Wilderness Hotel Inari – Autumn Lights Over Lake Inari
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Details
As the dark nights return and before the deep snow rolls in, autumn at Lake Inari offers a breathtaking backdrop for Northern Lights viewing. During this 4-night break, you'll take part in dedicated Aurora activities as well as daytime excursions to explore Lapland and learn more about the culture.
Wilderness Hotel Inari in Northern Finland enjoys a stunning location on the shores of Lake Inari. It is high above the Arctic Circle and has an exceptional Northern Lights record. Autumn is a particularly special time to visit as the lake is as yet unfrozen and therefore offers the potential for you to witness the lights reflecting on the water, providing two displays in one. With scientific suggestions that there is increased solar activity around the autumnal equinox, the Northern Lights displays at this time can be equally as spectacular as those of winter.
During this 4-night autumn holiday, we include three dedicated Northern Lights activities with expert, local guides. Things kick off though with an introduction to the science of the Northern Lights and the local myths and legends associated with this natural phenomenon during an Aurora workshop. Following this, you will enjoy a visit to a local Aurora camp which has been specially located away from light pollution. Here you can enjoy the warmth of the fire whilst keeping an eye on the northern skies for any sign of Aurora activity. Your will also hunt for the Northern Lights will be via car or minibus. This allows you to hopefully outrun any localised cloud cover using the knowledge of your local guide who will assess the weather conditions and the Aurora forecast.
Autumn in Finnish Lapland can be colourful and vibrant as the leaves turn to yellows and golds, and the locals call the peak of the autumn colours, 'Ruska' It is also a special time to visit as it is a time of constant change, and you may witness the first snowfalls of winter.
During the days, a guided nature hike will allow you to explore the landscapes surrounding Lake Inari. A local guide will give you an insight into the local flora and fauna, including any edible berries and if you are lucky you may spot some wildlife. If there is snow on the ground, you can swap your hiking boots for snowshoes. You will also visit a husky farm to visit these canine athletes as they start their training for the winter ahead. If you are lucky there may be a litter of puppies too!
The indigenous people of Lapland have adapted to the long winters north of the Arctic Circle and a visit to the Sami Siida Museum in nearby Inari village will give you an insight into their way of life.
In short, autumn is a colourful and peaceful time to travel to Lapland as you are travelling ahead of the winter crowds. The Northern Lights potential can be exceptional and there are few better locations for Aurora hunting than Wilderness Hotel Inari.
Important Information
Itinerary
The order of activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only. Your final and detailed itinerary will be provided either with your final travel documents (which will be emailed to you around a week prior to departure), or upon arrival.
Itinerary
Leaving everyday life behind, you will head to Finland’s most northerly airport – Ivalo. On arrival, you will be transferred to Wilderness Hotel Inari where you will check in to your accommodation and shall be provided with your Aurora alert
Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant this evening and you can enjoy your first evening in this prime Aurora territory. A short walk from the hotel restaurant will bring you to the water’s edge and a wonderful place from which to watch the skies.
Please note that the order of activities as listed here is for illustrative purposes and the actual running order will be confirmed to you on arrival.
Included Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, you will have the morning to settle into your new surroundings and enjoy some leisure time.
The hotel is set on the shores of Lake Inari and the views of the surrounding wilderness are breath-taking, particularly during the colourful autumn season. Inari village is the centre of Sami culture and it is a fascinating village with a range of small Sami handicraft shops. You can walk to the village in approximately 30-40 minutes and it is well worth a visit during your free time. Alternatively, settle in with a good book by the fire in the hotel lounge area, enjoy a stroll or visit the glass-roofed sauna. Lunch will be served in the hotel restaurant for you.
After dinner this evening, you will be introduced to the science behind the Northern Lights as well as some of the local legends associated with the Aurora Borealis. You will then head to one of the specially created Aurora Camps with your expert guide.
The camps’ locations have been carefully selected to provide unobstructed views of the night sky with very little light pollution. Here you can keep your eyes on the sky for any potential sightings and enjoy the warmth of the campfire. The lights in autumn are particularly captivating when reflected off the water of Lake Inari. So, if you are lucky, you might get two Aurora displays for the price of one. You will be out for around 2 hours and 30 minutes in total.
Today you will be transferred into the village of Inari itself, around five minutes from the hotel. The village is the capital of Sámi culture in Finnish Lapland and so today you will gain a greater understanding of the local culture.
One of Inari’s most famous locations is the excellent Siida Museum which explores Sámi life through the ever-changing seasons here in the Arctic and looks at the history of this incredible culture. The museum shows a wonderful short film of some spectacular Northern Lights images. There is also a small gift shop which sells a range of traditional handicrafts made by local people. These make fantastic souvenirs of your time in Lapland.
You will also visit the stunning Jäniskoski rapids, the largest of ten on the Juutua River. A short, one kilometre walk will take you to a well located campsite, making this trip suitable for everyone. Along the way, you’ll learn about the Juutua River’s importance to the Inari Sámi culture and gain insights into local life. At the campsite, you’ll enjoy warm drinks and snacks while listening to the soothing sounds of the rapids.
If you are traveling in October or November, you may arrive in time to witness the first snowfall of an Arctic winter. In this case you will swap your hiking boots for snowshoes and enjoy the fresh, pristine snow before the winter crowds descend
This evening is left free for you to relax after a busy day. You can again visit the shoreline to keep a watch on the northern skies, or even arrange an additional Aurora Camp experience if you wish.
