Harness the huskies, reindeers at the ready: this year offers prime aurora viewing before activity declines over the next decade.
Over the last two years, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) have put on quite a show, dazzling travellers in Alaska, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Scotland – and even as far south as Devon and Cornwall in the UK.
The Southern Lights (Aurora Australis) were also spotted by a lucky few in the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape. A rare, almost unprecedented opportunity, when you consider the distance between South Africa and the Earth’s poles.
It’s all thanks to the sun’s solar cycle, a roughly 11-year period of fluctuating activity that, at its maximum, brings powerful solar flares and strong solar winds. The sun reached peak activity (solar maximum) in October 2024, leading to increased geomagnetic storms and spectacular aurora displays throughout 2025.
Solar activity is now declining, and weather experts believe 2026 may be your last ‘best’ chance to see aurora until the mid-2030s. Of course, the Northern Lights don’t disappear during the solar cycle, but increased solar activity does make for more intense and more frequent displays.
In other words, you need to start planning your aurora-chasing adventure today – as 2026 is still in the solar sweet spot.
Shirley-Ann McQuade, Regional Manager for the Western Cape at the Flight Centre Travel Group, says destinations in the auroral zone – ideal for viewing the northern lights – include Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland), Iceland, Greenland, Alaska and Northern Canada, with Tromsø (Norway) and Rovaniemi (Finland) proving popular among South African travellers.
“Flight Centre has just confirmed a four-week Northern Lights itinerary for clients that starts in Copenhagen and ends in Helsinki,” explains McQuade. “And while you may not have four weeks to spare, it does offer plenty of inspiration for those with Scandinavia and the Northern Lights on their bucket list.”
For McQuade the highlights include:
A Northern Lights Cruise
Havila Voyages offers a “Northern Lights Guarantee” on their 12-day Bergen-to-Bergen round trip – if you sail between 1 October and 31 March (to capitalise on the long, dark nights of winter). This means that if the magical strands of green don’t dance across the sky during your trip, you will be offered a six or seven-day cruise free of charge!
But for McQuade, it’s not all about aurora. “The cruise has the most incredible excursions on offer. Think snowshoeing and ice fishing, hiking with huskies or even snowmobiling under the polar sky. It’s an unforgettable way to explore the far reaches of the Northern Hemisphere.”
McQuade explains that Havila also runs special astronomy cruises where guests can enjoy insightful onboard lectures from astronomers while observing star constellations and other phenomena without any light pollution whatsoever.
“Your odds of spotting the Aurora Borealis are boosted by dark skies at sea,” says McQuade. “Cruise lines like Princess Cruises, Cunard and Hurtigruten among others all offer wonderful itineraries, which are definitely worth exploring with your travel advisor.”
Tromsø, Norway
In summer, it’s the land of the midnight sun. In winter, you can chase the Northern Lights. And year round? It’s your gateway to the most audacious arctic adventures, including reindeer sledding and tobogganing.
More than that, you can immerse yourself in the Sámi culture, enjoy responsible whale watching, or set off on a fjord & fishing cruise as you discover a completely different rhythm – one dictated by the annual cycle of light, nature, and the great outdoors.
Rovaniemi, Finland
Did you know that the Northern Lights are visible roughly 200 nights out of every 365 in Lapland? Which makes a visit to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, an absolute must. Here you can hunt aurora on sleigh, snowmobile or horseback – before retreating to the cosy confines of a village inn, complete with hot chocolate, gingerbread and bilberry pie (a traditional Lappish dessert flavoured with wild bilberries).
“Our clients chose to stay at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort which is about a three hour drive north of Rovaniemi,” says McQuade. “Rovaniemi delivers the full Santa Claus experience, while Kakslauttanen is all about glass igloos, saunas and the chance to enjoy husky and reindeer safaris. It is utterly magical.”
Kirkenes, Norway
McQuade explains that every Northern Lights trip requires careful research and planning – and even then, sightings are not guaranteed. The time of year is incredibly important, because as winter fades, so do the chances of seeing Aurora Borealis in all its glory. However, early April can still surprise you, especially in northern regions like Kirkenes.
“The Havila cruise stops in Kirkenes,” says McQuade. “It’s wonderful because you can go husky sledding before visiting and cuddling with the dogs on a farm outside Kirkenes, enjoy a king crab safari (where you catch, cook and taste the delicious king crab direct from the arctic). That’s the real gift of a Northern Lights trip – even if the aurora plays hard to get, the journey delivers memories and adventures to last a lifetime. Make 2026 the year you finally go…”
