Best Northern Lights Tours

When is the best time to see Northern Lights in Murmansk or Khibiny?

There is none. It's about sun and solar activity and dark nights rather then climate or season. You may catch any through the year following a few simple rules: avoid cities where night lights prevent from see the real Lights (though, it still possible to see Aurora in the cities!), stay for a few days to increase your chances (though, you might be lucky with a one night stay as well), stay awake through the night (though during winter months you may see Aurora Borealis during daytime). As you see, there are no rules to follow. We suggest, based on other activities available in the area - seasonal issue - a few trips per year. In winter, you will see endless snow-white covered tundra and Aurora in the skies. Beautiful? Yes... But think of lakes and rivers free from ice and snow and mesmerizing Northern Lights reflecting in the waters during autumn or early spring...Who would dare to claim what's better?

Lovozero is the top destination of Kola Peninsula for Aurora Borealis viewing, there are very high chances to observe it directly at the eco lodges of Lovozero national park. However we recommend to spend at least 3 nights here to maximize the chances of Aurora Borealis viewing, and due to remoteness of the location. Besides, Lozovero is famous for a very special mountain tundra terrain.

NOTE: clear skies and solar activity are the critical conditions to watch Aurora Borealis, best timing is from 10:00 pm till 2:00 am.

6 HINTS FOR A BEST NORTHERN LIGHTS TOURS IN MURMANSK

There can be a bit of confusion on how to set off in search of Aurora Borealis, because weather is unstable, viewing is unpredictable and so much depends on the solar activity. In fact, there are just a few simple rules.

1. Be at the North. For instance, Trondheim (Norway) is not north enough for good viewing.

2. Too short visit to see the lights. It means: forget an idea of 1-2 days trip. Spend at least 3-4 days at one location.

3. Pick the best season, which is basically any time from end of September till mid April.

4. The right clothing. Take the North seriously. Even in October.

5. Pick the best location. You need a place between a lake and mountains, the clouds have a tendency of pulling apart, if perhaps just briefly, even during the worst of weather.

6. Plan other activities. Fill your days with other fun activities (husky dog sledding, reindeer sleigh, snowmobiling, ice fishing, Russian Banya, so that even if you have terrible luck with the Northern Lights you’ll still have had an amazing time.

7. KP Index: pro and contra Global planetary geomagnetic activity index. The K-index is a three-hour quasi-arrhythmic local geomagnetic activity index with respect to the calm day curve for a given location. The Kp-index measures the deviation of the most disturbed horizontal component of the magnetic field at stationary stations around the world from their own local K-indices. The global Kp index is then determined by an algorithm that combines the average values of each station. The Kp index ranges from 0 to 9, where 0 means no geomagnetic activity and 9 means extreme geomagnetic storm. MIND that the forecasts given by tourist sites and applications is a Russian roulette game. Even if the KP level is 9, in the presence of clouds, you will not see anything. For us, as for the implementers on the spot, the weather forecast is more important rather than the level of magnetic disturbances. In addition to the CD index, on which everyone goes crazy, there are still a number of important physical factors, such as flow rate, flow density, perturbation level, etc. If these parameters are unsatisfactory, the glow will also be like this, or not at all.

The Ultimate Arctic Adventures: Murmansk & Kola Peninsula Tours

The Kola Peninsula is located in the north-west of the European part of Russia, in the Murmansk region. Its area is about 100 thousand square kilometers. Most of the territory of the peninsula is located above the Northern Arctic Circle. The Kola Peninsula, washed by the Barents and White Seas, is a unique natural region of Russia, covered with mountains, lakes, swamps and rivers. It is one of the most picturesque, virgin and harsh Russian regions. A severe land for people who are attracted by unusual, unpredictable and extreme environments and boundless northern wilderness. The virgin forests, magnificent mountains, endless tundra, and crystal-clear rivers and lakes will leave an indelible Arctic impression. You will travel in time visiting ancient artefacts, historical memorials and tasting traditional specialties of the local people.

Saami, or lopari, settled on the lands of the Kola Peninsula from ancient times. This is the indigenous northern people, whose ancestors appeared here in the 2nd millennium BC. e. And the first Russian settlements on the Kola Peninsula arose in the 9th-11th centuries BC. e. Currently, 1.9 thousand representatives of a small northern people live on the peninsula. Kola Sami are engaged in traditional crafts - reindeer husbandry, fishing and hunting.

Wildlife and nature

The reserves of the Kola Peninsula - Kandalakshsky, Lapladsky, Pasvik - are replete with an amazing variety of plant and animal life. Among the inhabitants of the Lapland Reserve, included by UNESCO in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, reindeer remains the main one. The Kandalaksha Reserve, which includes 50 islands, is famous for the nesting of a rare northern bird - gaga. The border of Russia and Norway runs through the territory of the world-famous Pasvik reserve.

There are several mountain ranges, the most famous of which are the Khibins and Lovozersky tundra. These places have attracted tourists from all over the world for more than a decade with their northern impregnable beauty. And not in vain: the geological age of Khibin is about 350 million years, and the Lovozersky tundra from ancient times are considered the "place of strength" of the ancient Sami.

Tours of Murmansk region

Take a trip around the Murmansk oblast and Kola Peninsula, the Arctic pearl and visit the shores of the Barents and White Seas, learn about the culture of the Sami and Pomors, feed deer, taste local cuisine and see the famous icebreaker Lenin. See the Arctic Ocean when taking a trip to now famous Teriberka village, once abandonded fishing village. Our Treriberka Tour can be a day tour or overnight.

The Rybachy Peninsula is a peninsula in the north of European Russia, the place is ambiguous and amazing. It is part of the Pechenga district of the Murmansk region of Kola Peninsula. It is washed by the Barents Sea and the Motovsky Bay. The village of Teriberka is the only place in Russia on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, where you can get by road. During our journey we will enjoy stunning views of the Arctic Ocean.

Fishing Tours

Incredible fishing attracts travelers from all around the world: seed and palium, cigar, trout, harius, pike, etc. Cod, flounder, halibut, wash, herring, crab are abundant in the seas washing the peninsula, and sea cabbage grows. Sea fishing on the Barents Sea: comfortable conditions for marine fishing in the north begin in March and continue until the end of October. Fishing for salmon in the Murmansk region: the fishing season for salmon fish breeds (salmon, kumzha, palia, salmon) begins in May and continues until the end of October. This is the period of the main entry of fresh, strong fish from the sea (some specimens of marine salmon reach from 15-25 kg. Fishing is carried out on the river Kola and Kitsa in the Murmansk oblast. Verkhnetulomskoye reservoir: the "fisherman's dream." Fishermen of all stripes and degrees of professionalism come here to enjoy successful fishing.