Have you ever wished to see the sun at midnight when it stays up all night? Or the polar night when the sun never rises and the darkness rules? Adventurous travelers looking for new experiences are drawn to these odd natural happenings. This blog will show you the best places to go in the Arctic and Antarctic where the sun never sets or rises. These are areas where you can have unique experiences and adventures that you should put to your bucket list.
Tromsø, Norway
The means to get to the Midnight Sun and Polar Night
Tromsø is known for its arctic night tourism in the winter and its midnight sun experience in the summer. It is north of the Arctic Circle. There are a variety of cultural activities to do here from learning about Sami culture to trying modern Nordic food. It has the best of both worlds, natural beauty and metropolitan convenience.
It’s easy to get to because there are a lot of flights from Oslo. This makes it great for short yet deep journeys to the Arctic.
Things to do:
- The Midnight Sun Marathon takes place from May to July when the sun never sets.
- The Polar Night Northern Lights Chase takes you to the Arctic from November to January to see the spectacular Aurora Borealis dance in the dark.
- Midnight Sun Cruises: All night long sail through fjords bathed in beautiful twilight.
- In the summer you may trek Tromsdalstinden. In the winter you can go dog sledding or snowmobiling under the stars.
More Advice:
- From the middle of June to the middle of July the sun is up all day. This is fantastic for photographing images at night.
- Plan your journey for May or August when the weather is cooler, if you like a softer twilight.
- In the winter, the greatest time to observe the Northern Lights is on twilight trips.
Svalbard, Norway
Extreme Arctic Light and Dark
In the midst of Norway and the North Pole is Svalbard. Europe has the longest arctic night (from late October to mid-February) and the longest midnight sun (from mid-April to late August).
It’s hard to get to yet serious explorers love it due to its ice-cap scenery and animals.
Things to do:
- During Polar Night when the blue hour is at its most beautiful, take images of spooky glacial peaks and ice floes.
- Midnight Sun Snowmobiling: Ride across frozen tundra at midnight when the sun is shining.
- Wildlife Tours: In weird light, you can see polar bears, walruses and reindeer.
More advice:
- The weather and exposure in the Arctic are really harsh so bring the necessary gear.
- There are no open roads during the dark season so get aid from expert local guides to plan your trip.
- In the summer skiing at midnight and kayaking in the ice fjords are things you can only do once.
Reykjavík and Akureyri, Iceland
Polar Phenomena That Are Easy to Reach
It sits just below the Arctic Circle, Iceland is one of the simplest destinations to get to that has light all day. During the summer the days and nights are long.
Travelling to the Arctic is easy because of the strong infrastructure, beautiful scenery and a vibrant culture.
Things to do:
- Day and night tours of the Summer Solstice: See geysers, waterfalls and volcanic landscapes in light that changes all the time.
- Winter Polar Night Experience: Because the days are shorter you can go on cave excursions, ice-caving and look for the aurora.
- Golden Circle at Midnight: When the sky is bright at midnight go to Þingvellir and Gullfoss.
More tips:
- Even in the summer it can feel like dusk at night. Bring clothes so you can stay warm outside at night.
- Go in the time frame of the end of May and the beginning of July to see the sun all day.
- Pick glacier treks in the morning and Aurora tours at night.
Barrow (Utqiaġvik)
Fairbanks Adventures in the North of Alaska
Utqiaġvik (Barrow) is dark all the time for about two months and bright all the time for about two months. This is one of the most real polar experiences you can get in the U.S.
Fairbanks which lies close south, is easy to get to and contains a lot of native culture.
Things to do:
- Barrow’s Polar Night: In the winter enjoy the complete darkness, tourists don’t get in the way of visits very often.
- The Fairbanks Midnight Sun Festival in the summer is a pleasant time for climbers and individuals who enjoy the outdoors to be outside under a sky that never sleeps.
- This is a great way to see the mountains in the summer when the sun never sets.
More Advice:
- Book tours with native Inupiaq guides to get the most out of your trip.
- In the winter it will be gloomy a lot of the time with no sun for weeks at a time.
- The sun can hinder you from sleeping in the summer so pack eye masks or blackout curtains.
Antarctic Peninsula
The Other Side of the World
Some sections of Antarctica enjoy midnight sun in the southern summer which runs from November to February. But in the winter there are entire polar nights. But tourists can only travel there in the summer.
The most distant and pristine area on Earth, great for daring travellers who want to experience the South like they would in the Arctic.
Things to do:
- In the middle of the day, sail through fjords with icebergs all around you.
- See weird golden light shine on penguin rookeries and enormous glacial walls.
- When you combine with South Georgia Island you can find places where albatrosses nest and historical landmarks.
More Advice:
- Tours only occur in the Antarctic summer from November to March when the sea ice is thin enough to walk on.
- Because this is high-end expedition travel you should book your trip months in advance with expert companies.
- Pack for 24-hour circumstances you need to wear layers and be able to change clothes when you become tired during the day.
It’s like something out of a dream to be in a land where the sun is always shining or always gloomy. You can chase the midnight sun across Norway and Alaska, hunt the polar night in isolated parts of the Arctic or go on expedition-level expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula.
Plan ahead: go at the proper time of year (such the midnight sun in June or the arctic night in December), bring the right clothing and hire local guides who know how to handle these tough situations.
What do you get? A vacation story that will stay with you forever where the sun never sets or rises.
Enjoy the brilliance (or lack of brightness) of nature’s most magnificent light show.