Chasing the stars: How aurora sightings are transforming travel trends – Lifestyle News

From aurora sightings to astronomy tours, night sky viewing is big. It is attracting not only travellers to explore this natural phenomena, but resulting in businesses to monetise these events.

The year started on a good note with the penumbral lunar eclipse in March this year, total solar eclipse in April, and meteor showers throughout the year.

In the next few months, star gazers can look at some fantastic night sky views all over the world as this year will witness special solar activity when the sun’s 11-year solar cycle approaches its peak between late 2024 and early 2026.

Solar Eclipse 2024: Important do’s and don’ts for Surya Grahan

When AI meets beauty, the wrinkles fade away

Sunita Williams takes command of the International Space Station for second time

Not Google, Facebook or Yahoo, doing this helped a senior executive land future success: Here’s her story

Earlier this year in May, Ladakh in India and many countries in the world across Europe, United States, Tasmania have already seen a phenomenal sighting of auroras.

NASA scientists have confirmed that aurora sightings will become more common as solar activity peaks in the next few months, which means the sky will light up with stunning northern lights and widespread aurora displays. They have predicted that the sun will reach its solar maximum — the peak of its 11-year activity cycle — and result in more frequent, intense, and vibrant auroral displays.

Auroras are caused by charged solar winds interacting with the Earth’s magnetosphere.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a US scientific and regulatory agency charged with forecasting weather, monitoring oceanic and atmospheric conditions, has issued storm watches in the coming months that may cause the northern lights to pop up in several states in the US, Canada and Alaska.

To capitalise on the potential of auroras, travel companies like Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel have launched unique northern lights tours in key destinations: Rovaniemi, Saariselka-Lapland (Finland); Tromso, Kirkenes (Norway); Kiruna (Sweden), Murmansk (Russia). With heightened interest for northern lights experiences, also called Aurora Borealis, between September 2024 and April 2025, the company has a diverse range of Arctic tours, including top locales like Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Saariselka-Lapland (Finland); Tromso, Kirkenes (Norway); Kiruna (Sweden) and Murmansk (Russia).

“Immersive experiences include Aurora Borealis safaris, eclectic accommodation in igloos, glass hotels and Arctic tree houses/ lodges… all these are are a result of demand witnessed from millennials, GenZ, couples, multi-generational families, and corporates,” said Rajeev Kale, president & country head — holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook.

Data insights from a study conducted by Pickyourtrail, an online travel platform, observed searches for northern lights tours from India have surged by 180% compared to the previous year. Bookings for aurora viewing trips have increased significantly for the upcoming 2024-25 season. Over 65% of Indian travellers expressed interest in planning a trip in the next two years. Data also shows how the average booking window for such trips has been extended from three months to five months in advance across travel platforms with early bird bookings (9+ months in advance) have seen an increase.

Additionally, the ‘Nakshatra Sabha’ series, a night sky and astronomy tour, is being organised by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, in collaboration with Starscapes, an astro tourism company, this year. The event will take place in the historic temple town of Jageshwar in Almora district of Uttarakhand from October 4-6 and in Benital, a small village located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, from November 8-10.

“Such events promote cultural and natural heritage and strengthen local economies, creating livelihood opportunities for many. This initiative promotes diverse forms of tourism in Uttarakhand,” said Sachin Kurve, secretary tourism & CEO, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board.

Apart from the tours, the Nakshatra Sabha is organising events like astrophotography with monuments, guided eco-astronomy trails to show the unique flora and fauna of Uttarakhand during the day, while the night offers spectacular stargazing opportunities.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}