Know Before You Go: Northern Lights Tours
Where Should I Go To See Northern Lights?
The best places to see the northern lights lie beneath the auroral oval—a high-latitude atmospheric ring of magnetic activity circling Earth’s poles. This zone includes parts of Canada, Alaska, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, making them the world’s most popular aurora destinations. Each offers unique landscapes and experiences, but conditions vary depending on weather, accessibility, and local infrastructure.
What Are the Most Popular Northern Lights Destinations?
Canada (Churchill)
Pros: Remote wilderness, low light pollution, frequent aurora activity, surprisingly accessible
Cons: Very cold in peak season
Norway
Pros: Dramatic fjords, cultural towns, northern lights cruises
Cons: High travel costs, frequent coastal cloud cover
Iceland
Pros: Easy access, geothermal hot springs, dramatic volcanic landscapes
Cons: Unpredictable weather, short nights early in season
Finland
Pros: Glass igloos, snow-covered forests, family-friendly lodges
Cons: Expensive, farther from aurora’s strongest zone
Sweden
Pros: Well-developed tourism infrastructure, Sámi cultural heritage
Cons: Moderate aurora activity compared to Canada
Alaska
Pros: Strong aurora activity, mountain backdrops, wildlife encounters
Cons: Cloud cover common, remote interior travel often required
Northern Lights Destinations Compared
Churchill, Canada stands out for its exceptional aurora reliability, accessibility, lack of crowds and rich Arctic activities.
Destination | Aurora Reliability | Accessibility | Low Crowd Levels | Other Activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada (Churchill) | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Norway | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ |
Iceland | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
Finland | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
Sweden | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Alaska | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
Why is Churchill one of the best places to see the northern lights?
Churchill, Manitoba, sits directly beneath the auroral oval, where northern lights activity is most intense. This remote subarctic town, perched on the frozen shores of Hudson Bay, combines the three essential ingredients for aurora viewing: clear skies, long nights, and dark horizons.
Unlike destinations prone to cloud cover or requiring deep interior travel, Churchill benefits from cold, stable Arctic air that often creates crystal-clear conditions. Nat Hab enhances the experience with six exclusive, heated aurora-viewing sites, ensuring comfort, wide-open views, and zero competition from crowds or city lights.
Beyond the Aurora in Churchill
Dog sledding with local mushers
Snowcoach adventures into the boreal forest
Cultural encounters with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis hosts
Galapagos Islands
Isabela
The largest Galapagos island at about 1,790 square miles, Isabela is formed by six volcanoes and known for penguins, marine iguanas, sea turtles and snorkeling in coastal lagoons.
Fernandina
Fernandina, the youngest and most volcanically active island, has stark lava landscapes and supports the world’s largest marine iguana colonies along with flightless cormorants.
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is home to Nat Hab's Tortoise Camp Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station, where giant tortoise conservation programs operate. Its lush highlands contrast with its rocky coasts.
Espanola
Espanola, the southernmost island in the Galapagos, is the exclusive nesting site for waved albatrosses and is renowned for dramatic blowholes, white-sand beaches and colorful marine iguanas.
Genovesa
Nicknamed "Bird Island," Genovesa hosts colonies of red-footed boobies, frigatebirds and swallow-tailed gulls. Its sheltered caldera offers snorkeling with hammerhead sharks and rays.
Floreana
Floreana has Post Office Bay, where sailors once left letters in a barrel and where today's travelers echange unstamped postcards. The island is also known for black-sand beaches and excellent snorkeling.
Santiago
Santiago features striking lava flows and tidal pools formed by past eruptions. It is home to fur seals, Sally Lightfoot crabs and reef sharks, and offers excellent snorkeling along its dramatic, wildlife-rich coastlines.
North Seymour
North Seymour is famous for its blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds with inflated red throat pouches. Land iguanas roam its arid interior, while sea lions and marine birds crowd its shoreline and beaches.
San Cristobal
San Cristobal is the only island with a permanent freshwater lake, El Junco, a highland bird habitat. Its shores host large sea lion colonies, and nearby Kicker Rock offers snorkeling with sharks, rays and turtles.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe’s towering prickly pear cactus forests shelter its unique land iguanas. Clear turquoise bays provide calm waters for snorkeling with sea lions, colorful reef fish and, at times, sea turtles.
Nat Hab's Galapagos Islands Tours
Galapagos Discovery: The Nat Hab Experience
Small-group adventures aboard your choice of private yachts, led by our outstanding naturalist guides and photography pros. Snorkel and swim with sea lions, sea turtles and penguins on this incomparable nature odyssey.
Galapagos Wildlife Photo Expedition
The ultimate Galapagos photography adventure! Capture amazing wildlife close-ups as we explore 15 diverse islands in 17 days—plus an overnight among wild giant tortoises at our private Tortoise Camp.
Galapagos Escape
Explore the unique habitats of the Galapagos, encounter its legendary wildlife, and enjoy active pursuits from hiking and snorkeling to paddleboarding on this expedition ship adventure
Galapagos by Catamaran: An Intimate Voyage
Experience the Galapagos aboard Lindblad Expeditions' most intimate vessel in its island fleet, a luxury motorsailing catamaran for just 16 guests.
