • Your options when traveling with Hurtigruten

Interview with Our Northern Lights Expert

"The northern lights are comparable to snowflakes; there are millions of them but no two will ever be the same."

Dr. John Mason has been working with Hurtigruten since 2007, and this will be his 11th consecutive winter season on our Astronomy Voyage.

The Hurtigruten team recently had the opportunity to spend the afternoon with Dr. Mason, quizzing him on all things aurora-related.

Nature's Greatest Light Show

Witnessing the celestial Northern Lights shimmering in the star-studded sky is a life-affirming experience that will remain with you forever. Their wondrous, magnetic beauty is the reason why you'll happily brace the Arctic chill, and why you'll be drawn back to see them time and time again.

We look forward to welcoming you on board!

No Aurora? No Problem!

We're so confident the Northern Lights will make an appearance during your 12-day roundtrip cruise in Norway between October and March, that if they don't, we'll give you a 6- or 7-day cruise free of charge!

 

 

Related Cruises

  • Multiple offers
    12 days Regular departures

    The Roundtrip Cruise

    • Discover our entire original coastal route with 34 ports of call, sailing past more than 100 fjords and 1,000 mountains.
    • Cross the Arctic Circle and hunt the northern lights in winter, or enjoy 24 hours of daylight under the midnight sun in summer.
    • Spring and autumn cruises showcase the brilliant colors, magical light, and fascinating culture of Arctic Norway.
    • Wide choice of optional excursions and onboard Hurtigruten guides who lead included activities and interpret the cultural and natural treasures on your cruise.
    Price from $ 3,223
    $ 2,223

Further reading

  • The Northern Lights: Frequently Asked Questions

Receive $100 On Board Credit Today

Sign up for our newsletter today to received $100 On Board Credit on Your First Cruise

Yes, sign me up!
What's better than a warm embrace from someone you love? We hope we can all hug each other soon again. For now, we're sending you a virtual hug for National Hug Day. 📷: Chelsea Claus / Hurtigruten 
.
.
.
#hurtigruten #weexplore #nationalhugday #hug #penguin #antarctica #travel #adventuretravel #wildlife For Penguin Awareness Day, here are some facts you might not know about everyone's favorite flightless bird: 
- Their black and white "tuxedo" is a smart camouflage called countershading
- You'll never actually see them with polar bears (despite what you've seen in classic cartoons)
- Penguins huddle together to protect themselves—or to stay warm
- You can see this fascinating creature if you go with Hurtigruten to Antarctica (but this we bet you knew already!)
 📸: Ingemund Skålnes / Hurtigruten The Lemaire Channel is a narrow strait surrounded by cliffs and glaciers that runs seven miles in length and just under a mile wide. This scenic route is one of the most photogenic spots in all of Antarctica, and has even been dubbed the 'Kodak Gap.' Grab your camera and get ready for some amazing photos and breathtaking landscapes. 
📷: @glr.photo / Hurtigruten 
.
.
.
.
#hurtigruten #weexplore #antarctica #lemairechannel #naturephotography #sunset #travel

Contact

  • 8665520371
    or contact a Certified Hurtigruten Specialist

  • [email protected]
  • 1505 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 125, Seattle, WA 98109

  • Contact us

About Hurtigruten

  • Why travel with us?
  • Sustainability
  • Careers
  • Charters and Incentives
  • Agent Portal
  • Hurtigruten Svalbard
  • Press

Support

  • Request a Quote
  • Coronavirus Update
  • My Booking
  • Make a Payment
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Statement of Privacy
  • Cookie Compliance

Social media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Hurtigruten LTD

Search for destinations, attractions, or information

Got a promotion code?