About everyone has an aurora dream in their heart, especially there is a soft legend about the aurora borealis: it is said that lovers who see the aurora together will stay together and live happily for a lifetime, which is even more exciting. Aurora has become a must-see beauty for many people in their lifetime.
Here comes the question -
Where is the best place to see the Aurora?
Mohe, China? NONONO! The odds are as slim as a millionaire lottery ticket.
Alaska, USA? Is it too cold? Those who are not afraid of the cold and want to go on the legendary "Highway of Death" can give it a try.
Northern Canada? By the way, do you have a feeling that Canada is a bit like Tianjin, too peaceful and not very poetic? Of course, if you like mildness, then northern Canada is fine.
Abisko in Nordic Sweden? Finnish Lapland? Or Iceland? Or Troms?, Norway? Or here’s a more detailed version:
Sightseeing list
Rovaniemi: the hometown of Santa Claus. Saariselka: home to the world's most famous glass dome hotel. Tromso: Also known as the "Gateway to the Arctic", the surrounding fjords are an excellent location for observing the Northern Lights. Lofoten Peninsula: A Norwegian fjord with many beautiful views. Abisko: There is a high probability of seeing the aurora in the Arctic Circle, where the local population is less than a hundred people. Kiruna: Home to the world's most famous ice hotel. Vik: A small town in southern Iceland. Vatnaj?kull: [Interstellar] filming location, the third largest glacier in the world. Golden Circle: An area in Iceland that is home to many classic attractions such as Gullfoss and Geysir Geysir
To be honest, Northern Europe is really suitable for watching the Aurora, and each has its own merits. If you like the atmosphere of a kingdom, then Sweden can be said to be quite historical. If you like fairy tales, go directly to Finland. You can find glass houses and other things in Finland. If you are a particularly wild person, you can basically see the aurora all over Iceland, which is a great choice.
Then there is Norway. The above Tromso and Lofoten Islands all belong to Norway. They pass through the fjords and the latitude is further north, reaching the North Cape, which is 71 degrees north latitude. It is definitely a place to observe the North Pole. The light is in the best position, and because the background is the fjord, the effect of the photo cannot be better! In addition, the coast of Norway is affected by warm currents, and the temperature is not only a little higher than other aurora resorts. Watching the aurora is comfortable and comfortable. In the same aurora zone, northern Sweden and northern Finland are inland areas with strong winds, heavy snow, and many cloudy days, so the chance of aurora is reduced by the way.
Another reason is the accommodation issue. Since winter in Northern Europe is the peak travel season for aurora viewing, there are few cities, villages and towns, and the number of accommodations is limited. Therefore, accommodation in winter is difficult to find. In the Abisko region of Sweden and the Ivalo region of northern Finland where the Glass House is located, you must book a room at least 3 months in advance.
In the urban area of ??Tromso in northern Norway, it is not so embarrassing. There are relatively many rooms. The cheapest double room can be purchased for 800 yuan a night. The price-performance ratio is very high in Northern Europe.
Of course, no matter which place you choose, you must understand that there are three best conditions for observing auroras: high latitudes (preferably close to or within the Arctic Circle, Troms? has the highest latitudes) high), suburbs away from urban light pollution and cloudless nights. There is a certain probability of the aurora appearing, not every clear night, so it is recommended that you stay in an area where you can see the aurora for at least three nights.
How to arrange transportation when going to Tromso to see the Aurora?
There is no way to fly directly to Tromso from China. There are direct flights to Tromso from Oslo every day, and there are direct flights to Tromso and Copenhagen from Stockholm every other day. Flying to Troms? is also relatively pleasant. In view of this, the specific flights and recommended itinerary can be arranged as follows:
Domestic? Copenhagen? Tromso?
Oslo? Helsinki? Domestic
Watch After flying so many times, some people may wonder whether the cost is too high, whether the time is rushed, and whether they are all spent on the road?
Well, as a student who flies to the North Pole N times a year, let me say this -
1. Flights within Northern Europe are generally very cheap, a few hundred yuan one way. And if you buy it together with international flights, it will be even cheaper.
2. It is very convenient to fly in Northern Europe. The airport is generally less than 30 minutes' drive from the city, and public transportation is well developed. Check-in at the airport is also self-service, no need to queue, just arrive at the airport 1 hour in advance. Each flight lasts only 1-2 hours, so it won’t take up too much play time.
3. However, flights within Northern Europe also have small pitfalls: most flights are low-cost airlines, and luggage must be purchased separately on the official website and there is no Chinese page. If it is your first time to contact low-cost airlines, it is best to find an experienced friend to help you study it carefully.
4. When transiting, I stopped for one night and visited the capitals of the three Nordic countries so easily.
Recommended Tiger Travel's exclusive route - exploring the end of the world, sailing crabs and encountering the Aurora. There is no better route than this to enjoy the three Nordic countries.
How to choose a hotel?
