As you can see, the auroral season runs all the way to April. The good news about this is that cloud systems can move quickly over us on a windy night, not all areas will have the same weather, and even forecasts miss tiny windows of clarity in the sky. Adults . 2500 ISK, 6-16 years . 1200 ISK, Adult. What Is the Best Month To See the Northern Lights in Iceland? August is very early in the season, and typically we access amenable darkness by the end of the first week. That's just the reality of Iceland. Learn more about the Northern Lights in Iceland Kno What are the most commonly asked questions about the Northern Lights, one of Iceland's most alluring and elusive attractions? Put on your warmest jacket, hat and mittens and go for a walk. Yes, absolutely. In general, northern lights are visible between late August and mid-April in Iceland. What is Guide to Iceland? When Is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Iceland in 2022? Knowing when you can see the northern lights in Iceland is essential for ensuring you have the best chances of a once-in-a-lifetime viewing. If you are interested in hunting the Northern Lights in Iceland you might also be interested in our articles about why you should visit Iceland in the winter, how to survive driving in Iceland,the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, and how to photograph the Northern Lights. When you say the days are over 20 hours long in July, you're quite right. During the northern lights season, the north is also less busy than the Reykjavik area, allowing you to avoid the crowds at the most scenic viewing spots, such as the marvelous Myvatn lake or frozen waterfall Godafoss. Luxury rental surrounded by lush greenery, Mosfellsbr (from USD 632) Show all photos. Because Iceland is located so far north, at a high latitude, there is no darkness from mid-april to mid- August, and therefore, no lights can be observed. Great scenery and absolutely unique experience. Required fields are marked *, Hi! Contents1 Is it possible to see Northern Lights in [] Most hotels around the country offer a special Northern Lights wake-up service, so if lights happen to appear, they will let you know. You can go ice caving, snowmobiling, and glacier hiking before setting out to explore the northern lights each night. You can learn more about my mission here or read about me and the rest of the team here. This site is not a resource for general travel advice about Iceland. Please do some research via Google. The first northern lights photo was taken in 1892, by a German astronomer. Caused by the interaction of particles from the sun and in the Earth's atmosphere, the . From volcanoes to glaciers, Iceland offers many opportunities to view the stunning northern lights. There must be enough solar activity for the lights to appear. As the days begin to get shorter and the nights become darker, our staff starts to keep an eye on the night sky. This is due to the earth's axial tilt and the way our atmosphere encounters solar wind. August is technically a summer month, but it is at this time that darkness returns to our Nordic shores, after months of total daylight. It is located at a high latitude, and its Northern Lights season is from late-September to mid-March , with peak periods in September and March (autumn equinox and spring equinox respectively). You can stay at an Icelandic countryside accommodationfor a few days to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights away from the city lights. The best way to see the northern lights is, of course, to get away from city lights. (Getty Images) The . If traveling to Iceland for just a weekend, you only have two or three nights in which to go aurora hunting. If you really want an excellent shot at a sighting, visit as close to midwinter as possible. They have the ability to show up anywhere, but whether or not you can see them is another story, thanks to light pollution. Have other questions about seeing the northern lights in Iceland? However, despite the fact that youre watching in the correct half of the year, we still require this high-quality nighttime darkness for visibility. Clouds will block your visibility of the Northern Lights so the sky has to be clear for you to see them. Tel: +354 780-4500 A good place to start, is to know which half of the year is aurora season in Iceland. It has a black beach nearby thats isolated from any potential light pollution. The auroral oval, a band that hugs the northernmost latitudes where auroral activity has the highest concentration, covers most of Alaska and Iceland, southern Greenland, and the northernmost parts of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. A lot of Icelandic photographers will be out tonight. Many people mistakenly think that they are related to cold weather, but, luckily this is not the case. The highest probability within this timespan is between 10 and 11pm. Can You See the Northern Lights in Iceland During Winter? You can also enhance your experience in Iceland with activities that fit your travel style from adrenaline-inducing adventures toa more leisured pace. Iceland is located at a high latitude, meaning there is no darkness from mid-April until mid-August. The aurora borealis or northern lights are near the top of the list of what draws people to visit Iceland, and youre not alone in wanting to see them too. A powerful solar storm may cause a brighter visual manifestation, thus making it possible to view earlier in the evening. Check out our list of the best Airbnbs perfect for watching northern lights in Iceland. Sometimes these holes in the cloud layer are all we need to glimpse the glow- but many great activity nights have been canceled over a thick layer of cloud cover. 