Customer Review

Overall the holiday was excellent, the information before booking, once booked and whilst we were there was very comprehensive. The trip lived up to expectations. Generally the food was very good. The food on the day excursions was excellent. Most enjoyable: This varied - my husband the snowmobiling and for me the husky tour. Least enjoyable: Ice fishing as we didn't catch anything. The trip was full of different things to do and there were always additional options on the rare occasion free time was had. The guides could not do enough to ensure you had an enjoyable time, but it is not for anyone wanting a relaxing holiday - you had to fit in a visit to the sauna between the activities. It had a brilliant range of activities and doing some of them at night too gave a very different experience. All in all a wonderful trip, and experiences that will never be forgotten.

I went to Menesjarvi for my 50th birthday with the hope of seeing the Aurora Borealis. I booked this particular holiday as it was just about the only one that fitted in with dates I could be away but I am SO glad I did. I stayed at the Hotel Korpikartano on the shore of Lake Menesjarvi and had a wonderful time. It is not so much like a hotel but more like being a guest in Anna and Timo's home. I had wonderful, warming, Finnish food three times a day, including a personal birthday cake with candles cooked by Anna. I had a comfortable, warm room and lashings of hot water. Everything one needs after a day of husky sledding or snowmobiling and a night Aurora hunting. The hotel itself is not luxurious but that is good as that sort of hotel would be completely wrong for this location. Hotel Korpikartano sits perfectly in its surrounding and the rusticity only adds to the whole experience. There are no shops, bars or restaurants nearby. You are in the wilderness, in a most beautiful place and you really need nothing more. This holiday was termed "very active". By this they mean that you are busy most of the time. There is no particular requirement to be fit. All the activities were a lot of fun but the visit to the reindeer farm and the husky sledding really stood out. I think this was because there is no pandering to 'tourists'. You simply accompany Petri, the herder, on his visit to the herd and he then brews a wonderful warming cup of coffee over an open fire, served with reindeer milk, whilst being told all about reindeer herding and the Sámi way of life. The husky sledding was amazing. What we thought was going to be a simple ride in a dog sled turned out to be so much more. We had to fetch and harness our team of dogs and then took turns to drive and ride in the sled through the most stunningly beautiful Arctic wilderness of frozen lakes and forests with just the sound of the sled sliding throught the deep snow.....and the occasional yell of "seis" to stop the huskies!! The activities alone would have made for a wonderful holiday but the icing on the (birthday) cake was seeing the Aurora on my birthday, the only night out of the four that they appeared, and Tony, our guide said that they were the most spectacular Aurora of the winter!!! They certainly were amazing and almost indescribable. Pictures and even video do not really do them justice, you have to see them to appreciate their beauty. The fact that you can't be sure of seeing them only makes it more special when they do appear. I will almost certainly be returning one day!

Our trip to Abisko and the ICEHOTEL was excellent. Dick, Mina and their team at Abisko Mountain Lodge were wonderful hosts, the accommodation is warm and comfortable and the food was excellent. The various activities were great fun - snowmobiling and husky sledging were both exciting - though at least we felt the huskies knew what they were doing, even if we didn’t. Ice climbing was challenging - not a huge height (thank goodness) and very safe, but it certainly got the adrenalin going and it was a great feeling of achievement to reach the top. The Aurora appeared briefly on our first night but a couple of nights later, after a fruitless trip up to the Aurora Sky Station, we arrived back at Abisko Mountain Lodge and had a last look at the sky before going in. We spotted some colour in the sky, quickly shouted to everyone to come out, and enjoyed over an hour enthralled by the Aurora sweeping and swirling across the sky. A truly amazing sight. The ICEHOTEL was another 'experience' we stayed in one of the new Northern Lights Suites, which was great fun. The restaurant was excellent and the Ice Bar great fun with lots of cocktails themed on the various Art Suites. Not our best ever night’s sleep, but not one of our worst either! Well worth the visit - the ice sculptures are amazing. John and Frances Kerr

Our trip was perfect. The small group was pleasant (and all participants quite amiable). Each day was very well organized, but never felt rushed. And the local guides were all incredibly patient - no mean feat at the end of the season! Most enjoyable: Seeing the Aurora Borealis, and driving a dog sled. Both firsts for us, and not something we can do in our country (at least not like this). And it is always a pleasure and honour to visit another part of the world, and meet people from other countries.

