blue light travel republic

Blue Light Card discount list: April 2024

By Author Pete Chatfield

Posted on Last updated: 23/04/2024

Available to NHS and emergency workers, The Blue Light Card scheme is one of the best money-saving schemes around. I’ll share a handy list of over 250 of the best and latest discounts… even those not listed on the site.

I’ll also go over all you need to know about the Blue Light Card, such as Member Days, how to get money off cinema visits and how you can get free tickets to major events.

Table of Contents

First, the bad news….

I’ve had a Blue Light Card for almost 10 years and it’s given me some great discounts. But since 2020, more and more people have become eligible. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting who should and who shouldn’t qualify; it just seems that as the number of people using the card has increased, the discounts have become a little less impressive.

But, I don’t like to be too critical as, with over 15,000 offers available, the Blue Light Card is still one of the best discount schemes available. It’s just that they’re not as exclusive as they used to be. Still, I wouldn’t grumble for £4.99.

How does the Blue Light Card work?

So, I’m going to quickly go over how you can use your membership for discounts, as it can cause a bit of confusion.

For some stores (although this is a decreasing number), it’s just enough to show your card and your discount will be automatically applied. You’ll also find a digital card on the Blue Light Card, which should also be accepted. On rare occasions, I have been asked to show an extra ID (such as a debit card) to prove I am the rightful holder. I know some people may take offence to that (especially a colleague of mine), but please don’t.

Other stores will need you to show them a discount code . These can be requested through the Blue Light Card website or app. They’ll be sent to you by email and stored in your account in something called a ‘vault’.

The majority of the time, when shopping online, you will need a discount code like you do when shopping in-store. But occasionally, you just need to follow a link from Blue Light Card. For example, click on the link for Apple, and you’ll be taken to a site called EPP Blue Light Card UK. Everything on this site is already discounted.

There is an official Blue Light Card extension you can add to Chrome browsers, which will tell you when a discount is available when you visit a store. Find out more about the extension .

Discount vouchers

The final way to get money off on your shopping is to buy discounted gift cards or vouchers. This is done through a separate company called Edenred. Some of these vouchers can only be used in-store (such as Tesco), whilst others can be used online.

The discounts aren’t huge, usually between 1% and 5%, but they stack up over time.

This video will show you how to purchase your vouchers and find out where they can be used.

Also worth reading

Did you know that if you wear a uniform or work branded shirt you are entitled to a tax rebate for money spent on washing? It could be worth £100’s and it’s free to do!

The best Blue Light Card discounts

So, without further ado, here are some of the most popular discounts you can pick up with your membership.

The Apple discount with the Blue Light Card isn’t the most generous. They offer something called ‘The Employee Purchase Program’. All you need to do is click on a link through the BLC website and you could save as much as 10% off certain products. Although most iPhones and iPads are included, the discount doesn’t usually work for newly released models.

If you want a discount for the iPhone 15 or the latest iPad, then your best bet is to purchase it from somewhere like Currys or Argos but purchase a discounted gift card first.

You can use your Blue Light Card for Argos discounts only by buying vouchers first. Discounts range between 3% and 8%, depending on the time of the year. Check out my video above on how to purchase your cards.

Check out the Airtime rewards app. All you need to do is link it to your payment card, and every time you shop there, you’ll earn cashback to put towards your mobile phone bill. It works for a whole range of retailers too.

You probably see a theme here… Again, you must visit the Blue Light Card website and order a gift card to qualify for a discount. These cards usually save you around 3%.

Burger King

Show your card at the counter and you’ll receive 20% off your bill. This offer is not available on Saturdays and cannot be used at the kiosks. Not valid at Burger King motorway service locations, airports, train stations and holiday parks

Expires 31st July 2024.

Costco Wholesale

If you purchase a membership for Costco through Blue Light, you’ll receive a £20 shopping voucher redeemable in all Costco Wholesale UK warehouses plus a £20 shopping voucher redeemable online at www.costco.co.uk

Expires 30th June 2024.

Although card holders can gain discounts on selected products by requesting a vault code, you can also earn a discount by purchasing a gift card. This will usually give you in the region of 4-8% off your whole purchase.

Domino’s

This is a far easier discount to claim. Just show your Blue Light Card to a Domino’s branch for 50% off. This is for collection only. Most branches only discount pizzas, but because Domino’s is a franchise, some may offer it on sides and desserts. If you’re looking to have your food delivered, take a look at my post on online Domino’s discounts.

Esso Fuel Card

Reintroduced in early 2024, this scheme gives cardholders a discount on pump prices for all Esso Synergy fuels. It usually costs £43 but is free for Blue Light Card members.

– Save 6p on every litre of Esso Synergy Supreme Diesel – Save 5p on every litre of Esso Synergy Supreme+99 Unleaded – Save 4p on every litre of Esso Synergy Diesel – Save 3p on every litre of Esso Synergy Unleaded

The card is linked directly to your bank and you just hand it over when you pay.

This offer expires 31st October 2024.

Until 31st December 2025, card holders receive a 7% discount in-store by showing their membership. The discount is also available online if you apply for a code.

This is a 10% discount, which has changed recently and, like Asda, takes a little more effort. You will need to download the KFC app and create an account. Then:

• Select ‘More’ from the bottom tab
• Choose ‘Discounts’
• Enter your card number and surname
• When you come to pay, scan your QR code at the top right

Please note that this discount does not seem to work at self-service kiosks.

Krispy Kreme

10% off a dozen doughnuts in retail shops by showing your card. Also available online. This expires 31st December 2025. The discount cannot be redeemed in stores such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

Online, you’ll receive 10% off, but only on full-price items. You’ll need to apply for a vault code before you checkout. If in-store, you will get 5% off a £45 shop when you show your card. Again, this is only for full-price items.

This offer expires 30th September 2024.

Receive a 10% discount on your bill just by showing your card. This offer expires 20th January 2025.

TGI Fridays

Every day of the week (excluding Saturdays) you’ll get 25% off your food. You will need to request a discount code through the BLC site and show your card too.

Offer expires 31st December 2025.

Virgin Atlantic

Up to £60 off a flight ticket. For this Blue Light Card discount, you will need to request a code.

Deals of the week

Remember to check the site or the app each week. You’ll find some weekly deals where you can find some boosted discounts. They can be a little hit-and-miss, but still worth checking out.

And don’t forget to follow their Facebook page to see the latest special offers and deals.

Can you use the Blue Light Card in supermarkets?

Yes, you can. Asda offers you up to 10% off your shopping using your card (more below). You can also purchase discounted gift cards for Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Iceland, Waitrose and M&S. These will give you around 3% off, but must be bought before you pay at the checkout.

Asda discount

The 5% (originally 10%) discount for Asda requires a little more effort than just showing your card.