Prepare to be charmed today as you will be visiting a working husky farm. These incredible, hard-working animals, are famous for their endurance and being built for the challenges of the Arctic winter, however that means having to train through the autumn as well. After transferring from the hotel, you will delve into the fascinating world of huskies, learning about their lives in this northern landscape and the history of dogsledding. If you are lucky, there might even the chance to cuddle some adorable puppies!
You will then return to the hotel for lunch and have the afternoon at leisure.
After dinner at the hotel, you will again go out in search of the Northern Lights, this time travelling by car or minibus, using the vehicle’s mobility to hopefully outrun any localised cloud cover. Your guide will assess the weather forecasts and local Aurora activity to ensure that the best possible route is selected. You will be out hunting for around 3 hours.
After breakfast, it is time to bid farewell to Wilderness Hotel Inari. You can choose to extend your stay however, and we can also arrange for you to enjoy the bright lights of Helsinki on the way home. See the Extras section for further details or contact one of our travel experts.
What's included?
- Transfers: return airport transfers
- Accommodation: 4 nights’ accommodation in twin/double hotel rooms. Log cabin and Aurora cabin upgrades available (supplements apply)
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay (if required)
- Northern Lights presentation
- Aurora Camp
- Husky Farm visit
- Visit to Inari and Sámi Siida Museum and hike to the Janiskoski rapids
- Aurora hunt by minibus/car
- 24/7 assistance from our UK based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
Accommodation
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| Situated on Lake Inari’s shores, Wilderness Hotel Inari is one of the most spectacular destinations we feature. Offering excellent levels of comfort and some serious ‘wow factor’, it is the latest addition to the Wilderness Hotels owned by our good friends Jouko and Mari Lappalianen. Importantly it is also slap, bang in the middle of the world’s best Aurora hunting territory and the hotel has implemented some innovative Northern Lights features to help maximise your viewing potential. Wilderness Hotel Inari is ideally located around 40 minutes’ drive from Ivalo Airport and just five minutes from Inari Village, which is the centre of Sámi culture in Finland. There is a variety of accommodation on offer here, including cabins, Aurora cabins and hotel rooms, all of which are separate to (but within very easy reach of), the central restaurant building. The hotel provides modern accommodation with décor which combines both comfort and charm. A huge amount of thought has gone into creating this very special place to stay. Hotel Facilities
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Double/Twin Wilderness Room
The bedrooms are located in two separate buildings around 50 metres from the main building.
Each room has been decorated in a traditional Arctic style with inspiration taken from the local environment. They are around 30m² and have either a queen-sized bed or twin beds. Coffee and tea making facilities are provided in your room as well as either a comfortable sofa or two armchairs. If you can’t face being detached from the “real world”, the rooms also come with free Wi-Fi. Every bedroom is en-suite and comes complete with hairdryer and toiletries.
These rooms are designed for two people to share but a third person can be accommodated on a camp bed or pull-out sofa (supplements apply).
Log Cabin
These cosy cabins are built in the traditional way, with walls constructed from huge logs. The ground floor covers 70m² and the loft area offers an additional 20m².
On the ground floor, you’ll find a spacious dining/living room, comfy seating, and a wood burning stove which can be turned to face where you are sitting. There is also a kitchenette and dining area, although all your meals are provided in the restaurant. The main bedroom with a queen-sized bed can also be found on the ground floor. The cabins also provide free Wi-Fi although the signal is not strong in all of them. It can, however, be used in the lounge area of the main building if needed.
The bathroom and toilet (hairdryer and toiletries are provided) are also on the ground floor and the cabin comes with the luxury of a private sauna.
The loft area upstairs can accommodate three more single beds and, thanks to the pull-out sofa in the living area, the capacity of these cabins ranges from two to six people (although we would recommend a maximum of 4 adults). They are ideal for couples looking for a very romantic hideaway or for small groups of friends or family.
The cabins are between 15m and 100m from the main building.
Please note that this accommodation option requires an upgrade supplement. Please contact our Travel Experts for a quotation.
Arctic Chalet
These semi-detached, designer Arctic Chalets, are a fantastic addition to Inari’s range of accommodation options. They are designed to offer couples or families an air of Arctic luxury in their own holiday hideaway.
The modern interiors are sleek and beautifully designed. Each features a bedroom with an en-suite shower, private sauna room and king-size bed. The separate living area is well equipped with a cosy sofa, an electric fire and small kitchenette – they are very cosy and perfect to relax in following a day of adventures.
The lounge sofa can also convert into a (very comfy!) bed which can sleep an additional two people, the chalets are a much more spacious option than the standard hotel rooms and just a short walk from the main restaurant building.
Please note that this accommodation option requires an upgrade supplement. Please contact our Aurora Experts for a quotation.
Aurora Cabin
With the potential of seeing the Northern Lights above, you won’t want to take your eyes off the Arctic sky. Luckily, with Wilderness Hotel Inari’s Aurora Cabins, you won’t have to. These amazing structures are all equipped with an expansive heated glass roof to give you unobstructed views of the northern skies at all times.
These cosy cabins come with twin beds (which are typically pushed together), a sofa or armchairs in the small living area and an ensuite shower room (toiletries and hairdryer are provided). You will also have coffee and tea making facilities. Some of the cabins will also accommodate an extra person on a sofa bed. The cabins are 34m² in size. The Wi-Fi signal isn’t as strong in the cabins so you may need to use the main restaurant or use the time to switch off!
The cabins are between 20 and 50 metres from the main building.
Please note that this accommodation option requires an upgrade supplement. Please contact our Travel Experts for a quotation.
Tour Map
Additional Info
Price is based on 2 persons travelling
Tour terms, click here
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Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists
