Wilderness Hotel Inari – Aurora Hunting Adventure
- Details
Details
You'll find that many of our holidays are situated within reach of Lake Inari, but no other destination has a location quite as close as Wilderness Hotel Inari, which sits proudly on the shore.
This region of northeast Finland is renowned as a Northern Lights destination and is a real paradise for those who want a dedicated week of Aurora hunting and the chance to take part in all the Arctic activity highlights as well.
Wilderness Hotel Inari is the brainchild of our long-standing friends and local partners, Jouko and Mari Lappalainen who also own Nellim, Nangu and Muotka. Mari had coveted this location for years, simply because of the view and the Aurora potential. Having realised their dream of securing the land they then brought their charm, imagination, dedication and expert guides in, to create this wonderful destination.
When it comes to Aurora hunting there are few areas which would stack up against the Inari region. There are so few people (far more reindeer) here that there is very little light pollution and the vast lake provides unadulterated views north across the ice. There are four dedicated Aurora hunts in this holiday which include an informative workshop, a visit to a perfectly located Aurora Camp, a hunt by car/minibus and an Aurora snowshoe hike. These activities when coupled with a seven-night stay provide the fabulous potential for witnessing the Northern Lights.
The wonderful thing about Inari is that, like in many of our destinations, if the Aurora conditions align on a night when you are not taking part in a Northern Lights hunt, you still have an excellent chance to witness them from very close to the hotel.
Many guests also like to consider upgrading to one of the Aurora cabins in order to gaze at the sky from the comfort of their own bed. Please see the accommodation section for details or ask one of our experts for an upgrade quote.
During the day you'll take to the trails for a dog sled safari with an eager team of huskies and will also try the favoured Finnish pastimes of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. These are all exceptional ways in which to explore the landscape around you.
The village of Inari itself is not far from the hotel and is the centre of Sámi culture in Finland. We make sure that you glean insight into this fascinating indigenous culture during your holiday when you meet with a local reindeer herder and their animals. You will see why reindeer herding has been such an important part of the Sámi way of life and still is today.
This is an unforgettable week which encompasses all of the main highlights of Lapland and provides some outstanding Northern Lights viewing opportunities.
Please note: the activities outlined will all be included in your holiday, however, the order of activities listed here is for guidance only, and your final timetable will be confirmed on arrival.
If you are staying 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).
Itinerary
The order of activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only, your final itinerary will be provided on arrival at your accommodation.
Upon arrival at Ivalo Airport, you will be met by your transfer* driver and driven to the hotel on the shores of Lake Inari around 40 minutes away.
Once you’ve settled into the hotel, dinner will be served in the restaurant which has huge windows looking out across the lake.
Your cold weather clothing will be allocated either tonight or tomorrow depending on your arrival time.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to cast an eye to the north before bed tonight, just in case the Aurora are dancing overhead.
* Transfers are based on a scheduled group shuttle that sometimes stops at a few nearby hotels. If you would prefer to upgrade to private taxi transfers please ask our Travel Experts for a quotation.
Included Meals: Dinner
One of the best ways to appreciate your new surroundings is on foot. You wouldn’t get very far just walking around in the deep snow as you’d quickly end up knee deep, but if you put on snowshoes life is much easier. Today’s snowshoe walk will last for around four hours (including a break for a lovely lunch around a campfire) and so there is plenty of time for you to soak up the silence of this wild environment. The pace will be leisurely so you have time to stop and admire the flora and fauna in the company of your expert guide.
This evening, you will gather for an Aurora Workshop at the hotel. This informative presentation will provide you with a greater understanding of the Northern Lights and the basics of how to capture the Aurora on camera.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you will have the chance to explore the wintery surroundings on an exciting snowmobile adventure. After full safety instructions, you’ll head out for a safari, following some of the fabulous trails and travelling on the frozen lake. You must be over 18 and hold a full driving license in order to take the controls. You will travel two people per snowmobile and the activity lasts around two hours in total.
Your meals will be served at the hotel and you’ll need a hearty dinner ahead of your Aurora Camp excursion this evening.
Jouko and Mari (the owners of the hotel) and their guides have set up wonderful Aurora Camps all over the area. They are all situated in places where the skies are pitch black and the views to the north are unobstructed. Travelling in a sleigh pulled by your guide’s snowmobile, you will travel in comfort to the camp. A fire will keep you warm and hot drinks will be served as you patiently wait for the Northern Lights. With a little luck, they will make an appearance tonight. You will be out for around 2.5 hrs tonight.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
There are few activities which are as synonymous with the Arctic as a husky safari. There is quite simply nothing that can really be compared to the sense of adventure you get from hitting the trail with an eager team of dogs pulling your sled along. It is a time-honoured way of travelling which has never lost any of its appeal.
You will typically meet your eager huskies on the ice of Lake Inari, just a short walk from the hotel. A full safety briefing will be given before you meet the teams and you’ll be shown how to handle the sleds. As the huskies will be eager to get going (you’ll hear their barks long before you see them) you’ll get straight on with the safari.
Your guide will release your anchor and away you’ll go, off onto the trails and out across the lake. Travelling two people per sled, you will have the chance to take it in turns to drive. It is such a thrilling experience and the scenery here can be spellbinding.
The safari will last around 1 hour in total and there will be some time at the end to meet the dogs and take photos.
The remainder of your day and evening are free for you to relax and unwind. Dinner will be served at the hotel and you may want to head down to the lakeshore to keep an eye out for the Aurora before bed. Remember that you can also arrange to book time at reception to visit the lakeside Aurora sauna should you wish.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today has been left free for you to tailor your time. This is a hugely relaxing setting and there is a lot to be said for some taking a few hours just to appreciate your surroundings. We do however have additional activities which can be arranged, and these can be found in the ‘personalise’ section of the holiday page.
