Staying safe while chasing the aurora

On the road

• Never stop on the road or the hard shoulder to look at the sky. Use parking areas and laybys, and turn your headlights off only once you are safely parked.
• Use winter tyres and check the road-condition service of the country you are in; each place page links to it where available.
• Watch for wildlife: reindeer, moose and deer cross roads at night in many aurora regions.
• Tell someone where you are going if you leave town, and keep fuel in the tank: mobile coverage can be patchy.

Ice, snow and water

• Do not walk onto frozen lakes, rivers or the sea unless you know the ice is safe; thickness varies and currents weaken it.
• Avoid steep, snow-covered slopes: avalanche terrain is not always obvious in the dark.
• Coastal paths and harbours can be icy. Ice cleats help.

Wildlife and remote areas

In Svalbard, polar bears can appear anywhere outside the settlements; local rules require appropriate protection or a guide outside town. In Churchill (Canada) bears are common in autumn. Elsewhere, the main risk is simply being far from help in the cold.

Respect private land and quiet

Access rules differ by country — from the Nordic right to roam to private land in North America. Do not block driveways, keep noise down near houses and take your rubbish with you. Each country page summarises the local rules.