Chasing the Northern Lights: Top Destinations, Photography Tips, Myths & Legends for Your Aurora Borealis Adventure

8 minutes read

Travelers who look beyond the ordinary, or even just those who have a great Bucket List, always look towards the Northern Lights. Throughout human history, way back to the Chinese chronicles, European annals, and Indigenous oral traditions, the northern lights have sparked intrigue, fascination, and fear. 

More than a natural wonder, the lights are part of human history, myth, and exploration. For centuries, travelers, poets, and local communities have sought meaning in the spectacle. Modern journeys echo the same fascination, where every trip to see the northern lights is both a scientific encounter and a cultural immersion; they inspire journeys that blend culture, adventure, and technology.

What are the Northern Lights?

Known scientifically as Aurora Borealis, this phenomenon occurs when the Solar streams interact with Earth’s magnetic field, transforming the Arctic skies into moving curtains of green and yellow (reaction with Oxygen) or purple and red (reaction with Nitrogen). Think of it like this: the Sun throws paint at Earth, and the Earth’s magnetic field splashes it into glowing patterns near the poles.  

When can you see the Northern Lights?

The aurora is most visible between September and March, when long polar nights create extended darkness. Peak activity often occurs between 10 pm and 2 am. With the solar maximum approaching in 2025–26, the chances of seeing the Northern Lights are higher than usual in many destinations.

Want to boost your chances of visiting Northern Lights? Keep an eye on Aurora forecasts before heading out:

• Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA) – Live short-term forecasts.
• Aurora Service Europe – Reliable predictions for Europe.
• AuroraWatch UK – Real-time alerts for UK sightings.
• My Aurora Forecast App – Mobile app to track aurora activity worldwide.
  

Exploration apps like Explurger enhance the adventure by connecting travelers with real-time updates, location-based tips, and shared experiences from fellow aurora chasers. This sense of community ensures that a trip to see the Northern Lights is not just about looking upward, but also about connecting with people from across the globe.

Where to Witness the Northern Lights?

The best northern lights viewing occurs within the auroral oval, a high-latitude region encircling the magnetic poles. Each region offers something unique and distinctive– from microclimates to dramatic backdrops, these regions are a must-add to your Explurger bucket list for the journey of a lifetime!

• Norway (Tromsø, Svalbard): Of course, we all know that Norway sports some of the most spectacular displays of Aurora Borealis. You can choose to view them either in the comfort of the city or go to places like Svalbard, where things are a little more remote and wild. One tip we can give from Explurger: Go with an Indigenous tribe guide if you want to get more out of your experience. Since the northern lights are more than just a beautiful phenomenon, they have a history and a bunch of myths attached to them, you can get the unique chance to speak to those whose families or tribes still carry those myths in their traditions. 
• Finland (Lapland): Known for glass igloos, husky sledding, and reindeer herding, Finnish Lapland merges auroral spectacle with Sámi culture. Visit the Santa Claus village (ROVANIEMI) while you’re at it, and tick off one of the most challenging Bucket List places! Plan your visit between September and March to witness the magical Aurora Borealis.
• Iceland: No surprise here — Iceland is almost synonymous with chasing the northern lights. But instead of sticking only to Reykjavik, head out to Thingvellir National Park or along the Golden Circle. Pro tip from Explurger: Go for a soak in the geothermal hot springs, as well, to make the trip even better!
• Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Churchill): North America’s northernmost wilderness gives you raw, untouched landscapes to go with the auroras. In the Yukon, you can pair your viewing with dog sledding or snowmobiling. In Yellowknife (Northwest Territories), the aurora season runs nearly 240 nights a year. The odds are seriously in your favor!
• Alaska (Fairbanks): A hub for northern lights viewing, Fairbanks is aurora central in the U.S., thanks to its location right under the auroral oval. Here, you’ll find tour operators that specialize in chasing the lights. The bonus? Natural hot springs just outside the city! How insane is that!
• Sweden (Abisko National Park): This little spot is considered one of the world’s best for clear skies. Abisko’s “Blue Hole” — an area with its own unique microclimate — often keeps the skies cloud-free even when surrounding regions are overcast. That means your chances of spotting auroras here shoot way up. 
• Scotland (Scottish Highlands, Shetland, Orkney): Bet you didn’t think Scotland was on the list! But the northern reaches of the UK sometimes light up with what the locals call the “Mirrie Dancers.”
• Greenland: Remote, wild, and otherworldly, Greenland offers some of the darkest skies you’ll ever experience. Here, the auroras feel like an ancient secret whispered only to those who venture far enough north. Pair your adventure with dog sledding or exploring Inuit culture for a truly once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Experiences Beyond the Lights

Here are some things you can do/experience while you’re on a trip to see the northern lights

• Dog sledding through snowy forests in Finland.
• Snowmobiling across frozen lakes in Norway.
• Staying in glass igloos or ice hotels in Lapland.
• Soaking in hot springs in Iceland or Alaska under auroral skies.
• Learning from Indigenous guides, who share oral traditions and deep connections to the lights.

How to Capture the Northern Lights?

Everyone who goes to view the northern lights wants the evidence to be turned into an immortal reality–this is where being a content creator comes into play! At Explurger, we have so many travel content creators who regularly undertake these journeys and come out with some amazing shots. And they have some tips to share!

Here’s the revised section with your content integrated with practical photography tips and sources:

Gear You Need

• DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual settings.
• Wide-angle lens (14–24mm) with a fast aperture (f/2.8 or lower).
• A sturdy tripod and a remote shutter or timer to prevent shakes.
• Extra batteries, kept warm (cold drains them fast).
  

Camera Settings

• Aperture: f/2.8 or the widest aperture your lens allows.
• ISO: 800–3200 depending on aurora intensity.
• Shutter speed: 5–25 seconds (shorter for fast auroras).
• Manual focus on a bright star or infinity.
• White balance ~3500K (adjustable in RAW).
  

Location & Conditions

• Far from city lights, minimal light pollution.
• Clear skies and high aurora activity (check forecasts).
• Arctic Circle during winter months (Sept–April).
  

Extra Tips from Explurger Creators

• Shoot in RAW for post-processing flexibility.
• Include foreground elements (trees, cabins, mountains) to add scale.
• Try time-lapse videos for dynamic aurora sequences.
• Trust your camera more than your eyes—many colors and movements are more vivid on screen.

Share and Relive the Experience with Explurger

Once the perfect shot is captured, the journey doesn’t end there. Explurger lets travelers log every northern lights viewing, tag locations, and connect with fellow aurora chasers. From creating a personal travelogue to sharing highlights with the community, the app ensures that each breathtaking display is immortalized—and can even inspire others planning their own trip to see the northern lights.

Myths and Legends About the Aurora Borealis – The Northern Lights

Think about it–you’re living in the ancient world, with no modern scientific knowledge, you have no idea wtf are protons and magnetic fields are, and all that. You look up and suddenly there’s a fiery green or red glow in the sky… and it sometimes almost whispers. That’s enough to scare the crap out of anyone. So you may create some stories around it to make sense of what happened. That’s what most religion and mythology are. Let’s check out what cultures throughout the world think of the spectacle:

• Ancient Records: The earliest known written mention of the aurora dates back to 2600 BC in China, where chroniclers described “strong lightning in the northern sky.” The Greeks and Romans also recorded strange “chariots of fire” and “sky flames.”
• Norse Mythology (Scandinavia): The lights were believed to be the glow from the shields and armor of the Valkyries; others thought the aurora was the Bifrost Bridge, connecting Earth to Asgard.
• Sámi People (Lapland, Northern Scandinavia): The Sámi saw the lights as the energies of departed souls, and treated them with deep respect. Whistling at the aurora was considered dangerous, as it could draw the lights down to earth and literally suck the soul out of you. Not all myths are about sheer reverence; some are based on deep fear. 
• Finnish Folklore: The name Revontulet (literally “fox fires”) comes from a myth where an arctic fox ran across the snow so fast that its tail sent sparks into the sky, creating the aurora.
• Inuit (Alaska, Canada, Greenland): Many Inuit groups believed the lights were the spirits of animals (like seals, salmon, or deer) or ancestors playing ball games in the sky. Some stories say the lights guided souls to the afterlife.
• Native North America (Cree, Algonquin, Menominee): – The Cree thought the aurora was the spirits of the dead trying to communicate with the living.

– The Algonquin believed the lights were a fire lit by their creator god, Nanahbozho, to remind his people he still watched over them.

– The Menominee in Wisconsin thought they were the torches of benevolent giants, guiding humans.

• China & Japan: Some old Chinese texts describe auroras as celestial dragons breathing fire across the sky. In Japan, there’s a belief that children conceived under the aurora are blessed with good fortune.
• Medieval Europe: In the Middle Ages, sightings of the aurora were often linked to omens — sometimes of war, plague, or famine — since bright red auroras can look like the sky is on fire.
• Scientific Approach: Galileo Galilei was the first to use the term Aurora Borealis in 1619, naming it after Aurora (the Roman goddess of dawn) and Boreas (the Greek god of the north wind). Around the same time, French scientist Pierre Gassendi recorded the first detailed study.
• Modern Understanding: It wasn’t until the 20th century that Norwegian scientist Kristian Birkeland proved auroras were caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. His experiments with magnetic “terrellas” (small magnetized spheres) simulated auroras in the lab.

Fun Aurora Facts

• Auroras aren’t limited to Earth — they occur on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, too!
• The Southern Hemisphere has its own version, called the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights).
• During powerful solar storms, auroras can be seen much farther south than usual — even as far as Mexico, India, and the Caribbean in rare events.
• Auroras are silent to the human ear, but some people report faint crackling or swooshing sounds. Scientists think these may be caused by electrical discharges close to the ground.
• The colors depend on altitude: green (most common) comes from oxygen around 100 km up, red from high-altitude oxygen, and blue/purple from nitrogen.
• The best time to see them is during the equinox months (September & March) when Earth’s tilt helps magnetic activity peak.

Also Read: Tonight’s sky show! Northern Lights may be visible across 18 US states

Closing Reflection

The northern lights are more than a skybound spectacle. They are a meeting point of science with myth, history with travel, and solitude with community. Each aurora trip is not just about seeing a glow, but about entering a story that spans cultures and centuries. With modern tools, local wisdom, and responsible travel practices, every journey north becomes a chance to stand under the universe’s own stage lights — and to carry the memory home.

FAQs About Northern Lights