NORTHERN LIGHTS & THE MYTHS WITH SIMPLY SWEDEN experience the magic Photo © Simply Sweden / Darren Hamlin

Northern Lights - The Basics The Northern Lights season is widely recognised as October to March. In Scandinavia the Northern Lights corridor is around the Arctic Circle. All locations marked on this map offer great opportunities to see the Northern Lights. This is mother nature at her best. They can not be guaranteed. Choose a holiday you will enjoy even if you do not see the Northern Lights. experience the magic Luleå Arctic Circle Kiruna Lofoten Islands Tromsø Alta Kirkenes Sweden Norway Photo: Simply Sweden (Darren Hamlin) in Swedish Lapland

Northern Lights - The Science Particles from the sun travel at 1 million miles an hour towards Earth. It takes around 40 hours to reach our atmosphere. The particles are pulled to the north and south poles by the magnetic field around Earth. Different colours are produced by the particles reacting with gases at various altitudes Green – oxygen around 60 miles Red – oxygen around 200 miles Blue – nitrogen below 60 miles Purple – nitrogen above 60 miles See our Northern Lights explanation experience the magic Photo: Simply Sweden on the Lofoten Islands

Northern Lights - The Myths Here are some of the questions we often hear: What time do you turn them on? We don’t! We have to wait for Mother Nature to switch them on. Can the northern lights be guaranteed? Nobody can guarantee the Northern Lights, they are a natural phenomenen. Where is the best place to see them? All our northern lights holidays are in some of the best places. Does light pollution affect the northern lights? Yes, but low levels of artificial light won’t affect your viewing experience too much. Does it have to be cold? It has to be a dark clear sky. This often happens in cold weather. experience the magic Photo: Simply Sweden at ICEHOTEL

Northern Lights - Popular Short Breaks (3 nights) experience the magic ICEHOTEL The world famous & original ICEHOTEL offering great opportunities to experience the magic of the Northern Lights in the fairy tale world of Swedish Lapland. Snowmobiles, huskies, Sami culture & so much more Lyngen Lodge Experience the magic of Lyngen Lodge. There is no such thing as a northern lights excursion at Lyngen Lodge. You don't have to go anywhere! Cosy luxury on the Lyngen Fjord deep inside the Arctic Circle. Get out, enjoy the scenery and nature. Pine Bay Lodge Experience the magic of the frozen Luleå Archipelago in the Bay of Bothnia between Sweden & Finland. Visit some of the 1,312 islands and the extraordinary pack ice. Great food, great guides, great location – great holiday! Malangen Fjord Malangen is a purpose built fabulous location from which to experience the magic of the Norwegian Fjords and a spectacular northern lights show should Mother Nature be in the mood. A place to relax and enjoy nature.

Northern Lights - Popular Holidays (4 nights or more) experience the magic Lofoten Islands The Lofoten Islands are a large group of islands located on a rocky peninsular inside the Arctic Circle. Dramatic mountain scenery in an outstanding Arctic marine environment. The Lofoten Islands are steeped in tradition, history and culture. Simply magical. Northern Lights Cruise Experience the magic of Arctic Norway with this six night holiday. Explore Tromso, the capital of Northern Norway, and relax on board the Hurtigruten Coastal Steamer on a scenic return cruise to Kirkenes and the Russian border. Stunning fjords scenery in Northern Norway. Magical Moments Treehotel and ICEHOTEL are perfectly located in Swedish Lapland. The area around Treehotel is the location of Simply Sweden's best Northern Lights display in 2014 and ICEHOTEL is the location of our first ever northern lights experience. Husky Expedition 3 day husky expedition to Finnmarksvidda (Finnmarks Mountain Plateau) a wild and wonderful snow-desert covering 22,000 square kilometres including two national parks. It is the winter home of the indigenous Sami and their vast reindeer herds. Beautiful!

experience the magic Photo: Simply Sweden / Darren Hamlin