alfakidz85 3rd Gear January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 (edited) hi Bros.So i am planning a trip to chase the northern lights. high chance Finland/Norway! Have a few questions to ask here for those who seen before. 1. Where is the best bet to see the auroras? friend went iceland in 2017 but Didnt manage to see antyhing. 2. Did you do free and easy and then go there to join private tour or straight up sign tour package? Am not the one very keen on going because scared of cold but gf want to see so no choice. Thinking tour package might be an easier option for me. https://www.chanbrothers.com/private-tours/itinerary/pt-finland Few things i shortlisted as must do: - Reindeer/Huskies Sleigh Ride - Ranua Wildlife Park - see artic animals in the zoo. this is where polar bears truly belong! - Stay at Santa Claus Village -snowmobiling - must try: santa's salmon place restaurant - jaakkola reindeer farm -kakslauttanen glass igloos any other recommendations plss 3. how to survive 8 to 10 days of winter? bring cup noodles? friend bought 10 cup noodles when he went last time because food expensive and not nice. 4. winter wear- anyone bought thermal wear from uniqlo b4? their heat tech useful? and also fleece jacket. snow boots also recommended right? phototaking. i think i just going to use gopro to capture whatever i can. any other recomendations/advice/experience to share welcome please!!! thank you! Edited January 16, 2019 by alfakidz85 ↡ Advertisement 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfakidz85 3rd Gear January 16, 2019 Author Share January 16, 2019 https://thriftynomads.com/best-places-see-northern-lights/ The best places to see the Northern Lights: 2. Northern Canada 3. Iceland 4. Norway 5. Finland 6. Russia 7. Sweden Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mersaylee Hypersonic January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 I’d choose handy high energy sneaker bars instead of instant noodle, still need to boil water and wait... It’ll be cold so would get hungry easily. I won’t get thermal wear from uniqlo, Japan’s winter not as cold as Scandinavian countries. GoPro is good. Just deploy to record and lay back to enjoy the awe with naked eyes. Want good picture go Google can liao. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beanoyip Turbocharged January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 Just have to set your expectations, what you see on camera is not what you see in real... 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lala81 Hypersonic January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 I think Finland is higher chance of seeing, but also much colder. What my friends recommend is still iceland. Cos u can stay around in rejkjavik and then only go out into the nearby area when they confirm got northern lights for you to see. Still have the element of luck, but higher chance. Cos it's spread out over few days. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesc Hypersonic January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 Go all the way there and eat cup noodle? 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volvobrick Supersonic January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 (edited) Went Finland some time back - cloudy everyday and saw only streetlights! Edited January 16, 2019 by Volvobrick 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesc Hypersonic January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 (edited) People really buy into the hype. Better go Hokkaido. No one I know saw northern lights and was blown away. No one I know went Hokkaido and was left disappointed. Disclaimer: I work for Japan Tourism Association and I maybe bias but I really like going Japan. If anyone paid for me to go northern lights or Hokkaido I would choose Hokkaido. This one not marketing talk. Edited January 16, 2019 by Jamesc 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesc Hypersonic January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 If anyone wants to take Kinky tour of Japan I can be your guide just cover my expenses. You will not be disappointed. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mersaylee Hypersonic January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 Go all the way there and eat cup noodle? Taste better maybe Tom yum or kimchi flavour no less. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaka23 3rd Gear January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 (edited) Northern Lights Went Iceland mid October 2016. You can ask the hotel to give you a wake up call when there is northern lights in your area. They told us it can happen anytime from 9pm to 5am but no luck for us. Or you can join the paid tour and they will bring you on a hunt for the lights. Guaranteed by them to see the lights. I was fortunate enough to see a weak and short light on my last day, at a hotel near the airport. You can visit http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/ for more info on the city you're at. The rating on that day was 6-7 so we were basically staring out of the window waiting for it. Norway I went Oslo - Alesund, Geiranger - Bergen. No chance to see northern lights in those area. You may have to go further north to Lofoten area. Food was expensive. We paid S$30 for a plate of fried rice which wasnt even tasty. Since you're already there might as well spend a little on the highly recommended places. We had some really good steak, burgers and fish & chips along the way. Outfit we prefer to layer it by wearing a tee shirt, fleece jacket and a winter jacket. I got mine from Bossini for $200 at IMM. Some areas can be warm for no reason so we can take whichever off as required. With Uniqlo heat tech it didnt really work for us as it can be too warm if we include the fleece and without the fleece it can be chilly. Footwear we had timberland boots. But wont really recommend it as it's heavy, not for prolong walking over snow. It's slippery on ice too. However it keeps our feet perfectly dry and we can wear for every occasion from shopping in the city to hiking. Edited January 16, 2019 by Kaka23 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocy Hypersonic January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 Go all the way there and eat cup noodle? Our SG bak kua ....... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wind30 Turbocharged January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 (edited) Just have to set your expectations, what you see on camera is not what you see in real... It all depends on the strength of the lights. I went in 2014 iceland and on the night we took a tour, the lights were very strong. Easily covering the half the sky (ie from horizon to almost above our heads) and moving. It was pretty incredible but I wasn't prepared in the photo taking. You NEED a torch light to operate the controls well as it is pitch dark and very windy. But the solar activity now is pretty low, it will be hard to catch a good display. Might need to wait some years. I decided to go in 2014 as it was slightly past the peak and I knew it was now or never. You can judge how bright the lights were on the photos by comparing the brightness of the light vs the foreground/stars, assuming it is a single exposure. The lights were way way brighter than the stars... I managed to take the following photo HANDHELD with a pretty short shutter speed. We were deciding where to go to chase the light and Iceland wins by being the warmest... Ya I know it is called iceland but it is really pretty warm in winter vs Finland I think. Furthermore being lower in latitude means you actually have some sunlight to take photos. Note that the strength is not exactly based on the latitude as there is some difference in magnetic north, etc. See the pic below and you realised that Iceland is pretty well inside the band. https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast Lofoten is another place to consider. I have been to lofoten twice but not in winter for lights. The landscape there is stunning. Edited January 16, 2019 by Wind30 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aventador 6th Gear January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 I went Finland free and easy, managed to see the lights - but depends on your luck was in Saariselkä In winter it is REALLY cold. I experienced -40 degree celcius in the outdoor in the hills it was an experience if you want to end up suffering you can use Uniglo other wise please get the proper down jackets. thick ones jackets that work in Tokyo, are not enough for finland I would say stuff that work in Hokkaido, also not enough for finland and the warmer packs are life savers at such temperature food is pretty boring, but why go europe to eat instant noodles? try the reindeer, bear meat, etc. optional activities like husky rides, reindeer rides, snow mobile are really expensive so if you have a tight budget, look for a package tour that includes it is better 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easyrider 6th Gear January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 I went to Finland in March 2013. Stayed at Hotel Korpikartano that you can easily see the northern lights as its in the middle of nowhere. I think I stayed there for 3 nights and saw it every night that I was there. The staff will alert guests on when the lights come out. The hotel also provides full board with good local homemade food and some of the activities that you listed. I rented a car and drove there from Kittilä airport. I was snowboarding in Levi before heading out to Korpikartano so that's something you can consider doing as well. My wife read up on how to take pictures of the northern lights with a digital camera and took this with a tripod. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aventador 6th Gear January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 btw many iphones died in Finland in the extreme temperatures they were not able to be switched on outdoors and phone cameras DO NOT work for taking photos of the Northern lights need better cameras 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfakidz85 3rd Gear January 16, 2019 Author Share January 16, 2019 I’d choose handy high energy sneaker bars instead of instant noodle, still need to boil water and wait... It’ll be cold so would get hungry easily. I won’t get thermal wear from uniqlo, Japan’s winter not as cold as Scandinavian countries. GoPro is good. Just deploy to record and lay back to enjoy the awe with naked eyes. Want good picture go Google can liao. energy bar not shiok. piping hot noodles good in cold weather. and its also not something we usually eat at home. yeah bro not point trying to take photos of the aurora since i dont have a good camera. and not pro also la.. i rather enjoy whatever thats infront of me and maybe just try to take a few shots with my phone cam or gopro just to show i was there!! Just have to set your expectations, what you see on camera is not what you see in real... they say some aurora not very visible on naked eye. need to use cam shoot then can see properly. I think Finland is higher chance of seeing, but also much colder. What my friends recommend is still iceland. Cos u can stay around in rejkjavik and then only go out into the nearby area when they confirm got northern lights for you to see. Still have the element of luck, but higher chance. Cos it's spread out over few days. think higher chance of going finland than iceland for now. since friend's experience at iceland not good. his wife didnt get to see any aurora at all then now make noise wanna go somewhere else see again. for me, cold weather i cannot la. best is one trip settle for the once in a lifetime experience enough. dont want go every country to catch them all..... lol... but ya its all luck. best to join tour group. at least higher chance. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartlander Turbocharged January 16, 2019 Share January 16, 2019 So naked eyes can see the northern lights very clearly if on display? ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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