Customer Review

We have just returned from 4 days in the Muotka Lodge. We were not sure whether to book Nellim or Muotka but decided that as we wanted the real Lappish feeling, we had to go to the lodge that was less touristic and quieter. We booked 2 nights in a log cabin and the last night in the Aurora bubble. It first looked like we were not able to see any Aurora lights because of the weather, but we have seen some activity each night. Upon arrival, we were booked on an Aurora camp which takes you in a little car behind a snowmobile into a small open space. There is a tepee there and a little place to keep warm. It was clouded but we did some activity. However, what nobody ever tells you is that most Aurora lights come in white and that you can see the colours by using a camera only*. It was a pleasant surprise and with -5 it was not cold. Muotka provides you with all that you need in the cold: a balaclava, helmet, mittens, socks, shoes and a proper suit. You can keep these during your entire stay. The log cabin was fantastic. Incredibly quiet, warm and a huge window to see the nature around you. There is a little sauna and a place to light a fire, but we didn't need the extra warmth. Wi-Fi is only to be found in the restaurant/reception area, but if you really want to enjoy this Lapland experience you should do without Wi-Fi anyway in my opinion. The Aurora bubble was something that I would only recommend for one night. It is something special, but as the room is much smaller I would not stay there any longer. The bubble is to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lie in your bed and look up at the sky and see the stars and if you're lucky some Polar lights as well. We had snow all day long, but after going to bed I realised that I saw some stars and yes there they were, the lights were there for about 20 mins. The food at the Muotka lodge is simple but oh, so tasty. It is buffet style, but local food and there is always a fish dish and a meat dish with vegetables and some sort of potato dish. On top of that, there are salads, bread and there is a little bar to purchase a beer or some wine. The guides at the lodges are all extremely nice and knowledgeable. The second day we went Aurora hunting with the car and although we were told we didn't need to dress in the thermal clothing we were glad we did as the temp dropped to -22C. Please do not forget to pack the thermal boots! We had forgotten those and after standing outside looking at the lights you will get cold feet. On the third day, we went for a snowmobile trip during the day. We were only with 5 scooters and sitting in the back is rather comfortable. Again the guides were very good and kept us safe. The beauty is breathtaking and we ended up on a hill where I think the feel temp must have hit -40C! Brrr... but again the clothing kept us warm. We had a lovely simple warm lunch where they were keeping reindeer and we went back to the lodge. It was a very impressing experience. On day four we sadly had to leave again, but being in Finnish Lapland we finally had some time to think about things and about life in general. We had a lot of fun in Muotka and would certainly recommend going there. The Aurora Zone people have been very easy to deal with and very helpful. I would only want to say that if you can, spend a bit more money for at least the log cabin as it is certainly worth it. * Hi Yvonne and Alan - we would like to comment that the colour of the Aurora to the naked eye is predominantly green - in fact, white Auroras are very rare and are generally the result of weak geomagnetic activity. We are delighted that you had such a wonderful trip! The Aurora Zone team

Everything was as advertised. My mom and I had a great time! Everything from seeing the Northern Lights to dog sledding to snowmobiling to reindeer sleigh. All tour guides were excellent. Greta was very nice and answered all our questions.

Husky safari - most fun & the activity we felt most involved/in control with. Able to see the scenery as well as enjoy the activity. Was also amazing to see & interact with the dogs (especially the puppies). 

Overall great experience using Aurora Zone... salesperson was helpful and honest and the account folks were very quick to respond. It's a great mix of activities and downtime. 

We were lucky enough to see the Aurora on all four nights of our trip. It was not as bright nor as green as you see in long-exposure photos but still amazing. Added to this, the activities are all fabulous and well organised. I loved the thrill of travelling across frozen Lake Inari on husky sleds and snowmobiles. Our days and nights involved many campfires and hot juice drinks - all very welcome when it's so cold. I loved all the activities but if I had to pick one it would be the husky sleds. A unique experience, very thrilling and we were lucky to have a beautiful sunny morning. The Nellim Wilderness Hotel/Lodge is very cosy and the rooms are very spacious and comfortable. The food was of an excellent standard and plentiful. A holiday of a lifetime and one to remember forever.

The food was outstanding and far above expectations. Dog sledding was really special and tranquil.

A very well planned and organised holiday. Very good guides and instructors; so very friendly and helpful. The husky sledding (was my favourite) because I just adore the huskies and I spent several hours out in the beautiful wilderness driving the team. Thank you for all your assistance and a huge thank you to all in Utsjoki, I could not have asked for better care and assistance. Activities fantastic. So very sorry to leave but I will be back in Sámi country next year!!

Food was outstanding and far above expectations. Dog sledding was really special and tranquil.

The perfect trip :) Snowmobiling and the huskies were the favourites because it gives you a chance to see the beautiful back country. 

Thoroughly enjoyed our holiday in Finland. I would struggle to pick a favourite activity as everything was well run and fun, the guides all friendly and professional. Never felt cold, despite the -21 degrees; the kit provided really does its job. A bonus was seeing a good display of the lights on the one night we stayed in a Kota at Muotka, magic. It was good to try the two different places, quite a different feel from the atmospheric forest at Muotka to the vast frozen lake at Nellim.The advice and help given by you all at Aurora Zone was superb and we wouldn't hesitate to highly recommend this holiday.

