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5 places for Indian travellers where they are likely to see Northern Lights

Plan your Northern Lights trip with this guide for Indian travellers

3 min readDelhiUpdated: Dec 10, 2025 05:18 PM IST

Tromso, Norway is a top destination to see Northern Lights (Photo: Wikipedia)

Seeing the Northern Lights is a dream for many people. Thanks to technology, we can now watch this magical phenomenon on our phones from the comfort of our homes. NASA astronaut Jonny Kim recently shared a video of the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis, as seen from space. The footage, filmed on September 8, 2025, has inspired many travellers to add this captivating sight to their bucket lists. To help, we have put together a simple guide to make planning your trip easier.

Here are 5 of the most promising destinations where you can expect to witness the magical Aurora Borealis

Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, Ladakh

India’s first Dark Sky Reserve, Hanle, offers an unparalleled high-altitude, dry, and pollution-free atmosphere, making it a haven for stargazers. Its proximity to the geomagnetic latitude, combined with the excellent sky conditions, provides the best—albeit still very remote—chance of capturing auroral activity on the northern horizon during a severe geomagnetic storm.

Best time to visit: October to March for the clearest, darkest winter skies.
Travel tip: Visit the Indian Astronomical Observatory here. Though chances are rare that you will see the Northern Lights, you can still expect to a clear sky for stargazing.

Dark Sky Reserve (Photo: Facebook/Discovery Channel India)

Nubra Valley, Ladakh

Nubra Valley sits over 10,000 feet high and has very clear night skies. It’s remote and has less light pollution than Leh, so if a rare aurora reaches lower latitudes during an intense solar storm, you have a slightly better chance of seeing or photographing it here.

Best time to visit: Late September to February.

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To see a guaranteed, vivid display like the one from space, travellers from India should visit the traditional ‘auroral oval’ destinations. These places are renowned worldwide as the premier spots to view the Northern Lights.

Tromso, Norway

Located well within the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is often called the “Gateway to the Arctic” and has one of the highest chances for frequent aurora sightings. The city is easily accessible with good infrastructure for tourism.

Best time to visit: Mid-September to mid-April, especially between 10 PM and 2 AM local time.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland offers a perfect mix of stunning scenery (geysers, volcanoes, hot springs) and easy access to dark skies. While Reykjavík is a convenient base, the best views are often found just outside the city, in locations like the Thingvellir National Park.

Best time to visit: September to April. Viewing conditions are weather-dependent.

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Murmansk, Russia

As the largest city north of the Arctic Circle, Murmansk is a cost-effective option for travelers from India. It is situated directly under the auroral oval, offering a very high probability of seeing the lights.

Best time to visit: Mid-September to mid-April, with the period around local midnight being optimal.

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