Travelers could also consider spending much or all of their holiday in North Iceland. In the northern hemisphere, the northern lights also known as the aurora borealis. Seeing this magnificent light show with various colours dancing and twirling before your eyes is nothing short of amazing and each display is totally unique. What about the other seasons in Iceland each year? Another important factor to consider is the duration of your stay in Iceland. They have the ability to show up anywhere, but whether or not you can see them is another story, thanks to light pollution. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Northern Light is a natural phenomenon that you can witness in all the Nordic countries, but it seems to be more frequent and intense in Norway. There must be enough solar activity for the lights to appear. The Northern Lights appear in the magnetic polar regions of the north and south hemispheres and their colour can vary from white, green, pink and purple. Most hotels around the country offer a special Northern Lights wake-up service, so if lights happen to appear, they will let you know. In case youre not familiar with the science behind this amazing astronomical phenomenon, heres a quick explanation. These are the months with the most darkness. Darkness is required. The rocky cliffs Ltrabjarg is well-known for being the home of millions of bird species. Between October and March, longer nights give you ample opportunity to see the aurora if the weather permits. Hvammsfjordur is a large bay that can be found in western Iceland. Find out which are the best seasons and months for viewing the aurora borealis in Iceland. It also gets surprisingly dark here at night, which makes it a fantastic spot to view the Northern Lights. It's also one of the first places in Europe that the Aurora tends to be visible- sometimes as early as mid-August! In Iceland they can be seen from September until April. If you stay with us for a week, you might even notice a difference by the end of it! This makes January the absolute best time to visit Iceland for the northern lights in 2022, although you have a good chance to spot the aurora borealis in Iceland until April. You might want to read our article about the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. You can take a bus tour, super jeep experience, a boat ride, float in geothermal pools or even view them from the top of a glacier. However, if you're in Reykjavik while there is high northern lights activity and clear skies. (Or a better photo op! I have a true passion for travel and love to discover new destinations and cultures. The best month to see the northern lights in Iceland is, therefore, definitely March! Enhanced activity, combined with shorter days and mild nights, make of September one of the best months for northern lights hunting in Iceland. Once we near the middle of April, the island moves over to summertime in earnest, and the midnight sun begins to return. As the days begin to get shorter and the nights become darker, our staff starts to keep an eye on the night sky. This name came from Galileo, who named them after the Greek word for the north wind. If youve ever seen a picture of the aurora, you can understand why he thought they looked like the wind! There may be solar activity and auroras happening, but we would be unable to see them. Additionally, any of the dark winter months - October through February - are also good opportunities to see the northern lights. The scale ranges from 0 to 9 where a value of 0 means that there is very little geomagnetic activity and a value of 9 means there is an extreme geomagnetic storm. It is yet another natural location thats removed from light pollution and is a great spot for viewing the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights forecast also shows you the forecast for total could cover over Iceland in a visual way so you can see where you will have the best odds of seeing the Northern Lights day by day. Standing in the vast and rugged nature away from the distracting lights also makes the experience so much better, authentic and natural. Grandagarur 2 Valerie is the founder and editor of Space Tourism Guide. Days are progressively getting shorter and shorter at this time, and that is especially noticeable in the second half of the month, when the northern lights season kicks off. The northern lights can also begin at any moment, so don't rush away if they aren't immediately active. So there is no straight answer to when you can see the northern lights in Iceland since it isnt just dependent on the season or month, but also the meteorological and solar conditions. But it is uncommon due to the light pollution of the city lights. Yes. Take your parent sight seeing, shopping, etc. Covering ground and exposing yourself to different areas of the sky can be helpful since a large portion of aurora hunting is the waiting. Djpavk is a tiny village thats located miles away from any other settlement. November through February are the darkest months and offer longer evenings so your chances of seeing the Auroras are higher. This means that you have plenty of time to return from your day tour and prepare for a night out . Here are some tour operators with lots of choices good luck narrowing them down! The Northern lights season in Iceland is from September to April. Spot These Animals in Iceland in August You don't have to travel far