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Luosto - Searching for the Autumn Lights
Overview
Get ahead of the crowds and the cold winter months for your autumn Northern Lights search in Luosto, Finland. During this 4-night stay, you’ll make the most of the amazing Aurora potential at this time of year and take part in dedicated activities to search for the incredible light show.
What's included?
ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES LISTED BELOW ARE INCLUDED IN THE HOLIDAY PRICE
- Flights: return from London to Rovaniemi or Kittila (via Helsinki). Routings are subject to change
- Transfers: return airport transfers
- Accommodation: 4 nights' accommodation in standard twin/double rooms. Superior room upgrades are available on request
- Meals: 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners
- The following activities and equipment are included: visit to the Amethyst Mine, Aurora hike, hike with huskies, visit to Aurora Kota, visit to reindeer farm, Aurora hunt by minibus (the order of activities is subject to change)
- Cold weather clothing will be provided to guests for the duration of their stay if required
- Services of our expert local guides
- Aurora alert until approximately 1 am
There is so much on offer in Lapland during autumn and the colours can be stunning as the trees turn auburn and red before the arrival of winter. The winter can arrive anytime during October or November but the main snowfalls tend to arrive in late-November and December.
This holiday is based in the very aptly named Hotel Aurora (the hotel formerly known as the Aurora Chalet) and takes full advantage of the nearby Sodankyla Geophysical Observatory. The hotel works in conjunction with the Observatory to provide an Aurora alert system that alerts guests to any potential Northern Lights displays in the surrounding area.
During the day, you will visit the remarkable amethyst mine in Luosto, hike with huskies and visit a reindeer farm. The evenings are dedicated to searching for the Northern Lights as you enjoy an Aurora hike, Northern Lights presentation and an Aurora hunt in a minibus.
You do need to travel with a flexible approach at this time of year as hikes, for example, can easily become snowshoe treks with the onset of the snowfall. This holiday will allow you to experience the region at its best whatever the weather.
Hotel Aurora now boasts the exceptional 'Arctic View' rooms which guests can upgrade to throughout their stay. These rooms have glass roofs and provide views of the night sky from the comfort of the bed. Full details can be found in the 'Personalise' section of the holiday page.
Image credits: Graham Greenway, Miika Hämäläinen, Aleksi Mehtonen, Lappikuva - Jani Kärppä, and Hotel Aurora
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Key facts
| Duration: | 4 nights |
| Pace: | Balanced |
| Suitable for: | Ages 8+. See terms for further information. |
Dates & Prices
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.
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Agenda
Agenda
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DAY 1
Arrival and Introduction
Upon arrival in Lapland, you will be greeted and transferred to your accommodation at the delightful and rather aptly named Hotel Aurora (formerly Aurora Chalet), where dinner will be served. The hotel has an excellent reputation for serving delicious evening meals, featuring local produce, so you will get your first taste of Lapland tonight.
During their stay, many guests choose to upgrade for a night and stay in one of the ‘Arctic View’ rooms at the hotel. Full details can be found in the ‘Personalise’ section of the holiday page.
Included Meals: Dinner -
DAY 2
Amethyst Mine and Evening Aurora Hike
Your holiday begins with some spectacular views and some remarkable experiences.
Luosto is home to one of the last few amethyst mines in Europe. Arriving by car it is a short walk up to the top of Lampivaara Fell is required in order to reach the summit and the mine. From here the views across the Lappish wilderness are absolutely stunning. In autumn, the colours on display can be as dazzling as the Aurora Borealis and you’ll really get a sense of just how immense this Lappish landscape is.
Firstly, guests will enjoy a presentation detailing how amethysts are formed - the timescales are just beyond comprehension....3000 million years!!!
The main mine is not open to the public but there is a section of fell that allows visitors to experience mining for their own gem. Have no fear; you do not have to venture underground for this, simply down some covered steps to the site where you will be invited to dig for your own gemstone. If you can close your hand around any of the gems you find, you may take one with you as a souvenir.
Back at the hotel, there will be some free time to relax before dinner and your inaugural search for the Aurora.
Tonight you will be led by your guide into the silent night, on a hike to an ideal viewpoint for Aurora watching. Hopefully, the Northern Lights will provide the post-dinner entertainment.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner -
DAY 3
Hike With Huskies and Aurora Kota
Huskies are synonymous with Lapland and you do not have to wait until winter to get to know some of these eager dogs. In the autumn, the dogs are in the midst of their training programme, readying them for a winter of sledding. It is really important to keep the dogs well exercised and in good shape for the winter months and so that is where you come in.