1. Download the Asda Rewards app.

2. Within the More tab select Memberships. You’ll be taken to the Blue Light validation page.

3. In Memberships, select the Blue Light Card and fill in the information.

4. You’ll be verified and will see the confirmation screen.

5. Once done, your digital card will turn blue and recognise you as a Blue Light Card member.

The 5% discount is now for fresh foods only and will now be added to your Asda Cashpot account as cashback. That cashback can then be used towards your future Asda purchases.

This offer expires 4th May 2026.

Blue Light Card discounts list

So, which other companies can Blue Light Card members get discounts for? It’s impossible to list all the stores, mainly because plenty of local businesses use the scheme. But, I have tried to summarise a list of discounts for the most popular. And please remember to check the Blue Light Card app or website before you claim your discount. Don’t always expect to walk into a store expecting a discount by showing your card.

Blue Light Card Restaurants and Food & Drink discounts

There’s a long list of restaurants that accept the Blue Light Card. Bear in mind that there can be a long list of T&C’s. Some will only give a discount on food, others will not allow you to claim on a Friday or Saturday. Check the BLC app before you travel or check with the restaurant.

• Ask Italian – 20% off mains
• Beefeater – 25% off food
• Bella Italia – 25% off food
• Burger King – 20% off
• Cafe Rouge – 25% off
• Cookhouse & Pub – 25% off food
• Co-op – £6 off £30 (online only)
• Dominos Pizza – see how to claim – 50% off
• Doughnotts – 10% off
• Ember Inns – 20% off
• Greene King – 20% off food
• Grenade – 20% off
• Harvester – 20% off food
• Hard Rock Cafe – 15% off
• HelloFresh – see my review (new customers)
• Hotel Chocolat – 10% off
• Hungry Horse – 20% off food
• Iceland (new customers)
• Kaspas – 10% off
• KFC – 10% off
• Krispy Kreme – 10% off
• Las Igunas – 20% off food
• Naked Wines
• Mindful Chef – see my review -30% off
• MyProtein – 45% off
• MuscleFood – see my review (new customers)
• Pizza Hut – 25% off food
• Prezzo – 20% off food
• Starbucks – 10% off
• Stonehouse Pizza and Carvery – 20% off food
• Tim Horton’s – 10% off
• Toby Carvery – 20% off food
• TGI Fridays – 20% off
• Virgin Wines – £50 0ff
• Yo! – 20% off
• Zizzi – 20% off foof

Discounted vouchers can also be bought for:

• Marks & Spencer
• Pizza Express
• Sainsbury’s

Blue Light Card Fashion discounts

A large selection of clothing and jewellery companies will only give you a discount if you buy items that are full price. And if you know certain retailers (Sports Direct for example), it can be hard to find items that aren’t on discount.

• Abercrombie & Fitch – 10% off online
• Accessorize – 20% off full priced items online
• Adidas – 10% off full priced items online
• Animal – 15% off
• Blacks – 15% off
• Boohoo – 10% off
• Burton – 20% off online
• Crocs – 30% off selected items
• Dorothy Perkins – 20% off online
• Dune – 15% off full priced items
• Ellesse – 25% off full priced items online
• Ernest Jones – 15% off in-store
• FatFace – 10% off
• FootAsylum – 10% off full priced items online
• Foot Locker – 10% off online
• Go Outdoors – 10% off online and in-store
• Gym King – 20% off full priced items
• Harvey Nichols – 10% off online
• Hollister – 10% off full-priced items
• H. Samuel – 20% off full priced items online
• Jack Wills – 10% off
• JD Sports – 10% off full priced items online
• JD Williams – 20% off
• JoJo Maman Bebe – 10% off
• Kate Spade – 10% off
• Kipling – 12% off online
• Kurt Geiger – 20% off full priced items online
• Levi’s – 20% off full priced items online
• Look Fantastic – up to 22% on selected items
• lululemon – 10% off full priced items
• Matalan – 10% off full priced items online and in-store
• Monsoon – 10% off
• New Look – 15% off in-store and online
• Nike – 10% off full priced items online
• Oakley – 10% off
• Oasis – 20% off full priced items online
• Peacocks – 20% off online and in-store
• The Perfume Shop – 15% off online
• PrettyLittleThing – 26% off
• Puma – 15% off online
• Ray-Ban – 10% off
• River Island -15% off full priced items
• Schuh – 10% off full priced items online
• Simpley Be – 20% off
• Sports Direct – up to 10% online
• Sunglass Hut – 25% off
• Superdry – 10% off full priced items online
• Ted Baker – 20% off full priced items online
• Temu – 30% off 1st order
• Timberland – 10% off
• Ugg – 10% off full priced items online
• Under Armour – 15% off
• Urban Outfitters – 10% off
• Vans -15% off
• Vision Express – 20% off online
• Warehouse – 15% off

Blue Light Card Electrical discounts

A good range of stores, although some discounts are only available on certain items.

• Acer – 15% off
• AEG – 20% off
• Apple – save up to 10%
• AO – save £10
• Beko – 10% off
• Currys – up to 10% off
• Dell – up to 20%
• Garmin – save up to 40%
• Hewlett Packard – save up to 40%
• Hoover – 15% off
• Hotpoint – save up to 30%
• Hughes – 6% off
• Kenwood – 5% off
• LED Hut – 15% off
• LG – save up to 30%
• Ninja Kitchen – save 10%
• Panasonic 15% off
• Philips – 10% off
• Richer Sounds – 10% on selected items
• Russell Hobbs – 20% off
• Samsung – save up to £800
• Shark Clean – save 10%
• Sonos – 15% off
• Sony – 5% off

Blue Light Card Motoring discounts

Motoring discounts are a little lacking in the motoring department, but there are still a few to choose from.

• Bike Stop – 10% off
• Enterprise – up to 10% off
• Esso Fuel Card – discounted fuel
• Halfords – up to 10% off
• Europcar – up to 10% off
• Kwik-Fit – 10% off servicing and MOT
• MotorFinity – save up to 32%
• National Tyres and Autocare – 10% off
• RAC – cover from £4.49 per month

Blue Light Card Health & Beauty discounts

Discounts from selected gyms are quite generous using a Blue Light Card, although a little limited. But, you can get your hands on some decent beauty savings.

• AXA Health – 2 months free cover
• Beauty Works – 15% off
• Best Gym Equipment – 10% off selected products
• The Body Shop – 20% off core online and in-store
• Bobbi Brown – 15% off
• Bondara – 22% off
• Clinique – 10% off
• The Fragrance shop – 15% off
• Hairburst – 20% off
• Liz Earle – 22% off full priced items
• Lookfantastic – 22% off full priced items
• LoveHoney -20% off
• MAC Cosmetics – 15% off
• Mankind – 22% off
• Nuffield Health – 30% off membership
• PureGym – save up to 10% on membership
• The Perfume Shop – 15% off
• Revolution Beauty – 20% off
• Sally Beauty – 15% off
• Simba Sleep – up to 41% off

Blue Light Card Holiday discounts

The majority of holiday discounts on offer are a little underwhelming when you consider how much you’re spending, but they’re still worth checking out.

