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[Closed] Going to see the northern lights, say in Norway. Options?

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March next year. Can get four flights for 250 quid return to Oslo. I'm literally just looking at options, kids 12 and 15 by then and both up for it. Any pointers/ideas?


 
Posted : 25/09/2016 6:06 pm
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You'll need to go a lot further north than that for any guarantee of seeing them.
A lot!
Was in Iceland end of Jan and despite the latitude saw sod all - only place that did was right on the NE tip one night.
Total lottery unfortunately.
Aurora watch is a good place to start.


 
Posted : 25/09/2016 6:15 pm
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We saw them every night from the ski slope just outside Oslo, nobody seemed to think it was exceptional but maybe not as likley as further North.


 
Posted : 25/09/2016 6:46 pm
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Look at a picture, or go to Aberdeen.


 
Posted : 25/09/2016 7:15 pm
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Yes kids we're off to Aberdeen. That'll hit em big time hey.


 
Posted : 25/09/2016 8:12 pm
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Did see it once in Cambeltown in August! Oslo isn't much further north than Aberdeen - you really need to be nearer the arctic circle. Used to fly to northern Sweden a bit in winter and quite common to see the aurora from the plane. That said, went to Finnish arctic in February and saw nothing.


 
Posted : 25/09/2016 8:16 pm
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I'm in the middle of Sweden and we see them alot. March is potentially a very good time to see them. Combine it with a ski trip ?


 
Posted : 25/09/2016 8:31 pm
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We saw them in Iceland and without wanting to appear too jaded, they were a bit of a disappointment.

Our friends recorded them on thier camera and they looked much better on playback than to the naked eye. Much more colourful.


 
Posted : 25/09/2016 11:08 pm
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The hurtigruten ferry goes up & down the coast and is a cross between passenger ferry and cruise ferry - you could get a flight/train up North and spend some time on it.


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 7:24 am
 Drac
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Northumberland is closer.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 7:33 am
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I would be wary of taking family on a trip specifically to see the aurora; there's a significant risk of disappointment, either because the aurora is quiet or the weather is blocking you from seeing it. Set up an interesting trip to somewhere like Iceland (off road 4x4 on ice) and treat the lights as a bonus.


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 9:16 am
 DrJ
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I am off to Lofoten in Feb, not specifically for N Lights, but optimistic about seeing them.


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 9:31 am
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Wot Greybeard said. Friends went on the Hurtigruten ferry trip some time ago, & missed the lights entirely due to wrong weather & atmospheric conditions.


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 9:41 am
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Bit like whale watching init,but as you have [b]right[/b] in your name ,you may have a better chance of being in the [b]right[/b] place at the [b]right[/b] time 😉


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 9:47 am
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Posted : 26/09/2016 10:27 am
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Spent three winter weeks in Fairbanks Alaska and didn't see the northern lights once, but have seen them in Finland and Northern England, it's a bit of a lottery.


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 10:41 am
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Drac that looks like a pretty average display, Northumberland is closer but doesn't look as good 😈


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 10:44 am
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go to Tromsø


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 11:06 am
 Drac
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Drac that looks like a pretty average display, Northumberland is closer but doesn't look as good

Its not one of the better examples but given I walk up to the moors to see them then I'm happy with that.

Like others have said you need to make a multi activity trip as our you'll ever up disappointed.


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 11:09 am
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I am off to Lofoten in Feb, not specifically for N Lights, but optimistic about seeing them.

I did the same this year, lots to see and do (if you book in advance) and the lights were a lovely bonus. Just bear in mind that you'll probably have a few very late nights if they do come in!

For kids you have whale watching/fishing trips, the Viking museum, tonnes of wildlife, husky rides etc etc.


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 11:30 am
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It's on my mum's bucket list - There's a very spendy tour to Abisko which I think we're going to do.


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 11:49 am
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Like others have said you need to make a multi activity trip as our you'll ever up disappointed.

+1

I spent four days in Iceland hoping the clouds would go away. They didn't.

Had a nice time bankrupting myself while I was there, mind 🙂


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 12:05 pm
 DrJ
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There's a very spendy tour to Abisko which I think we're going to do

Abisko is brilliant though, at all times of year.


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 1:26 pm
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there's a few apps that give you potentially good viewing times, but I could not make any sense of them, we were in anchorage a couple of weeks ago, and guess what, I should have bee the night before, we saw nowt


 
Posted : 26/09/2016 1:33 pm
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Meant to be a very very good night tonight for northern lights


 
Posted : 13/10/2016 5:27 pm
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A few years ago a mate and I decided to do a motorbike trip to the North Cape for no better reason than we were both owners of Aprilia Caponord bikes. Itinerary was meticulously planned as was the route, my mate was very excited about the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights as we would be well beyond the Artic Circle, I explained that due to us travelling at the end of May, when we got that far north it wouldn't actually be dark at that time of year. Bless.


 
Posted : 13/10/2016 5:46 pm
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I did a 2 week cruise to Norway a few years ago, not too expensive although the ship was pretty basic (not many kids either so may not be a great option for them). The big advantage was that most of the eating & drinking was done on board so didn't have to pay the extortionate Norwegian prices! Saw the aurora loads in the first week, not at all in the second, so as said it's a lottery.


 
Posted : 13/10/2016 6:18 pm
 Drac
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Meant to be a very very good night tonight for northern lights

Too cloudy here.


 
Posted : 13/10/2016 6:29 pm
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Too cloudy here.

What about at 2am? Commit man!


 
Posted : 13/10/2016 6:32 pm
 Drac
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I won't be able to tell until 2am 😀


 
Posted : 13/10/2016 6:45 pm