When staying in a hotel in Northern Europe, you must choose a good location, because there have been many immigrants in the Nordic region in the past two years, and the security in the urban areas is relatively poor at night. In addition, the nights are long in winter. The cities in Northern Europe are not large and there are few lights in the urban areas. Therefore, the darkness here is so dark that you can’t see your fingers or fingers. It is very discouraging. If you live in a remote area, you will not dare to go out at night.
For Tromso, most activities gather in front of hotels in the city center, and the airport bus stations, supermarkets and attractions are also concentrated in the city center. In addition, Tromso is very small. Most attractions are within walking distance, so staying in the city center is the most convenient option. The city center of Tromso mainly refers to the vicinity of Tromso Port. Please refer to the map below for the specific range.
Do I need to join a tour group to see the Aurora?
Although Troms? is a small city with little light pollution, you can only see very weak aurora in the urban area, so you still need to go to the suburbs and wild observation areas to see the aurora. If you are worried about the safety of self-driving in the polar night, you can choose various aurora tours. The guides of the aurora tours are all locals. They know best where the aurora will be, so it is recommended to go with an aurora tour to see the aurora.
According to the mode of transportation, it can be divided into four types: snow hiking Aurora tour group, reindeer/dog sledding Aurora tour group, car Aurora tour group and Aurora cruise ship.
1. Snow Aurora Hiking Group: Hike to the Aurora Observation Point. The professional guide will give you professional snow shoes and flashlights. The end point is the aurora observation station set up in advance. You can drink hot drinks in the tent, rest, and wait for the aurora to appear.
2. Reindeer/dog sled aurora tour: Take a husky sleigh or reindeer sled and chase the aurora under the leadership of a guide. This kind of aurora tour is interesting and fun. If you want speed and passion, choose dog sledding. If you want stability and safety, choose gentle reindeer sledding.
3. Car aurora tour: This aurora tour is very mobile and suitable for people who are afraid of the cold and have average physical fitness, but it is not very interesting.
4. Aurora Cruise: Taking a cruise to chase the aurora will give you a completely new experience that is completely different from watching the aurora on land. It is far away from the bustling city with bright lights, and it is easy to have sunny days on the ocean, so you can better observe the aurora. At the same time, this kind of cruise ship is usually equipped with a guide to explain the mythical stories about the Northern Lights and the principles of the Aurora, which is very suitable for travelers with in-depth experience.
Exploring the end of the world, sailing crabs and encountering the aurora this trip is actually a cruise ship to see the "light", starting from Troms? all the way to 71 degrees north latitude, which happens to be high latitudes, and the aurora is right in the fjord. The sky is unrestrained and exciting.
The cruise ship provides both short-distance tours and land activities, such as dog sledding, landing at North Cape, hiking in the snow, fishing for king crabs, seeing the city by the port, etc. Anyway, it is more comprehensive than the previous separate aurora tour. There is a lot of excitement, and there is no limit on the number of people. Unlike the previous Aurora tour, which has a maximum of 30 people, and the Aurora tour only has about 20 people. If it doesn’t speed up, it will be sold out. The cruise ships vary in size and can carry passengers. For one or two hundred people, the room is very comfortable and very cost-effective.
The Polar Cathedral we saw. The appearance is simple, triangular, white, with the largest stained glass window in Northern Europe. It is full of poetry and is perfect for taking pictures.
Of course, cruise ships also have the disadvantages of cruise ships, which is that they have to be booked far in advance. After all, Tromso is the best place for aurora observation. People from all over the world are rushing to come. Once the reservation is completed, the cabin and ship It may not be that good, and the ticket price will also increase. We booked half a year in advance last year and saved 10,000 yuan compared to booking later...
Aurora Appearance Time
The best time to watch the Northern Lights is from October to March next year. Different regions are slightly different. The most common time for aurora sightings is between 6 pm and 1 am. Although aurora actually appears all year round, due to the extreme daylight phenomenon in summer near the Arctic Circle, it is not easy to see it when it is so bright, so summer is usually not a good "sightseeing" time.
In addition, because the light of the moon is very strong, try to avoid going when the moon is full. Of course, it does not say that it must not be possible, but the moon is too bright, which will more or less affect viewing and shooting.
Recommend several websites where you can query Aurora:
Query by week:
/Aurora.htm
Query by minute:< /p>
http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/
KP*** is divided into ten levels from 0 to 9. When KP=0, it is extremely weak, and it is almost impossible to see the aurora. When KP=9, it is the strongest and has the largest range. The aurora can be seen in many places, but the chance of occurrence is very small. Generally, if KP=3, you have a good chance of seeing the aurora; if KP=6, you can see it most of the night. Of course, this is also related to the specific weather conditions of the day. Don’t be too superstitious about numerical forecasts.
Basically, if it is a clear day, I tried level 2 in Tromso and you can see it. Level 5 and above will be a gorgeous aurora feast.
Finally, I wish everyone to see Aurora 666, realize their dream of a colorful sky, and be happy forever~