Joanna Lumley's Search for the Northern Lights

Yes, if you missed the wonderful (previously aired) programme, In the Land of the Northern Lights, that follows Joanna Lumley’s search for the aurora borealis then you’ll be pleased to hear that it is being shown again on Wednesday 13 January on BBC 4 at 8pm.

For me, this programme captures the magic and enchantment of the north as Joanna travels to Lapland and Svalbard for her chance to witness the incredible northern lights. If you have been lucky enough to observe natures own light show I am sure you will agree it is a memory that will stay with you forever…

So tune in, be inspired and make your own journey there. Find out more >> 

Passionate about Wildlife and Photography?

Friday 23 & Saturday 24 October sees the return of Wildscreen’s WildPhotos event, the UK’s premier photography symposium for those passionate about nature photography. With a sensational line-up of the world’s finest nature photographers and industry experts, including winners from the prestigious Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, this two-day event, held at the Royal Geographical Society in London, promises to inspire and enthuse.   
 
WildPhotos is aimed at anyone with a passion for wildlife and high-quality imagery, whether amateur or professional photographers, working in the photography or publishing industries or wanting to make more use of the power of nature photography to move and inspire people.

This year’s event, hosted by Springwatch presenter and wildlife photographer Chris Packham, includes a keynote presentation by Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, National Geographic Editor at Large for Photography.
  
Over the course of the two-day event, more than 20 expert speakers will present their work, deliver inspiring talks and offer technical advice on topics ranging from marine, black and white and macro photography to how to sell your pictures.  

A one-day ticket costs £105; two-day tickets are £175. You can register online at www.wildphotos.org.uk or please contact WildPhotos on +44 (0)117 328 5975
/ wildphotos@wildscreen.org.uk

Guardian Travel Award - Last Chance to Nominate Us!

Enjoyed your holiday with us within the last year? Want to shout about your fantastic experience? Would like to recommend Discover the World to a wider audience?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then click here to nominate Discover the World in the Guardian Readers’ Travel Award 2009 and be entered into a prize draw to win £20,000 worth of prizes!

All you need to do is fill in a questionnaire about your holiday and potentially win another holiday – a great opportunity if ever there was one.

But hurry…your last chance to do this is tomorrow - Saturday 18 April! 

Joanna Lumley Hunts Down the Northern Lights

If you are interested in seeing the Arctic North of Norway through Joanna Lumley's eyes and missed it the first time around on BBC1, it is airing again tomorrow night (27th November) at 9 pm on BBC4. Happy viewing!

If that whets your appetite click here for fantastic opportunities to view the northern lights for yourself!      

Searching for the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are without a doubt among the world’s most extraordinary sights, and as evocative and breathtaking as photographs of the phenomenon are there is nothing quite like seeing the mesmerizing lights dance across the sky for yourself. They are certainly liable to leave a lasting impression, and for many the Lights can become something of an addiction.

Joanna Lumley recently travelled to Sweden, Norway and finally to Svalbard for a new television programme as she headed into the Arctic Circle for a chance to see the ‘aurora borealis’, which she readily admits is a lifelong ambition. Away from cities full of artificial light, the glorious Northern Lights are usually visible on clear nights in Iceland, Lapland and Greenland during the winter period.

Lumley travelled right across the region to many of our favourite destinations. After spending a night in the world-famous ICEHOTEL Joanna travels to the scenic Norwegian fjords of Lofoten as well as snowmobiling across the arctic tundra of Svalbard.

Encompassing both the ICEHOTEL and Lofoten, our Saab Lapland Explorer break represents a great opportunity to peruse the beautiful Nordic scenery at your leisure. Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago, is the world’s most northerly permanently inhabited spot and our recent voyages to this Arctic region have featured polar bears and walruses among other remarkable sights.

You’ll have to tune in to BBC1 to see if Joanna Lumley achieves her lifelong ambition. Why not book your own adventure to one of our Nordic regions to sample the delights of a part of the world truly unlike any other.

Watch ‘Joanna Lumley; In the Land of the Northern Lights’ on BBC1 in early September.

Orca whales galore - Norwegian fjords host a spectacular natural show with added herring

Wow...have a read of these fantastic tales from our naturalist Cathy Harlow who is currenty guiding in the Lofoten area of the Norwegian Fjords. Although the appearances have been late this year, last week huge shoals of herring appeared, closely followed by some hungry Orcas!

Here's Cathy's update:

"As we pulled out of Skutvik harbour, it was trying hard to sleet. On board MS Leonora spirits were high as we had just heard that great shoals of herring had swum in overnight off Henningsvaer in Lofoten.  And then the news that we had dreamed of came through – huge numbers of orcas were there too.  It was full steam ahead for Leonora as we laboured through the swell of the open fjord to get there.  As the first blows came into view the excitement mounted and all of a sudden we were surrounded by orcas.  Whatever direction your eye travelled, there were fins and blows but then the action stepped up.  A young orca breached three, or perhaps it was four times in succession right by our boat, hurling itself backwards out of the water.  As every camera focused on that awesome event, another started up just in front of the zodiacs.  What followed can only be described as pure undiluted magic – breaches and spy-hops galore to one side, while on the other a young orca just wouldn’t stop tail-slapping, to the delight of everyone on board. 

As well as just getting completely absorbed in this exuberant display of orca antics, we were trying to gather some useful recordable data.  This was clearly more than one group, so two or perhaps even three were there as there were definitely 50 or more orcas around us.  They didn’t appear to be feeding as there weren’t any signs of herring in the immediate area.  Perhaps they had finished feeding and were socializing after a really satisfying meal?   Certainly, quite a few happy whale watchers came home last Wednesday."

Well Orca watching is definately on my "to do" list!  If you fancy orca watching in Norway, you can find out more here.