Harriniva – Best of the Northern Lights
- Details
Details
This trip offers the ultimate Northern Lights experience. Set in Harriniva, amongst the beautiful fells of Western Lapland and surrounded by the wild, rugged landscape, this is an ideal location for a week of winter activities and Northern Lights hunting.
The nights of this trip are dedicated to optimising your chances of seeing the Lights. Most activities that are included take place in the evening, to ensure that you can combine some spectacular experiences with the magic of escaping the light pollution and chasing the Aurora into the night. You will speed over the fells on a snowmobile and reindeer sleigh ride through the forests, all in search of the Northern Lights. Also included in your holiday package is a guided snowshoe tour and an evening visit to the Arctic Elements Lakeside Spa. You will certainly not be bored with the huge variety of Aurora hunting throughout your stay!
Routes and distances for your chases will depend on the weather and Aurora activity on the day, heightening your chances of spotting the enchanting Aurora Borealis.
The days have been left free for you to tailor your trip to suit your wishes and your budget. Staying in your cosy accommodation in Harriniva, you can use this time to unwind, utilising your free daily access to the hotel sauna, trying a traditional Finnish pastime while basking in relaxation.
Or you can choose from the wide range of optional activities that are offered on this trip (see details under the 'Personalise' tab).
This seven-night holiday promises many one-of-a-kind experiences in a stunning location and the best possible chance of viewing the phenomenal Northern Lights.
Itinerary
You will arrive at Kittilä Airport and be taken on a one hour transfer to your accommodation for the week at Harriniva Wilderness Hotel.
Upon arrival, you will be greeted at reception and given your Northern Lights alarm and your cold-weather clothing. You are free to decide how to spend the rest of your day.
Dinner will be served in the main hotel and you can spend the evening settling into your cosy accommodation.
Included Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, the day is completely free. You might want to book an optional safari or activity (details for these can be found under the ‘Personalise’ tab for this trip). Lunch will be served in the hotel restaurant.
After dinner, it is time to head out and hunt for the lights by snowmobile on an Aurora Adventure. You will drive two per snowmobile (assuming both are over 18 years old and have a valid driving licence). Should there be clouds then the snowmobiles will give you the best possible chance to get to a place where you may be able to see the Northern Lights, should they appear.
Warm drinks are included and you will be out and about for around two to three hours in total.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will have breakfast and lunch in the hotel and in the afternoon, you will have your ‘Secrets of the Northern Lights’ workshop, where guides will explain the science behind the fascinating phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis whilst you enjoy a hot drink.
You will have a free evening to enjoy as you please. We recommend keeping an eye on the Aurora forecast or why not upgrade your night to the Arctic Firefox lodge (see our ‘Personalise’ tab).
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, you will eat breakfast and lunch as usual in the hotel, then you will be left to your own devices once again, allowing you to tailor your day to suit your wishes and preferences.
Dinner will be served as usual and your next hunt for the Northern Lights will begin – this time, via reindeer sleigh. You will visit a local reindeer farm, where you will begin your quiet and peaceful sleigh ride through the enchanting forest, gradually arriving further and further away from the light pollution and enhancing your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.
On your return, you will enjoy hot drinks as you gaze at the stars and potentially continue to appreciate the mystical Aurora. In total, this activity will last around one and a half to two hours including transfers.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you will embark on an Arctic adventure as you join a husky safari. An experience that perfectly captures the essence of this remarkable region. You will venture into the wilderness, accompanied by your enthusiastic team of dogs, for an exciting 15km husky safari through the breathtaking winter wonderland that surrounds you. As usual, lunch will be served in the hotel’s restaurant.
After dinner, you will head to the Arctic Sauna World in Jeris, approximately 30 minutes away. Here, you can unwind in the four saunas, each one inspired by one of the elements; earth, air, fire and water and named after Finnish gods and goddesses. The facilities include a traditional smoke sauna and plenty of areas for relaxation in the lakeside setting. There is also a special fifth sauna upgrade available, which will be of particular interest to Aurora enthusiasts. The Northern Lights sauna offers exceptional views of the dark night sky for one of the most relaxing ways to search for a wonderful display!
Talk to our Aurora Travel Experts about an upgrade. For the brave (and healthy) you can also take a dip in the ice pool – a traditional part of the Finnish sauna experience.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast and lunch, you will enjoy another free day, so you can decide how you would like to spend it. If you enjoyed the husky safari, you could spend your morning on an even longer, 25km safari, with one person per sled, rather than two. Or, you could have another try at snowmobiling and book the snowmobile panorama safari, which takes you through the collection of fells around Harriniva.
Following dinner, you will put on your snowshoes tonight for your Northern Lights hunt and head out on a peaceful walk through thick blankets of snow and beneath the dark, star-lit sky. Your walk will end with a hot drink and, with any luck, the lights will put on a show, dancing and swirling above you. You will be out and about for around two to three hours in total.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast, this is your final day to choose from a number of spectacular activities. You may decide to try the national obsession of ice fishing, a relaxing and rewarding activity – particularly if you make a catch. Or, you could learn more about the indigenous Sámi community on a Sámi Culture day, visit a local museum and have another chance to experience a reindeer sleigh ride.
After a special farewell dinner with special Finnish specialities, you will head out on an exciting Northern Lights hunt for your last night. Tonight’s adventure is via Harriniva’s Snow Shuttle – a snowmobile-pulled carriage (the type of carriage used tonight will depend on the availability and weather forecast.) You’ll be taken to a campfire site which is located in a prime location to enjoy hot drinks and snacks by an open fire whilst hopefully enjoying a Northern Lights display. This activity will last around two hours in total.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, you will bid your holiday farewell as you are transferred to the airport in time for your flight home.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Return flights from London Heathrow to Kittilä (via Helsinki). Direct return flights from London Gatwick are available for a supplement on certain dates. Flight routes are subject to change
- Return airport transfers
- 7 nights in double/twin hotel rooms
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Northern Light snowmobiling
- Secret of the Northern Lights workshop
- Aurora Snow Shuttle
- Aurora snowshoeing
- Reindeer Aurora experience
- Husky safari
- Arctic Sauna World
- Daily hotel sauna
- Aurora App which you can download to your phone for the duration of the trip (normally works until 1 am)
- Snowshoe and cross-country ski equipment hire (subject to availability)
- Warm winter clothing for the duration of the trip
- Fully qualified guides and instructors during activities
- 24/7 assistance from our UK based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
Accommodation
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Ideally located in the north-west corner of Finland, high above the Arctic Circle and in the very heart of the Aurora Zone, Harriniva Wilderness Hotel serves as a perfect base for your adventure holiday. Owned and run by the Pietikäinen family, the hotel has developed a growing reputation for its warm ambience and a large range of enjoyable activities on offer. Hotel facilitiesThe hotel has a range of facilities that have been designed to make your stay here as enjoyable as possible.
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Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists