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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Holidays

Northern lights (with a 11yo)

36 replies

kookievee · 29/12/2021 22:18

I have a big birthday coming up in 2 years and I'd love to go on a trip to see the Northern lights.

It would be me, DH and our DS who will be 11.

Where is best to go that won't break the bank? I could leave DS with his aunty but I'd rather take him.

I'm looking at this as a world without Covid as I hope things will have calmed down by then.

Thanks.

OP posts:

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CombatBarbie · 31/12/2021 21:15

North Scotland gets some spectacular views.... I get some fab ones down in Ayrshire too.

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kookievee · 31/12/2021 21:14

Some good suggestions thanks!
Also good advice. I did know I wasn't guaranteed to see them but I'd not considered that in planning destination to be somewhere I'd like to go anyway.

Some research is needed!

OP posts:

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MissAmbrosia · 30/12/2021 19:52

global.hurtigruten.com/destinations/norway-expedition/?_hrgb=3 You might have to search about amongst their offerings but I think if you did one of their "post boat" cruises they offer a free one if you don't see the lights. I am currently investigating Norway....

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Swisscheeseleaves · 30/12/2021 16:25

Pick somewhere you want to see anyway that has other attractions that appeal to you and then go hoping to see the lights as a bonus. I live in Iceland and have seen the northern lights more times than I can count but I could never plan in advance and pick a week or even a night when I would be certain to see them.

You lucky thing! Iceland is so beautiful. Probably a bit of a pain to live there sometimes though

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Karatema · 30/12/2021 14:36

I've been 3 times and have never seen them as well as my DDIL did with my DGS in Scotland! She sent me photos and I was very jealous!

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PuffinShop · 30/12/2021 14:12

It is a silly idea to go on a trip specifically to see the northern lights, if you will be extremely disappointed not to see them. It is like travelling hundreds of miles to see a rainbow. There are just no guarantees that you will get a clear night when the lights are active, no matter where you go.

Pick somewhere you want to see anyway that has other attractions that appeal to you and then go hoping to see the lights as a bonus. I live in Iceland and have seen the northern lights more times than I can count but I could never plan in advance and pick a week or even a night when I would be certain to see them.

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CaptainMyCaptain · 30/12/2021 14:09

I went to Iceland in February and didn't see them, when we came back we heard they'd been seen from Barnsley. Wherever you go prepare your child to be disappointed. I hope you do see them.

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HamCob · 30/12/2021 14:06

I have a friend who is Norwegian and she has only seen them a handful of times in her life despite living near the Arctic circle. Maybe plan a holiday based around other activities such as a Lapland trip and if you see the lights it's a bonus.

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Swisscheeseleaves · 30/12/2021 10:46

I have been to Iceland twice and have yet to see them! Best time to go is midwinter say February time. As pp said there's sites etc you can use to help you figure out when to go. Iceland is expensive, it may break the bank but it's utterly amazing. But .. As i said i haven't seen the northern lights yet so i need to go back again

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countrygirl99 · 30/12/2021 10:41

Pick.your timeout year carefully for when there is less likelihood of cloud cover.

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PavoReal · 30/12/2021 10:34

I can’t help with the “won’t break the bank bit” but would recommend downloading an Aurora app now which will tell you locations of where northern lights are forecast. When considering a location you can pretend you are there now to see if you’d actually get to see them or not at the time you’d go.

We were in northern Finland (Saariselka) early Dec which is within the Arctic circle for 4 nights and only one of those did the lights appear briefly at 3am, and those who saw them were only those who did the overnight trip. Everyone else slept through them. They weren’t that spectacular that night either by accounts. We didn’t go specifically for the lights so not such a big deal for us to miss them.

I guess it’s like whale watching trips. Sometimes you see them, sometimes you don’t. I’d think about other elements of your holiday and consider getting to see the lights a bonus. It’s a beautiful part of the world, a good choice for a special trip!