Capturing the Northern Lights

Whether it’s snowing, leaves are falling, or flowers are blooming, there’s something magical about Finland. Make sure to enjoy the view on your way to the hotel and, when you arrive, your local guides will greet you with a warm welcome.

Explore the area around your hotel and talk to your local guides. Ask them if they know any other Finnish mythologies involving the Northern Lights. Make sure to catch up on some relaxation and sleep because you’ll be hunting at night for the elusive Lights. If you’re itching to see the Northern Lights sooner, ask your guides if there are any spots around the town where you can see the lights.

At night, you’ll be going on a tour of the Northern Lights in Ivalo, lead by a Northern Lights expert. Until then, spend your day exploring the quaint village of Ivalo, taking in the community vibe and small town feel. Located on the Ivalo River in northern Finland, Ivalo may look small, but it is a popular destination to visit to see the Northern Lights. During the Lapland War in 1944, retreating German troops caused extensive damage to Ivalo. The village was rebuilt and has become what it is today.

After resting up, it’s time to dive right into the task at hand – looking for those Northern Lights! The Northern Lights expert will lead you to all the best spots to take pictures of the aurora borealis. They will also give you pointers and tips on how best to photograph these spectacular night lights. You’ll learn how to take the best pictures of the Northern Lights and enjoy your first experience with the Northern Lights in Finland.

Located in the northern mountains of Finland, Saariselkä is a popular tourist destination. This town has a lot to offer, including spas, hiking, and skiing. There’s even a reindeer farm that’s tucked away into the forest! Enjoy your day exploring Saariselkä and preparing for the night ahead.

At night, you’re back to viewing more of the Northern Lights. With the beautiful mountain landscape, you’re bound to take some excellent pictures. In Saariselkä, there are many excellent spots to view the Northern Lights including in the village itself if you’re in the right spot!

You’ll be hiking out to the top of Kaunispää where you’ll be able to see even the dimmest auroras. Kaunispää is a fell in Saariselkä that is over 400 meters above sea level and will give you an excellent and clear view of the skies. You’ll also have a great view of the surrounding fells and Saariselkä.

Take in the wonderful white sight of Kittilä. It’s truly a magical winterland with frosty covered trees, that lovely winter silence, and a clean blanket of snow. This is the picture-perfect place for the Northern Lights. Spend your day staying warm and relaxing before some aurora chasing.

During the evening, a guide will take you to the best locations to see the aurora borealis. Make sure to bundle up! Kittalä is famous for having the lowest recorded temperature in Finnish history! As your guide leads the way, you can’t help but notice the glistening snow and the silent evening. Have your camera at the ready and hope that luck is on your side to see the Northern Lights.

Today, Rovaniemi is considered as the home of Santa Claus and is a popular location to visit to see the Northern Lights. This Santa Claus Village and Santa Park are in Rovaniemi and give the whole city a wonderful Christmas feeling. With such a merry vibe, it’s a great place to go aurora chasing.

Since this is your last aurora chase for this trip, you’ll be doing something extra special and memorable – hunting the Northern Lights with huskies. A team of huskies will pull your sled into the frosty forest away from city lights. The snow reflects the moon and stars, lighting the way for the dogs to see as you keep your eyes on the sky.

The huskies will take you to a cozy cabin where you’ll enjoy Lappish barbecue and steaming beverages to warm you up. You’ll gather around the fire and wait for the wonderful lights to appear while enjoying the company you’re with.

You’ll take a break from aurora-chasing and just enjoy what the Rovaniemi has to offer. If you want to feel that Christmas spirit then wander over to the Santa Claus village, the Santa Park, or the Santa Claus secret forest. In the Santa Claus village, you’ll find fun shops to purchase little gifts, great food, and a whimsical atmosphere. You can take a reindeer ride or visit a husky farm if you’d like to have more experience with huskies.

There are many different museums that you can also visit. Take a look at Arkitikum, a popular museum that exhibits natural, scientific, and cultural displays. You can also wander around to the Korundi House of Culture, a small art museum that displays wonderful Finnish art.

Take your time and truly explore this magnificent city. You can stop by at the Rovaniemi Church and see beautiful architecture and wonderful religious works of art around the church. If you want to go shopping or even ice skating, stroll on over to Lordi’s Square where you’ll find many shops and coffee places as well as an ice skating rink. This is your day to do what you want, so get out there and enjoy Rovaniemi!

After all that aurora chasing, it’s time to prepare to leave with many pictures and many memories. Spend some time relaxing and talk to your local guides about your experience with the Northern Lights. As locals, they certainly will have many stories to tell you about what they’ve experienced as well. The aurora borealis is a beautiful sight that you won’t soon forget!