Muotka and Nellim – The Great Aurora Adventure
- Details
Details
Wilderness Hotel Muotka and Wilderness Hotel Nellim, are two of our most popular Northern Lights destinations. Each hotel offers guests something special, and many people have found it hard to choose between the two destinations. This holiday means that you do not have to make that choice as both locations are combined in one unforgettable week.
When it comes to activities and Aurora hunting, both hotels are at the top of their game. Both sit in remote areas, far from light pollution, both offer guides with extensive local knowledge and Aurora expertise and both offer innovative Aurora accommodation options.
Your holiday will start at Muotka, where you will enjoy the total seclusion of the hotel and the peace and quiet which accompanies this location. Surrounded by forests and fells, the hotel is the ideal base for activities.
Here you will explore the landscape on snowshoes and cross-country skis (the region is renowned for its ski trails). Guests will also encounter reindeer following a snowmobile safari to a local reindeer farm and you will get to try your hand at ice fishing on a frozen lake.
Your evenings at Muotka are filled with Northern Lights viewing opportunities. Expert guides will lead the hunt as you travel to a specifically chosen Aurora Camp and explore the forests on foot during a guided snowshoe hunt.
After four nights at Muotka, it is time to head to Nellim. The landscape around Nellim just begs to be explored, this is real wilderness! You will head out on snowmobiles for an adventure before the all-important husky safari where you will take control of your own team of dogs.
At Nellim, you will also enjoy a visit to an Aurora Camp, travelling by snowmobile-pulled sleigh.
This holiday is already special, but if you fancy adding further finishing touches then you can do so by taking advantage of some of the exceptional overnight experiences which are available.
At both Muotka and Nellim, you can choose to upgrade to an Aurora Cabin (subject to availability), and enjoy the benefits of your own cabin with glass roof, ideal for watching the Aurora from the comfort of your duvet!
The activities outlined will all be included in your holiday, however, the order listed is for guidance only, and your agenda will be confirmed on arrival.
If you are travelling over Christmas or New Year, you will enjoy a festive dinner and celebrations on the 24th and the 31st of December (traditionally in Finland, Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve).
Image credits and thanks: Markku Inkilä
Important Information
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
Upon arrival, you will be transferred* to Wilderness Hotel Muotka, your base for the first four nights of your holiday.
Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant this evening and you can enjoy your very special new surroundings.
Please note that the order of the activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only; your activity timetable will be provided on arrival.
* Transfers are based on a scheduled group shuttle which sometimes makes stops at a couple of hotels in nearby Saariselka. If you would prefer to upgrade to private taxi transfers, please ask our Travel Experts for a quotation.
Included Meals: Dinner
Your adventure at Muotka will begin with an Aurora workshop which will be hosted by one of the expert guides. It will give a simple overview of the science behind the Northern Lights and will advise you on what to keep an eye out for during your hunts.
Your first foray into the wilds is designed to introduce you to the stunning natural environment which surrounds the hotel. You will be guided on a snowshoe hike through the forests and your guide will point out any local flora and fauna as you explore. Lunch will be served around an open fire (weather permitting) and you will be out for around 4 hours in total.
Dinner will be served at Muotka tonight before your inaugural hunt for the Northern Lights.
The Aurora Camps around Muotka have been chosen specifically for their views of the skies. You will travel to the selected camp in a sleigh pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. A campfire will be lit, and you will commence your Aurora stakeout. Should conditions be favourable, you will be in a prime viewing location. In total you will be out for around 2.5 hrs.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Snowmobiles are a vital part of the local economy and ensure that remote communities can stay connected, even reindeer herders have benefitted hugely from them as they track down their herds each day. Snowmobiles are also hugely popular with local people from a leisure perspective and today you will see why during your first snowmobile safari.
Your guide will give you a full safety briefing and instruction on driving the snowmobiles before you set off on the trails. Your destination is a local reindeer farm for an encounter with these delightful animals and the chance to meet the herder. Here you can enjoy learning about one of the most remarkable ways of life in Europe and the importance of the reindeer to the region. A short reindeer-pulled sleigh ride is included, and you will also be shown how to use a traditional lasso. A warming soup lunch will be included during your activity.
You will return to Muotka on your snowmobiles after a wonderful set of experiences. Throughout you’ll be travelling two people per snowmobile and will have the chance to swap drivers at the reindeer farm (any driver must be over 18 and have a full driving licence). The activity lasts around 4 hours in total.
After dinner, you will set out on the trails with your guide, using only headtorches to light your route. Your Aurora snowshoe hike will lead you into a prime Northern Lights location. Here you will enjoy a break around the campfire and watch the skies for a potential display. In total you will be out for around 2.5 hours. The distance travelled on snowshoes varies depending on conditions.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will head out into the wilderness for the chance to try your hand at a local favourite, ice fishing.
You will travel by snowmobile-pulled sleigh, as your guide takes you to one of the numerous frozen lakes around Muotka. You will be shown how to drill a hole in the ice and the best techniques to try and land a catch. This is a fantastic activity to enjoy the peace and quiet of your stunning surroundings. Lunch and hot drinks will be served around a campfire, and you may even get to try a freshly caught fish! You’ll be out for approximately 5 hours, before returning to the lodge.
This morning your time at Muotka has come to an end as you will check out ready for the next stage of your holiday.
Before heading to Nellim you will enjoy a morning of cross country skiing. This area is renowned as one of the best places in Finland to enjoy cross-country skiing and the sport is hugely popular in Finland. It is your turn to see what all the fuss is about.
No previous experience is required as you will be given full instruction from your guide as you ski along the tracks, exploring the forests and taking in the sights. This sport can be very addictive however and so you can hire skis at Nellim should you wish to continue to explore independently. The lesson lasts around 2 hours in total.
After your activity, you will take the road to Nellim (around 1.5hrs drive), travelling along the edge of Lake Inari. The trip will give you a sense of how big this lake is, as you will still be following its shores when you arrive at Nellim.
On arrival at Nellim you can check in to the hotel and enjoy an evening meal in the restaurant (today’s lunch will either be served at Muotka, or Nellim, depending on timings).
The scenery around Nellim is just begging to be explored. Shaped by the huge frozen expanse of Lake Inari and surrounded by dense forests, the area really feels wild and wonderful.
Snowmobiles offer the best means of getting to grips with the scale of the wilderness here and today you will be back out on the trails for a thrilling safari. Travelling across the lake and exploring the forests will give you such a sense of what a remarkable area you are in and how remote the village of Nellim is. Lunch will be cooked on an open fire. In total you will be out for around 4 hours today.
You will travel two people per snowmobile and will have the chance to swap drivers (all drivers must be over 18 and have a full driving licence).
After dinner tonight it is time to visit one of Nellim’s Aurora Camps as you travel by snowmobile-pulled sleigh to a remote Northern Lights viewpoint. Fingers crossed the Northern Lights will add their own illumination to the glow of your campfire. You will be out for around 2.5 hrs.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is sadly departure day and you will be transferred back to the airport to catch your return flights. If you are on an early flight you will be provided with a packed breakfast.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Return flights between London and Ivalo (either direct or via Helsinki). Routings are subject to change
- Return airport transfers are included as well as a transfer from Muotka to Nellim
- 4 nights in twin/double rooms at Muotka and 3 nights in twin/double rooms at Nellim (accommodation upgrades are available subject to availability and supplements, see accommodation tab for details)
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Snowshoeing
- Aurora workshop
- Aurora Camp
- Snowmobile to a reindeer farm
- Aurora snowshoe hike
- Cross-country skiing
- Ice fishing trip by snowmobile sleigh
- Wilderness snowmobile safari
- Aurora camp
- Husky safari
- 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
Accommodation
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| Wilderness Hotel Muotka resides around 40km from the main town of Ivalo, tucked away in the corner of North-East Finland. Recently renovated and restored it is owned and run by the same couple as the popular Nellim Wilderness Hotel, Mari and Jouko Lappalainen. They run the hotel with the same hard-working ethos and it exudes the same warmth and charm for its much-welcomed guests. The hotel boasts some wonderful scenery, tucked away in the forested-fells with roaming reindeer frequently seen amongst the trees. It consists of two main accommodation buildings, one with the majority of the bedrooms and another with hosts additional bedrooms, the main restaurant and the reception area. Hotel facilities
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Double Room
There are 12 double and twin rooms in the main building and 11 in the additional building just across the courtyard. All rooms are en-suite with shower room, wardrobe, hairdryer and nightstand and can be made up as either a double or twin. They have also been recently renovated and offer lovely Scandinavian décor and charm.
Superior Sauna Room
Muotka Wilderness Hotel has 16 Superior Sauna rooms, located a short distance from the main hotel building. These rooms are designed to offer rustic luxury and are ideal for small families and groups or those that simply wish for more space to relax in during their stay at Muotka. The rooms are approximately 33m² and each separate building has four superior sauna rooms inside. Please contact our Aurora Experts for a quotation.
Facilities
- All rooms will contain their own private sauna, sofa and an electric kettle to make your stay as comfortable as possible
- Each has a queen-size bed within and space for 1-2 extra beds
- All meals will be served in the hotel restaurant which is just a short walk away
- Hairdryers are available from the main hotel reception
Twin Room
All rooms are en-suite with a shower room, wardrobe, hairdryer and nightstand and can be made up as either a double or twin and offer lovely Scandinavian décor and charm.
Wilderness Premium Room
Renovated in 2022, these are the newest rooms at Muotka and are larger than the standard Wilderness rooms at 269 ft2. Perfect for couples, the rooms feature a double bed, tea and coffee making equipment and are fully ensuite, with the bathroom having a shower and a hair dryer. Premium rooms are situated in a separate building (with its own sauna) adjacent to the reception and restaurant.
Please contact our Aurora Experts for a quotation.
