Given that about 75% of Canadians live within 100 miles of the US border, its fairly easy to get away from light pollution the farther north you go. Fly into Whitehorse in the Yukon, Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, or Iqaluit in Nunavut for a truly remote Northern Lights getaway.Where to see the northern lights in CanadaFor a full-blown aurora-themed vacation, consider booking a multinight tour to Churchill, Manitoba. While you can see the aurora here from late August through late Aprilthats when the sky gets dark enoughthe best time to see the northern lights in Churchill is February and March. Thats because the extreme cold discourages cloud formation, leading to clear skies. (With windchill, you can expect nighttime temperatures to plummet to -40 degrees Fahrenheit.) Several tour operators run aurora-viewing trips during these months; Natural Habitat Adventures even runs women-only trips.NorwayPhoto: Getty Images/iStockphotoAs in Sweden, youll want to head north in Norway between September and March for the best chance to see the northern lights. Fun fact: The worlds first northern lights observatory was built on a mountaintop near Alta, Norway, and you can still visit it today.Where to see the northern lights in NorwayThe city of Troms draws in thousands of northern lightschasing visitors each winter, while even more intrepid travelers head farther north to Kirkenes. There, you can stay at Snowhotel Kirkenes to experience a true winter wonderland, complete with dog-sledding excursions, a king crab restaurant, and yes, a hotel made out of snow.Norway also presents an excellent opportunity to view the northern lights by sea, thanks to the iconic Hurtigruten ferry line, which has been traveling the Norwegian coast since 1893. While the ships act as a genuine ferry service for locals, visitors are also welcome to come along for the ride. There are even astronomy-themed voyages that include special northern lights programming, from lectures by scientists like Hurtigrutens lead aurora chaser Tom Kerss to a visit to the Science Centre of Northern Norway and the Northern Light planetarium in Troms. Hurtigruten even provides a Northern Lights Promise for certain voyages that give travelers a free cruise if the aurora doesnt make an appearance.SvalbardPhoto: Ingeborg Klarenberg/Getty Images