If seeing the northern lights is your bucket list item...
.
Oct 11th, 2019, 02:14 PM
#22
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?
Oct 11th, 2019, 03:06 PM
#23
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.
Oct 11th, 2019, 03:18 PM
#24
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.
Oct 11th, 2019, 07:19 PM
#26
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.
Here are some polar bears from Churchill.
Oct 11th, 2019, 08:25 PM
#27
If you use Hurtigruten you can do various stretches of the Norwegian coast in one or both directions depending on your desires. It’s not a high end cruise - it’s “commercial” - but it’s certainly comfortable and since I traveled alone the price suited my needs.
https://www.hurtigruten.com/inspirat...SAAEgKTA_D_BwE
https://www.hurtigruten.com/inspirat...SAAEgKTA_D_BwE
Oct 11th, 2019, 11:56 PM
#29
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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!
Oct 15th, 2019, 01:48 PM
#31
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 20,598
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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
Oct 18th, 2019, 06:10 AM
#33
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
