2024 - the Year of Aurora

Witnessing the aurora borealis, or the northern lights, in all their glory is common on travel bucket lists, but now more than ever. 2024-25 are being predicted to be best season to see this celestial phenomenon as visibility is projected to be better than it has been in more than a decade. The next such occurrence is scheduled during 2035-36 season.

Expedia, the renowned American travel technology company, has published a study that shows the Aurora Borealis is the most sought-after global experience of the year. It's more in-demand than going on an African safari, exploring Japan during cherry blossom season, or visiting Machu Picchu in Peru, Expedia reported.

TravelLive has geared up for this great opportunity to showcase this magnificent phenomenon to its patrons. We have curated two extra-special tours during Autumn on 2024.

• Heavenly Hues - Iceland & Lapland is a 14 day trip covering Iceland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
• Aurora Express is a 9 day trip covering Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

So, why is 2024 special for Aurora? To understand, one has to first understand why Aurora happens.

What is the Aurora Borealis or the northern lights?

The northern lights are an atmospheric phenomenon that turns the night sky into a canvas of shimmering shades of blue, red, yellow, green and purple. It was named aurora borealis by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in 1619.

This natural phenomenon is caused by activities inside the Sun. As we all know, The Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System. It is a massive, hot ball of plasma made chiefly of Hydrogen and Helium. Sun is inflated and heated by energy produced by nuclear fusion reactions at its own core. Part of this energy is emitted from its surface as light, ultraviolet, and infrared radiation, providing most of the energy for life on Earth.

The radiation activity within Sun is not constant – it increases and decreases with time in a cyclical manner. Sometimes, the radiation goes very high, this is called a Solar Storm. During a particular type of solar storm, the sun shoots bubbles of electrified gas at high speeds into the magnetic field lines at earth’s poles and into the Earth's atmosphere where these particles interact with gases. This results in one of nature's most illuminating light displays, as oxygen creates green and red light, while nitrogen glows blue and purple. While this is happening 24 hours a day during the solar storms, travellers need to be in the right place at the right time to see it in the way we see in photographs.

Why is 2024 special for Northern Lights?

The sun goes through an 11-year cycle of solar maximum – when the sun is more active – and solar minimum. During the solar maximum, the solar storms are at the strongest. This is when northern lights become more frequent and more visible. 2024 is such a year. The previous maximum happened in 2013-14 and the next maximum is expected in 2035-36. Though 2024-25 is the strongest season, Aurora Borealis is a seasonal activity.

What are the best seasons for experiencing Aurora?

This will usually be between end - September of 2024 and early-April of 2025, 9pm to 3am, when the sky is at its darkest. The equinoxes of March and October are widely considered to be the best time to see the most visible aurora borealis, as these are periods when auroras are more frequent.

How you can Enjoy the best Aurora Borealis with TravelLive?

We are offering 2 different tours centered around the phenomenon of Aurora Borealis.

Aurora Express – covering Sweden, Finland, and Norway

Heavenly Hues of Iceland & Lapland – covering Sweden, Finland, and Norway