Northern Lights Wilderness Tour with Professional Camera
Price – 129€ / adult, 99€ / child
Includes: Professional Aurora guide with camera, visiting up to 3 different locations, hotel pick-up, winter clothes, campfire snack and hot drinks
Experience the Magic of Aurora Borealis in Rovaniemi, Finland!
After we pick you up from your accommodation and outfit you with professional winter overalls and boots (temperatures can drop to -30°C!), your Northern Lights guide will drive you far from Rovaniemi, heading straight into the wilderness to start the Northern Lights hunt.
During the day, we always check the weather forecasts and the solar activity reports. This way, we can adapt the start of the tour to give you the best chance to enjoy the clearer sky and observe the Northern Lights. Using our analysis of the meteorological conditions and our experience, we choose locations that should offer a better opportunity to see this natural phenomenon. For instance, if the forecasts and Northern Lights predictions look unfavorable around the Rovaniemi area, your guide can take you further afield to find a better sky.
We also monitor weather conditions during the tour and can decide together to hop back into the minivan and move to another location if needed. During this 4-hour Northern Lights hunt, you can visit up to 3 different locations to maximize your chances of observing the Northern Lights.
Enjoy an unforgettable evening in the middle of Arctic wilderness!
This excursion will also offer you the unique opportunity to drive long distances through the Lappish wilderness, explore the Arctic nature and take on different routes that will lead you to fantastic scenery; snowy forests, powerful rapids, quaint frozen beaches and vast ice covered lakes. Hopefully, with the Northern Lights dancing over your heads!
Refreshments and a typical Finnish campfire snack will be provided halfway, as your guide lights a fire to keep you warm. This is a great opportunity for your guide to show you how to build a fire using traditional methods. No need for matches or a lighter, your guide will use flint & steel and natural materials you can find in the nature that surrounds you (this can be done in conditions as cold as -30°C!).
Once the fire is burning and the kettle is boiling, your guide will keep an eye on the moving sky. This break around the campfire will be also the perfect moment for your guide to answer all your questions about Lapland, life in the Arctic and the Northern Lights. Hot drinks are served, sausages are grilled over the campfire and bread toasted for you.
What Makes This Northern Lights Tour with Wild About Lapland so Special?
- We will visit up to 3 different locations in Rovaniemi area,
- We adapt the tour to the weather conditions to increase your chances of observing the Northern Lights,
- You will enjoy a night adventure in the middle of the Arctic wilderness, tailored to match the group’s level and needs,
- Professional Aurora guide equipped with a professional camera will capture memorable photos for you,
- Our groups never exceed 8 people,
- This tour is ranked 5/5 on TripAdvisor!
*Timings and pick-ups: The schedule depends on the season, as daylight hours vary throughout the year. The start time can be 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 21:00, or 22:00. You will receive the exact time via e-mail.
Small Group Makes a Big Difference
We invite you to take your camera with you (you can rent or buy a tripod from us if you wish) to capture the Northern Lights. In all cases, your guide will be equipped with a professional camera and will take many pictures for you, of you and the Northern Lights. A link to download all the pictures will be sent to you the next day.
On all our excursions, our groups are limited to 8 people maximum. This tour is for children aged 5 years old and upwards. It is very important for us to provide you with the best experience possible, and avoid mass tourism. This way, your guide will know you better and will be able to address all your needs and answer your questions. Furthermore, when it comes to the Northern Lights, chances to observe them properly are increased when groups (and light pollution emitted by torches, phones, cameras, etc.) are reduced. As we usually say – the smaller the group, the bigger the experience!
What's included?
- Hotel pick-up/drop-off for accommodations outside the city centre. Extra surcharge if staying 10 kilometres or further from the centre,
- Professional winter clothing and boots,
- Professional Aurora guide with camera,
- Pictures taken by the guide sent to you the next day,
- Campfire snacks and hot drinks,
- Small-group tour only (maximum of 8 people),
- All taxes, fees and handling charges.
Exclusions
- The group is limited to 8 guests maximum. If you are a larger group, please contact us and we can arrange a specific tour for you.