We also strongly recommend taking the time to walk into Inari Village (around 45 minutes’ walk). The village is great for a spot of souvenir shopping and there are also some local cafes to enjoy.
All your meals are included and will be served in the hotel’s restaurant with its panoramic windows.
Tonight, you will strap on a pair of snowshoes and head out into the Arctic night on an Aurora adventure. Experience the silence of the surrounding forest as you make your way across snowy trails to a wonderful viewpoint. Your guide will light a fire and you can enjoy hot drinks as you gaze up at the sky where hopefully, if conditions are favourable, the dancing Northern Lights will make an appearance.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cross-country skiing is one of those activities which Finns start to do as toddlers. Most of us aren’t quite that lucky, but as this is such a popular pastime in Finland it would be rude not to see what all of the fuss is about. You need no prior experience of any kind of skiing to take part, as your guides will provide all the necessary tuition. Once everyone has got the hang of it, your group will head out for a loop on one of the trails close to the hotel (they are all around this region). In total this activity will last approximately two hours.
Now, if the lights have so far proven elusive, tonight could provide an excellent opportunity for you to see them. Travelling either by car or by minibus, your guide will drive you on a route specifically chosen to match the night’s Aurora and weather forecasts.
The beauty of being mobile is that you can cover greater distances and therefore have a better chance of being able to find clear skies. If the conditions are good close to the hotel you’ll set up in one of the Aurora Camps nearby. If there is cloud cover, you’ll head further afield and will hopefully outrun it. All in all, you will be out for around 2.5 hours.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today’s activity allows you to get an idea of what life is like for the traditional reindeer herders of Lapland and their animals. You’ll visit a local reindeer farm where the peaceful animals will be the star attraction. The herder will provide you with details about their year and the life and importance of a reindeer to the local people and economy. The experience will last for around 2.5 hours.
Back at the Wilderness Hotel this evening you will enjoy your final dinner in the restaurant. After your meal, you can head down onto the lake to keep watch on the skies and enjoy the Arctic wilds for one last evening. Alternatively, you might like to add in additional Aurora activities or perhaps enjoy a special Sámi culture themed evening meal, please see the ‘Personalise’ section for details.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today it is sadly time to wave goodbye to Inari and the Arctic. You will be transferred back to the airport in time for your return flights home.
If you have an early departure this morning a boxed breakfast will be provided for your journey.
The order of activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only, your final itinerary will be provided on arrival.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Return from London to Ivalo (via Helsinki). Flight routes are subject to change
- Return airport transfers
- 7 nights in twin/double hotel room (accommodation upgrades available, subject to availability and supplement)
- Full board
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
- Snowshoeing
- Aurora workshop
- Snowmobile safari
- Aurora camp
- Husky safari
- Cross-country skiing
- Visit a reindeer farm
- Aurora hunt by car
- Aurora snowshoeing
- Fully qualified guides and instructors during activities
- 24/7 assistance from our UK based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
- Aurora alert until approximately 1 am
Accommodation
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Situated on Lake Inari’s shores, Wilderness Hotel Inari is one of the most spectacular destinations we feature. Offering excellent levels of comfort and some serious ‘wow factor’, it is the latest addition to the Wilderness Hotels owned by our good friends Jouko and Mari Lappalianen. Importantly it is also slap, bang in the middle of the world’s best Aurora hunting territory and the hotel has implemented some innovative Northern Lights features to help maximise your viewing potential. Wilderness Hotel Inari is ideally located around 40 minutes’ drive from Ivalo Airport and just five minutes from Inari Village, which is the centre of Sámi culture in Finland. There is a variety of accommodation on offer here, including cabins, Aurora cabins and hotel rooms, all of which are separate to (but within very easy reach of), the central restaurant building. The hotel provides modern accommodation with décor which combines both comfort and charm. A huge amount of thought has gone into creating this very special place to stay. Hotel Facilities
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Personalise This Tour
Searching for the Northern Lights by snowmobile is great fun as the landscape takes on a totally different atmosphere after darkness falls. The machines provide you with the mobility to hopefully evade any localised cloud cover and your guide will lead you to the best possible location for a potential sighting of the Northern Lights.
You will travel two people per snowmobile throughout and there will be the chance to swap drivers (the driver must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driving licence).
Duration: approximately 2.5 hours
The Sámi are the indigenous people of Lapland and Inari is at the heart of Sámi culture in Finland.
During this traditional Lappish dinner, youll have the opportunity to learn all about this fascinating way of life with a presentation from a local Sámi person, who will show you their traditional dress.
You will then enjoy an upgraded evening meal which includes traditional Lappish delicacies and local foods.
This activity requires a minimum of 4 people to operate.
Duration: approximately 2-3 hours
This trip is a great way to spend a leisurely day in the wilderness, trying one of the most popular local hobbies ice fishing.
To get to the ideal fishing spot, you will hop into a sleigh pulled by your guides snowmobile and can enjoy the views as you travel along the snow-covered trails. When youve reached your destination, you will drill holes in the thick ice, drop your lines and wait patiently for a nibble on the line.
Regardless of whether you land a catch, this is a lovely way to spend time in the wilds of Lapland and enjoy The Great Outdoors.
Your guide will prepare a warming lunch and hot drinks around a campfire, and who knows, you might be supplementing the meal with fresh fish.
Duration: approximately 4 hours including lunch
| Tour Loaction: | Inari,Finland |
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| Tour Loaction: | Inari,Finland |
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| Tour Loaction: | Inari,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
