We saw our first northern lights shortly after passing the Arctic circle onboard the Hurtigruten Norwegian Coastal Express. This extraordinary sight left a lasting impression on us.
Seeing the northern lights was high on our travel bucket list, alongside exploring Japan or travelling along the Great Silk Road.
On the morning of our third day onboard the Norwegian Coastal Express, travelling from Bergen to the North Cape, we passed the Arctic Circle. We were in the right place (north of the Arctic Circle), at the right time (from October to March), and on a ship whose name, Nordlys, means “northern lights” in Norwegian. It could only be a good omen!
The app My Aurora Forecast told us that the solar activity and weather in were favorable our region. The night was pitch black, the light pollution from towns on the shore almost non-existent. All we had to do was wait while we avidly scanned the horizon from the starboard deck.
Suddenly, something began to glimmer above us. At first diaphanous and barely perceptible, then growing more and more intense. Our very first northern lights! They lit up the sky in greenish scrolls, moving slowly like emerald sails in the breeze.
We gazed at the aurora for a long while before it disappeared, like an illusion vanishing into thin air.
Even though we knew that it’s impossible to control a natural phenomenon, we immediately wanted to experience it again. How could we resist their mysterious beauty?
The next day, as soon as the sun set, we started observing the sky and checking the app we’d used the previous night with feverish impatience. The northern lights are timid and demanding ladies who only show themselves if conditions are perfect: strong solar winds, clear skies, and low light pollution.
This night was different than the first one, but just as stunning. Snow-capped, moonlit mountains served as a grand backdrop while the ladies of the northern lights let their hazy green veils dance elegantly along the horizon.
We were fascinated, captivated, and unable to look away. We simply couldn’t tear our eyes away from this incredible spectacle.
The northern lights drew us in with their magnetism.
Observing this natural phenomenon in person is hypnotizing and intoxicating. The moment is magical, as if suspended in time, and the experience is addictive.
Don’t miss our full article about our trip onboard the Norwegian Coastal Express
87 replies on “Northern lights: Travel highlight”
Beautiful photos
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Thank you Mary, much appreciated! We’re glad you enjoyed our post.
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Great post! Thanks for sharing
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Thank you, Lucy!
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bonjour
quelle est est la compagnie maritime que vous aviez choisie svp
très beau reportage
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Il s’agit de la compagnie Hurtigruten. Merci beaucoup !
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We have 2 friends doing exactly this at the moment. It’s her 60th birthday next week and she’s full of hope.
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How wonderful! With the Coastal express as well? Wishing them lots of Aurora and a happy birthday to your friend!
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Looks so otherworldly. Thanks for sharing the photos.
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Thank you Rebecca! It really is something else. And very addictive! We’d love to go back while the activity is still high these next few years.
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These are such spectacular photos 🥰🥰 Last year, we had a good few aurora notifications in Ireland too, but it was always way too cloudy to see the Northern lights
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That’s the catch, isn’t it? We had a few of those as well. All notifications while sailing through the Lofoten islands, but it was POURING down unfortunately. The Tromsø area is often a strong candidate through.
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Yes, it is addictive, I confirm. Well captured!
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Thank you!
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Beautiful, I especially love the one with the snow capped mountain lit up in front of the northern lights 🙂 Maggie
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Thank you Maggie! We’re so glad you enjoyed the post 😊
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Impressive photos! The Northern Lights are on our bucket list too!
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Thank you! We think they might never leave our bucket list, no matter how many times we see them 😍
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Wow! You really captured aurora well!
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Thank you so much, Timothy! We really appreciate it 😄
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Beautiful photos, and for evermore you can say that you were there.
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Thank you! That’s very true, but for ever more we will feel the pull to go see them again ☺️
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sounds like an amazing experience!!
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It sure was, we definitely recommend it😃
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Beautiful photos.
Funny I went yesterday night to the kielder observatory where we followed a lecture about Northern lights. Unfortunately it was snowing so we didn’t see anything. Maybe one day I will have the chance to see some.
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Thank you Melodie! Is Kielder somewhere one sometimes can see northern lights in the UK? Snowfall tends to be a problem when trying to see them in Norway as well, unfortunately. Hope you get to experience them someday!
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Interesting – thanks! Jo
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Thank you Jo!
