Hunt the Northern Lights on Your Own

Deep in Reisadalen, far from towns and roads, the night sky is dark. There is practically no light pollution here, which makes Reisa Lodge a great base for seeing the aurora. If you’d rather not join a guided trip with snowshoeing, a campfire and local stories, you can hunt the Northern Lights on your own, at your own pace.

Watch from where you are

You don’t have to go anywhere to see them. On a good night the aurora can be seen straight from your bed, from the jacuzzi on the roof of the lodge, or while you walk around the lodge area. You can also borrow or rent snowshoes from us and explore the surroundings on foot. Whatever you’re doing here, keep an eye on the sky when it gets dark.

What you need for a good night

The Northern Lights are created when charged particles from the sun hit the atmosphere. To see them, you need two things: a clear sky and solar activity that is high enough. Check an aurora forecast and the cloud forecast in the evening, and look out again later at night, since the lights can appear at any time and often come and go.

Why Reisadalen is a good place

• Remote location: We are in a deep Arctic valley with almost no light pollution, so even weaker aurora is easy to see.
• Far north: Northern Norway lies under the aurora zone, so the lights are visible on many nights during the dark season.
• Dry inland climate: Compared to the coast, the weather here is drier, which means more clear days and more chances to see the sky.
  
  

Good to know

The Northern Lights can’t be guaranteed, since they depend on weather and solar activity. The more nights you stay, the better your chances. Dress warmly, and ask us if you need help with snowshoes or advice on where to go.