I'd like to say how fantastic our rep Peter was. Very welcoming, knowledgeable and keen to help everyone in the group have an amazing stay. Most enjoyable: the snowmobile safari was fantastic. Lake Inari is so vast and this trip really made me feel inside the Arctic Circle! Having said that, it's difficult to choose between that and the Aurora hunts, which were amazing despite not having seen the Aurora during them. Least enjoyable: N/A - seriously, it'd be unfair to put a negative spin on any of the activities! As mentioned above, Peter was a fantastic rep and having him there made me feel properly taken care of when I had questions - this is pretty important when travelling alone. In addition to this, every guide I met from the Wilderness Hotel was inspiring in their passion and knowledge of Nellim, the local area, and the Northern Lights. In the pursuit of excellence.

We had a great time. The fact that Luosto is small so everything is in easy walking distance was great. The people were friendly and helpful, in a laid-back but efficient way, the food was great, the activities were good fun and we saw the Northern Lights to top it all off - couldn't have asked for better. In addition the local reps went out of their way to enable us to make our stay our own and work around the schedule.

Favourite activity? Teepee Dinner as we saw a fantastic Aurora Borealis display between courses! The activities were all so good and different it would be unfair to say. Improvements? No I don't think so except an Aurora Borealis display every night!!! One of the best, if not The best of our lives. The pace was perfect and we had plenty of time to walk several miles ourselves each day and time to absorb the activity.

What can I say - you can't improve on perfection! We really enjoyed the diversity of the activities on offer but we booked an additional 60km snowmobile safari, which was awesome and there was plenty of time to relax as well. We even got to see the Northern Lights, which was obviously our prime aim, but if they hadn't made an appearance we wouldn't have been disappointed by our holiday. There was no 'least enjoyable' activity - they were all diverse and interesting. Don't change a thing! Peter and Lorna, your representatives in Luosto, were terrific and great ambassadors for your company. The activity providers were also terrific. We had all our own clothing but the suits they provided were surprisingly tasteful and no-one we spoke to had any complaints about being cold or uncomfortable. The Guides were also terrific - we had Tomas and Antcien (I know I've spelt the names wrongly but you know who they are). They had a sense of both authority (in observing the safety aspects) and peace (which gave everyone of any ability a feeling of confidence). They ensured that on more active pursuits there were adequate rest stops, so that everyone could complete the tasks without feeling they were pushing themselves beyond a comfortable limit. They were knowledgeable and very proud of their environment and had a great sense of humour. We will certainly be looking at other holiday destinations covered by the Aurora Zone - it was the best winter holiday we have ever had - but I feel it would be a mistake to return to the same resort. Finland was beautiful and the resort offered us all we needed.

In February, my partner and I did the Abisko trip... it had been my lifelong dream to see the Aurora. This trip exceeded our expectations and really was a trip of a lifetime. The Swedish people really are a fantastic, friendly race of people who are welcoming, helpful and have a great humour. Abisko really is a very, very beautiful place and a perfect break from the craziness of working life in London!! Each activity was well organised with great guides who have great knowledge.  The lodge was a relaxed and homely place to stay. Silka the husky (belonging to one of the guides) melted everyone's hearts!! The ICEHOTEL is even more incredible than I thought could be possible...we chose a 'warm room' and it was a really beautiful room with a lovely view. We saw our best Aurora standing in the middle of the frozen river here...magic!  I even discovered that I was allowed to ice skate on the ice rink behind the local school - two minutes from The ICEHOTEL (which is open and free for anyone who wishes to use it), ...I'd taken my skates in the hope I'd find somewhere..absolutely brilliant! Aurora Zone had it all planned with no hitches...I can't recommend this holiday or this company enough!! Thank you!

An awe inspiring time! Beautiful scenery, exhilarating experiences and the Aurora to top it all!

