Seeing the northern lights or aurora borealis is a bucket list experience for many travelers, and for a good reason. Experiencing the incredible glowing rays or curtains of green, and sometimes violet, lights dancing across the night sky is awe inspiring and will leave you speechless. It’s commonly understood the best place to see the aurora borealis in is the far north, but we frequently get asked if there is a chance to seeing the northern lights on Arctic cruises. The quick answer is, yes, but it depends on the time of the season and the location of the voyage.
When is the best time to see northern lights?
In order to see northern lights, it needs to be dark and have clear visibility. The Arctic, otherwise known as the land of the midnight sun, has nearly 24 hours of daylight in the high summer months of June, July and early August. However, by the early fall season the days are getting increasing shorter and it will get dark in the evening. For this reason, late August and September is the best time to travel on an Arctic cruise for chances of seeing the northern lights.
Where is the best place to see the northern lights?
The aurora borealis is most often seen within a large oval ring around the geomagnetic north pole called the auroral oval. While the location of the north geomagnetic pole changes, it is currently in the Canadian Arctic. The auroral oval extends from the Canadian Arctic over Greenland, Iceland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska and the geographic north pole.
Best Northern Lights Arctic Cruises
Out of the Northwest Passage 2025 & 2026
- Onboard Ocean Endeavour (198 guests) in 2025 and Exploris One (144 guests) in 2026
- Sep 1 – 17, 2025 and Sep 11 – 27, 2026
- Activities offered: Kayaking
- Why we like this trip: In addition to having excellent chances of northern lights, these voyages have strong historical and cultural elements giving a fantastic overall taste of the Arctic.
The Geographic North Pole and the East Coast of Greenland
- Onboard Le Commandant Charcot (245 guests)
- Sep 11 – 27, 2026 (17 days)
- Activities offered: Paddling
- Why we like this trip: This is one of the most epic Arctic voyages out there with the chance to stand at the top of our planet, explore East Greenland, see the northern lights and sail on the world’s most luxurious icebreaker.
Adventures in Northeast Greenland: Glaciers, Fjords and the Northern Lights
- Onboard Ocean Explorer (138 guests)
- Four 11 day departures from late August – early October 2025
- Activities offered: Kayaking & Paddling
- Why we like this trip: East Greenland in September is a landscape photographers dream with stunning rugged fjords and spectacular light. Several departure dates to choose from and the shortest of the trips listed at 11 days.
Northeast Greenland Extreme – Aurora Borealis
- Onboard Hondius (170 guests)
- Sep 6 – 19, 2026 (14 days)
- Why we like this trip: An extensive voyage of East Greenland at a very reasonable price point for a relatively new ship.
Please contact us for more information on Arctic northern lights cruises.