You will meet with the mushers at the husky centre and be given some details about the lives of the dogs and their winter roles. The mushers will then select some dogs to join you for a hike – they are very enthusiastic about 'walkies' so be prepared for a cacophony of canine yelping! This walk allows you to really explore the Lappish environment and enjoy the beauty of the autumnal wilderness. You will also come to learn and understand more about the bond between the huskies and their mushers.
After dinner your Aurora quest continues in Sodankyla, the focus of Aurora scientific research in the region, and after the 35km drive you will arrive at the Aurora Kota. Here you will be given a presentation about the Northern Lights and some of the myths and legends which surround them. Hopefully, the Aurora will help to guide you back to Luosto.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner -
DAY 4
Visit to a Reindeer Farm and Evening Aurora Hunt
Reindeer are right at the heart of the Lappish culture and you will be taken to a local reindeer farm where you will meet the herders and learn about the vital part the animals play in their lives and the region's economy.
After some time to relax this afternoon, you will enjoy your final dinner at Hotel Aurora, before your guided minibus hunt for the Northern Lights. The extra mobility that the bus provides means that should there be any cloud cover locally, you may be able to outrun it. Your guide will consult Aurora and weather forecasts prior to setting off and they will use their local knowledge to ensure that you get the best opportunities to see the Aurora.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner -
DAY 5
Departure
Today you must sadly bid farewell to this region.
We can, however, help you to extend your stay should you wish, and arrange for you to enjoy the sights and sounds of Helsinki en route home. Please see the 'Personalise' section of the holiday page for details or contact one of our Aurora Travel Experts.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation
Accommodation
Included in price
Hotel Aurora, Luosto
Nights: 1-4
With spectacular scenery, a tremendous Northern Lights record and a huge array of activities, Luosto is an ideal destination for a holiday within the Aurora Zone.
As Luosto is a small ski resort. There are seven slopes to keep downhill enthusiasts entertained as well as a network of perfectly maintained cross-country skiing and snowshoe tracks, so there is always a way to get outdoors and enjoy the landscape if not on an arranged activity (all equipment is available for hire and is payable locally).
There are a couple of souvenir shops available and a small supermarket where you can buy drinks and snacks. There are also two additional restaurants and a cheap and cheerful café at the small ski centre.
The Hotel Aurora is one of only two hotels here and has proved to be one of our most popular accommodation options in Finland with its boutique charm, excellent gourmet food and cosy rooms with private saunas.
Hotel facilities
- On arrival at the Hotel Aurora, guests are provided with an Aurora alarm. Essentially this is a mobile phone which will receive text alerts. The alarm operates via the Geophysical Observatory in Sodankylä which sends a message to the hotel. If the conditions in Luosto are promising then the hotel will alert guests (until around 1 am - please confirm this with the hotel on arrival). The system is designed to aid you in your Northern Lights hunt but as conditions can change very quickly you should not rely solely upon this and should try and keep an eye out yourselves.
- There is a lovely dining area from where you can watch the chef in an open kitchen working on a lava stone grill. Local ingredients are very much to the fore and you will witness fish from the lakes and meat from the forest being transformed into delicious dishes that any restaurant would be proud to serve.
- Breakfast is a typical Scandinavian buffet and in the evening you will be served a set three-course meal (special dietary requirements such as gluten-free and vegetarian diets can be catered for if we are made aware of them at the time of booking).
- There's a small lounge area with a log fire where you can enjoy a pre or post-dinner drink.
Room Types
Standard rooms
Hotel Aurora has eleven beautifully decorated and furnished standard hotel bedrooms. A combination of dark wood and warm colours creates a tranquil and distinctly Lappish atmosphere. All rooms have their own private sauna and en-suite shower room with hairdryer. The rooms are also equipped with wireless internet, television, telephone and include tea and coffee making facilities.
Image credits: Santas Hotels
Other options
Hotel Aurora - standard room with fireplace
Supplements from: £45pp
For those who want a little extra then you can choose to upgrade to a room with a log burning stove should you wish to relax by the fire in the evenings.
The 12 rooms are all equipped with their own private sauna and en-suite shower room with hairdryer. The rooms have wireless internet, television, telephone and tea and coffee making facilities. Starter kits for the fires are provided along with instructions for use.
Whilst the rooms are all fully heated at Hotel Aurora, a fire can be a delight after a day and night of activities out in the Arctic wilds.
