Calls for responsible travel from Aurora viewers

Autumn is peak booking season for those who want to fulfill their wildest dreams and witness the extraordinary light show that is the Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle, but industry insiders are calling for more care to be taken by those making this incredible journey.

While the Aurora Borealis is a beautiful natural phenomenon, the holidaymakers chasing it don't always appreciate that they are traipsing across one of the most fragile ecosystems in the world to witness the twisting ribbons of light dance with one another.

Responsible Travel managing director Justin Francis said that embarking on such an endeavour should be the result of "careful consideration and research" rather than a wild impulse in the run-up to winter.

"Although the Northern Lights are an ancient phenomenon, the mass marketing of them is still relatively new," he said.

"Seeing the Northern Lights has become one of those horribly-named ‘bucket list’ things to do, and sometimes trips are bought impulsively as a result."

So that holidaymakers are aware of what they might be able to do on their trip to the Arctic Circle, he advocated connecting with the indiginous inhabitants of northern Norway (the Sámi) and considering snowshoeing, cross country skiing and reindeer sleigh modes of transport over snowmobiles.

Although scientists believe that the 2014/15 season is likely to be one of the best periods in recent history to view the Aurora Borealis in recent history, there is no guarantee they will make an appearance during your stay. As such, it's always wise to have a number of back-up activities to make your winter holiday worthwhile.

If you're looking forward to trying snow sports, be sure you have booked travel insurance that covers potential injuries and accidents.

Posted by Robin Western

Published 01 Oct 2014

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