Chasing the Northern Lights on Lumi’s Iceland Trip

Skiing the Fossavatn Worldloppet above Ísafjörður, Iceland (66.0749°N)

With the ski season in its final stretch, Lumi’s last trip of the winter heads to a breathtaking and remote destination: Iceland’s Westfjords. And while the days are getting longer, there’s still plenty of time to witness one of nature’s most mesmerizing spectacles — the northern lights. Will we be lucky enough to look up and see ribbons of colorful light dancing across the night sky? There’s a decent chance, although since there are lots of factors that influence the visibility of the northern lights, there’s never a guarantee – which is part of the allure of the auroras.

A brief astronomy refresher: the northern lights occur when a solar flare emits charged particles from the sun. When these particles collide with gasses in the earth’s atmosphere, they emit the light that we see as the aurora.

Last year, our guests on the Iceland-Fossavatn trip were treated to a memorable aurora display. At our hotel in Reykjavik, the hotel’s night lock keeper is also the aurora spotter. Anyone who wanted to see the Northern Lights, if they came out, could sign up for a midnight wake-up call when they were visible. Thanks to the lock keeper, several guests who opted to receive the call were treated to the celestial magic – a memorable ending to the trip.

Seeing the northern lights from the hotel in Reykjavik

Can’t wait to go aurora hunting yourself? Here’s a recipe to increase your chances of seeing the northern lights:

1. Travel to the right latitude: Because solar flare particles have an electric charge, when they arrive in the Earth’s atmosphere, they catch a ride to the north pole (and south pole for the southern lights) along Earth’s magnetic field. The best places to see the northern lights lie within the aurora oval, around 65-70°N. Ísafjörður, Iceland (66.0749°N), home of the Fossavatn Worldloppet ski marathon, is ideally positioned for aurora viewing. Guests have also spotted the Northern Lights on Lumi’s Norway Birken trip in Oslo and Lillehammer. We haven’t seen them in Finland or Estonia yet, but the Finlandia & Tartu Trip is at a latitude where they’re likely. 

2. Find dark skies: Light pollution can diminish the visibility of the aurora. Ísafjörður’s remote location makes it a perfect spot for witnessing the northern lights in their full glory.

3. Watch the forecast: Both weather conditions and space weather play a role. Check the aurora forecast (NOAA’s Aurora Forecast) to see when geomagnetic activity is strongest and hope for clear skies. If you’re lucky to have a clear night during your trip, keep your eyes peeled for the northern lights after ~ 10:00 PM.

4. Stay up late (or let the Lock Keeper wake you!): The best aurora displays usually happen between 10 PM and 2 AM. If you’re staying at our Reykjavik hotel, talk with the Lock Keeper to make sure you’re up in time for the show!

The sun setting on a clear night in Ísafjörður

Lumi’s Operations Specialist Lea recently returned from a trip to Finland, where she was lucky enough to witness a breathtaking aurora display herself. With solar activity currently at its peak in the 11-year solar cycle, now is a great time to chase the northern lights. Geomagnetic activity is expected to remain high throughout 2025, increasing the chances of catching a brilliant light show in northern destinations like Iceland, Norway, or Finland.

Northern Lights photographed by Lumi’s Operations Specialist Lea in Rovaniemi, Finland

With the upcoming Iceland-Fossavatn trip, we’re hoping for another round of stunning aurora sightings. Will we be as lucky as last year in Iceland or Lea in Finland a couple weeks ago? Only nature will decide, but one thing’s for sure — this is one of the best times in years to witness the northern lights at their best.

Ready to chase the aurora yourself? Check out Lumi’s northern adventures in Iceland, Norway, or Finland, and save your spot on one of the 2026 trips: Iceland-Fossavatn, Norway-Birken and Estonia & Finland.

See you on the trail, or gazing up at the sky,
Garrott Kuzzy
garrott@lumiexperiences.com
Founder, Lumi Experiences

Lumi guest skiing the trails above Ísafjörður, Iceland (66.0749°N)