Panorama Log Cabin
Situated not far from the main hotel, the log cabins at Muotka are a wonderful upgrade option for those looking for a little more space during their stay or if you are travelling for a special occasion – these are particularly popular with honeymoon guests!
Each log cabin is approximately 50m² and is fully equipped to make your stay cosy and comfortable. The attention to detail with these cabins are remarkable and ensure a memorable holiday.
All cabins have their own log burner and private sauna – ideal for warming up after a day in the snow!
Each cabin has a small kitchenette and large windows looking out onto the snowy landscape beyond. All meals will be served in the hotel restaurant which is just a short walk away.
Riverside Log Cabin
The most spectacular accommodation available at Muotka, these modern log cabins are well situated with views over a river. Well appointed, with a fireplace in the spacious living room, together with a private sauna and kitchenette (and fridge), the cabins have sleeping space for 5 people. There is a double bedroom downstairs and three single beds in the loft. The cabins also contain hair dryers and tea and coffee making facilities. Please note that these cabins require a minimum of 4 people to be booked
Please contact our Aurora Experts for a quotation.
Riverside Suite
In keeping with your surroundings, the Riverside suite is beautifully constructed from local ‘kelo’ wood and combines traditional aesthetics with modern comforts. The suite contains a bathroom with shower and private sauna, a fireplace and tea and coffee making facilities. With a double bed and sofa bed, the suite can accommodate 4 people in comfort. The suite overlooks a small stream running through the grounds of the hotel.
Please contact our Aurora Experts for a quotation.
Log Cabin
Situated not far from the main hotel, the log cabins at Muotka are a wonderful upgrade option for those looking for a little more space during their stay or if you are travelling as a small group or family.
Each log cabin is approximately 50m² and is fully equipped to make your stay cosy and comfortable. Please contact our Travel Experts for a quotation.
Facilities
- All cabins have their own log burner and private sauna – ideal for warming up after a day in the snow!
- Each has a double bed and space for 1-2 extra beds
- All cabins have a small kitchenette and a kettle
- The log cabins are equipped with large north-facing windows so you can easily keep watch for a potential Aurora display
- All meals will be served in the hotel restaurant which is just a short walk away
- Hairdryers are available from the main hotel reception
Aurora Cabin
As ever, Muotka leads the way in Aurora viewing innovation and we are therefore proud to offer our guests the chance to spend the night in one of only 20 magnificent Aurora Cabins. These stunning, part-cabin, part-glass tepee buildings, offer guests an exceptional overnight Aurora hunting experience.
Guests get the space and feel of a cabin during the day and the Aurora viewing benefits of a glass igloo at night, as you sleep under a glass tepee. This means that you are provided with the most wonderful views of the night sky from the comfort of your bed.
These part-cabin and part-glass tepee buildings, are self-contained and situated a short distance from the hotel, next to the annexe. They combine the space and atmosphere of a cosy cabin with a glass roof above the bed. Each cabin faces north so ideal for guests to gaze upon the night sky every night of their holiday, from the comfort of their duvet. The cabins are all 25m² with double bed and en-suite bathroom, making them an excellent base (most of them have a private sauna).
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| Wilderness Hotel Nellim is owned by our good friends Jouko and Mari Lappalainen. Nellim was their first hotel (they now also own the delights of Nangu, Muotka and Wilderness Hotel Inari) and is now renowned as an Aurora destination. It will always hold a special place in our hearts for being the first place many of us saw the Northern Lights. The hotel has been upgraded over the years and now has a wide range of accommodation options including rooms, suites, log cabins and unforgettable Aurora Cabins and Bubbles (see the ‘Personalise’ section for details) which are all within a short walk of the main reception and restaurant building. A tiny village, Nellim is a remote spot close to the shores of Lake Inari and surrounded by incredible wilderness, providing perfectly dark skies, ideal for Aurora viewing. Hotel facilities
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Double Wilderness Room
Twin Wilderness Room
Arctic Suite
Many guests like to upgrade to one of the six Arctic Suites at Nellim, all of which are situated in one of the annexe buildings across from the reception and restaurant. The suites offer guests additional room and their own space in which to relax after a day or night of activities.
Each suite varies in size and facilities. Suites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis according to the accommodation which best suits your party.
Cabin
Nellim offers a variety of cabins which offer varying facilities and which are mainly within easy walking distance of the hotel. Cabins are allocated on a first come, first served basis, according to the accommodation which most suits your party and availability. Specific facilities cannot be guaranteed.
Log Suite
Located between 30-70 metres from the main building these log suites are designed to be the highest standard of accommodation Nellim offer. The suites are approximately 33m² and there are four suites in each of the separate log buildings.
Tour Map
Additional Info
Price is based on 2 persons travelling
Tour terms, click here
Booking conditions click here
Payment and Cancellation Terms:
Snow coverage in early December
If you are travelling early in the winter season and there is not enough snowfall, then some activities may be adapted by the local team, or alternatives provided, to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. For more information on this, please see section 11 of our booking terms and conditions.
Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists
