Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis (or Kharp in the Nenets language of the Yamal Peninsula), is a spectacular natural light display that occurs only at the world’s northernmost latitudes. It is caused when the solar wind causes particles in the magnetosphere to collide and become ionised. They emit a light that is most often a dull green colour but that can, if you are lucky, become much brighter. Less commonly, the Northern Lights can be red and purple. Even more rarely they can be yellow and blue.

Sometimes they are seen as just a glowing patch in one part of the sky. Other times they cover almost the whole sky. Often they begin forming tendrils, rippling curtains of light or shooting rays that explode across the sky as you watch them. Old Nenets legends say that these are caused by arrows fired by the souls of their ancestors who come out to hunt at night.

The Northern Lights can be seen from late August until late April. However, seeing them in either August or April is not that common. The very best time is from December to February.

To have the best chances of seeing the Northern Lights there needs to be as little other light as possible in the sky. There are three main ways to do this:

1. Time your trip to coincide with the new moon.

2. Get as far away as possible from any towns, villages or other sources of artificial light. This makes nomad camps the perfect place.

3. Go out to check for the Northern Lights when it is completely dark, at the time of night referred to as astronomical twilight.

Another way to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights is to go as far north as possible. This makes trips to the Dolgan nomads in Anabar District, or the Nenets nomads of the Seyakha tundra, ideal for Northern Lights viewing. Seyakha is 600km north of the Arctic Circle, while Anabar District is 800km north of it. If visiting Anabar around the time of the new moon in February, you are likely to see spectacular displays of the Northern Lights every night.

However, all our tours take place in the Arctic so, if joining us in winter, you will always have good chances of seeing the Northern Lights. If seeing the Northern Lights is a priority but you do not have the time or budget to visit Anabar or Seyakha, please let us know. We can recommend which of your trips at which times of year will give you maximum chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis (or Kharp in the Nenets language of the Yamal Peninsula), is a spectacular natural light display that occurs only at the world’s northernmost latitudes. It is caused when the solar wind causes particles in the magnetosphere to collide and become ionised. They emit a light that is most often a dull green colour but that can, if you are lucky, become much brighter. Less commonly, the Northern Lights can be red and purple. Even more rarely they can be yellow and blue.

Sometimes they are seen as just a glowing patch in one part of the sky. Other times they cover almost the whole sky. Often they begin forming tendrils, rippling curtains of light or shooting rays that explode across the sky as you watch them. Old Nenets legends say that these are caused by arrows fired by the souls of their ancestors who come out to hunt at night.

The Northern Lights can be seen from late August until late April. However, seeing them in either August or April is not that common. The very best time is from December to February.

To have the best chances of seeing the Northern Lights there needs to be as little other light as possible in the sky. There are three main ways to do this:

  1. Try to plan your trip to coincide with the New Moon
  2. Get as far away as possible from any towns, villages or other sources of artificial light. This makes nomad camps the perfect place.
  3. Go out to check for the Northern Lights when it is completely dark, at the time of night referred to as astronomical twilight.

Another way to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights is to go as far north as possible. This makes trips to the Dolgan nomads in Anabar District, or the Nenets nomads of the Seyakha tundra, ideal for Northern Lights viewing. Seyakha is 600km north of the Arctic Circle, while Anabar District is 800km north of it. If visiting Anabar around the time of the new moon in February, you are likely to see spectacular displays of the Northern Lights every night.

However, all our tours take place in the Arctic so, if joining us in winter, you will always have good chances of seeing the Northern Lights. If seeing the Northern Lights is a priority but you do not have the time or budget to visit Anabar or Seyakha, please let us know. We can recommend which of your trips at which times of year will give you maximum chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights tours to the Russian Arctic