• Butlins – £20 off
• Canvas Holidays – up to 15% off
• Cottages.com – up to 10% off
• Disney Florida – 5% discount
• Disney Paris – 5% discount
• DFDS – save 10% on crossings from Dover
• Etihad Airways – up to 10% discount
• Eurocamp – save up to 40%
• Expedia – save £100
• Florida Sunshine Villa – 5% off
• Forest Holidays – save up to 15%
• Haven Holidays – exclusive prices
• Holiday Extras – save 10%
• Hoseasons – up to 10% discount
• Hotels.com – up to 12%
• Jet2holidays – £25 off booking
• Lastminute.com – £20 off
• Loveholidays – save £25
• On The Beach – £35 gift card
• Park Holidays – save 10%
• Parkdean Resorts
• P&O Cruises – up to £200 exclusive on-board spending money
• Princess Cruises – save 10%
• Thistle Hotels – 20% off
• Thomas Cook – save £15
• Travelodge – 5% off
• Travel Republic – save £35
• Virgin Atlantic – up to £60 off next flight
• Virgin Atlantic Holidays – save £150 on holidays

Please note that companies can leave the scheme at any time.

Stores that accept the Blue Light Card: Not listed on the site

I belong to quite a few Blue Light Card forums and groups and below are discounts people have found which aren’t listed on the site. I can’t guarantee that the discount will work in your local store, but it’s certainly worth asking. Please let me know if you hear of any.

• Clarks – 15% off in-store
• Hobbycraft – 10% off
• Pandora – 10% off, store dependent
• PizzaExpress – store dependent
• Sizzling Pubs – 10% off
• Subway – usually 10%, but varies as Subway is a franchise

Cinema tickets

The Blue Light Card also offers discounts on tickets for the major cinemas, including Odeon, Vue and Cineworld. Purchasing differs between cinema chains, but usually, you purchase a voucher that is sent to you by email and this can then be exchanged for tickets.

Please note that the prices below are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.

Vue 1 adult or child voucher (Group 1 location) – £8.48 Vue 1 adult or child voucher (Group 2 location) – £7.68 Vue 1 adult or child voucher (Group 3 location) – £6.83 Vue 1 adult or child voucher (Group 4 location) – £5.98 Vue 1 adult or child voucher (Group 5 location) – £5.10 Vue 1 adult or child voucher (Group 6 location) – £4.75

ODEON Standard – Child: £4.99 ODEON Standard Anytime – Adult: £8.12 ODEON Standard Off Peak (Mon-Thurs) – Adult: £5.53

ODEON Luxe – Child: £6.97 ODEON Luxe Anytime – Adult: £10.06 ODEON Luxe Off Peak (Mon-Thurs) – Adult: £7.52

The Odeon Limitless card for 12 months of movies will cost £148.99 per person

Adult 2D (Group 1 Cinema) – £5.30 Adult 2D (Group 2 Cinema) – £8.74 Adult 2D (Group 3 Cinema) – £11.35 Child 2D – £5.42 2D tickets can uplift to 3D, IMAX, Superscreen, ScreenX, 4DX for an extra fee at the cinema or online.

Cineworld Unlimited Card (Group 1 Cinema) – £106.30 Cineworld Unlimited Card (Group 2 Cinema) – £169.10 Cineworld Unlimited Card (Group 3 Cinema) – £194.64 Free Tastecard with every Cineworld Unlimited Membership.

Large combo – any large soft or frozen drink and your choice of either large popcorn, hot dog or nachos – £7.63 Regular combo – any regular soft or frozen drink and your choice of either regular popcorn, hot dog or nachos – £6.78 Large ICEE – £3.58 Munchbox – includes (i) sweet or salted popcorn, (ii) a fruit shoot or water and your choice of either a (iii) Milky Way Magic Stars, Raisins or a Cheestring – £3.10

Mobile phones and contracts

If you’re looking for a new phone or contract, then most of the major telecoms companies give some kind of discount.

Save 25% off O2 refresh plans

20% off the handset and sim only plans

Affordable Mobiles

Save an extra £25 on upfront prices

£5 Auto Cashback on all Pay Monthly Deals

Not currently listed on the Blue Light Card website. However, they already offer Vodafone Advantage which gives discounts to NHS, MoD and Emergency services

Blue Light Tickets

If you’re a fan of live entertainment like sports, comedy, music and theatre, then you can qualify for tickets… absolutely free. Unfortunately, tickets are limited, so you will have to enter a ballot and winners are chosen at random.

But there are some great music events available up and down the country, plus tickets to Premier League football games.

The Blue Light Tickets site is actually run separately from the main Blue Light Card site. You have to sign up again, although if you already have a Blue Light Card, you do not need to show proof of your employment and just need to enter your Blue Light membership number.

Take a look at Blue Light Tickets.

Member Day(s) 2024

Every year, holders of the Blue Light Card can attend a Member Day, usually over a weekend. This is held at a major theme park, closed to the general public and offers discounted tickets. Tickets went on sale 23rd January 2024.

LEGOLAND Windsor Resort: 

Saturday 9th March – 10am – 5pm – £20pp 

Sunday 10th March – 10am – 5pm – £20pp 

Saturday 9th November – 10am – 4pm – £20pp 

Sunday 10th November – 10am – 4pm – £20pp 

Thorpe Park: 

Sunday 17th March – 10am – 5pm – £24pp 

Saturday 9th November – 10am – 8pm – £27.60pp 

Sunday 10th November – 10am – 8pm – £27.60pp 

Drayton Manor Resort:  

Saturday 16th March – 10:30am – 5pm – £24pp  

Warwick Castle:  

Saturday 27th April – 10am – 4pm – £15.50pp  

Sunday 22nd September – 10am – 4pm – £15.50pp 

Chessington World of Adventures Resort: 

Saturday 9th November – 10am – 5pm – £25pp

Sunday 17th November – 10am – 5pm – £25pp

Tickets are on sale from the 30th of January but tend to go quite quickly.

In all honesty, when I attended a Member Day, it was quite busy. And although I bought a ticket for around 40% off, there are deals around where you can 2 for 1 anyway (take a look at my post on how to get half-price tickets ). It’s not something I plan to do again soon.

You can see how I got on when we visited a Member Day.

My Blue Light Card conclusion

As I said above, the deals aren’t quite as good as they once were. But you can still find some decent discounts and for £4.99 every two years, it will hardly break the bank.

To find out more, head over to the Blue Light Card official site.

And you can download the Blue Light Card app by clicking the buttons below.