Thank-you for such a brilliant holiday which was to celebrate my husband's 60th birthday. The Hotel Aurora was great with friendly staff. The food was excellent and it was great that they would save what was left in your bottle of wine for the next evening. The rooms were comfortable and warm and the sauna was lovely after the activities of the day. Our introductory briefing from Peter and Lorna was very helpful and they were on hand during the week to assist if necessary (although everything was so well organised I don't think they had too much to do!). The acitivites were great. My favourite was the reindeer sleigh ride through the forest. Magical! The thermal gear they provide is brilliant, particularly for the cold nights. (The days weren't that cold when we were there - around zero to minus 3). It's quite a faff getting into / out of the gear but much appreciated when the temperature went down to about minus 20 one night. The weather throughout the week was fantastic and we were lucky enough to see the Aurora four nights in a row. We went to the "cul-de-sac" on a couple of nights and to the frozen lake on the other evenings. It was more companiable at the lake and the fire in the hut was useful for a quick warm up now and then. The best display was as we arrived at the ice restaurant for our meal on the Friday. We had a well-balanced week of activities / relaxation and found our travelling companions very friendly. All in all a great holiday. Thank-you again.

Well, what can I say? It was an unexpectedly brilliant holiday! My husband and myself have never done a snow holiday before so had no idea what to expect. Luosto is very small so everything was easily accessible from the hotel. Make sure you venture to the ski slopes (even if you don't ski) as there is a toboggan run and there are lots of toboggans there that you can just help yourself to. It makes you feel like a big kid all over again. We really enjoyed all the activities, especially the snowmobiling (we did it again on our free day). None of the activities start particularly early and don't go on too long so you feel very relaxed even though there's at least one event planned every day (except your free day). Generally you get a hot drink and a snack ( a piece of cake or similar) on most of the events. The Aurora Chalet was really pleasant although the breakfast could have done with a little variation. However there was always plenty available. The fixed menu in the evening (included in our package) was fabulous. We ate things that we may not have chosen and thoroughly enjoyed everything we tried. The hotel is quite warm so you need to take something more relaxed and not so warm for wandering around the hotel. A lot of people wore flipflops or slippers. We forgot to take ours but missed being able to slip something relaxed on after wearing your snow boots most of the day. It was a bit warmer when we were there (-3ish) but the temperature drops at night expecially if it's clear (when you're more likely to see the Lights). Even if you think you don't need them, make sure you have several sets of thermals and fleecy jumpers to put under the snow suit you get given. You will need them. Standing out waiting or trying to take pictures of the Lights can get really cold. If you can fit it in your luggage take a flask (a warm drink would have been really welcome). We were really lucky with the Northern Lights, we saw them 3 out of 7 nights. The mobile they give you to send text alerts when there is high activity works really well although you do see them when you haven't had a text so keep looking. If you want to capture the Lights make sure you take a tripod, an SLR camera that will allow long exposures and preferably a remote switch so you don't have to press the button on the camera and wobble it at the end. We went to the 'Cul-de-sac' which was really good for getting pictures but if you want to stay warmer whilst you're waiting go to the lake as there are huts with fires. The week we went was a full moon right in the middle of the week. If we went again I'd try to go when there was a new moon so it's not too bright, I also believe that around the Equinox is a particularly good time. Lorna & Peter, our reps, were really good. They were always around if you needed them but generally they left you to your own devices. The information they gave at the Welcome Meeting was invaluable so make sure you go to that. All in all it was brilliant, 10/10. You feel like you've been on an adult holiday for big kids.  

We booked the Searching for the Northern Lights and stayed at the Aurora Chalet in Luosto on 24 March for one week. This was one of the most amazing holidays that my wife and I have ever been on. The hotel was everything that we expected and more. The food and service were excellent. The hotel is kept at a lovely temperature so once inside it does not matter how cold it is outside, so don't only take warm clothing. We booked a room with fireplace, but we did not need it..! Everything that was arranged was superbly done and the guides were fabulous, especially Thomas and Anti. The thermal suits and other cold weather clothing that they supplied was excellent, especially if you were out at night searching for The Lights. The trip for dinner in the snow igloo was absolutely fantatstic, but so were all the activities. The resort representatives Peter and Lorna were also very helpful, the introduction meeting was very informative so in all honesty we did not need them much for the rest of the week. To top it all, we got to see The Lights on 4 consecutive nights, the best place to view we found was the frozen lake, behind the Tunturi Hotel, which is about a 10 minute stroll from the Aurora Chalet. Thanks to all, and we will be booking via yourselves in the future.

