Jade McKay

Jade works within the Product and Operations Department and feels very fortunate to be able to pursue her dream job within the travel industry. Having always been a lover of the night sky, Jade shares the passion and excitement of our clients for wanting to see the Northern Lights. 

Despite having seen them since joining The Aurora Zone, the Northern Lights are still top of her list for a winter break - no two displays are ever the same!

Jade’s fascination of the night sky started in her home county of Northumberland – residence of the International Dark Sky Park – where she spent many a night stargazing. In fact, she has even been on midnight hunts for the Northern Lights on the North East coast of England when the KP forecast has been particularly high, although she has had no luck (in England) so far.

Jade recently experienced her most magical Aurora display to date during a flight from Longyearbyen to Tromso – the lights danced beneath the aircraft the whole journey and Jade thankfully had an incredible view point from a window seat.  

Since joining The Aurora Zone, Jade has been lucky enough to experience a winter adventures in Finland and Norway and most recently had the opportunity to experience Svalbard during the Polar Night. She’s enjoyed, a number of exhilarating activities such as snowmobiling, Aurora hunting by Snowtrain, snowshoeing, fat biking and cross-country skiing. Her firm favourite, however, was the first time she drove a snowmobile through the pristine wintry forest.

Jade also loved meeting the Arctic animals during her dog sledding and reindeer safari activities and loved learning about the traditional Sami reindeer herders. Jade hopes to return to Finland during the Autumn to experience the beautiful landscapes in autumnal colours, a photographer’s dream (amateur in Jade’s case)!

Favourite experiences:

Watching the Northern Lights whirling from above during a flight from Longyearbyen to Tromso

Snowmobiling through the forest on a hunt for the Northern Lights

Dog sledding across the snowy fells in the quiet wilderness

Drinking hot berry juice around a campfire underneath the night sky in Finnish Lapland

Hiking Husfjellet in Senja

Cross country skiing in Urho Kekkonen National Park, Saariselka

Places visited:

Finland – Apukka Resort, Arctic Circle Wilderness Lodge, Rovaniemi

Northern Lights Village Saariselka

Norway – Tromso, Senja, Spitsbergen