Rovaniemi is a great base for aurora hunting and you can see the northern lights on many nights in Lapland (usually 3 nights out of 4). The intensity of auroras varies and sometimes they are small and barely visible and at other times there’s a big aurora storm and you can admire the northern lights dancing all over the sky.
This all of course depends on the season and the best time to see the northern lights is from early September until the end of October, as well as from February through March and beginning of April, which is when it’s more likely to see the impressive auroras, compared to the middle of winter.
A good way to see the northern lights is by doing a guided tour. There is a wide variety of northern lights tours that can be done from Rovaniemi and below you can find a list of some of our favourites:
Lapland Winter Holiday
5 Days / 4 Nights
Helsinki & Rovaniemi Holiday
6 Days / 5 Nights
Northern Lights Tour
7 Days / 6 Nights
Northern Lights Photography Tour
This is one of our best selling tours and we have included this to our Lapland Northern Lights Tour, Lapland Winter Holiday and Helsinki and Rovaniemi Holiday. Remember that the northern lights are wily and unpredictable, but this tour will give you the best possible chance to see them.
Before the start of your aurora tour, your professional guide will determine where the highest possible chance for aurora sightings is. You will visit a few different locations unless your guide knows for sure that northern lights will appear on a certain location, then you’ll go there. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy the show. Your guide is also equipped with a professional camera, specifically designed for low-light photography. All pictures that your guide takes during the northern lights tour will be sent to you by email in high quality after the trip.
Northern Lights Safari by Electric Snowmobile
This is a truly unique experience that lets you experience the Arctic splendor without disturbing the silent peace of wintry nature. During the tour you will ride eSleds to the top of a hill, far from the city lights. You’ll get to stop to observe and admire the night sky and stars, and if you’re lucky, you can also see the northern lights. The guide is happy to help you with camera settings if you wish to take pictures and are not sure what settings are the best. During the stop you get to warm yourself by the fire in a private hunting cabin and enjoy a Finnish barbecue.
Northern Lights Ski or Snowshoe Adventure
These tours will offer a memorable night adventure on skis or snowshoes while admiring the authentic and untouched Lappish nature. During the tours you dive into the Arctic forest and ski/snowshoe through some beautiful locations to experience and photograph the northern lights and surrounding nature at night time.
These special aurora tours are perfect for those who want to experience the northern lights with an extra nature activity. Northern lights are very unpredictable and there is no guarantee that you will see them during the tour. The ski/snowshoe adventure combined with aurora hunting is a great alternative to our best selling Northern Lights Photography Tour as it lets you still get a memorable experience in the arctic wilderness, even if you don’t see the aurora on that night.
Northern Lights Hunting by Reindeer Safari
During this special aurora tour you will visit an authentic reindeer farm. There you will be introduced to your reindeer and you can start your peaceful sleigh trip where Arctic nature shows all its silent beauty. If you’re lucky, you will soon be able to spot and enjoy the magical northern lights dancing over your head. After the ride, you will enjoy hot drinks and snacks by the fire and the herders will tell you more about the Lappish way of life and reindeer husbandry.
Aurora Hunting Tour with a Professional Photographer
This is a special aurora photography tour where your guide is also a professional photographer. The tour usually lasts around 5–8 hours, depending on how much driving is needed. When the auroras come, you will take aurora pictures and videos together with your guide. He will be happy to teach you how to take beautiful photos of the northern lights with your own camera. You can also use his professional gear and tripods. This is a premium tour and sells out fast during the high season.
These are some of our favorite aurora hunting tours from Rovaniemi. We use them in most of our Lapland holiday packages which you can find from our list of available tours. If you don’t find a suitable package from our sample itineraries, let us know and we can tailor make a perfect northern lights hunting adventure for you.