Meeting points
If your accommodation is in Rovaniemi city center, we kindly ask you to walk to our office. Read below why.
We have been awarded the Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) batch for sustainable tourism operations in Finnish Lapland. Sustainable business operations are of utmost importance to us. We have therefore decided to no longer do city pickups. If you are staying in the city center, we would kindly ask you to come to our office (our address: Rovakatu 24, 96200 Rovaniemi) and start the tour from there.
You are not staying in the city center nor is your pickup location listed as an option? No problem! Please send us an email with your address and we take it from there. We hope you have a nice tour with us!
Wild About Lapland Office
Rovakatu 24, 96200 Rovaniemi, Finland
Pick-up
- Apukka Resort (Transfer fee is € 40 / one-way – please contact us)
- Arctic Snow Hotel (Transfer fee is € 60 / one-way – please contact us)
- Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
- Guesthouse Borealis
- Hostel Ibedcity
- Läkituvat Cottages / Meeting point
- Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets
- Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara
- Lomavekarit / Arctic Resort Delight resort
- Motelli Rovaniemi
- Napapiirin Saarituvat Cottages
- Santa Claus Holiday Village Reception
- Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle
- Vaattunki Wilderness Resort (Transfer fee is € 40 / one-way – please contact us)
- Walk in the office / City Centre accommodation
Please note
The Northern Lights are a natural occurrence, which activity, vibrancy of color cannot be guaranteed on the evening of the tour.
Cold weather clothing will be provided, but we recommend to dress appropriately. Not recommended for participants with heart complaints or other serious medical conditions. This experience may require a certain amount of walking. This tour is for children aged 5 years old and upwards.
This safari will operate in any weather conditions. Even though the Northern Lights prediction is low, you will still enjoy a great experience into the wilderness.
Hotel pick-ups commence 10 – 60 minutes prior to the start time. Your pick up time will be confirmed by email.
What do I need to bring?
- Bottle of water,
- We will provide you with overalls and boots, but please be prepared and use good under-layers, socks, hats and gloves.
Cancellation Policy
- We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled 1 day or less before the event,
- We will charge a cancellation fee of 50% if booking is cancelled 7 days or less before the event,
- We will charge a cancellation fee of 10% if booking is cancelled 365 days or less before the event.
About our Northern Lights Tours
We tailor each Northern Lights tour every night based on our clients’ abilities, weather conditions, and the Northern Lights forecast. Your guide will teach you about the Aurora Borealis and show you how to make a fire and cook food over it. For those who want a deeper understanding of their surroundings, we offer detailed explanations of the Northern Lights, local wildlife, and the wilderness.
We drive away from the city to find the best spot that offers the highest chances of seeing the Northern Lights that night. We also choose a warm area to sit and wait for the Aurora Borealis to appear. The more time we spend outside, the higher our chances of witnessing the Northern Lights.
All the Northern Lights photos on our website come from our tours – some taken by clients, others by guides, and even a few captured on mobile phones! Cameras often capture more vivid images than what the naked eye sees. However, when the Northern Lights start to dance, we prefer putting our cameras down to fully experience this magical phenomenon. It creates a more personal and memorable experience.
We hope you get to see the incredible shapes and colors of the Aurora during your stay, and we will do everything we can to maximize your chances.
Private Tours
If you want a private Northern Lights tour with a customized duration for just you and your family or friends, please contact us by e-mail or phone to make arrangements.
Timings
Tour departure times depend on the season and the Aurora forecast. In the middle of winter, we usually leave between 19:00 and 22:00 every evening, depending on the month. You will receive the exact meeting time via e-mail.
Large family/friend groups
If your group is larger than our usual size, don’t worry! We can customize a private tour for your group and offer a larger discount – the bigger the group, the greater the discount.
On our tours, you will never feel crammed into a crowded coach. We keep all our tours small and friendly to ensure you spend quality time with your guide. We also provide the opportunity to truly enjoy the magical environment beyond the Arctic Circle.
If you have any questions, feel free to send us an e-mail. We look forward to hearing from you!
