The aurora and weather forecasts are only reliable in the short term. As your trip to Rovaniemi approaches, I will keep you updated with the latest forecast. Tours are sometimes confirmed just a few hours before departure, or even at the last minute. To ensure smooth communication, it’s essential to stay connected—please keep your phone online and make sure WhatsApp notifications are enabled for updates.
There’s no standard departure time or fixed location. Everything depends on the weather and natural conditions. On some nights, we may begin driving as early as 15:00–16:00 to reach clear skies. If the weather is favorable in the Rovaniemi area, departures can be later, around 17:00–19:00. Depending on the night, we may visit one or several locations. We also avoid crowded areas and mass tourism to ensure a more exclusive experience.
Aurora hunting can involve long journeys around Lapland, sometimes lasting up to 14 hours in one night. We often spend extended periods outdoors, where it can feel very cold, even with warm clothing and boots. For these reasons, this tour is not recommended for families with children, elderly individuals, pregnant persons, or those with disabilities. If comfort is a priority, consider staying in a forest cabin or an igloo hotel instead.
This tour takes place during the night when most services in Lapland are closed. As a result, warm bathrooms are usually unavailable during the trip. Food and drinks are not included, but you are welcome to bring your own snacks and beverages to enjoy in the car.
Aurora activity fluctuates from night to night. When the sky is clear, there’s roughly an 80% chance of seeing the northern lights. However, the intensity can vary—many nights may only offer a faint aurora. Activity levels are also influenced by the season, so be sure to check my Aurora Info page for insights on the best months for viewing.
The visibility of aurora shapes and colors is affected by the moon cycle. During a full moon, faint auroras are harder to see with the naked eye. However, strong aurora activity is less impacted by moonlight. For the best chances of seeing the northern lights, I recommend planning your trip around a new moon.
My aurora hunting tours start from Rovaniemi, located in Finnish Lapland. These tours run from late August to early April, on nights when there’s a possibility of seeing the northern lights.
I keep group sizes small, with a maximum of 8 participants, ensuring a more personalized experience.
In the Rovaniemi area, the sky is clear on just 10–20% of winter nights, as it’s often cloudy. This is why traveling to other regions significantly increases your chances of witnessing the auroras.
The tour lasts anywhere from 5 to 10hours, with departure times between 15:30 and 19:00, depending on how far we need to travel to find clear skies. I usually provide an estimated departure time the day before. To join the tour on the same night, you’ll need to arrive in Rovaniemi by 14:00–15:00.
The return time is flexible, depending on aurora activity and weather conditions, but we usually get back between 1:00 and 5:00 AM. If you have an early flight or activity planned for the next morning, this tour might not be the best choice.
We aim to maximize the chance of seeing the aurora, so we often leave early and don’t return until the show is over. Unlike many tours, we skip the “aurora barbecue” to focus entirely on the experience of seeing and photographing the northern lights. When the auroras appear, I’ll help you capture beautiful photos, and I’m happy to teach you how to use your own camera for aurora photography.
The tour includes unlimited successful photos and provides warm winter clothing, including overalls and winter boots.
To book the tour, you’ll need to pay a booking fee via a payment link. The remaining balance is paid on the spot with a credit card—only after a successful tour. You can find pricing details and the full Terms & Conditions at the bottom of this page.
Nature can be unpredictable, so even if we find clear skies, the aurora might not show up. Additionally, poor weather conditions may force us to cancel the tour, sometimes at the last minute. If we don’t see the aurora or the tour is cancelled, your booking fee will be refunded, and you won’t be charged. However, if you cancel your booking (for any reason), the booking fee is non-refundable.
I offer pickup within Rovaniemi and areas up to 10 km from the city center. Unfortunately, I cannot provide pickup services for accommodations located outside this area in Lapland.