Hotel Aurora - superior room
Supplements from: £23pp
There are four superior rooms at Hotel Aurora, all of which are around 28m² and offer spacious accommodation for guests.
The rooms are all equipped with saunas and en-suite shower rooms. Tea and coffee making facilities are provided as well as TV and wireless internet. The primary difference in these rooms is that they offer guests more space and a sofa seating area. This sofa can also be turned into an additional sleeping area as it functions as a twin sofa bed.
There are also two superior rooms with their own fireplace (shown) which are slightly higher in cost but provide the warming glow of the stove in the evenings.
There is also one suite available at the hotel which can sleep four people. This is subject to an additional supplement so please contact our Travel Experts for details.
Special Nights
Spend the night in an Arctic View Room
From: £165pp
Why not end your holiday in real style with a night in a stunning Glass Arctic View Room! These rooms are situated close to the Hotel Aurora, a short walk from the Tunturi Hotel and the cabins.
These luxurious rooms offer great views to the northern skies. The panoramic windows and partially glassed roofs mean that they are ideal for keeping your eye out for a potential Aurora display.
Hotel Aurora's ten rooms will bring guests closer to the Finnish polar nights in total comfort – with high-quality features, fully-equipped bathrooms and great views.
Our standard price is based on guests spending their first or final night in the Arctic View Rooms. You will, therefore, be asked to check out of your previous hotel room or cabin on the morning before your stay.
As most guests will be enjoying an evening activity, you will return to the Arctic View on your return.
If you would prefer to keep your hotel room or spend a different night in these unique rooms (or indeed if they are fully booked for your final night) supplements will apply.
Please contact one of our Travel Experts for a quote for your chosen departure date.
Please note: Prices are based on you spending the first or last night of your holiday in this unique accommodation and not keeping your original accommodation. If you would like to do this on any other night during your holiday you will need to keep your accommodation and supplements will apply.
Personalise
Personalise this tour
Our pick
Spend the night in an Arctic View Room
From £165pp
Why not end your holiday in real style with a night in a stunning Glass Arctic View Room! These rooms are situated close to the Hotel Aurora, a short walk from the Tunturi Hotel and the cabins.
These luxurious rooms offer great views to the northern skies. The panoramic windows and partially glassed roofs mean that they are ideal for keeping your eye out for a potential Aurora display.
Read moreHotel Aurora's ten rooms will bring guests closer to the Finnish polar nights in total comfort – with high-quality features, fully-equipped bathrooms and great views.
Our standard price is based on guests spending their first or final night in the Arctic View Rooms. You will, therefore, be asked to check out of your previous hotel room or cabin on the morning before your stay.
As most guests will be enjoying an evening activity, you will return to the Arctic View on your return.
If you would prefer to keep your hotel room or spend a different night in these unique rooms (or indeed if they are fully booked for your final night) supplements will apply.
Please contact one of our Travel Experts for a quote for your chosen departure date.
Please note: Prices are based on you spending the first or last night of your holiday in this unique accommodation and not keeping your original accommodation. If you would like to do this on any other night during your holiday you will need to keep your accommodation and supplements will apply.
Other options
Trip Extensions
Helsinki city break
With our destinations being so remote, the majority of flights to Finnish Lapland are operated by Finnair and therefore involve connecting through Helsinki Airport. Many of our guests choose to extend this stop and spend some time in the Finnish capital, either at the start or end of their holiday.
We can arrange a wide variety of city centre hotel accommodation for guests to choose from and some options closer to the airport should you prefer. We know that everyone tends to be looking for something different so please contact our travel experts for their opinion on the hotels which may best suit you and your party.
Read more about this activityLocated on the peninsula of the Baltic Sea, Helsinki enjoys a charming coastal location and has much to offer its guests. This thriving city has a rich culture and arts scene with many museums and galleries to enjoy alongside the exciting gastronomy.
Despite its cool urbanism and reputation for cutting-edge design, Helsinki also retains its charm and visitors will enjoy this city's very friendly atmosphere.
In the city itself, Senate Square is the main feature, showcasing neoclassical architecture and offering easy access to the surrounding shops. Helsinki offers striking architecture, with wide streets and bold facades. For those looking for more of an insight into the city's past, we would suggest visiting the Ateneum Art Museum which houses over 20,000 pieces of art, or the Helsinki Design Museum which showcases the history of design in the country from traditional folklore to postmodernism.