Android Users Apple Users

Blue Light Card alternative

The Blue Light Card is great, but if you’re interested in saving more money, why not take a look at a paid alternative with the CSSC ? For less than £5 per month, you could be eligible for free entry into English Heritage sites, a free taste card, reduced gym membership and lots of other discounts. The CSSC also offers discounted gift cards, but usually around 2% cheaper than the Blue Light Card. If you’re a keen shopper, this is worth checking out!

Blue Light Card – all you need to know

Who qualifies for the blue light card.

This scheme isn’t just for the emergency service workers. It’s available to anyone who works as a paid employee for the following:

• Police Force
• Ambulance Service
• Fire Service
• HM Prison Service / HMPPS
• NHS Dental Practice
• NHS volunteers
• HM Armed Forces
• MoD Civil Servant, Fire Service, Police
• Highways England Traffic Officer
• Border Force
• Immigration Enforcement
• UK Visas and Immigration
• HM Coastguard
• Search and Rescue
• Social workers
• 4×4 Response
• Blood Bikes
• First Responders
• St Andrews Ambulance
• St John Ambulance
• Social Care workers

You also qualify if you are a volunteer for any of the below:

The card is also available to some retirees. Taken from their site:

You are eligible only if you are an Armed Forces Veteran or a retired Police Officer or Fire Fighter. We will require ID to prove this in order to send the card to your home address

So, do workers in the social sector qualify?

Yes, social care sector workers do qualify for the Blue Light Card and the discounts associated with it. And according to the definition I found –  Social care  is a term that generally describes all forms of personal   care  and other practical assistance for children, young people and adults who need extra support.

There is no Blue Light Card eligibility checker, so if you’re unsure, send an email to their team to check.

When you apply, you will need to send in a copy of a payslip or an image of your ID to prove you’re eligible. I’ve found a photo of my warrant has always been accepted.

If you’re an NHS employee, take a look at these exclusive discounts available.

How much does the blue light card card cost.

The cost of membership, which includes a physical card, is £4.99 and will last 2 years. If you lose your card, you will need to pay another £4.99 for the replacement.

You’ll also get access to a virtual copy of your Blue Light Card which you can download onto your phone.

How to apply

You can join online and will need to provide the following information:

• Employer’s information, including division (if applicable) and job role.
• Email address

If this is accepted, you must complete your address details if you want a physical card sent to you. Then, it’s just a matter of waiting until BLC has confirmed you’re eligible to join.

How to contact Blue Light Card

The company doesn’t have a phone number to contact them. However, you can contact them by opening up a ticket on your account or emailing [email protected]. But I find that the best way to speak to them is through X (formerly known as Twitter).

Is there a Blue Light Card discount at B&Q?

Not directly. However, you can buy gift cards for B&Q through the BLC website. This will give you around a 3% discount.

Does Nando’s accept the Blue Light Card?

Unfortunately, no. They do a specific discount for NHS staff though.

Any New Look discounts?

Yes. There is a specific 25% code for card holders to use on the New Look website. Or, you can just show your membership card when shopping in store to receive your 25% off.

Do Frankie and Benny’s accept the Blue Light Card?

No. Although joining the scheme in 2014, they have since left.

Does McDonald’s accept the Blue Light Card?

There is no nationwide discount available to emergency service workers. However, the majority of McDonald’s restaurants are run as franchises. That means that they may offer their own special offers. My local will give you a free cheeseburger with the purchase of an Extra Value Meal, if you produce your BLC membership. So it’s a case of asking when you visit.

What discount does Sky offer?

Listed on the BLC website, Sky Signature is reduced from £30 to £21 per month. But to receive that discount or details on any others, you will need to leave your details and an operator from Sky will contact you. Just follow the link through the BLC site.

Does B&M accept the Blue Light Card?

No, these stores do not currently offer a discount to holders.

Is there a Next Blue Light Card discount?

No, the Blue Light Card is not accepted in Next.

Does Smyths accept the Blue Light Card?

Smyths is currently not offering money off to Blue Light Card holders or NHS staff

Currently, you can subscribe to Sky Signature for £21 per month (reduced from £30). This is available to new and existing customers.

Does Aldi accept the Blue Light Card?

Aldi only accepts the card as proof of employment for emergency workers and gives holders access to priority shopping times. It does not provide any discounts though.

Is the Morrisons offer still running?

For most of 2020 and 2021, Blue Light Card holders were entitled to 10% off at Morrisons. However, this expired at the end of 2nd January 2022. We shall see if it will return.

Does Amazon offer a Blue Light Card discount?

No, Amazon does not offer discounts to Blue Light Card holders. That goes for Prime Video, Music and shopping.

Can family members use my card?

The Blue Light Card can only be used by the holder and cannot be loaned to others. In some cases, a family member may receive a discount as long as the card holder is present at the time.

Can you get a discount at Leeds Castle?

Yes, Blue Light Card holders get 20% off at Leeds Castle (although this is not listed on either site). It can be applied for up to 2 adults and 2 children, but only on the day of purchase. If you buy tickets in advance, you will automatically get around a 10% discount without your card.

Is the Blue Light Card accepted in the Range?

No, Range customers do not receive a discount.

How does the Disney holiday discount work?

When you click on the Blue Light Card link to Disney, the code should automatically be copied to your clipboard and you can paste it as you checkout. However, people have been able to phone Disney and give the code on booking. In some cases, people have been able to book and email the code later and receive a partial refund.

Monday 5th of June 2023

I cannot see Hobby Craft in your listings? They offer 10% to BLC holders and DDC holders.

They are one of the many people who offer discounts to us but who aren't actually in partnership with BLC. It would be really useful if you could produce a list of these? (I don't think anyone else has done one.)

Thursday 29th of December 2022

@helen, everyone pays £4.99 for the card. I’ve had one since 2017 and have saved many hundreds, if not more, in that time. Go for it!

Lesley Burns

Friday 6th of May 2022

if i retire from the NHS am i still able to use my blue light card?.

Money Saver Pete

Saturday 7th of May 2022

Hi Lesley. According to Helen in these comments, you can still use qualify for the Blue Light Card once you retire from the NHS.

Friday 29th of April 2022

@Money Saver Pete,

You can now ,as just got NHS pension yearly update April 2022 and it appears we can. But think we have to pay £5 for the card and not sure if it's much use

Thursday 21st of April 2022

Yes. You can get 25% off new season lines, but you will need to apply for a discount code

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The 6 Best Blue Light Glasses for Travel, Tested and Reviewed

We tested blue light glasses to find the best ones for business trips, movie marathons on long flights, e-readers, and excessive screen time.

In This Article

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• Our top picks

Our Testing Process

• Tips for Buying
• Why Trust T+L

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure / Sarah Felbin

Life in the digital age means we rarely get a break from screens, whether it’s a work computer, smartphone, TV, tablet , or e-reader. All that screen time means more exposure to blue light, which has a shorter wavelength believed to cause headaches, eyestrain, and even disrupted sleep. Speaking of which, if you were planning to get some sleep on your flight after watching a few episodes of your favorite show, you might consider packing a pair of blue light glasses. 

While research isn’t conclusive on their protection — though they cause no harm — we tested 21 pairs of blue light glasses over the course of a work week to see which ones reduced our eyestrain, headaches, and other symptoms of excessive screen time. These are our top choices for travel, whether you’re heading out on a business trip, a long-haul flight, or you just want to spend hours in front of your e-reader on the beach.

Best Overall

Benicci stylish blue light blocking glasses.

These affordable glasses are lightweight yet extremely durable.

Color options may vary depending on availability.

Don’t be fooled by these glasses' featherlight construction. During our tests, we tugged and toyed with them and concluded that they are fairly indestructible. The frame material feels slightly textured, which enables the glasses to hug your nose gently and stay put — so no fussing around when you’re spending time on your laptop at the airport or in your hotel room. The lenses are clear, so our eyes adjusted to wearing them right away (good news if you’ve been averse to tinted frames).

The glasses come with two protective carrying cases, one soft and one hard, making it even easier to stash them in a bag. We also like that these glasses come with a tool to test the blue light refraction. At this very reasonable price point, you might consider buying two so you can keep one at home and one in your carry-on . 

The Details: 5.29 ounces | Case included | Free returns with Amazon Prime

Travel + Leisure / Meredith Butcher

Best for Business Trips

Caddis blue light blockers.

They offer a comfortable, secure fit that won't slip off your face when you're switching between devices while working.

Your lens choice could add up to $100 to the final purchase price. 

The Hooper frame from Caddis provides a comfortable, secure fit, perfect for switching between multiple screens and digital devices without slipping. We wore these lightweight, wire-rim frames throughout our workday and experienced good clarity with no eyestrain. Considering that we have had eyestrain in the past after only about an hour of screen time, we’d recommend these for anyone spending long days at a computer screen like you would on a work trip. 

The Hooper frames are made from nickel-free metal alloy and come in two color options: polished gold and polished gunmetal. They are available as readers or progressives. You can further personalize your blue light protection with one of six different scratch-resistant lenses, including classic, light green or light yellow, anti-reflective, and two light-responsive lenses — one that transitions to gray and the other to bronze.  

The Details: Nickel-free metal alloy | Readers or progressives with various lens powers | Return or exchange within 60 days

Best Prescription

Warby parker thurston glasses.

Warby Parker

These stylish glasses are easy to customize with your prescription and preferred lens type, and they come in two sizes for a flattering fit.

There’s no cost savings if you buy these in the uncorrected version.

You don’t have to decide between protecting your eyes from blue light and actually being able to see, thanks to the Thurston frames from Warby Parker. If you’re shopping online, take advantage of the virtual frame try-ons so you can really get an idea of how these glasses will look on you.

The Thurston Glasses come in three different shades, but more importantly, they come in two different styles — medium and wide — for a more flattering fit. Aside from looks, these lightweight frames feel good to wear; in fact, we forgot we even had them on. After a few days of wearing them, we noticed that our eyes felt less tired and strained than they normally would be at that point without having worn the glasses. 

The Details: Lightweight stainless steel | Prescription option available | UV protection | Case included | Return or exchange within 30 days of purchase

Most Comfortable

Felix gray jemison blue light glasses.

They offer a comfortable fit with less glare — perfect for long workdays with many video calls.

They are pricier than others on our list.

If you wear any type of glasses, you know well that your nose, ears, and especially eyes need a break after a while. So it was quite refreshing to put on these Jemison frames from Felix Gray and wear them for several workdays in a row without a bit of discomfort. These frames offered a comfortable, no-slip fit that didn’t aggravate the bridge of our nose. Even better, we felt less eyestrain after wearing these glasses. Aside from wearing them during a long workday, we wouldn’t board a long flight without them. The included hard-shell case makes it easy to protect them while traveling, too.

These are pricier than others on the list, but we think they’re worth the splurge for passing the Zoom test; we found the lenses to emit less glare so you won’t see your lenses reflected on a video call. 

The Details: Hand-finished organic acetate | Prescription option available | UV protection | Case included | Free exchanges and 30-day money-back guarantee

Travel + Leisure / Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm

Most Stylish

Peepers by peeperspecs women's shine on blue light glasses.

These stylish glasses have a flattering frame shape and are available in magnified and non-corrected versions.

You will need to buy a case separately.

We’ve had frequent headaches and eyestrain from too much screen time in the past, so we were thrilled to notice that after one day of wearing the Peepers, we didn’t have a headache. Even better, after a few wears, we noticed significantly less eyestrain. These lenses are clear and have various levels of magnification. We tested a pair at 1.0 and found it was perfect for our needs. 

We loved the deeper nose bridge on these glasses, which allowed for a snug fit that won’t slip off during your travels while making you look stylish and put together. Thanks to the flexible arms — which didn’t hurt the back of our ears — they’re easy to take on and off. We found the shape of these glasses to be quite flattering, and we love the way they look in the two classic color options: black and tortoise. Although these frames are well-made, we do wish they came with a sunglasses case or a travel pouch to protect them when stowed away in a bag or pocket.

The Details: Magnification and non-corrected styles | UV protection | Free returns with Amazon Prime

Travel + Leisure / Sarah Felbin

Best Budget

Readerest blue light blocking reading glasses.

These lightweight frames come in tons of colors at a budget-friendly price that makes it easy to buy several pairs.

Not all colors are available at all magnification levels.

The Readerest blue light-blocking frames are lightweight and offer a snug and secure fit without feeling tight across the bridge of the nose or the ears. They were comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, and we were able to see clearly with no issues. After a long day of looking at screens — both phone and laptop — our eyes felt less strained than before. 

Aside from eye relief from blue light, we liked that these were stylish enough to wear on video calls for work. Choose from 17 different colors, including classic colors like black and tortoise and fashion-forward colors like peach and clear. Need them to be readers? Choose from more than a dozen different magnification levels, though not all colors will be available at all levels. Best of all, these are the most affordable option on this list, so you can even buy several if you want a backup pair for traveling.

The Details: Magnification option available | UV protection | Free returns with Amazon Prime

We tested 21 pairs of blue light glasses, whittling them down to the six that made our list. For our tests, we started the first half of our work day without the glasses. After four hours of regular screen time without glasses, we did a self-check for Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), which includes symptoms like headaches, dry or itchy eyes, eyestrain, and sensitivity to light. We donned a pair of blue light glasses for the second half of our work day. At the end of the day, we did another self-check, noting if any of our symptoms had improved, gotten worse, or remained the same. 

We continued to wear the blue light glasses for an entire work week at our computers, conducting another self-assessment at the end to compare how our eyes felt now to how they felt when we first started wearing the glasses. We based our insight on this final assessment and selected the six best blue light glasses for our list.

