Percy, Percy! what are you doing to me? Still have to win big on that lottery though :(.

Okay, how far from you? I just googled and found a 7 night cruise. Are there shorter options, so I could do a combo trip - AMS + area and then a polar bear excursion?

I've looked into this same question before and decided it would be a cruise around Norway. My problem is that I don't have enough vacation time to do the cruise round trip. I did get a slight glance of the lights while in Iceland last early September. It was so slight and poof gone. So I want to find a place I know my chances will be better.

That's my problem. Not enough vacation days. There are two trips I'm already planning and don't have much "extra" time for this one. The closer I can get to a week (or 9 days) the better.

Starrs if you can figure it out, I may follow your lead. I would like a place were my chances are high to see them.

I've seen polar bears in Churchill but not the Northern Lights. I was sure hoping to see them when I was there! My photography friend just posted Northern Light photos from Manitoba so it does happen. For the lucky ones. :)
Here are some polar bears from Churchill.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...c2d2194655.jpg


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...87598b5c7d.jpg

We saw the northern lights unexpectedly on a trip to Lake Louise a few years ago.

Now, I want to see the southern lights from New Zealand.

Starrs, fly to Kirkenes (via Oslo), take the Hurtigruten south to Trondheim, fly home. 5days on the ship, see Lofoten in daylight (if you go in February or later) and a good chance of the lights. If you don't see them at least you have seen something of Norway. Get up earlyish to experience the Arctic dawn, and pray for clear skies!

Moved to Europe board and copied to Canada. I can copy to the US as well if desired.

I am not sure where the best place to post this is, but I live in northern VT and can assure people I have seen some great northern light displays here and in the Adirondacks. I guess this would suggest posting in the US forum

I am interested also. I need a trip to think about.....lots of stress.

Do you send what your trip plans/!!

Jukkasjárvi in Sweden and stay in the ice hotel (which now that I've done it would definitely be a recommendation for a bucket list; it is big bucks to stay there but you can stay nearby and visit on a day pass if budget is an issue). We were there in January and saw the northern lights pretty much every night for 5 nights. snowmobile tours out to the countryside give you a great view. we stayed in the ice hotel itself for just 1 night for the novelty factor and the other nights stayed in one of their northern lights chalets which has skylights in the roof so you don't even have to get out of bed to chase the northern lights.