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I’ve seen the Northern Lights once, many years ago.
All I can compare it to is when you are in a dark room or a dark night and your eyes seem to see things.
Loved the photos and can’t wait to see the lights again some day.
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Yes it’s very strange when it first starts, it’s like you can sense something and your brain tells you… those aren’t clouds. Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
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So beautiful and definitely a bucket list dream trip!
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Thank you Anna! It still is on our bucket list, we would so love to go back and see more.
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Great photos. The Northern Lights very rarely make it to my area. Would like to see them some day.
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Thank you! I grew up in Oslo and never ever saw them, so I know how you feel! They are precious and rare.
Stephanie
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How special to see. Beautiful photographs.
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Thank you so much!
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Wow, amazing
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Thank you 😊
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Beautiful!
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Thank you so much, Hannah!
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Awesome – so want to see these. What did you think of Hurtigruten?
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Hey Steph, thanks for your question! First of all, there is no true guarantee you will see them, but if you do the round trip there is a pretty good chance you will. Hurtigruten is wonderful, we’ve done the northbound voyage with them twice. The cabins are comfortable (we chose to upgrade to have a double bed, a package which included wi-fi and full board with water, tea and coffee), with a decent bathroom, comfy bed, view, cabinets for all our things, and enough room under the bed to stash our suitcases. The excursions are pretty pricy, but if you’re not into shelling out a lot more than the price of the trip we recommend you at least do the guided tour to the North Cape (the village where the ship stops is about a 40 minute drive from there). The food is tasty, the atmosphere is laid-back (no black-tie dinners or shows like the ones you would see on a classic cruise) and the staff are friendly. We always booked through our local Hurtigruten agency by phone and we’d love to travel with them again in the summer some time. Let us know if you have any other questions!
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that’s so incredible! Glad you got to see them 🙂
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Thank you Lyssy, we’re so grateful we did!
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I wish I could see it as well 🤩
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Beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing!
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And thank you for your kind comment!
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Sounds like an awesome trip. Hurtigruten is always such an incredible experience.
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It sure is! Have you traveled with them many times before?
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We haven’t personally, but clients love them. Have fun in your travels.
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Aah I see! Good to know they live up to expectations all round 🙂
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Beautiful
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Thank you!
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Beautiful pictures!n
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Thank you so much!
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What a beautiful natural light show!
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It is an absolutely stunning experience. Glad we could share it with you, Shane!
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Just wow!!!
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Thank you, we really appreciate it.
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Oh, Wow!!! That’s so beautiful!!!
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Thank you so so much!
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what an incredible sight!!
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Thank you Elise! Didn’t you travel with them last year as well?
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This is on thing I absolutely must see one day. It’s just breathtaking!
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We definitely recommend it!
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Truly Fascinating
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Oh definitely !
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Stunning photos. How did you get those shots? Special equipments needed? Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for you question! No special equipment needed, we use Lightroom and the iPhone editing tools to edit and brighten and add some contrast, but for the photos themselves we adapt the angle and exposure as needed or use the grid to work on the composition. For low-angle photos it can be a good idea to turn the phone upside-down.
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Sounds high tech :). Thank you for the tip!
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Love the photos! 🙂
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Thanks Nina! We definitely recommend you visit in the spring some day!
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Oh bucket list item!!! Thank you for the photos:)
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Oh definitely! Absolutely unforgettable experience 😍
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Beautiful view 😍
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Thank you so much!
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Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos. The Northern Lights have been on my bucket list for quite a while, and now I have another idea of where to see them.
Thanks again!
Karen
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That’s so wonderful to hear! We sincerely hope you get to see them some day soon 😊
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Oh THIs is on my bucket list too
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Thank you for sharing beautiful pictures of Northern Lights. I was heard about these light in many articles.
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Thank you Nana, it was our pleasure to share our experiences!
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Beautiful pictures!
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Thank you so much, we really appreciate it 😊
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Visiting the Northern lights is on my list. Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m hooked. I will be reading your posts.
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Oh my gosh, thank you Jess! Welcome! Follow along, we have lots more travel and Strasbourg/Alsace content to come 🥰
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Always wanted to see the Northern lights! The pictures you clicked are beautiful, thanks for sharing.
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Thank you so much, Anusha! We hope you get to see them some day 😊
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