Tips for Buying Blue Light Glasses

See if there's a virtual try-on option.

It’s one thing to see frames you like online, but they might not actually flatter your face or match your style in person. That’s why virtual try-ons come in clutch. Warby Parker and Felix Gray are two retailers who have added a virtual try-on to their online customer experience. So go ahead: turn on your phone or computer camera, position your face as directed, and see what your blue light glasses will look like on you.

While it’s always nice to have frames that flatter your face, the actual fit is more important, especially if you plan to wear them for long work days. If you can try before you buy — or at least take advantage of a free return/exchange — do it. You’ll want a fit that’s snug enough so the frames won’t slide around, but not too tight that they pinch your nose or irritate your ears. 

Pay attention to lens color

Lens color is important when it comes to blue light glasses. You might prefer clear lenses for screen time during work because it’ll be easy to forget you even have them on. Still, you might choose a tinted lens for style preference or, more importantly, the type of screen you’re looking at. 

For example, yellow is often touted as a good choice for gamers, while blue lenses work to reduce glare — a good choice if you’re on frequent video calls. If you need blue light lenses for outdoors, check for those that offer UV protection, as well as a transition to a darker shade to protect your eyes like sunglasses .

Check if it comes with a travel case

Protect your blue light glasses on the go by slipping them into a protective pouch or travel case . Some, like the Benicci Blue Light Blocking Glasses , come with one, and Warby Parker also sends a free case with every purchase. These cases will protect the lenses from being scratched or otherwise damaged while traveling, plus they’re usually compact enough to slide into the inner pocket of a bag or carry-on so you always have your blue light glasses with you.

The colors in the visible light spectrum all have different energy levels and wavelengths. Blue light, which is emitted from the LEDs (light-emitting diode) in our computers, smartphones, tablets, and TVs, has a higher energy and shorter wavelength than other colors. Since there is some research that indicates a connection between this blue light and eye damage, it’s important to protect our eyes when we can’t limit our screen time. Although the research isn’t conclusive on whether blue light glasses completely save the day, some people believe that blue light glasses can help alleviate eyestrain and other symptoms of too much screentime.

You could always tote blue light glasses on any trip — especially if they come with a travel case — but they’re especially good on those long-haul flights where you’ll be binge-watching TV and movies or reading on a tablet for hours on end. If you’re traveling for business and plan to spend most of the flight working on a laptop, blue light glasses will also come in handy. 

No, they don’t, which is why it’s important to read the specs of the pair(s) you have your eye on. Aside from blocking blue light, some glasses offer UV protection , which means you’ll have eye protection outdoors in the sunlight, too. 

When you purchase a pair of blue light glasses, be sure to test them thoroughly during several workdays or gaming sessions. With each of the selections that made our best blue light glasses list, we noted fewer headaches and less eyestrain during testing after our daily screen time. If your glasses aren’t producing similar results, take advantage of the retailer’s exchange/return window and try out a new pair.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

For this story, Barbara Bellesi Zito put on her own pair of Warby Parkers — sadly, she opted out of the blue light blocking capability for her lenses — to pore over the testing insights from our Travel + Leisure team. An avid reader who won’t take a trip without her Kindle, Barbara is now trying to decide which color of Peepers to get.

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Northern Lights in Russia - The Travel Guide

Home / Russia Travel Experiences / Northern Lights in Russia – The Travel Guide

This guide was created to help travellers who are considering experiencing the Northern Lights in Russia. We look into some essential considerations that will help you plan for the best possible Northern lights experience and help you decide where how and to take it all in.

Table of Contents

What is the Aurora Borealis?

Standing beneath the ethereal glow of the Northern Lights as they perform their dazzling, shape-shifting solar dance is one of earth’s most spectacular atmospheric phenomena and a must experience on just about everyone’s bucket list.

The Northern Lights – origin myths and legends

Humans have been enthralled by the mysterious beauty of the Northern Lights for millennia. In northern Europe, the Aurora Borealis was believed to be light emanating from the celestial bodies of the gods as they guided the recently deceased into to the next world. Some Inuit tribes gazed up at the Northern Lights and imagined spirits playing an inter-stellar ball game with the skull of a walrus.

For many of us today, escaping the modern world to witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Northern Lights is a tremendously powerful and uplifting experience. While these days we have the science to explain exactly what causes Auroras to develop in the earth’s atmosphere, we’ll no doubt continue to look up at the Northern Lights with the same sense of inexplicable wonder held by our ancestors long ago.

How the Aurora Borealis is formed

Essentially, the Northern Lights are created when gaseous particles from the sun interact with the earth’s atmosphere and magnetic poles. This is why the Northern Lights are almost exclusively seen in the skies in areas close to earth’s north pole.

The colour of the Northern Lights depends on the particular atmospheric gas that combines with the rays emanating from the sun. If the reacting atmospheric gas is oxygen, the output colour is a pale yellowish-green. If the reacting gas is nitrogen, the Northern Lights appears blue or purplish-red. More rarely, the Northern Lights appear as a series of pulsating scarlet streaks. The red northern lights occur when the reacting gas is high altitude oxygen, usually around 200 miles above the earth’s surface.

At the opposite time of year, in the southern hemisphere’s winter, an almost mirror-like reflection of the Aurora Borealis, called Aurora Australis, regularly appears in the skies above the remote territories near the South Pole.

Experience Northern Lights in Russia or other countries?

Perhaps the biggest consideration when planning a trip to see the Northern Lights is which destination you’ll base yourself. So where should you think of heading?

Head for the Arctic Circle

Only eight countries in the world claim territory above the Arctic Circle, making them the only destinations to offer high chances of seeing the Northern Lights in season. Although the Aurora has been spotted at latitudes typical below the “Aurora Zone” (in Northern Scotland for example, such sightings are relatively rare.

The eight best countries for hunting the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights can be observed in the northernmost regions of Canada, large parts of Alaska and the northern regions of Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden, as well as southern Greenland. There are also several Aurora hotspots within the Arctic territories of Russia. Which destination you choose will, of course, depend on time and budget constraints and what sort of Northern Lights experience is best suited to your travel tastes.

Creature comfort touring vs true adventure travel

Northern Lights tourism is highly established in Scandinavia, and with the exception of some of the more isolated encampments in the region, is far more commercialised than other destinations in the Arctic, with better tourism infrastructure, more creature comforts, a wide variety of tour operators to choose from and plenty of accommodation all the way up to five-star luxury. Travellers may see the popularity of the Scandinavian destinations as something of a drawback. For one, you can expect bigger crowds and premium prices in a region with an already pricey reputation.

Go and see the Northern Lights just north of Reykjavik in Iceland for example, and you’ll usually find yourself sharing this long-awaited spiritual experience with dozens of other tourists, cars and coaches. 

