Stay Warm While Watching the Northern Lights

These 6 locations have cozy options for viewing the natural phenomenon

a person standing in the snow while viewing the northern lights

Minimize the risks of cold exposure while viewing the northern lights by exploring accommodations with amenities, such as igloo domes, glass-walled chalets and lakeside hot tubs, designed to keep you warm and comfortable during the light display.

Courtesy Chris Burkard

Kristen Pope

AARP

Published December 23, 2025

I snuggled down in my sleeping bag and looked up at the northern lights dancing overhead. I was in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska, and I’ll never forget the green curtains moving across the sky. Seeing the northern lights is a bucket-list experience for many. In fact, checking something off one’s bucket list is the top motivation for international trips for 22 percent of travelers 50-plus, according to the 2025 AARP Travel Trends survey.

Standing outside to watch the northern lights can get chilly, and for older adults, sustained exposure to cold temperatures can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke. A way to minimize those risks is to explore accommodations that feature amenities — such as igloo domes, glass-walled chalets and lakeside hot tubs — designed to keep you warm and comfortable while viewing the light display.

These six locations offer cozy options for optimal viewing of the aurora borealis. (Prices are in U.S. dollars and are dependent on exchange rates.)

northern lights illuminate the sky with cabins in the foreground

At Borealis Basecamp, you can see the aurora right from bed in cube-shaped accommodations.

Courtesy Rachel Bovey/Borealis Basecamp

Borealis Basecamp, Alaska

Instead of bundling up to go outside and see curtains of light in the middle of the night, simply open your eyes — you can see the aurora right from bed at Borealis Basecamp. Located about 25 miles north of Fairbanks — with a shuttle service to and from the city available for guests — you can venture away from the urban area to stay on the property’s 100 acres.

Stay in a dome-shaped igloo with wide windows, clear ceilings and an outdoor deck, or opt for cube-shaped accommodations. Alternatively, book the suite with two adjoining cubes that includes a private sauna and soaking tub.

As a lifelong Alaskan, Rachel Bovey, Borealis Basecamp’s operations manager, recommends enjoying the first wave of lights earlier in the night, but staying up and keeping an eye out for what’s to come. “I always recommend people don’t go back to sleep when the aurora looks like it dies down, because the second wave, in my opinion, is always better than the first wave,” she says. Price: From $2,020 for one person; $2,200 for two for two nights.

light streaks in the sky with a chalet in the foreground

At Sheldon Chalet, you can view the aurora through the windows of the cozy, shared hexagonal space, from the bedrooms or from the outdoor deck.

Courtesy Dora Redman/Aurora Dora

Sheldon Chalet, Alaska

For an ultra luxe aurora adventure, take a helicopter to Sheldon Chalet. Located 6,000 feet above sea level in the Don Sheldon Amphitheater near Mount McKinley, this five-bedroom chalet that sleeps 10 is an ideal viewing destination.

“Because of its elevation and latitude, the night sky feels closer, with shooting stars brighter and more frequent than most people have ever seen,” says Kevin Jackson, founder of EXP Journeys, which brings guests to Sheldon Chalet.

View the aurora through the windows of the cozy, shared hexagonal space, from the bedrooms or from the outdoor deck. Spend the days skiing, trekking on the glacier or exploring before settling in for a meal prepared by a private chef, relaxing by the fire or in the sauna, and, of course, gazing at the aurora. Price: Packages start at $32,000 per night, with a three-night minimum. Rates are determined by the number of nights and guests.

the northern lights shown through a clear igloo

At Aurora Igloo, beds are arranged in fully transparent private igloos for an ideal view of the night sky.

Courtesy Aurora Igloo

Aurora Igloo, Iceland

In South Iceland, just outside Hella, stay in a warm, private igloo at Aurora Igloo, where beds are arranged for an ideal view of the night sky. The fully transparent domes are made from a specialized polycarbonate material that the company says is 200 times stronger than glass, making them incredibly clear and durable.

Select a standard igloo with a shared bath, or opt for a slightly larger igloo with a private bathroom. Both options are heated and have snug double beds and seating areas from which to enjoy the auroral show. Every igloo also has curtains, plus a surrounding wall for privacy.

Watching the aurora there is “surreal,” says Aurora Igloo cofounder Árni Freyr Magnússon. “The aurora moves silently across the sky — shifting in shape, color and intensity — while you lie in bed or enjoy a warm drink inside the igloo. It is a rare combination of comfort, intimacy with nature and the unmistakable magic of Iceland.” Not surprisingly, he says it’s a hot spot for proposals. Price: Starting at $220 per night for an igloo with shared bath.

Northern Lights Resort & Spa, Yukon, Canada

Twenty minutes from Whitehorse, Yukon, Northern Lights Resort & Spa offers glass-fronted chalets with floor-to-ceiling windows and intimate cabins with good views. A night guide is available during peak aurora viewing hours, and the resort often sets up a bonfire with s’mores and hot chocolate for guests. To warm up even more, check out the property’s Finnish and infrared saunas. The resort also offers special holiday packages that involve seeing the aurora from a plane.

Northern Lights Resort & Spa President Tobias Barth says he never tires of watching the aurora. “It’s always completely different,” he says. “There are certain patterns. They are repetitive, but they appear in different locations. They appear more strong, they appear weaker, they appear in swirls, they appear in curtains, they appear in all kinds of different things.” Price: Starting at $1,797 per person for a four-night, all-inclusive (sans alcohol) stay.

a tepee covered in the snow with the northern lights above

Watch the aurora from the lakeside hot tub or the tepee, which has a fire inside, at Blachford Lodge.

Courtesy Sandra Bautista and itziar Larisgoitia

Blachford Lodge, Northwest Territories, Canada

Sit in the lakeside hot tub at Blachford Lodge to watch the aurora, or wander back to your cabin or the lodge to watch through large windows, or venture to the tepee, which has a fire inside for warm viewing. And be sure to take a peek at the phenomenon from one of the igloos, which are built from ice blocks during the coldest part of winter.

“It is magical in a way that is hard to describe,” says Graham Dickson, founder of Arctic Kingdom, the tour operator that owns Blachford Lodge. “Because we are so remote, there is no light pollution. The sky feels enormous, and the aurora often stretches across the horizon. Whether you are outside on a balcony, by the lake or inside looking through a large window, it feels like the lights are performing just for you.” Price: Starting rate $915 per person, per night, based on double occupancy.

morden villas in the snow with the northern lights

Jänkä Resort’s 13 villas include floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights, and each has a private hot tub.

Courtesy Jänkä Resort / Christer Ådahl

Jänkä Resort, Ylläs, Finland

Jänkä Resort & Ranch opened in December 2025 and is located north of the Arctic Circle in Ylläs, in Finnish Lapland. The resort’s 13 villas include floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights, and each has a private hot tub. The Ranch View Villas are an ideal spot to watch the aurora, since they largely face north.

Soak in the hot tub outside your villa to enjoy the lights and the outdoors while toasty warm. Each villa also has its own sauna with a window, where you may be able to catch additional glimpses of the curtains and waves of light dancing in the sky. Price: Starting at $961 per night.

%{postComment}%

Kristen Pope is a freelance writer who covers travel, outdoor recreation, wildlife, stargazing, conservation and science for publications like National Geographic, Smithsonian, Travel + Leisure and many others.

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member? Login

Most Popular

Benefits Recommended For You

See All