Northern Lights Village Saariselkä – A Window to the Northern Lights
- Details
Details
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
Following your arrival at Ivalo Airport, you will make the short transfer to the Northern Lights Village and your Aurora accommodation.
You will have a meal this evening and we would suggest casting your eyes up to the night sky and who knows, the Northern Lights might welcome you to Lapland in spectacular fashion.
Included Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, you will meet a local reindeer herder before enjoying a tour which will explore this age-old way of life. Reindeer are synonymous with the Arctic and it is fascinating to learn how they manage to survive in these harsh winter conditions. In addition, you will gain insight into Sámi culture which has thrived north of the Arctic Circle for generations. Reindeer have played a key role in the Sámi’s ability to adapt and asking a Sámi how many reindeer he has, is like asking how much money somebody earns.
You will explore the paddock at the Northern Lights Village before meeting the reindeer and having the opportunity to feed them. Your guide will introduce you to the various aspects of reindeer herding. Following this, you will enjoy a one-hour (approximately) ride on a reindeer-pulled sleigh. This was once a traditional method of transport, before the introduction of snowmobiles, and it can feel quite ‘Narnia-esque’ as you venture into the snow-covered forest. Lunch will be served in a teepee and the activity will last for around three hours in total.
Viewing the Northern Lights is a spectacular experience, but capturing them on camera is no easy task. This evening’s Aurora photography workshop will help prepare you as you join a local guide who has many years of knowledge and experience. The workshop will reveal all the secrets necessary to capture the Aurora through a lens. Should the lights appear in the coming days, you can then proudly show off your photos. Please note that you will need to bring your own equipment (camera, ideally SLR, and a tripod).
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast, you will join your local guide and enjoy a combination of two popular winter activities. The four-hour tour will begin with a snowmobile safari as you enter the forest and breeze past breathtaking scenery towards a nearby frozen lake. Once at the lake, your guide will assist as you drill a hole into the ice, bait the hook and attempt to catch perch or whitefish. Ice fishing is very popular with the locals and, whilst it may seem a sedate activity, that all changes if you land a catch! Your guide will build a fire and you will enjoy lunch, which hopefully will include some fresh fish. Full driving instructions will be provided and you will travel two people per snowmobile (you must have a full driving licence and be over the age of 18 to drive the snowmobile).
During the evening, you will enjoy dinner in the restaurant before venturing out for a dedicated Aurora hunt. This three-hour tour will take place in the comfort of a bus and includes a visit to Lake Inari. The Aurora Camp is located on the lakeshore and has a stunning outlook across the frozen ice. You will enjoy drinks and snacks around a cosy campfire and should the lights appear, you can grab a reindeer hide, lie down in the snow and enjoy a captivating display.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated daytime activity will be your husky safari. Obviously, the dogs themselves are a major attraction and you will immediately notice their excitement. They simply love pulling the sled and once attached they will no doubt be jumping up and down in anticipation. The moment the safari begins, however, they become focused and the only sound is that of pattering paws on the snow.
You will meet the dogs and explore the wilderness during this 10 km safari (approximately one hour). The terrain is diverse and you will navigate the rugged fells and through the forest. Full tuition on how to handle the sleigh will be given by your expert guide beforehand and you will travel two people per sled. The activity lasts for approximately two hours in total including briefing. If you would like to upgrade to a longer safari then this can be arranged, please see the Extras section of the holiday page for details.
Following the tour, you can enjoy lunch in the restaurant before having the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure.
Tonight it is time for your final activity. You will strap on your snowshoes and venture out into the wilderness to a great Northern Lights vantage point. Whilst you enjoy a hot drink the Northern Lights will, hopefully, make an appearance. The activity will last for around two hours.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast, it will be time to leave the Northern Lights Village behind. If you are departing on an early flight then a boxed breakfast will be provided for you to take with you. You will be transferred back to Ivalo Airport for your return flights home.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Return from London to Ivalo (via Helsinki). Flight routes are subject to change.
- Return group airport transfers
- 4 nights in an Aurora Cabin
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
- Reindeer day
- Aurora workshop
- Snowmobile and ice fishing tour
- Aurora camp by the lake
- 10km husky safari
- Northern Lights snowshoeing
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
- Aurora alert service which you can set to alert you throughout the night or end at a specific time
- 24/7 assistance from our UK based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
Accommodation
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Located in North East Finland, the Northern Lights Village sits on the outskirts of the ski resort of Saariselkä. Tucked away from the town and separated from it by dense forest, the location is ideal for viewing the Northern Lights but is still within walking distance (around 1000m) of the town’s amenities. The ski slopes can be accessed via a shuttle (small charge applies) or a pleasant walk of around 40-50 minutes. The Northern Lights Village offers accommodation in Aurora Cabins which are half-roofed with glass. The twin or double beds are situated beneath the panoramic roof and provide the chance to view the Northern Lights from your bed! It’s not often that folk prefer a sleepless night but here it’s not considered to be a huge inconvenience as it provides the chance to potentially witness Mother Nature’s greatest light show! There are 80 cabins in total, all of which are within a 5-10 minutes’ walk of the Village’s central facilities which include the restaurant where you’ll enjoy breakfast and dinner. Facilities
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Personalise This Tour
The beauty of snowshoeing is that it provides the chance for wildlife encounters, as the local flora and fauna will not be scared off by the noise of engines or the sound of sleds. So, for nature lovers, this is an ideal choice as your local guide will provide information on the wildlife and its natural environment. You may have the chance to witness Siberian Jay, willow grouse or a herd of roaming reindeer. You will stop for a hot drink along the way.
Group size: 1-16 (approximately)
Duration: 2 hours (approximately); a warm drink is included
We know that for some people the thought of snowmobiling may be a little daunting so this short 2-hour (approximate) safari provides the ideal introduction.
Full instruction will be provided along with a safety briefing from your expert guide and then you’ll set off in convoy, following the well-marked trails and travelling two people per machine.
Snowmobiles offer the chance to explore further afield and offer the passenger (you can swap drivers) the chance to fully enjoy the sights of Lapland.
Duration: 2 hours
| Tour Loaction: | Saariselka,Finland |
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| Tour Loaction: | Saariselka,Finland |
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Tour Map
Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists
