by Eshaa G · 2026-10-27T06:39:05.913Z · 9 min read
Two Seasons. One Sky. Endless Shades Of Green.
by Eshaa G · 2026-10-27T06:39:05.913Z · 9 min read
Whether you see the Northern Lights in autumn or winter, Tromsø and Lapland give you a different kind of magic each season. Aurora Season: Roughly late August to early April in both Tromsø and Finnish Lapland Autumn: Golden forests, crisp nights and auroras reflected in lakes that haven't frozen yet Winter: Deep snow, glass igloos, husky sledding and Tromsø's polar night from about 27 November to 15 January Summer: No auroras, as the Midnight Sun keeps the sky bright from late May to late July Holiday Length: At least 3 to 4 nights, ideally 5 or more, to give the sky more chances Best Of Both: One holiday can cover Tromsø and Lapland, with your Voyaah Holiday Manager taking care of the details
It's almost midnight. You and your loved ones are standing by a still lake in Lapland, wrapped in blankets, with the stars out in their thousands. Then the sky begins to move. Soft green light spills across it, shifting from pale jade to deep emerald, rippling and folding like silk in the wind. Nature's greatest light show is coming to life, right above you.
What Are the Northern Lights? The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, happen when charged particles from the sun collide with gases high in Earth's atmosphere and make them glow. Most nights, the glow is green. On stronger nights, you might see red or purple too. The Finns have a prettier explanation. They call the lights revontulet, or "fox fires", after a legend about a fox racing across the fells and sweeping sparks into the sky with its tail. There's more than one way to watch this spectacle, and each one is magical in its own way: By Boat: A Northern Lights cruise through the majestic fjords around Tromsø, with the city lights fading behind you On The Road: A guided aurora chase, where your guide follows the clearest skies, sometimes all the way to the Finnish border From the bed: A glass igloo in Lapland, where you can snuggle under a warm duvet and watch the sky glow in shades of green, right from the cosy comfort of your bed. Voyaah Insider Tip: Carry your passports on an aurora chase from Tromsø. If the clearest skies are over the border, some guides will drive you into Finland to find them. Standing beneath the aurora with someone you love is an enchanting experience. Little wonder it's a favourite with honeymooners and newlyweds. Here are all the romantic experiences you can share with your partner under the Northern Lights What Are the Northern Lights Like in Autumn? Autumn is when the aurora season begins, and it arrives in colour. Birch trees turn gold, the shrubs underfoot go crimson, and the air feels crisp but kind. The lakes haven't frozen yet. So on a calm night, the lights appear twice: once in the sky and once on the water. In Lapland, they fondly call this a Double Aurora. The autumn colours, known as ruska in Finnish, usually peak in Finnish Lapland around the second week of September. Book a lakeside cabin there, and the lake becomes your own private screen for the night sky. By October, the nights are longer and darker, and the first snow starts dusting the mountain peaks. Around Tromsø, the mountains turn yellow, orange and red from late August. Once the evenings grow dark enough, the aurora season begins, so you can spend your days by the fjords and your nights looking up. Pair your aurora nights with: Coastal hikes around Tromsø Serene walks through Lapland's golden forests A fjord cruise from Tromsø Canoeing, kayaking or paddling the Ounasjoki in Levi, one of Lapland's longest rivers A ferry boat ride in Levi, wrapped in blankets and listening to Northern Lights legends Dog sledding on a wheeled cart at a husky kennel near Tromsø, before the snow arrives Berry picking in the woods A lakeside sauna as the sun goes down A night in a glass igloo, as some resorts open from September An aurora photography tour, so you finally have a photo of all of you under the lights Voyaah Insider Tip: Some locals say the days around the autumn equinox, close to 21 September, are the best time to see the Northern Lights. Autumn also brings proper sunsets, so on a lucky evening you might see the sunset, the moon and the Northern Lights in one sky.
What Are the Northern Lights Like in Winter? Winter is every Bollywood snow song come to life, minus the chiffon saree. Pines bow under heavy snow, lakes freeze solid and the nights stretch long, giving the aurora hours of dark sky to play in. In Tromsø, the polar night runs roughly from 27 November to 15 January. The sun stays below the horizon, yet for a few hours each day the sky glows in shades of pink, purple and deep blue over snow-clad fjords. From about late October to January, orcas and humpback whales follow the herring into these fjords. Picture yourselves on deck, with your mittens on, as a dark fin rises through the blue twilight. In Finnish Lapland, winter is all hush. The snow softens every sound except the crunch under your boots and the happy yelps of huskies waiting to run. Pair your aurora nights with: A night in a glass igloo, some with an aurora alarm so you can sleep and still not miss a thing Husky or reindeer sledding through frozen forest Snowmobile rides, with your loved ones racing alongside Whale watching in the fjords off Tromsø A Northern Lights concert at Tromsø's candlelit Arctic Cathedral An icebreaker cruise from Kemi in Finnish Lapland, where you can float among the sea ice in a survival suit A North Cape cruise along Norway's Arctic coast, with a stop in Tromsø and a day at the North Cape, where the cliffs drop into the Arctic Ocean Voyaah Insider Tip: Many winter whale safaris from Tromsø travel to Skjervøy, about 250 km north, where the herring (species of fish) gather. Expect an early start and a full day out, so plan a slow, cosy evening after. Tromsø and Lapland are only the start of what the far north holds. Here’s our complete guide to all the things you can do in Scandinavia & beyond
Can You See the Northern Lights in Summer? No. From late May to late July, the Midnight Sun keeps the sky bright all night, so the aurora has no darkness to shine against. Summer has its own magic, though. Imagine a midnight hike in warm golden light, or a fjord cruise where the sun simply refuses to set.
1. Should we choose Tromsø or Lapland for the Northern Lights? Choose both if you can. Tromsø pairs the aurora with fjords, whales and city life, while Lapland brings forests, lakeside cabins and glass igloos. Your Voyaah Holiday Manager can plan one holiday that covers Tromsø and Lapland together. 2. Should you see the Northern Lights in autumn or winter? If you prefer milder nights and crisp air, choose autumn, with its golden forests and Double Auroras on still lakes. If you dream of a snowy adventure with huskies, glass igloos and long, dark skies, choose winter. 3. Is September too early for the Northern Lights? No. Sightings around Tromsø usually begin in late August, once the nights are dark enough. September also brings Lapland's autumn colours, so you get gold forests by day and green skies by night. 4. Do you need snow to enjoy a Northern Lights trip? Not at all. Snow has a magic all its own, but even without it, you can hike, kayak, pick berries and relax in a lakeside sauna. For snowy landscapes and snow activities, plan a winter holiday, as these usually begin around Tromsø in November or December. 5. What time of night are the Northern Lights most visible? Usually between 10 PM and 2 AM. On darker nights, they can appear earlier in the evening, so start looking up as soon as the sky is properly dark. Nights around a new moon are darker still, which makes even a soft aurora easier to spot. 6. How many nights should we stay to see the Northern Lights? Plan for at least 3 to 4 nights, and 5 or more if you can. The aurora needs clear skies, so every extra night gives you another chance. 7. Can we stay in a glass igloo in autumn? Yes. Some glass igloo resorts in Lapland open from early September and stay open until the end of March. At a lakeside resort, you might even catch a Double Aurora before the lake freezes. 8. Do Indians need a visa for Norway and Finland? Yes. Both countries are in the Schengen Area, so Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa, and one visa covers both. Your Voyaah Holiday Manager will guide you through the visa application.
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