Witnessing the Northern Lights is an experience that never fails to captivate. The moment you step outside and see the sky ablaze with color is beyond words. A full display of the aurora dances across the heavens, flickering, glowing, and fading like living light. In that moment, you feel wonderfully small, and your thoughts drift to people of the past, imagining how utterly otherworldly the Northern Lights must have seemed. So extraordinary, it’s almost hard to believe they are real even today.
Finnish Lapland and Northern Lights
In the wilderness of Lapland, especially in the north, the aurora can be almost guaranteed during the winter months. At Kelo Resort’s latitude in Finnish Lapland, the Northern Lights are visible on up to 200 nights a year.
The Northern Lights (Latin: Aurora Borealis) can appear anytime from late August to early April in the Northern Hemisphere, but the most memorable displays require the right conditions: clear skies, full darkness free of the setting sun or bright moonlight, and minimal light pollution. These conditions are most common in autumn, winter, and early spring.
The aurora season stretches from September to March, with peak activity between October and March, thanks to the equinox effect. Around the autumn equinox (September 21–24) and the spring equinox (March 19–21), geomagnetic activity increases, making auroras more frequent and intense. March is often highlighted by locals as the ideal month, combining frequent displays with milder weather for comfortable outdoor aurora hunting.
Northern Lights: when and where?
Catching these breathtaking displays requires the right conditions and a little patience:
- The Darkest months of the year: The optimal time is from autumn through early spring, when the nights are at their darkest.
- Midnight hours: The Northern Lights are usually most active around midnight.
- Clear skies: A cloudless sky is essential; if you can see the stars, there’s a good chance you’ll see the Northern Lights.
The best places to admire the Northern Lights are wide, open areas. Lake shores, wetlands, and fell tops provide stunning, unobstructed views, while remote locations minimize light pollution. For an almost guaranteed aurora experience, venture into the wilderness of northern Finnish Lapland. The Pallas Fell region, right next to Kelo Resort, offers unparalleled scenery for watching the Northern Lights light up the sky.
A gentle recommendation: Arrive at your viewing spot early enough in the evening to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. Being a little early also allows you to set up your camera and be ready to capture the natural magic of the Northern Lights dancing across the winter sky.
If you’re unsure how to do this, don’t worry! At Kelo, we’ll guide you every step of the way with the option to take the Aurora Workshop and various Northern Lights excursions.
Apps and Notifications to Guide Your Hunt for the Northern Lights
Aurora forecasts make spotting the Northern Lights much easier. The My Aurora Forecast app is a handy tool, showing aurora predictions, while the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s cloud maps help ensure the sky will be clear. Social media groups, such as the active Facebook community Revontulikyttääjät, share real-time sightings and photos from across Finnish Lapland.
Keep an eye on the KP index: when it rises above three, your chances of seeing the aurora increase, and once it surpasses four, it’s time to have your camera ready.
Kelo Resort also offers a notification service for guests. If you request a pager-like device, the reception will alert you when the Northern Lights appear, giving you the perfect moment to step outside and look up at the sky. Remember to be patient. Sometimes the lights appear in short bursts, while other times they dance across the sky for hours.
Chase the Northern Lights from Kelo Resort
For the ultimate experience, plan to spend at least four to five nights in Lapland and be prepared for late-night sky watching. With the right timing and location, the Northern Lights promise an unforgettable adventure.
At Kelo Resort, we are delighted to host your secluded retreat, tucked in the heart of breathtaking landscapes, far from city and village lights. Here, peaceful quiet and true darkness make every aurora sighting feel truly magical.