Centuries before science kicked in, the Northern Lights were linked to supernatural powers. The famous Scandinavian Vikings thought of them as “vast flames of fire that are blown up among the rays” while locals believed they were reflections of the armor of the Valkyries.
Nowadays, science shows that the Northern Lights are actually a result of collisions between gaseous particles in the atmosphere of the earth and charged particles that are released from the sun’s atmosphere. This collision also forms the variations in color, mostly due to the type of gas particles that are colliding.
When it comes to colors, the most common one in the Aurora Borealis is the pale yellowish-green, produced by oxygen molecules that are located about 60 miles away from the earth’s atmosphere.
Bright and dancing, the Northern Lights are visible from many locations in Scandinavia and at many times. Even though their appearance is usually difficult to predict (and commonly known hours before their sighting), everything depends on solar activity and the number of sunspots that might occur on the sun.
However, as a rough guide, the best time of the year to see the Aurora Borealis is in winter. From January to March, they are most visible mostly because of the fresh cold air, the darker skies and the minimized solar activity.
The appearance of the Northern Lights has transformed from a natural phenomenon to a worldwide attraction over the past few years. Northern Scandinavia, among Iceland and Alaska, is seen as the most intense Northern Lights area. There are many Scandinavian locations which can bring you closer to the amazing auroral displays, including:
Alta, Bodø, Kirkenes, Narvik, Tromsø and Longyearbyen.
Luleå and Kiruna.
The fact that it is so easy to visit Scandinavia with all the flights and routes from all over the world makes Scandinavian Airlines proud to offer you a magical Aurora Borealis experience – and show you what magic looks through the curtain of the Northern Lights.
A sustainable business model
It is crucial to find ways to travel without a negative impact on the environment. SAS is fully dedicated to being a part of finding solutions, which we do. Enabling large scale use of Biofuel is one ongoing solution.
We CO2 offset trips when a EuroBonus number is added to the booking on a Scandinavian Airlines flight and travelers up to the age of 26 when they book a youth ticket.
Read more about our sustainability work
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Book your trip to see the Northern Lights now. At Scandinavian Airlines you always have a 24-hour money-back guarantee.
New modern aircraft
Our airplane A320 NEO has 30% less emission than earlier models. We consider our environmental footprint in every step of our business and we work hard to keep it down to a minimum.
With the loyalty program EuroBonus, you can earn points on your flights, hotel stays, rental cars and much more. Don't forget the opportunity to earn points when you shop or eat at a restaurant. Download the SAS App and see the map “Where to earn points” to see all the places where you earn Extra points on your shopping.
You get more benefits the more you fly with us - and the membership of EuroBonus is completely free. As a Gold or Diamond member you can start your weekend trips by relaxing in the SAS Lounge at the airport. There you will find free WiFi, magazines as well as food and drink so you have the opportunity to recharge your batteries and enjoy your journey even before you board.
All your earned points you can use to pay for new flight tickets, rent a car, upgrade your ticket and much more.
Join EuroBonus before booking your trip to take part in SAS's loyalty program.