The hunt for the northern lights
Join the mysterious hunt for the Northern Lights in Bodø.
Northern Lights Safari
Hunt for the mysterious Northern Lights in Bodø - capture the experience as a memory for a lifetime
Imagine a winter night, far from the city lights, where the Arctic silence embraces you. Suddenly, green, purple and pink ribbons break out and ripple across the sky. This is the Northern Lights – Aurora Borealis – nature’s most spectacular light phenomenon. With us you can experience the Northern Lights in personal and unforgettable surroundings.
The hunt for the northern lights
The tour starts from Rampen Adventure Hub, where you will receive a brief introduction to the evening's program and what to expect. We will then get in the car and the guide will take you to the places we know offer the best chances of experiencing the Northern Lights. Weather and conditions permitting, we will be out in nature and experience the raw Arctic night with a hot drink, so you can enjoy both the nature and the experience.
Frequently asked questions
-
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that cannot be guaranteed. Both weather and geomagnetic activity play a role, and some nights the conditions are simply too bad. Our guides follow the forecasts and cancel the trip if the chance of seeing the Northern Lights is very small.
-
If you don't experience the Northern Lights on your trip, you will still have experienced the mysterious Arctic nature at night, an experience of raw and true silence away from cities and towns. Our guides aim to create adventures worth embarking on, even when you suddenly have to change course.
-
We hunt for the Northern Lights for three to four hours, and the guide will take you to our best spots to hunt for the Aurora Borealis.
-
You should dress for the weather, as the Arctic winter night can be very cold.
We recommend wearing long sleeves, warm shoes, winter jackets, headwear, scarves and mittens or gloves on cold days.
As much of the trip may take place by car, we recommend that you dress in layers and dress comfortably.
-
We recommend that you bring with you:
Camera and mobile phone
Something small to eat or drink
Patience and adventure
The guide will serve hot drinks (coffee/tea/cocoa) and a light snack. There are blankets available in the car if needed.
-
Hunting for the northern lights requires patience, as you often have to wait for the colors to spread across the sky.
We recommend that you assess the suitability of your hunting party, also to avoid being a nuisance to the rest of the hunting party.
-
Hunt for the Northern Lights in a smaller group of max. 7 people. This creates a more personal experience, where we preserve the surrounding nature and the tranquility in the pursuit of the natural phenomenon.
-
Meeting point for the Northern Lights Safari with Rampen is at Rampen Adventure Hub, Sjøgata 41, 8006, Bodø.
Departing from Rampen Adventure Hub after a briefing on what to expect from the safari in comfortable and modern surroundings, your guide will take you through basic facts about the celestial phenomenon Aurora Borealis and how the hunt for the Northern Lights takes place.
For guests of Wood Hotel Bodø we have a Pick-Up Point at the hotel. Please enter the desired Pick-Up Point in your booking.
Facts about the Northern Lights
What are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis , is the light phenomenon that occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with the Earth's atmosphere.
What does aurora borealis mean?
The name comes from Latin: “Aurora” means dawn, and “Borealis” means north wind.
Where can you see the northern lights?
You can see the northern lights best in northern Norway, in places like Bodø, Svalbard and Tromsø as these cities lie under the northern lights oval at night. Bodø has good conditions for seeing the northern lights, as it is a short distance from nature without light pollution.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?
The best time to experience the Northern Lights in Bodø is from September to March, when the nights are long and dark.
How long do the northern lights last?
The Northern Lights can last from a few minutes to several hours – depending on solar activity. The Northern Lights most often appear for 15-30 minutes at a time.
Have you always seen the northern lights?
Yes, the Northern Lights have fascinated people for thousands of years. In the North, the Vikings believed that the Northern Lights were the magical rainbow bridge Bifrost that connected humans with the gods. Further south in the world, where the aurora borealis was rarely seen, the Northern Lights were often interpreted as a bad omen – a sign of war, misfortune or supernatural forces.
