Maybe you'll even get to see orcas and humpbacks returning to the area! The whales often enter the Altafjord to feed on herring in around November, December, and January. A guide will increase your chances of seeing the lights. In Alta, experienced northern lights hunters can guide you to the best spots on legendary and sparse Finnmark plateau or to the Arctic coast. Although the observatory closed in 1926, its buildings remain (one of them is now a Norwegian Trekking Association cabin where you can spend the night). Some of the first modern scientific studies of the northern lights were carried out in Alta. Hike up to the top of the Haldde mountain, where the world's first permanent northern lights observatory opened in 1899. Read our tips on how to dress for arctic temperatures here.Alta is far away from it all yet still close to a myriad of experiences. A modern city in Northern Norway surrounded by the arctic tundra and mountains. Some days you might have to spend hours outside in the search of the auroras. You can get lucky by seeing the amazing colours in the sky by just looking up, or it can require a bit more effort to be successful.
In Tromsø we can see northern lights even at KP 1, and it is a good day at KP 3 and above. The activity is measured from 0 (low activity) to 9 (high activity), where everything above 4 is extremely good. Northern lights activity (or solar activity): this is usually measured in the KP-index.Your chance of seeing the aurora depends on four things: Experiencing the northern lights is something you will remember for the rest of your life. It can appear almost out of nothing, fade away and reappear in just minutes. The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, is our favourite natural phenomenon. Tromsø is in the centre of the northern lights’ oval, which means we can see the northern lights even when the activity is low. These are the months of the year when it is dark enough outside to see the lights dance across the sky. In Tromsø there is always a good chance of seeing the northern lights in the period September until April.