VISITING: Finland BROCHURE CODE: 2004
All prices include: flights, transfers, accommodation, meals, guided activities and cold weather clothing; all as listed.
This four-night Christmas break to Harriniva is a dedicated quest for the Northern Lights. You’ll hunt on foot and on snowmobiles as well as learn all about the phenomenal light show during a workshop. The daylight hours also include some fantastic winter activities such as dog-sledding and a visit to a reindeer farm.

What's included?

ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES LISTED BELOW ARE INCLUDED IN THE HOLIDAY PRICE

  • Flights: return flights from London Heathrow to Kittilä (via Helsinki). Flight route subject to change
  • Transfers: return airport transfers are included
  • Accommodation: 4 nights hotel room accommodation
  • Meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
  • The following activities and equipment are included in the price: snowmobile safari, Northern Lights workshop, Northern Lights snowshoe, 17km husky safari, Christmas celebrations, visit a reindeer farm, Aurora snowmobile safari (order subject to change). Please note that you must hold a valid UK driving license in order to drive a snowmobile
  • Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
  • 24/7 assistance from our UK based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
  • Aurora alert mobile app until approximately 1 am

This special, Christmas edition of our Northern Lights Quest at Harriniva promises to be a wonderful festive escape.

Your base is the Harriniva Wilderness Hotel, a real gem, renowned in the area for its varied and exciting activities and enthusiastic guides. You will stay in one of the cosy hotel rooms in the main building situated a short walk away from the hotel. The hotel is ideally located in the Aurora Zone and thus offers all guests the chance to see the Northern Lights in all their glory, should the conditions be right.

As well as the Christmas celebrations at the hotel, you will enjoy an array of exciting activities during your time here that will really allow you to feel a sense of connection to the Arctic and gain an insight into the culture and traditions of the region.

The inclusive activities kick off with a thrilling husky safari, followed by a visit to a reindeer farm and the chance to try your hand at snowmobiling! These activities will allow you to gain an idea of the scale of this spectacular natural environment, an insight into some of the region's traditions and some incredible memories.

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Harriniva's location in the heart of the Aurora Zone means that you don't necessarily have to go far to seek out a possible display, but we have included some dedicated hunts to help improve your chances via snowmobile and snowshoes. Your expert local guides will use their local knowledge and experience in order to help give you the best possible chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

We love Harriniva for its wonderful warmth, enthusiastic guides and stunning riverside scenery. Winter time in Lapland is always spectacular, but at Christmas, it really is a magical place to be!


Image credit: Antti Pietikainen

Thank you for your interest in this Aurora Zone experience.

We have found that this holiday is better tailored exactly to your requirements, so please email our Travel Experts at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact us on 01670 785 012 to discuss the various options available to you.

Our Travel Experts have been to all the destinations we feature and love to share their experiences and insight. We want to match you with your perfect trip, so if you have any questions please get in touch; we will be happy to talk through the destinations and itineraries with you.

VIEW ALL HOLIDAYS

  • Upon arrival at Kittilä Airport, you will be greeted and transferred to Harriniva where you can check in and enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant. You will also be shown how to use the Aurora alert application. 

    You'll need a good night's sleep ahead of the start of the adventure tomorrow.

    Included Meals:  Dinner
  • Today you will spend Christmas Eve in a truly special and unique way. There is something about a husky safari that seems to fully encapsulate the spirit of Arctic adventure and it is an activity which is almost always a universal favourite with our guests.

    Travelling in such a traditional fashion allows you to appreciate the incredible landscape as the activity is such a peaceful one (once the dogs have got over their initial excitement!).

    The trail will cover about 17km of the snow-laden landscape and you will travel two people per sled with one person sitting in the sled and another standing on the back controlling the brake. There will be a chance to swap over so you each get a try mushing. The enthusiasm the dogs share for the trail is infectious and this is sure to be a real highlight of the trip.

    There will also be the chance for you to chat with the mushers and ask them any questions you may have about dog sledding and their lives up here above the Arctic Circle.

    In the afternoon, the group will participate in the Northern Lights workshop with an expert guide. A brief scientific overview of the Northern Lights will be given as well as an insight into some of the myths and legends that this natural phenomenon has inspired over the centuries. Some photographic hints and tips will be offered in order to help you capture the Aurora on film. Pancakes will also be enjoyed around the fire.

    Christmas is celebrated on the 24th December in Finland and so this evening you will be treated to a delicious meal including some traditional festive Finnish food as well as more international dishes. There may even be a visit by Father Christmas himself! The evening is then free for you to spend as you please. Make sure you keep your Aurora alert close by as your Christmas wishes may be answered with a phenomenal display.

    Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • This morning you will kick things off with a thrilling 30km snowmobile safari to allow you to explore the wilderness which surrounds Harriniva. Full training and instruction will be provided before you set off on the trails travelling two people per snowmobile (you must be over 18 and hold a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile). There will be the chance to swap drivers half way should you wish to. This is an ideal way to gain a sense of the scale of this spectacular landscape.

    Lunch will be served as usual and your afternoon will be free to spend as you choose. After dinner, you will strap on your snowshoes for a relaxing walk through Harriniva’s ethereal landscape. Enjoy the silence and tranquillity of the forest at night, and keep your eyes peeled for the Northern Lights. You will stop for hot drinks at a prime Aurora viewpoint half-way through the activity, which will last for around two and a half hours in total.

    Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • You will begin the last day of your itinerary with a trip to a reindeer farm. At over 100 years old, Torassieppi Reindeer Farm is one of the best places in Lapland to gain an insightful understanding of the connection between reindeer and this remote region, in particular, their connection to the indigenous Sámi population.

    Evidence of reindeer herding in this region has been found dating back to the Stone Age, and despite the modernisation of the work with snowmobiles, the knowledge and traditions that have been passed down through the generations remain of the utmost importance to this day.

    At Torassieppi you will be given a tour of the farm, have the chance to feed the reindeer and enjoy a short reindeer-pulled sleigh ride. You will also be able to ask the reindeer herders any questions you may have and visit the small but informative museum which is on site. Then, you will visit the nearby Torassieppi Winter Village, admiring its incredible snow rooms, ice sculptures and restaurant, where you will stop for a special lunch.

    After dinner, you will meet with your Aurora guide for your final venture into the darkness in search of the Northern Lights, and your second try at snowmobiling. You will receive a full safety briefing from your guide to remind you how to use the snowmobiles, before driving away from the light pollution. You will head towards an ideal Northern Lights viewpoint, chosen by your dedicated guide depending on the Aurora activity, cloud cover and weather conditions on the day. You will stop here for a hot drink while you look out for a potentially dazzling Northern Lights display – keep your fingers crossed that they will make an appearance. The activity will last for around two hours, please note that you must hold a valid UK driving licence in order to drive a snowmobile

    Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • You will be transferred to Kittilä Airport for your return flights today with heads full of memories of your festive adventure.

    Included Meals:  Breakfast

Included in price

Harriniva Wilderness Hotel

Nights: 1-4

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 facilities

The hotel has a range of facilities that have been designed to make your stay here as enjoyable as possible.

  • There is free Wi-Fi throughout the main building for guest use, in our experience, we have found it works best in the main reception and dining area
  • The hotel restaurant has a lively, buzzing atmosphere as people excitedly discuss the adventures they have taken part in that day. The meals are served in a buffet style with two or three choices for each course. The food here is hearty and wholesome
  • The hotel also has a pub serving a range of beers, wines and spirits - this is the perfect place to unwind and relax with your fellow guests in the evening
  • Tea and coffee are available free of charge throughout the day in the hotel restaurant / bar area.
  • In the main reception area of the hotel, you will find a small gift shop selling a range of postcards, soft toys and handcrafted products. There is also a selection of snacks that can be purchased
  • A sauna is available for guest use with separate facilities for men and women. This is free of charge and is heated every evening for around three hours
  • The hotel also has an Aurora Wellness Centre (situated a short walk away on the riverbank), where you can enjoy a range of therapies such as facials or massages. A real treat after a day of soaking up the pristine wilderness! During peak periods, we would strongly recommend booking therapies in advance through reception (all payable locally and we recommend booking in advance if possible)
  • Snowshoes and cross country skis are available to hire for a small charge and there are marked trails surrounding the hotel for those with some experience. For those interested in downhill skiing, reception will be able to arrange a taxi to the nearby ski resort of Olos (payable locally)

Room types

Wilderness plus rooms

Decorated in traditional Scandinavian style, these bedrooms were refurbished in 2018. The rooms include double/twin beds and an unfolding sofa suitable for 1 adult or 2 children. All rooms have an en-suite shower room and a hairdryer, as well as a small seating area.

Double/twin rooms

Harriniva has 64 guest bedrooms which consist of twin or double rooms. Triple rooms are also available on request. Decorated in traditional Scandinavian style, all rooms have an en-suite shower room and a hairdryer.