6 -16 years..1.200,- ISK. If the aurora should appear, we use our aurora wake-up system to notify our guests. In Iceland they can be seen from September until April. In this guide, youll find everything you need to know to see the aurora in Iceland, weather permitting. This breathtaking glacial lake is one of Icelands greatest natural wonders and most popular tourist attractions. This is especially true in the winter months when snow reflects light up into the sky. Iceland only gets 4-5 hours of daylight in midwinter, providing endless opportunities to hunt for aurora borealis during that time. Featured photo credit: Andrs Nieto Porras via FlickrThis post was originally published in November 2018, and was updated most recently in November 2022 for this winter. Its Aurora Adventure tour, which takes you to a nearby glacier, is a popular way to go searching for the Northern Lights. The night skies will be much darker, improving your chances. While theres no particularly optimum time between this range, the nights are the darkest from November to January. Seeing this magnificent light show with various colours dancing and twirling before your eyes is nothing short of amazing and each display is totally unique. Because of its small size, you wont have to worry too much about light pollution interfering with your view of the sky. The northern lights season really takes off in September. However, due to the Earths rotation, atmosphere, and magnetosphere relative to Icelands position on the globe, they are most likely to be seen between 10 PM and12 AM. Watching near a streetlight or a house can make low light photography a bit harder to balance, and it can also cause your eyes to struggle with adjusting to their own night vision. However, seeing them in late autumn and early spring is still possible. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. But the remaining 4 hours are still pretty bright. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The rocky cliffs Ltrabjarg is well-known for being the home of millions of bird species. Just remember to drive carefully in the dark and snowy winter nights. If you're able to, try to get out of the city or even head to an area with a park. Absolutely! Which mountainsare the most beautiful mountains in Iceland, where are they located and what kind of mountains can you find in Iceland? Clear skies. When looking for a good spot to wait for the Northern Lights, youll want to consider cloud cover. Let me know in the comments. This article will help you improve your chances of seeing . It is possible to see the northern lights from Reykjavik. Travelers could also consider spending much or all of their holiday in North Iceland. Are you thinking of visiting Iceland in winter and wondering where and how to see the Northern Lights in Iceland? I want to introduce you to the real Iceland, the beauty, the history, and the things that will make you fall deeply in love with my homeland. The guides are skilled in hunting for the Northern Lights and knowing the best locations to spot them based on each nights Aurora and weather forecast. In the last part of August the sky actually gets dark enough to see the northern lights, but only for a relatively short period (some hours) at the darkest part of the night. In theory, the Northern Lights appear from late August to mid April, but you are much more likely to see them from late September to late March, when there is less light. Checking the forecast regularly in the days leading to your trip to Iceland will give you an idea of your chances for seeing the Northern Lights. 1. You should still check the forecast, but understand that nobody can perfectly predict the northern lights, and thats part of what makes seeing them so special. However, many summer tours extend into these months, allowing you to do more when the auroras are not visible. You might want to read our article about the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. Additionally, any of the dark winter months - October through February - are also good opportunities to see the northern lights. In a truly dark place, your eyes will be able to pick up some of the finer pieces and shards of the occurrence, and typically be more successful at discerning the color. The Northern lights season in Iceland is from September to April. The best time of the year to see the northern lights in Iceland is undoubtedly the winter months. Unfortunately, no guarantees can be given as visibility depends on weather conditions. Is it possible to see Northern Lights in Iceland in August? Northern Lights trips are organized around the country all winter long. Therefore, in December, they may be visible from three in the afternoon until nine in the morning. But for those of us down here planetside, we must wait for optimal darkness to be able to pick out auroral activity with the naked human eye. This makes January the absolute best time to visit Iceland for the northern lights in 2022, although you have a good chance to spot the aurora borealis in Iceland until April. In the northern hemisphere, the northern lights also known as the aurora borealis. While I cant make any guarantees, if you use these tips and go to these places and the aurora is out, youll hopefully have an unforgettable experience seeing the northern lights in Iceland. If youve never seen the northern lights before, Iceland is a great, accessible destination for your first experience. The best month to see the northern lights in Iceland is, therefore, definitely March! For the best time to go to Iceland for the northern lights, its best to aim for the weeks around the winter solstice. What Are the Best Conditions to See the Northern Lights? So, the longer your stay the bigger your chances. What is the science and folklore behind the existence of the aurora bore Guide to Iceland | The Story of the Leading Travel Agency of Iceland, The complete guide to the midnight sun in Iceland, Top 13 Best and Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Iceland, Northern Lights in Iceland - When & Where To See the Aurora, The Best Northern Lights Hotels in Iceland, FAQ About the Northern Lights in Iceland | Science & Mythology. There are over 120 options, so be prepared to scroll for a while! Learn about the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, many of which have appeared in movies and TV shows like Game of Thrones. The weather in early September is . If the conditions above are in your favour, the Northern Lights may appear in the sky above you. The nearby Hotel Rang, in particular,is a popular place to stay while watching this incredible phenomenon. Tromso in Norway. Country roads can be dark and narrow, and they do not always have a shoulder for pulling over. The Northern Lights appear in the magnetic polar regions of the north and south hemispheres and their colour can vary from white, green, pink and purple. Thingvellir National Park is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Iceland. View our finest Northern Lights tour in Iceland! We still have daylight 24/7 in July but in August specially late August you might be able to see them but only very late in the night. If youve made it to this post, you probably already know what the northern lights are. A far as equipment goes, the most important thing you can bring is a tripod and a cable release to avoid the dreaded shaken photo syndrome. This gives you an excellent of the night sky. In most cases, chances of catching the Northern Lights are immediately improved outside populated areas, away from city lights. On an auroral forecast, you can see that the cloud map is an integral part of finding out if youll be able to view activity or not. The night skies will be much darker, improving your chances. It gets very dark at night and is a great spot to go if youd like to see the Northern Lights and the ocean at the same time. Despite this, you can still see the aurora borealis faintly during the short hours of darkness at the very beginning and end of summer. We also recommend a drive along the south coast of Iceland where you will see some amazing natural wonders like Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Dverghamrar Cliffs, Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks and the otherworldly Jkulsrln Glacier Lagoon. When can you see the Northern Lights in Iceland 2021? Unfortunately, no guarantees can be given as visibility depends on weather conditions. This is because the Auroras tend to be quite active for two to three nights in a row and then activity drops for four to five nights in ongoing cycles. The Northern Lights occur at a low lumen, so sometimes even a weak occurrence can be hard to pick out in perfect conditions. If you want to capture the perfect photos of the northern lights in Iceland during your trip, check out our full guide ofaurora photography tips. August is a relatively bright month with 16 hours of daylight each day. The best time to see aurora borealis in Iceland is between September and April. Thereforenorthern lights tours only run in the winter months as the longer nights make aurora borealis easier to spot. Through the end of May, the entirety of June and July, and the beginning of August, the nights are still too bright to see the auroras. But it is uncommon due to the light pollution of the city lights. Though there are no guarantees that the Northern Lights can be seen during the retreat, the Northern Lights season in Iceland spans from late August to mid-April, so it's possible! The forecast will also predict the cloud coverage for each night. What about the other seasons in Iceland each year? As these collisions occur in different gases, light is produced in a variety of colors, depending on the altitude of these collisions. Then its a long wait until September. The best time to see the Northern Lights is during the winter, between September and April, when dark and long nights have taken over from the bright summernights in Iceland. If you get to see the lights, then consider it a won lottery. Rovaniemi, Finland is the home of Santa (no, seriously) and is also one of the most popular places for Northern . Then it's a long wait until September. Enjoy the warm atmosphere of an Icelandic farm, get to know the locals, explore nearby natural attractions by day and hunt for the Northern Lights by night. What Else Can I Do To Make Sure I See the Northern Lights in Iceland? The northern lights can also begin at any moment, so don't rush away if they aren't immediately active. In recent years, tours have started mobilizing for their aurora seasons at the middle to end of August, with some starting as late as September. The short summer and shoulder seasons are popular for many tourists who want to explore Iceland without snow and ice. A two-week-long vacation spent in different parts of the country will significantly increase your chances of a lucky night in perfect conditions. The northern lights appear whenever theres solar activity, but we can only spot them when its dark. The Northern Lights are caused by electrically charged particles from the sun hitting the Earths magnetic field. Of course, there is a chance that even if all those conditions are in your favour and you take every opportunity you get, you still might not see the lights. The Northern Light is a natural phenomenon that you can witness in all the Nordic countries, but it seems to be more frequent and intense in Norway. Iconic highland hikes, like the worldwide famous multi-day Laugavegur track can be enjoyed by the most physically fit, and easier hikes and treks can be found all around the country, and will reward you with stunning scenarios and unforgettable memories. The nights here are longer, and the sky is usually less cloudy, providing increased opportunity. Here are 16 great places to see the northern lights in Iceland (in random order): This small town is in a prime location for viewing the Northern Lights. Eldborgahraun is a lava area in southern Iceland with an altitude of 211 meters above sea level. ), When can you see the Northern Lights in Iceland? Make sure you have many layers of warm clothes - and perhaps some hot cocoa -so you can comfortably wait for the auroras as long as you need. The Northern Lights -also known as the aurora borealis-can be seen in Iceland from the end of August until early April. However, if you get lucky, it's possible to get a glimpse of aurora in Yukon as early as mid-August when the weather is still warm or as late as mid-April when the snow starts to melt. Therefore, in December, they may be visible from three in the afternoon until nine in the morning. The Best Northern Lights Locations in Iceland . 2.500,- ISK August is very early in the season, and typically we access amenable darkness by the end of the first week. Luck is an important factor. Yes. You can still see the northern lights in Reykjavik and other cities, but the best results are from the remote countryside. Whats the weather in April end, Things to do The best places to visit The best hotels to stay. The greatest centers of light pollution in Iceland are still manageable enough for auroral viewing, and wont impede you to the level of a massive metropolis- but if you can find yourself a patch of true dark your vision will adjust better and your viewing experience will be improved. Be challenging, as nature tends to run on its own schedule of. This light cycle, the aurora borealis may encounter cloud cover or a lack of solar activity, us. Is, for the Northern pole coincides with shorter days accidental gift of most. Unique experiences await around every bend t too bad hey, if you to. 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