If your dream Northern Lights expedition means getting away from it all, communing with nature and absorbing a true sense of of the wild, lonely majesty of the Arctic, you might want to skip the more predictable places and consider some of the Arctic’s lesser-known hotspots and give a Northern Lights in Russia trip a go!

Why consider experiencing the Northern Lights in Russia?

The Scandinavian nations remain the “default destination” for many visitors embarking on annual Northern Lights expeditions. But did you know your chances of witnessing the glowing, ghostly spectre of the Aurora Borealis are equally as good in Russia? In fact, when it comes to far north excursions to see the Aurora Borealis in full flight, Russia might be the world’s best-kept secret.

Perfect conditions without the crowds

As Northern Lights tours have grown in popularity in recent years, the Russian Arctic has remained relatively under the radar, and this in itself offers a wonderful advantage. Peak season tourist crowds are virtually absent from even the best-known Aurora hotspots in Russia.

Tour groups are invariably small, and travel times are less taxing than you might expect. One doesn’t have to travel far from a major city, such as Murmansk (capital of the Kola Peninsula) to find themselves surrounded by endless expanses of pristine polar landscapes.

Imagine glittering white snow mounds in the tundra, jagged mountain peaks and the skeletal trees of the taiga, illuminated bright as day by the psychedelic hues of the Aurora. That, and almost complete solitude, is what a Russian Northern Lights expedition has to offer.

Not just uncrowded – cheap too!

Russia, of course, isn’t the only country that can provide an authentic, off the beaten track Arctic adventure. Remote parts Alaska, Canada and Greenland certainly fit the bill, but reaching these sparsely populated, infrastructure poor wilderness areas comes at a significant cost. Similarly, even the most bare-bones Northern Lights tours in Finland, Norway and Iceland couldn’t exactly be considered cheap. It’s a common belief among travellers that all Northern Lights tours are expensive. Yet it is possible to embark on an Aurora hunting adventure on a budget. Simply set your stargazing sights on Russia.

The best places to see the Northern Lights in Russia

Northern Lights tourism in Russia is becoming more and more popular over the past 5-10 years. there are few places in the Russian Arctic to have established a dedicated industry around the bucket list topping phenomenon.

Murmansk, Kola Peninsula

For the moment, Murmansk , the largest settlement in the Kola Peninsula, is Russia’s unofficial Northern Lights capital, and quite likely the world’s most affordable place to observe the phantom glow of the Aurora in Russia.

Located in Russia’s Kola Peninsula, the city lies 2° north of the Arctic Circle. With a population of over 300,000, it’s the largest city in the world above the Arctic Circle. It’s also most probably to be the cheapest place in the world to come and experience the Northern Lights either independently or on tour.

While it’s a surprisingly lively city, what makes Murmansk really unique it that it’s perhaps the only city where the Northern Lights forms its mesmerizing light show directly above the cranes, smokes stacks, factories and low-rise residential blocks of the town. Just beyond Murmansk lies a vast expanse of empty, mountainous tundra. Several vantage points just outside of town provide a panoramic view of the city as it becomes immersed in the alien green glow of the Aurora.

Russia, overall is a reasonably affordable country, particularly when compared to its neighbours in the Arctic Circle region. Domestic flights and overland travel (trains, buses etc.) are generally inexpensive, even though you’ll find yourself regularly having to cover massive distances. In winter, the 2.5 hour flight from Moscow to Murmansk might set you back around 8,000 RUB or $130 USD*.

As tourism is still in its infancy in the Arctic port city, Northern Lights tours in the Murmansk region are extremely modestly priced (relatively speaking), even covering snowmobile trips into the tundra in search of the lights, and extra activities such as dog-sledding and rural village visits.  

While Murmansk makes a comfortable introduction to the Kola Peninsula, the best Northern Lights hunting happens within a good few hours drive from the artificial lights of the city. There are few settlements of any appreciable size in the Kola Peninsula. It’s a land dominated by a wild tangle of taiga forest and polar tundra with crystal clear lakes, grassland and rugged coastline in between.

It’s out here in the unspoiled polar landscapes of the peninsula that the auspicious appearance of the Aurora can light up the land and sky in a full blaze of glory.  The Kola Peninsula also has a rich and ancient cultural heritage to explore. The reindeer-herding Saami people, who are also indigenous to parts of Northern Scandinavia, still live in scattered settlements across the peninsula and have retained large parts of their traditional lifestyle.

With a name that translates to “the edge of the world” in the native tongue, Yamal is the last refuge of the world’s nomadic reindeer herders, the Nenets.

Tours to the Yamal Peninsula generally have a strong focus on cultural immersion, involving homestays with Nenets families in their nomad camps and even participating in their grueling annual reindeer migrations. You can read more about the nomadic culture of Siberia’s Nenets here .

Over half of Yamal’s territory sits above the Arctic Circle. Outside of the twin towns of Salekhard (population 45,000) and Labytangi (population 25,000), the Yamal Peninsula consists of only a few isolated permanent settlements.

Around 50% of Yamal’s Nenets still engage in a nomadic way of life, following ancient north to south migratory routes twice a year, covering up to 1,000km each way.  Hundreds of miles from civilization, the winter nomad camps of Yamal are among the most isolated, unspoiled destinations anywhere on earth to see the Aurora Borealis in all its celestial glory, shimmering above the starkly beautiful, star-strewn Arctic taiga.

On the odd occasion, the Northern Lights have been sighted far south as St Petersburg! This, however, is an extremely rare occurrence and the light pollution emanating from the city causes Aurora’s lights to appear dull and obscured. The further you are from the artificial glare of the cities, the more spectacular your sightings of the Borealis will be.

When to see the Northern Lights in Russia?

Which months of the year are best.

The appearance of the Northern Lights isn’t actually restricted to a particular season. The chemical reactions that form the Northern Lights are a constant occurrence, meaning the Aurora Borealis is actually hanging about in the sky all year round. But because the Borealis is only observed at high latitudes (between 65° and 72° North), it’s all but invisible from April through to August, when the aurora zone experiences extremely long periods of daylight. During this time, the sky never darkens enough to make the lights visible to the naked eye.

It takes the long hours of darkness and its pitch-black night skies to really showcase the Borealis’ blaze of electric glory at its best.  The ideal time to see the Northern Lights varies somewhat depending on location, but as a general rule, the Aurora season starts at the end of August and finishes around mid-April.  Peak season is usually considered to be between late September and March when temperatures are at their coolest and the Arctic regions experience very few hours of daylight. However, at slightly lower latitudes, it’s sometimes possible to catch superb views of the Northern Lights in considerably more comfortable August temperatures.

Polar Night

Polar nights are a natural phenomenon that occurs at latitudes to the north of the polar circle. In northwestern Russia, the circle passes through the southern part of the Kola Peninsula and part of  Karelia . At Murmansk’s latitude, polar nights last about 40 days, while the phenomenon lasts half a year at the North Pole . The opposite phenomenon, polar days, occur during the summer when the sun does not set for the same period of time.

