Our Story
BookAurora.com is the result of a lifetime of passion, a family journey, and a mission to connect travelers with the magic of the Northern Lights.
My name is Anders Hanssen, and for over 35 years, photography and videography have been my greatest passion. What started as a hobby with a Canon SLR camera at the age of 14 eventually evolved into something much bigger. Around 15 years ago, I began sharing my work on social media – and what followed was an incredible journey. Today, my social media channels across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads have grown to over 12.5 million followers, making them some of the largest travel-themed platforms dedicated to the aurora and Arctic experiences.
In 2014, I was honored to be appointed Canon Norway Professional Photographer, recognizing my work in capturing the northern lights, midnight sun, and wilderness. That same passion led me to create Canon’s worldwide product launch film for the ME20F-SH – the first professional ultra low-light camera used to film the aurora in real-time with unprecedented clarity. As Canon stated, the result opened up “new creative possibilities.”
In 2018, my family and I launched the Aurora Borealis Observatory in Senja, Norway – a resort dedicated to aurora tourism. We welcomed thousands of guests from around the world until the pandemic and serious illness in our family forced us to downscale and shift our focus. With four children and new priorities, I made the decision to return to what I do best: building digital platforms, driving web traffic, and using my social media reach to empower others.
Through that experience, I saw a clear gap: most small tourism businesses receive far too little useful support. National platforms and regional organizations often keep traffic within their own systems, without offering direct links or meaningful marketing help to the smaller companies who need it most. This wasn’t fair – and it certainly wasn’t effective.
That’s why I created BookAurora.com – not just as a business, but as a purpose-driven platform. A place where travelers can get everything they need in one spot: how the aurora works, where and when to see it, what to pack, how to plan, and who to book with. At the same time, it’s a platform where local tourism businesses can finally be seen, supported, and promoted properly.
We are starting with four core aurora destinations: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, each with its own travel guides, partner listings, and curated articles. My large social media channels – Aurora Borealis Observatory and @norge – are now fully dedicated to driving traffic into BookAurora.com, helping visitors discover the best local experiences, and helping local companies thrive.
Today, BookAurora.com is run by a very small but passionate team – just a few of us doing everything from writing and web development to support and outreach. But we’re ready to grow quickly when the need arises. Our mission is simple: to become the most trusted, inspiring, and useful Northern Lights travel hub in the world – both for travelers and for the people who welcome them.
If you're a business offering Northern Lights-related experiences or accommodations – we'd love to hear from you.