Could you watch the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed? Jo Robertson, Managing Director of The Aurora Zone, joins Daniel Edward to unpack Northern Lights holidays, from choosing your destination and travel dates to the adventures waiting beneath those extraordinary skies.
Jo remembers her first display on a frozen lake in Finland, when a hotel owner confidently predicted the sky would erupt at ten to ten. Nearly twenty years later, she still finds it impossible to go to sleep when the lights are dancing outside.
Together, we explore Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, discovering how each offers a different holiday experience. There are husky safaris through snowy forests, snowmobile journeys across frozen lakes, dramatic Norwegian fjords, Icelandic waterfalls and the chance to spend a night beneath a glass roof in Finnish Lapland. We also discuss Sámi culture, reindeer herding and the pleasure of sharing hot chocolate around a fire.
Jo explains the difference between seeing the aurora through a camera and with your own eyes, why dark skies matter, and how to choose a holiday you’ll enjoy whatever the Northern Lights decide to do. She shares her enthusiasm for travelling in March, the appeal of autumn visits, and why December is only one part of the story.
And if the thought of Arctic temperatures has you reaching for another jumper, there’s practical advice on layers, specialist winter clothing and warming up between adventures. A glass-roof sauna sounds like a particularly good place to start.
In this episode:
- Choosing between Finnish Lapland, northern Norway, Swedish Lapland and Iceland.
- City breaks versus remote wilderness stays.
- Glass-roof cabins and watching the aurora from bed.
- Dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and ice fishing.
- Planning a family or multigenerational Arctic holiday.
- What to wear and which equipment to ask your tour operator about.
- How long to stay and why Jo loves mid-March.
- Fireside food, local berries and a wooden cup to bring home.
About our guest
Jo Robertson is Managing Director of The Aurora Zone, a specialist Northern Lights holiday company. Drawing on her own travels and family experiences, she helps explain how to match the destination, accommodation and activities to the holiday you want.
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For more travel conversations, visit Destination Unlocked. Follow the podcast wherever you listen, and tell us about your own Northern Lights experiences.