Wilderness Suite

Spacious wilderness style room, decorated in traditional Scandinavian style, these rooms were refurbished in 2018. Located on the ground floor, close to reception these rooms include double/twin beds and an unfolding sofa suitable for 1 adult or 2 children. All rooms have an en-suite shower room and a hairdryer, as well as a small seating area.

Safari House

For those travelling on our longer husky or snowmobile experiences, your nights at the hotel will be spent in shared accommodation in one of Harriniva's Safari Houses. Each has sleeping facilities, a shower room, toilet and a sauna. Some safari houses are on site, whereas others are located 3km from the hotel. If you are staying off-site, you will be transferred to and from the hotel for meals.


 Image credits Emmi Kähkönen - Harriniva Hotels & Safaris

Other options

Harriniva Riverside Cabins

Set in a picturesque, riverside location and ranging from 39m² to 47m², Harriniva’s Riverside Cabins are ideal for larger groups, or those wanting a little more space and privacy during their trip. Each cabin sleeps five people in total, with a main bedroom for two people, a lower ceilinged loft area (accessible by a steep ladder) sleeping a further two people and a pull out sofa bed in the lounge. Fully-equipped with kitchen facilities, including a stove, dishwasher and fridge, and with a cosy living room, you can relax and enjoy your own space in complete comfort. Each cabin even has its own private sauna, perfect for keeping warm after a long day out in the cold.


Credit: Antti Pietikainen

Traveller Reviews

A great one into an amazing one. 29 December 2017 by Alexander Luiten and Lesleigh Brown

Our tour Guide Scotty was amazing, an amazing amount of knowledge backed up by a great attitude - He definitely turned the trip from a great one into an amazing one.We really enjoyed the husky sled tour and husky visit - and seeing the Northern Lights was a great bonus

The activities were so enjoyable 28 December 2017 by Robyn Wood and friends

The activities were so enjoyable - they so different to what we get at home

Northern Lights displays for 3 of the 4 nights 22 December 2016 by Kirsty & Andrew Wingate

The snowmobiling to see the Northern Lights (was) fun and a perfect escape from any light pollution. We enjoyed our holiday very much, but we were blessed with clear skies and Northern Light displays for 3 of the 4 nights we were there.

We were very lucky with glorious displays of the Northern Lights 02 January 2015 by Geoffrey Denman

The food was actually better than I expected. There was plenty of it and the quality was very good. If the choice was a little limited, it really didn't matter. Most enjoyable (activity): Like most people, the husky ride. Apart from anything else, the dogs were obviously loving it and just wanted to run. Least enjoyable (activity): I don't think there was one! I can't think of any improvements.
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This was a truly memorable holiday. It was cold, of course, -30C at the hotel and colder on the lakes, so we had to put a lot of clothes on just to go from the cabin to the hotel for meals. But it was worth it, and we were very lucky with glorious displays of the Northern Lights.
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Frankly a fab Christmas 07 January 2013 by Vanessa Sammut

Have just completed the questionaire but wanted to say that we had, frankly a fab Christmas, thanks to Harriniva, the staff there, your rep Cary (best rep I have every had on a holiday) and the guides. The weather was unkind - v. v. v. cold, minus 35 - but the Northern Lights were v. v. kind and we saw them on Christmas Day. Magical. Staff at Harriniva could not do enough to make us comfortable
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that night, really, really great. If I had a criticism it would be that the hoiday was advertised as no kids - but the hotel was full of a french party with their kids, and they were rather disruptive. Hotel and Cary did their best to make the problem less intrusive, and succeeded to a point - we as a group made a joke of it in the end - but something for you to think about in the future. We had kids running around corridors early and late and food times were sometimes a little chaotic as a consequence. This very small issue aside, in my top 5 holidays ever…. mostly down to customer service - something I value and would like to mention to you.
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Magical winter wonderland 31 December 2012 by Linda Dodge

Just returned home after spending a wonderful six nights at Harriniva from 23 Dec to 29 Dec. Everything from start to finish was superb. Hotel, food and staff couldn't have been better. This was truly an amazing experience for us both. Activites included were 2 x snowmobiling, husky ride, snowshoe walking, ice fishing, reindeer sledge ride, cross-country skiing (very tiring). We had a free day to
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do what we wanted - we chose to go off on a trip with five others to a snow village to visit an ICEHOTEL; it was amazing. We have been on a number of holidays but this beats them all!!!!. We would not hesitate in recommending this company and this amazing experience. We have brought home some truly amazing memories and some fab pictures. Thank you Aurora Zone Team.
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