Radius Images The six best places to view the northern lights

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CRUISE CONTROL You get a whole lot of epic scenery above and below on a Hurtigruten cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes and back with 34 port stops. Twenty-two of these are in the Arctic Circle, which means that you can see the northern lights without even trying. Hurtigruten is so sure you will see them on a 12-night voyage, you will get a seven-day Classic Voyage free if you don’t. As you cross into the Arctic Circle on a ship that is part cruise ship, part working vessel, you enter a stirring theatre of fjords and mountains. Relax, there is no need to worry that you’ll be in the bar while the mysterious undulating colours fill the sky – the ship’s loudspeakers will let you know when to dash out on deck. If you want to experience the lights on shore, though, there are plenty of excursions from snowmobile tours to midnight concerts at the small cathedral in Tromso. Hurtigruten (020 3603 7112/hurtigruten.co.uk) offers a 12-night Norwegian Classic Voyage from £995pp (two sharing), full-board, cruise only. Norwegian (0330 828 0854/norwegian.com) offers return flights from Gatwick to Bergen, from £330.

PH The Treehotel’s individual cabins are set high in the branches of the towering pine trees

TREETOP MAGIC Europe’s last great wilderness, Laponia, in Sweden’s Arctic Circle, is hidden by snow like a well-iced Christmas cake for up to 225 days a year. It is a world of ice and natural mystery that is perfect for hunting the aurora, based at the village of Arrenjarka, three and a half hours from Lulea. Enjoy the spectacular solar displays while bouncing through the back country on snowmobiles and husky sleds before returning pink-faced to gaze up open-mouthed at your accommodation. The Treehotel’s individual cabins are set high in the branches of the towering pines of the Boreal Forest, with Nordic creature comforts including hot saunas and meals of cloudberries, arctic char and reindeer on offer at the family-run lodge below. Simply Sweden (01427 700115/ simplysweden.co.uk) offers two nights at Treehotel, half-board, and three nights at Arrenjarka, full-board (both two sharing) from £1,685pp. Price includes return flights from Heathrow to Lulea via Stockholm and excursions.

IG In Finland, igloo-shaped tents will keep you cosy yet close to the elements

CAMPING SIGHTS Don’t just leave snow camping to the Arctic explorers – on the edge of Lake Torassieppi, in the forested fells of North West Finland, insulated, igloo-shaped tents will keep you cosy yet close to the elements. Stay in splendid seclusion beside the waterside, mirroring frosty pine trees and night stars back at you. The Torassieppi Winter Village offers traditional local produce at its restaurant, and there is a sauna to warm up in. The tents face northwards for prime views of the aurora borealis playing across huge skies untroubled by light pollution. You will not even need to get out of bed to enjoy the show – each tent has a transparent wall so you can watch from under a soft duvet as your woodburner crackles in the corner. The Aurora Zone (01670 785012/ theaurorazone.com) offers six nights at the Reindeer Farm hotel on Lake Torassieppi and one night in Aurora Dome tents from £1,815pp (two sharing), half-board. Price includes return flights from Gatwick to Kittila.

Northern Lights in pictures Thu, October 6, 2016 Dazzling photographs taken from and around the stunning Northern Lights. Play slideshow Caters News Agency 1 of 74 The Northern Lights above the Steese Highway, Fairbanks in Alaska

GEO THERMAL ADVENTURE With light pollution, cities are usually not good bets for great northern light shows. However, even a casual stroll through Reykjavik at night can yield sightings in the winter months. Of course, you will have a better view the farther out from the urban area you go and one of Iceland’s most atmospheric spots is the Blue Lagoon outdoor geothermal baths. Immerse yourself in hot geothermal waters, a 20-minute drive from the city, in the middle of a moonscape of treeless pumice fields. The space colony feel is further amplified by chiffon ribbons of yellow light dancing above. Inntravel (01653 617000/inntravel.co.uk) offers four nights in Reykjavik from £650pp (two sharing), B&B. Price includes return flights from London Heathrow to Reykjavik and excursions.

GREEN LIGHTS Thanks to its extreme latitude, Greenland has aurora borealis all year round, although you cannot normally see them during the summer months due to the midnight sun. When darkness descends, however, this vast island is a superb place to catch them either by coastal cruise, taking in icebergs, glaciers and breaching humpback whales along the way, or on land where weather conditions are more stable. Kangerlussuaq, 100 miles inland, has dark, clear nights and local Inuit superstitions that include the advice that children will be particularly intelligent if they are conceived in the magical glow. You can just choose from a wealth of excursions that take in everything from husky rides to ice fishing instead, allowing you to enjoy the lights’ seemingly supernatural beauty. Regent Holidays (020 7666 1244/ regent-holidays.co.uk) offers five nights in Kangerlussuaq from £1,135 (two sharing), B&B. Price includes return flights from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq. easyJet (0330 365 5000/ easyjet.com) offers return flights from London Gatwick to Copenhagen from £48pp.