This was for us a holiday of a lifetime, like no other holiday experienced. From first to last it was so well organised with no hitches. The hotel was warm and comfortable and the special clothing provided was ideal. We will never forget the trip to Kuusiranta, fishing on the frozen lake and then enjoying a wonderful meal around the camp fire. The guides were very knowledgeable, kind and friendly - always looking out for our safety and well-being. The high point of our trip of course has to be the sightings of the Aurora Borealis. How can one ever forget standing on the frozen lake and viewing the beautiful spectacle of the Northern Lights. A truly memorable holiday. Thank you.

Your recommendation that March would be ok for seeing the lights proved spot on - thank you very much! The activity guides were absolutely brilliant and really made our first Northern Lights experience a very positive one. Peter and Lorna were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and always available for advice. The variety of activities makes it difficult to choose one (favourite) in particular. The range of activities was brilliant and allowed us to experience things we had never done before. Obviously seeing the Northern Lights was an experience in itself. We loved the snowmobiling, the husky sledging and the snow-shoe walking in particular. We also very much appreciated the stunning ice restaurant for our Friday night meal. Nothing was not enjoyable, if pushed we would say that the visit to the amethyst mine ranked lowest of the activities, but was still worth including. We are really glad we did this holiday and our choice of Aurora Zone proved to be perfect! We were lucky to see the lights on several nights, which was a tremendous bonus. We found our companions to be friendly and interesting and they added to the whole experience.

Peter and Lorna were lovely people and very well suited to the job of overseeeing our group. Their friendliness / assisitance helped make the time in Luosto most enjoyable.  

All the activities were excellent, I enjoyed them all. It was the first time I had done any of the activities which made the experience quite special. But the huskies were especially great, back to nature and a traditional method of travel. There was nothing I didn't enjoy. All the local people, hotel staff, guides, etc were very friendly and helpful and the people who formed the group were welcoming and like-minded.

Liked the TV-like noticeboard that showed the activities of the day and their timings. Rep always available and happy to help. Enjoyed everything.... perhaps the dog sleighs and snowmobiles best just because they are so different to anything we have done before.... and of course, seeing the Northern Lights! We had been looking forward to this holiday for months and it was even better than we thought. Everyone was so helpful and friendly. The activity guides were brilliant and very knowledgeable.

Everything was fine but 30 min delay at Heathrow caused a rush at Helsinki for connecting flight however bags were transferred with ease and flight was made with about 10 mins to spare.Most enjoyable :

Thank you, we had a most enjoyable holiday and found all those who supported us during the holiday to be first class.

Our Easter in Lapland, started with an instant experience of the lights on the first night. The following evenings we may have not experienced the lights to the same level, but this was more than made up with action-packed activities in the snow. Huskies slegding and snowmobiles by day & night, cross-country skiing, snowboot tour in the night, reindeer tour, along with ice water dip for the hardy people in the group were just some of the highlights to adorn a beautiful experience. Whists the activities were strenuous, the serenely effortless and efficient care-taking of the entire group of mixed-abilities was magnificient. Nilesh Mandalia. Enjoy the photos :)

Peter the rep was brilliant. He was always easy to find and quick to check everything was okay and help with any questions. The local guides were also excellent and added to our enjoyment of the holiday through their knowledge and attitude.

We can't thank you enough for organising a trouble free, interesting, exciting holiday. From the first time we used your website to the phone calls I made, where I spoke to a person who had actually been to the hotel, down to the kind and attentive guides you provided, all was brilliant. The guides took care of us and everything ran like clockwork. We had lots of fun and some rest as well. The lights were kind and showed four nights running. The hotel was clean with friendly staff providing interesting food and venues to eat at. The lists you provided were very useful and we didn't really need our warm boots and coat as all were provided. The pool was nice with the hot tub with amethysts on the ceiling and the Finns are so gentle and kind. We loved the reindeer man and the hot drinks and snacks on the outings. Best of all was the surprise last evening venue. Cool. We made many friends around the fire in the grounds and took some briliant photos for memories.

For me this was the holiday of a life time. I think that the Snow Games team are wonderful. Not only are they extremely competent at all the out-door activities and keeping people safe, but more importantly they are warm, friendly and kind people. Absolutely loved the experience. 

