Article | Canadian High Arctic and Greenland
Here’s Why the Aurora Borealis Will Leave Your Heart Glowing
By Aaron Spitzer | January 04, 2021
Related expedition: Greenland & Wild Labrador and The Northwest Passage

© Dennis Minty
Article | Canadian High Arctic and Greenland
By Aaron Spitzer | January 04, 2021
Related expedition: Greenland & Wild Labrador and The Northwest Passage
© Dennis Minty
The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, occur when supercharged solar particles interact with our planet’s magnetic field as much as 400 kilometres above the Earth. Eerie green or pink ribbons of light emerge, hovering, undulating, and sometimes even ricocheting across the night sky. Though auroral displays may very rarely appear at temperate latitudes, they’re most vivid and frequent in the polar regions.
Unsurprisingly, the Northern Lights have for eons been the stuff of Arctic lore. According to stories shared by Inuit cultural educators who travel with Adventure Canada, the lights are said to represent the spirits of departed loved ones, joyfully playing ball with a walrus skull. Other tellings reverse it: the players are walruses, and the skull is human. Still other teachings say that if you whistle, the lights will come closer—but beware! If they come too close, they may snatch you into the sky.
© Lee Narraway
In recent decades, Northern Lights viewing has become a multi-million-dollar tourism industry. Each winter, tens of thousands of “aurora hunters,” especially from China and Japan, flock to places like Iceland, Norway, Alaska, and the Northwest Territories in Canada, scanning the frosty sky in hopes of being graced by a light show. The biggest challenge they encounter is escaping big-city lights—which, for Adventure Canada, is our specialty.
Indeed, aurora borealis viewing is it a potential highlight on our September or October journeys, when the midnight sun of summer is coming to a close. Of course, the aurora’s unpredictability is part of its appeal. Sometimes we’ll be lucky and get a show on the very first evening, interrupting our scheduled entertainment and sending everyone flocking outside. Other times, the lights will remain elusive, or will only flare up in the wee hours of the night.
© Scott Forsyth
To get the most of the lights, head for a dark place on the ship, especially the top deck. There, you’ll have a view of the full sweep of the sky, with minimal interference from electric lights. Dress extra warm and bring a mug of coffee or cocoa, to help prolong your enjoyment of the spectacle. Better yet, bring a camera with a tripod and a slow shutter speed to capture the phenomena for posterity. (Indeed, it’s often easier to see the lights’ vibrant colours in photos than with the naked eye.) It’s an experience that’s sure to light up your life!
©Dennis Minty
September 17 to October 1, 2023
From $7,995 to $17,595 USD
per person based on double occupancy
limited space available
*plus $720 USD fuel surcharge ($48 per day)
©Dennis Minty
September 28 to October 12, 2024
From $8,995 to $18,595 USD
per person based on double occupancy
Save 15% until May 31, 2023
Applies to berth cost only
August 16 to September 1, 2023
From $12,995 to $27,495 USD
per person based on double occupancy
Save up to 30% until March 31, 2023
Terms and conditions apply
*plus $816 USD fuel surcharge ($48 per day)
©Scott Forsyth
September 1 to September 17, 2023
From $12,995 to $27,495 USD
per person based on double occupancy
limited space available
*plus $816 USD fuel surcharge ($48 per day)
©Dennis Minty
August 27 to September 12, 2024
From $13,995 to $28,495 USD
per person based on double occupancy
Save 15% until May 31, 2023
Applies to berth cost only
©Dennis Minty
September 12 to September 28, 2024
From $13,995 to $28,495 USD
per person based on double occupancy
Save 15% until May 31, 2023
Applies to berth cost only