Even though the sun remains below the horizon, the Russian Arctic is not blacked out completely. On clear days, we can see beautiful sunset colours in the south while the sky to the north is a deep midnight blue.

Remember – the Aurora Borealis is unpredictable

What’s most important to keep in mind is that the Northern Lights, like any natural phenomenon, are unpredictable.

To get a picture-perfect view of the Lights requires pitch dark, crystal clear skies, free of any cloud cover. There also need to be solar flares and solar wind activity taking place in order to trigger the Aurora’s appearance. When the lights do appear, your time in their presence may be relatively fleeting (they can sometimes appear suddenly, only to vanish a few minutes later). On other nights, you could be treated to a 20 to 30-minute performance.

Thanks to technology, we now have Aurora forecasts online to predict the Aurora activity level in different regions. If you have your heart set on seeing the Northern Lights, you’ll want to maximise your chances by devoting several days at least to making dedicated Northern Lights expeditions far from the interference of light pollution from the cities. 

Tips for a successful Northern Lights in Russia experience

Peak viewing season is best – just be prepared for the cold.

The truth is, you can get insanely lucky and see the Northern Lights outside the unofficial “Aurora Season”, but if you really have your heart set on seeing the lights at their best, we strongly advise visiting during Borealis prime time – winter!

If you do decide to visit in mid-winter, keep in mind that above the Arctic Circle, particularly in January and February, temperatures can drop to around -20°C. Because you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors, it’s essential you pack or purchase appropriate clothing and prepare yourself adequately to face sub-freezing temperatures).

We recommend:

• Several underlayers – long-sleeve shirts and leggings (preferably made from a quick-drying material like polyester, nylon or merino
•   A parka or insulated jacket to go over the top of your base layers. Jackets with a layer of duck down or synthetic insulation are especially good at holding in heat
• Snow and wind protection jacket – a quality ski jacket or windbreaker is a must when heading out into the tundra. A good jacket places a shield between you and the bone-chilling winds that often sweep across the Arctic 
• Warm boots – unless your feet are warm and snug, the rest of your body is going to be cold! Ideally, you’ll want at least one pair of sturdy winter hiking shoes or snow boots, ideally with a waterproof or fleece lining. It’s also a good idea to buy one size up when it comes to winter boots, so you’ve got plenty of room to squeeze a pair of thick woollen socks inside.
• Gloves, winter hat or balaclava/face mask, hat and sunglasses – Believe us, you don’t want exposed fingers in -15°C weather. Particularly for photographers, ski gloves with removable layers are great for when you need a bit of extra dexterity. You’ll want a warm beanie as a bare minimum for keeping your head warm. An insulated winter hat with ear flaps is even better, and many have detachable full-face masks to prevent windchill drying the skin around your lips and nose.

Glare from the sun reflecting off the snow is less of an issue in winter, but it can still catch you off guard – it’s annoying and best and damaging to your eyes at worst, so bring a pair of polarised sunglasses along.

Spend as many days hunt as you can hunting for Northern lights in Russia

Like any natural phenomenon, the Northern Lights are subject to the unpredictable whims of nature. Sometimes you can show up on clearest, coldest night imaginable, but without sufficient solar flare activity, the Aurora will refuse to perform. To boost your chances of catching the elusive Aurora, you’ll want to devote at least several days to tracking flares of flashing light across the tundra. We recommend staying on the tour for 4-5 days to maximise your chances.

The Northern Lights most commonly appear between 5pm and 2am. On a Northern Lights tour, it’s usually only in the evening that the group will head out to hunt for the Borealis. During the day, you’ll be kept entertained with other snow activities while you wait for the darkest part of the night to fall, such as:

• dog-sledding
• snowmobiling
• ice fishing
• road trips to the remote areas
• skiing and more

Check the Aurora Forecast online

Or don’t. For some, experiencing the Aurora without the foresight of forecasts and predictions adds to its mythical, untamed appeal. Using current solar wind conditions, the US-based Space Weather Prediction Centre has created and mapped out an Aurora forecasting model online that predicts the location and intensity of the Northern and Southern Auroras.

At the moment, the forecasts are only accurate to within about 30 minutes, however, they can hint at what the Aurora activity might be like a day or two either end. In fact, the SWPC has just developed a three-day Aurora forecasting system, which is available on their website as a trial. 

Tips for photographers

In order to get stunning pictures of northern lights, you will need a tripod, a wide-angle lens, high ISO, manual focus (extreme values), a long shutter speed, a charged camera battery, patience and warm clothes. You must have a camera that can shoot at long exposures and that has an automatic shutter release function with the ability to set the time of the self-timer. The camera must be kept in a heat-insulated camera bag or under clothing. You will also need a tripod – it will be difficult to achieve the desired result without it, because the movement of the camera during shooting will cause the photographs to be blurred. Finally, be sure to take the following with you: a thermos, boots and a great desire, because not everyone will agree to freeze in the cold night, and the night sky and frost do not care that you came to see a true masterpiece.

When you arrive at the photo shooting location, look around, adjust the tripod, and try to set the optical exposure in advance, especially if, by chance, the city lights are going to get in the way. The shutter should be rather long, because the Northern lights are not very bright, but do not forget that the night-time should be seen in the photo. If possible, increase the sensitivity, but be careful – you don’t want the noises to mess up your efforts. Do not forget to set the time of the shutter button, for example, every 2 seconds.

As soon as you notice the flaming aurora, take your camera out, set it on a tripod, point it at an infinite distance, remove the lens cap (if any), then direct it towards the aurora and shoot with the adjusted settings. By the way, you should change the latter during shooting, because the aurora will probably make you adjust the exposure setting (close the aperture by a half or whole level, lower the sensitivity matrix or reduce exposure). Make sure that your hands are nowhere near the object-lens, otherwise they will fog up and the photo session will end because the moisture condensation will freeze immediately and you won’t be able to get rid of it until the object lenses become room temperature.

Ditch the camera once in a while and remember to take it all in  

Everyone wants to come home with hundreds of mind-blowing photos and it’s hard to get any more show-off worthy than a perfectly timed image of the Northern Lights illuminating the glinting ice of the tundra. Whether you’re a total novice or a long-time pro, chances are when the lights do appear, they’ll be accompanied by the sound of camera shutters clicking every few seconds.

The first people in the Arctic looked up at the Northern Lights with extreme reverence, associating its mystical glow with gods, ghosts and spiritual realms beyond our own. Photographing the Lights is enjoyable, yet extremely demanding of one’s attention. It’s important to put the camera down once in a while and just enjoy the show. Your time is limited, so rather than endlessly fussing over camera settings, give yourself the chance to stop, take it all in experience the same sense of spiritual awe that has captivated humankind for countless generations.

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