Fact Box – The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
- The Phenomenon: A natural light display caused by charged particles from the Sun colliding with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere, usually at altitudes of 80–250 km.
- Appearance: The lights often form arcs, bands, and curtain-like shapes that appear to move or “dance” across the sky.
- Colors: While green is the most common color, red, pink, violet, and bluish tones can appear depending on the altitude and the gas (oxygen or nitrogen) involved.
- Location: Most frequently seen in the “Auroral Oval”—a band around the Earth’s geomagnetic poles that includes Northern Lapland, Norway, Iceland, Alaska, and Canada.
- Visibility: The best chances to see them are on dark, cloudless nights between late August and April. While strong auroras can be seen even near urban areas, they are best observed away from city lights and light pollution, where the sky is darkest and the colors appear most vivid.
Solar Cycle: Aurora activity is linked to a roughly 11-year solar cycle. During a “solar maximum,” solar storms are more frequent, leading to more intense and common auroral displays.
Frequently Asked Questions – Northern Lights Wilderness Tour with Professional Camera
How long is the Northern Lights tour and what does it involve?
The tour lasts approximately 4 hours. It is a dedicated Northern Lights hunt where we visit up to 3 different locations to maximize your chances of seeing the Aurora. The tour includes professional guiding, professional photos, winter clothing, and a campfire break with snacks.
Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, so their appearance or vibrancy cannot be guaranteed. However, we check weather and solar activity reports daily and adapt our start time and locations based on these forecasts. Even if the prediction is low, you will still enjoy a great wilderness experience and a traditional campfire.
Can I pay upon arrival? Can I pay by cash?
Bookings are confirmed only upon payment receipt. If you are then willing to pay by cash/upon arrival, we cannot guarantee that we will still have availability at that moment. We always recommend booking online and in advance to reserve your seats, especially during high and peak seasons (December – March). If you can only pay by cash, please contact us and we can discuss together the best options for you.
Will there be professional photos of the experience?
Yes! Your guide is equipped with a professional camera and will take photos of you and the Northern Lights. A link to download these high-quality images will be sent to you the very next day. You are also welcome to bring your own camera (tripods are available for rent or purchase).
What time does the tour start?
The start time is flexible and adapted to light and weather conditions. Depending on the season, we usually depart between 19:00 and 22:00. You will receive the exact meeting time via email.
Where is the meeting point if I stay in the city centre?
As a Sustainable Travel Finland (STF) awarded operator, we do not perform city centre pick-ups to minimize our carbon footprint. If you stay in Rovaniemi city centre, the meeting point is our office at Rovakatu 24, 96200 Rovaniemi.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, this tour is rated as Easy and is suitable for children aged 5 years and older. It is a great way for families to experience the Arctic wilderness safely.
What is the group size?
To ensure a personal and high-quality experience, our groups are limited to a maximum of 8 people. Smaller groups also help reduce light pollution, which improves the visibility of the Northern Lights.
What kind of food is served during the tour?
We provide hot drinks and typical Finnish campfire snacks, such as sausages grilled over the open fire and toasted bread. Your guide will even show you how to build the fire using traditional flint and steel methods.
I am interested in booking this activity—where do you recommend I stay?
If you are looking for a place to stay while enjoying our activities, we highly recommend Silver Birch Resort. It is a serene micro-resort located on its own private peninsula by Lake Jyrhämäjärvi. The resort features only five exclusive Glass Cabins elevated three metres above the ground, offering stunning views and total privacy. Guests also have access to a private lakeside restaurant.
What is the cancellation policy?
You may request the cancellation of your tour to sales@wildaboutlapland.com. However, please note that cancellation fees may apply depending on how early you request cancellation. The cancellation policy (and the amount of the fees) is mentioned in the description of each tour. Usually, the fees are as follows:
– We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if the booking is cancelled 24 hours or less before the event
– We will charge a cancellation fee of 50% if the booking is cancelled 7 days or less before the event
– We will charge a cancellation fee of 10% if the booking is cancelled 365 days or less before the event
Please note that some tours operated by, or in collaboration with, our partners may have a stricter policy.
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The smaller the group, the bigger the experience!