Sto Gran Tour’s guide to fully enjoying one of Mother Nature’s most breathtaking shows
If you’ve finally decided to see the Northern Lights in person, Iceland is one of the best places to watch them. It’s such a perfect setting that we decided to dedicate a big part of our island tour to chasing this phenomenon.
And yes, of course, we also do loads of other amazing experiences, which you can read about here at your leisure. But the true star of the itinerary is her: the aurora.
Want to get to know this phenomenon better and find out which details you should pay attention to when you set off in search of it? Here you’ll find all the info you’re looking for in this article!
Read also: Why spend New Year’s Eve 2023–2024 in Japan with StoGranTour
Myths and legends behind the Northern Lights
Ah, the Northern Lights!
This wonderful display of lights in the night sky has fascinated and inspired humanity for thousands of years. But what lies behind this phenomenon, so majestic and mysterious at the same time?
Curiously, even though Iceland is one of the best stages for the Northern Lights, there isn’t really any true local folklore about this phenomenon. It seems the Icelandic Vikings were too busy exploring and fighting to make up stories about these dancing lights. Or perhaps they were simply so used to the beauty of the auroras that they considered them part of the normal nighttime landscape.
In some Nordic cultures, people believed the aurora was a bridge of light built by the gods, a passage for the souls of warriors fallen in battle on their way to Valhalla.
Sometimes it was even thought that this phenomenon represented a message from the gods or an omen of good fortune (or bad luck).
In short, nobody really understood why these lights appeared in the sky, but one thing is certain: throughout the centuries, whenever people looked at them, they must have thought, “How incredible is this?!”
A little science about the Northern Lights (because, sorry, it’s unavoidable)
Today we know that the Northern Lights are caused by solar particles interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field in the Arctic Circle region. And they also have long-lost twins appearing on the other side of the world, in the South Pole region: the Southern Lights.
But why do they only appear in these areas?
There is a reason, but honestly, we don’t want to bore you with a big scientific lecture.
We covered it in a bit more detail in this article, where you can enjoy reading about ‘super fascinating’ things like the ionosphere, solar wind, protons, electrons, and all the other stuff you thought you had left behind once school was over.
Turns out, not so fast!
If you really don’t feel like reading about the causes behind these phenomena, all you need to know is that they exist, that they’re absolutely beautiful to see, and that we’re black belts in hunting the Northern Lights. Our tour in Iceland is the perfect opportunity to experience them live for yourself.
The tips you need to know if you don’t want to ruin your Northern Lights experience
Here are some practical tips for anyone heading into wild Iceland in search of the Northern Lights. Take them as advice from someone who wants to see you come home safe, sound, and with loads of incredible stories to tell.
Choosing the Right Tour
First of all, decide what kind of traveler you are. Do you prefer the comfort of an organized group tour, or are you a lone wolf who loves the adventure of a self-drive trip?
In Iceland, you can find absolutely everything, from kayaking tours under the stars to super-jeep adventures across the glaciers. Choose your style and go for it. Of course, nobody offers a tour of Iceland quite like ours, right?
Proper Clothing
Iceland is not exactly the French Riviera, so leave your swimsuits at home and get ready to dress exactly the way your mum used to insist when you went downstairs to play as a kid, worried about “that nasty little breeze, you’ll catch your death” even when it was 50 degrees in the shade.
Bring layers of thermal clothing, a good windproof and waterproof coat, gloves, a hat, and a scarf.
Oh, and don’t forget a pair of sturdy shoes for long trekking sessions in Iceland’s wild landscapes.
Photography Equipment
If you want to capture the Northern Lights, a camera with good night-photography settings is essential. And there are plenty of other tips and tricks if you want to get truly spectacular shots.
We know a thing or two about this stuff, and we’ve prepared a series of dedicated articles for you. Check them out below.
- The equipment you need to photograph the Northern Lights;
- Photographing the Northern Lights: condensation, the great enemy;
- Photographing the Northern Lights: aperture, exposure time, and ISO;
- Photographing the Northern Lights: camera settings;
- Photographing the Northern Lights: focus at infinity.
Patience and Flexibility
The Northern Lights are like cats: they do what they want, when they want, and if you get clingy, they’ll ignore you completely.
So arm yourself with patience and flexibility.
If they don’t show up on the first night, don’t despair. Nature has its own rhythms, and the waiting is part of the experience: sooner or later, it’ll happen.
Health and Safety
Don’t forget to check local safety guidelines, especially if you’re planning to venture out on your own. Icelandic nature is as beautiful as it is unpredictable.
A first-aid kit, a map, and a GPS should never be missing from your backpack. One note about the GPS, though: the Northern Lights can be tricky and, when linked to particularly intense solar activity, they may interfere with these devices.