A 15-minute ferry ride from the main city is the UNESCO-listed Suomenlinna Sea Fortress which was constructed in 1748. As well as being a unique monument, it is also a lovely day trip, as the island has numerous shops and parks to explore.
Helsinki's food scene has seen a recent evolution, with a growth in street food which showcases the city's multicultural population. Helsinki is famed also for its specialist dishes of seafood so there is much to sample!
Finland is famed for its coffee consumption so you can be sure of a thriving café culture here. Be sure to include an obligatory stop for a coffee and a cinnamon roll during your explorations!
Whether you add your city break to the start or the end of your holiday, spending a night or two in Helsinki is not something that you will regret.
Please contact our Travel Experts for a full quotation. All city breaks are subject to flight availability.
Image credit: VisitFinland
Reviews
Traveller Reviews
Amazing holiday
16 February 2017
by Natasha Weaver & Andrea Photiou
Amazing holiday so many new experiences, can't wait to go back. Amazing holiday, amazing company, no hassle just sit back and enjoy the experience because they covered everything!
Lights, shooting stars and snow flurries
24 November 2014
by Kathleen Yeo
Hotel was cosy and warm, dinner service & food was excellent! Service staff were generally friendly and warm too! Wifi service was erratic in room but was alright in the lobby/dining area. Olli was a friendly and great host! While he was not a man of many words, he was always smiling and willing to give a hand/explain things. Most enjoyable activity was the car hunt for Northern Lights. An…
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unforgettable experience, complete with the Lights, shooting stars and snow flurries.
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A wonderful time
20 November 2014
by Victoria Mowbray
Hi! I came back from my trip to Luosto (7th-11th November 2014) and want to thank the team so much for such a wonderful time. I have attached some photographs from the trip and have many more! Thanks again, Vicki
Best organised trip
18 November 2014
by Elizabeth James
One of the best organised trips I've been on. A special thanks to the two guides Pascale and Oleg, who were excellent.
An excellent holiday
11 March 2014
by Christine Pearson
We got back home last night at 10.00.p.m. after five excellent days. The connections and transfers went really well and the location was perfect. Excellent walks around the village and the hotel and beautiful scenery with nearby lakes as well (not that you can miss a lake in Finland!!!) We had snow the first night we were there which made the scenery very beautiful and we saw the Northern Lights…
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twice, so we were very, very lucky. The Hotel was warm, friendly and comfortable and the food (Table d’hôte menu) was excellent as was the choice at breakfast time. Nothing was too much trouble.
Our Guides, Pascal and Sallie (Not sure how you spell their names) were absolutely wonderful. Full of information and very caring about the whole group. We were looked after extremely well. A very big thank you to them. The Trips were well organised and very informative. The Walking with Huskies was fun - they took us for a walk! The Aurora Kota was very informative and interesting and a beautiful location and the Reindeer visit was again, very, very informative - such a different way of life and very hard. The Aurora hike was hard because of the slight snow fall which made the walk a little more difficult but again, interesting and good exercise - just a shame that night was windy and cloudy. Hey ho.....just one of those things. The Amethyst Mine was very informative and fun to find our own...and we did........!! In short Amy, an excellent holiday that I would recommend to our friends and family and very well organised from the office and on location. Many thanks, Kind Regards, Chris Pearson
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The whole package was superb
13 February 2014
by Rosemary Thompson
The whole package was superb which meant even though weather conditions resulted in us being unable to see the Northern Lights it was still a fantastic experience which gave a real insight into the lives of the Finnish people in the area.
Fantastic! Magical
13 February 2014
by Julie Hughes
The guides went the extra mile and arranged extras such as a sleigh ride as we had plenty of snow. Fantastic! Magical. We returned feeling so refreshed. The husky sled trip through the forest and the sleigh ride to the amethyst mine were our favourite activities.
A great Aurora holiday
30 September 2013
by Reginald Miller
We have just returned from our five day trip to Luosto arranged by your company. Unfortunately the Aurora was not co-operative and we did not see the Northern Lights. However we did have one of the best short break holidays we have ever had. Good organisation, no untoward incidents, the hotel, staff and food were high quality and the activity guide, Pascal, was excellent. All in all a great…
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holiday. Thanks Aurora team. Regards, Reg and Margaret Miller, Australia.
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Fantastic time in Lapland
19 December 2012
by Dorothy Scott
Mike and I had a fantastic time in Lapland. Everything was excellent from the flight, guide, hotel, food, hospitality, trips and even the weather. We only had five days there but would recommend a visit to everyone. The holiday could not have been better!! Dot Scott.
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