to get a glimpse of wildlife when you visit Iceland in August. The northern lights (or aurora borealis, in more scientific terms) are one of the biggest draws to Iceland. Yes, absolutely. When Is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Iceland in 2022? August weather all but guarantees calm waters and high visibility. The truth is, there is no singular good spot. It gets very dark at night and is a great spot to go if youd like to see the Northern Lights and the ocean at the same time. The northern lights forecast is at a 6!!! You are bound to find at least one tour that appeals to you. For those that want to try the most comfortable hunt around, we recommend the Northern Lights igloo. The period from October until March is generally regarded as the ideal time to seek out the aurora. The best time for watching northern lights is when nights are the longest and darkest: from November through March. You can see the Northern Lights from late August to May, but it's best to visit between October and April. And likewise at 3:00 AM! That's just the reality of Iceland. To observers at far-northern latitudes, they're a frequent occurrence, but many who live in more temperate climates have never seen them, even though they're sometimes seen as far south as 35 degrees north latitude. Parks can be a great spot to watch from because they are designed for spectating and parking your car safely (unlike the side of the road), but be warned that many others may have the same idea. Their intensity depends on the activity of the sun, and the acceleration speed of these particles. This meeting of forces gives some of the super-charged gas in the solar storm an opportunity to travel down the magnetic field towards the poles, creating another collision with oxygen and nitrogen pockets in our atmosphere. This article will help you improve your chances of seeing . august, highlands, Iceland, midnight sun, migratory fauna, Northern Lights, puffins, wilderness. Because of this light cycle, the Northern Lights season in Iceland runs from August to April. Some say its a life-changing event. Iceland is one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis, or northern lights. There are a few spectacular hideaways in Iceland just for this very purpose, where you can be cozy, alone in nature, and waiting in a perfect dark location. Top Places to Observe Northern Lights. This breathtaking glacial lake is one of Icelands greatest natural wonders and most popular tourist attractions. September through March is the peak season for northern lights viewing because the nights are longest. As a result, energy is released and causing peculiar luminous green streaks across the skies. The Iceland Northern Lights season lasts from late August to mid-April, so youll have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights anytime during this period. We can hardly think of a better way to spend the night. You can see the aurora borealis in Iceland whenever the sky is dark. You may have a similar light cycle situation during winter in your home country. Keep in mind the best time for northern lights in Iceland is the winter months. See our tips for finding aurora borealis yourself in Iceland, including how to see the northern lights in Reykjavik. If youre chasing the aurora, youll want Icelands dark winter months to help you. If traveling to Iceland for just a weekend, you only have two or three nights in which to go aurora hunting. There are a few places in Reykjavik where you have better chances to spot the aurora: Some guides offer aurora tours in Reykjavik too, so they may know additional locals-only spots where you can get a good view of the night sky and the aurora if its visible. Whale-watching from the whale-watching capital of Europe, Husavik, begins in March and lasts until November, providing you the chance to marvel over the giants of the deep. The highest probability within this timespan is between 10 and 11pm. Not a time typically associated with auroral viewing, the transitional seasons like fall and spring are phenomenal times to hunt for Northern Lights. For folks visiting earlier or later in the season closer to autumn and spring, youll find that there are fewer dark hours available for hunting. Darkness is required for seeing the Northern Lights. However, there's still an opportunity to see them from May till August. In the summer, it almost never gets dark in Iceland and therefore, August is not the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. The sbyrgi Canyon is a fascinating horseshoe-shaped formation that is popular among hikers. The village itself only has seven houses in all, making it a nice, quiet place to view the Northern Lights. Can the Northern Lights Be Seen in the Summer? However, many summer tours extend into these months, allowing you to do more when the auroras are not visible. Three are still plenty of winter activities in Iceland you can enjoy. In Iceland, April is traditionally considered the beginning of the summer season (if you can believe it), so the same rules that apply to August apply here. Kirkjufell is a beautiful mountain that can be found on Icelands northern peninsula. Located halfway between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay, this is an exceptional spot to see the lights. 