It is difficult to chose (a most enjoyable) activity as they were all very enjoyable. I think that the most enjoyable events were the sighting of the Aurora Borealis on the night of Wednesday 20th March - a magical show. Perhaps the most enjoyable organised event was the Husky sled driving where we couldn't stop laughing after losing the sled and team when we tipped over whilst cornering. The "Teepee" dinner on Friday was also a special occasion we will never forget. This was a very special holiday in a magical setting. We thought the age profile of the party was good and we did not feel like the grandparents of the party and were able to keep up with all the activities. Thanks for a very well organised and memorable trip.

The activity guides were very good in the care they took to meet everyones needs. Jussi was especially good on the fells tour. All went the extra mile. The snowmobiling fells tour was brilliant. It was exhilarating and took us through wonderful terrain. The lunch at the restaurant was also very good. Jussi was an excellent guide.

Thank you so much for your organisation and for choosing such a wonderful place with great activities. We had an absolutely amazing time.....and saw the Northern Lights clearly five nights in a row!! (We enjoyed)...All of it !! We did love the dog sledding and snowmobiling....and the Northern Lights, of course. The reindeer farm and sleigh ride pulled by reindeer was a bit tame after the snowmobiling and the dog sledding but was enjoyable nevertheless.

Rarely on post holiday questionnaires do we rate everything as excellent, but for this holiday we did. The booking process and pre-travel information about what you would need to do and take, etc was excellent and very useful. Booking on the internet can make it very impersonal but being able to talk though any queries or discuss your chosen trip on the phone with Aurora Zone staff was very helpful. The Wilderness Hotel was comfortable, welcoming and so fitting for its environment which is in the wilderness. The food was plentiful, very tasty and wholesome, served buffet style at appropriate times to fit in with returning from activities. Free coffee & tea available all day long. The staff were attentive and friendly at all times. Nellim itself does not have any amenities but the hotel does have a small gift shop where we were able to buy mittens and a balaclava. Having Pete, the in-house rep, ensured everything went according to plan and your needs were met. You also felt you were not lost in with the other guests but were part of 'Aurora Zone' group. His character was just right for the variety of guests he would encounter and he was always happy to join in for a chat. The equipment provided for all the activities was excellent and in good order. The guides so friendly and informative and even though our holiday was towards the end of the season they still had plenty of enthusiasm. Often stepping out of the box to do that little bit more for you. Take plenty of clothes for layering. For the trips on the snowmobile, dog sled and to the Aurora Camp extra layers are needed especially around the face. I found mittens inside mittens the best option to stave off cold fingers. For me it was intended to be my 'holiday-of-a-lifetime' and I was not disappointed. Considering how many activities we were fitting into six days the atmosphere at all times during our stay was very calm and relaxing. We were also lucky enough to see the Northen Lights on a number of occasions during our six night stay so that was the icing on the cake.

The main reason for doing this trip was purely to see the Northern Lights. However, we had such a good time doing all the activities. Being bikers we loved the snowmobiling, although riding on the back was like being on a bucking bronco at times! The frozen lakes were lovely and smooth though, so we managed to go at a fair speed across them. We loved the huskies too - they were so cute and eager to go. The reindeer sleigh was more sedate but still very enjoyable and it was interesting to learn about the lives of the herdsmen. We even got to try our luck with a spot of lassoing (a wooden reindeer, not a live one!) which was a laugh. The only activity we weren't bothered about was the snowshoes, which we thought was a bit pointless, but at least we tried it. The hotel was great, lovely and warm, and our room was very comfortable and snug. We weren't at all cold inside, even when it was minus 18 degrees outside! And we couldn't fault the food - loads of it, hearty stuff which you need in those temperatures. The cold saps your strength so you need to keep eating. We were all given a boiler suit, mitts and gloves, and big clodhopper boots which insulated us against the cold. Our rep, Emma, was lovely; very friendly and approachable, as were all the hotel staff and guides. Everyone went out of their way to make our stay as enjoyable as possible and nothing was too much trouble. However, like I said, the main reason for going was to see the Northern Lights and we weren't disappointed. We were treated to a spectacular display which the resident photographer, Antti, managed to video. He advised how to set up our cameras and we got some great pics. We also saw a fantastic curtain display, which was a surprise on the way back to the hotel at midnight so we didn't really have time to do anything except stand there and watch in amazement. It really was a case of once seen, never forgotten. We enjoyed our trip so much that we're thinking about going back again. Thank you Aurora Zone for a fantastic trip.