He Drove 15,000 Kilometers for This: "A Moment That Made Everything Worth It"
Malik Al Sultan drove nearly 15,000 kilometers from Riyadh to Tromsø — through the Middle East, the Balkans, and Central Europe — all for a single moment beneath the northern lights.
From the scorching desert heat of Riyadh to Arctic cold and polar night in Tromsø. For Malik Al Sultan (28), seeing the northern lights was never a question of if — only how.
The answer became a three-week journey across continents. Behind the wheel of his pickup truck, Al Sultan drove nearly 15,000 kilometers, crossing the Middle East, the Balkans, and Central Europe before finally reaching Northern Norway. All for a single moment.
“When the aurora appeared, the exhaustion and long distances instantly felt worth it. It was as if nature rewarded my patience.”
— Malik Al Sultan
A Dream That Couldn't Be Rushed
Many travelers fly north in search of the aurora. For Al Sultan, that was never an option.
“I didn't want to arrive as fast as possible. I was looking for an adventure. I wanted to learn more about myself and witness how landscapes and cultures change from one country to the next.”
— Malik Al Sultan
The road trip itself became part of the experience. Some days meant long hours of driving; others were spent resting, exploring, and adapting to new surroundings along the way.
From Desert Heat to Arctic Cold
For someone used to sand, sun, and extreme heat, winter in Northern Norway was a dramatic contrast. Temperatures dropped as low as –26°C. Yet for Al Sultan, the cold was not a drawback — it was essential.
“The cold here feels different. It's clean, refreshing, and alive. It demands preparation, but that's part of what makes the experience authentic.”
— Malik Al Sultan
And then came the moment he had dreamed of for years: green light moving silently across the sky.
“No photos or videos can prepare you for it. There's a deep stillness, a sense of awe. You feel small — in the best possible way.”
— Malik Al Sultan
Why People Travel So Far for the Aurora
Stories like Al Sultan's are becoming more common. Interest in northern lights tourism continues to grow, especially in places like Tromsø, where geography, darkness, and frequent geomagnetic activity combine to create ideal viewing conditions.
What draws people isn't just the aurora itself — it's the setting. The silence. The scale of the landscape. The feeling of standing beneath a vast sky, waiting for something unpredictable and real.