1. Some of the most popular places are near towns or interesting geologic features, but if youre traveling Iceland on your own, you can set up pretty much anywhere on a good night and get a great view. Iceland is located at a high latitude, meaning there is no darkness from mid-April until mid-August. Many people mistakenly think that they are related to cold weather, but, luckily this is not the case. You can take a bus to the Seltjarnarnes Nature Reserve,which is fairly dark compared to the rest of the city. In theory, the Northern Lights appear from late August to mid April, but you are much more likely to see them from late September to late March, when there is less light. If youve never seen the northern lights before, Iceland is a great, accessible destination for your first experience. If you really want an excellent shot at a sighting, visit as close to midwinter as possible. However, from late September to late March, it is dark after 6 pm, and one enjoys maximum chances. With clear skies in the south and west. Since the Northern Lights are very unpredictable and no one can guarantee that you will actually see them during your stay in Iceland, it is important to incorporate other activities into your travel plan. Iceland has many amazing things to offer and you should make the most of your stay and consider spotting the Auroras as a bonus. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The greatest centers of light pollution in Iceland are still manageable enough for auroral viewing, and wont impede you to the level of a massive metropolis- but if you can find yourself a patch of true dark your vision will adjust better and your viewing experience will be improved. The website Guide to Iceland also has a super comprehensive list of aurora tours you can browse. With only two major cities Reykjavk and Akureyi you're a 15-minute drive from the perfect viewing spot almost anywhere in the island nation. In September and early October most Northern Lights tour companies will not pick you up until 9/9:30 pm to commence the tour. The best time to see aurora borealis in Iceland is between September and April. Lodges & Overnight Tours. The short answer is yes! When Can You See the Aurora Borealis in Iceland? The first northern lights photo was taken in 1892, by a German astronomer. Suppose you want to see the aurora borealis in Iceland in 2022 while still enjoying relatively mild weather and the option to partake in most summer activities. Its Aurora Adventure tour, which takes you to a nearby glacier, is a popular way to go searching for the Northern Lights. September through April are the best months to view them as far as darkness is concerned. If you dont have a cable release, set your cameras self-timer to two or ten seconds shutter delay. Make sure you have many layers of warm clothes - and perhaps some hot cocoa -so you can comfortably wait for the auroras as long as you need. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Enjoy the clear skies by simply looking upwards towards those dancing, flickering lights of natural beauty. The reason you can't see the Northern Lights in Iceland during summer (June, July and most of August) is because there is too much brightness. Learn about the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, many of which have appeared in movies and TV shows like Game of Thrones. August is very early in the season, and typically we access amenable darkness by the end of the first week. Get a free copy of m 2022 Night Sky ebook and join a community of fellow space enthusiasts! Check out these good Iceland aurora forecast resources. Which mountainsare the most beautiful mountains in Iceland, where are they located and what kind of mountains can you find in Iceland? (Getty Images) Located 220 miles above the Arctic Circle, Troms is one of several top spots to view the northern lights in Norway. Just hoping you see a northern lights display without laying any groundwork is probably not the wisest option. Where can you see Northern Lights in Iceland? Answer (1 of 5): It's true that the northern lights are there in midsummer, just like in winter, but you will probably not be able to see them. When looking for a good spot to wait for the Northern Lights, youll want to consider cloud cover. Puffins and other migratory birds can still be seen nesting at several location around the country in the first half of the month. In a country closer to the pole, this light cycle is a bit more exaggerated and can result in days where the sun does not rise for a period of time. Planning a northern lights vacation can be challenging, as nature tends to run on its own schedule. There are many advantages to booking a scheduled Northern Lights tour. You can start to see them again as soon as the neverending light of summer's Midnight Sun ends. If the Northern Lights are strong enough you can see them with your naked eye. Another benefit is you wont have to worry about driving yourself in the dark and snowy winter night. When can you see the Northern Lights in Iceland 2021? It is located at a high latitude, and its Northern Lights season is from late-September to mid-March , with peak periods in September and March (autumn equinox and spring equinox respectively). In this guide, youll find everything you need to know to see the aurora in Iceland, weather permitting. You can also enhance your experience in Iceland with activities that fit your travel style from adrenaline-inducing adventures toa more leisured pace.
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