The optional snowmobile trek was fabulous - fast and fun. We loved the whole experience of the holiday. 

Excellent. Recommending to everyone. Emphasise need for a camera which has long exposure, and a tripod to get decent pictures. Spectacular conditions for viewing the Aurora during the Snowmobile Northern Lights safari.

Had an absolutely amazingly fantastic holiday. Thank you for recommending Abisko, it was such a fabulous choice. Loved every minute. Loved everything I did - the snowmobiling and dog sledge were especially enjoyable. The photography evening was great, managed to get some great photographs of the Aurora. And the Ice Hotel was the 'icing' on the cake! All the arrangements went really well and excellently organised. The food at the lodge was excellent and the staff so friendly and helpful. It ran like clockwork.

Just loved the huskies, fun, exciting and wonderful for animal lovers, although my husband, a confirmed non-animal lover was quite taken too. The ice fishing is a fun idea and so unique to the culture, it had to be done. The holiday was well planned with free time increasing towards the end as we got more tired. The local guides were exceptional, they were very friendly and extremely skilled in assessing the group and making sure everyone was comfortable with the level of activity without making slower or less fit members feel they were holding the group up. They also went out of their way to answer questions, lighten the moment and make sure everyone got maximum value from the experience.

I got to tick so many things off my bucket list. I was travelling solo but was never left out of any of the activities due to this, the staff made sure that I was included in everything. Favourite activity? The husky safari, outside with nature going over the frozen lakes, forests and through the snow! What more could you ask for? The holiday was so well planned out. All the staff were friendly and helpful, full of advice. This was from the moment I booked this trip to the driver that took us back to the airport. What a fantastic team of professional people.

The activities - snowshoe safari in a snow storm in the Pallas National Park, the husky trip and the ice fishing were made even better (if that is possible) by the fantastic guides we had. They were knowledgeable, enthusiastic, really helpful and fun to be with. The staff in the hotel were also really great as well.

On behalf of myself and my daughter, I would like to say how much we enjoyed our holiday with you. A first visit for us both to Scandinavia, we were so impressed by the warmth and friendliness of all the staff and locals that we met. Our accommodation at the Wilderness Hotel was very warm and comfortable and we were overwhelmed by the delicious, nutritious and plentiful food! All the activities were brilliant, starting with the extremely enjoyable afternoon driving our team of huskies. My daughter was totally in her element! We had a go at cross-country skiing around the lake, I managed to only fall over once! The snowshoeing was a lovely experience, seeing all the local landscape and wildlife up close, and the snowmobiling all a lot of fun. We loved the Aurora camp outings with the log fires and hot drinks, and our day visiting the reindeer farm, local church, beautiful lunch spot by the log flume and the ice fishing, made all the more interesting by Toni's in-depth knowledge of the area and history of Lapland. To highlight it all, we did see the wonderful Northern Lights, not only on our first night but again on our last night. How lucky was that!! I would also like to say thank you to our representative, Dan, who was always there to see us off and welcome us home and able to help with any enquiries. I was lucky enough to be his passenger on the snowmobile on our last day out too!

Excellent well organised trip. The Husky sledding and seeing the Northern Lights! I actually went for the huskies and hoped would be lucky to see the lights. Great! Really enjoyable well organised trip will be recommending to friends and family. Thanks!

Fabulous holiday full of activities. Very knowledgeable guides. Cannot say - more loved every minute.

Outstanding place. Great hotel, people and activities. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed all of the activities immensely and for different reasons. The reindeer farm was so interesting and the reindeer sledging was so pleasant. The huskies were just adorable and, even though it was a little bit daunting at first, the ride was a lot of fun even when one of the dogs decided to go number 2 on the run! The Aurora hunts were great (even the one where it was snowing and we didn't see anything) because the scenery was so beautiful and nothing like I've ever experienced before.

Everything was done well and the log cabin was very good! The guides were excellent. Very helpful and kind.

We had the most amazing time at Harriniva. Everyone was very friendly and helpful and the place is just beautiful. We had one of the cabins which were right on the (frozen) river. The view is beautiful and it is lovely to have your own space and sauna. The cabins are about 200m from the main buildings so it is a bit of a hassle to get all dressed up in your warm clothing to just to walk up to get breakfast but it is worth it to have the space and it is much quicker to get outside to see the lights if they decide to come out. We found the range and amount of food provided to be great and there were a lot of options so you won’t go hungry. All the outer warm gear they provide is very warm but make sure you bring enough thermals as you are in them every day. The equipment room can be busy and there is only one person there so make sure you leave enough time to get your gear on the first day. The activities are all amazing and everything is very well run. We had the best guide for the week (Mathieu) who really made the experience. He was very passionate and knowledgeable about everything we did and had a great sense of humour. Our favourite activity was the snowmobiling which is great fun and on this tour, you get to do it twice. We were very lucky to have the Northern Lights come out on our last night while we were on the snowmobiles and thankfully Matthew knew what to look for as I would never have noticed them. The husky safari was also a highlight. The dogs are all very well cared for and seem to really love what they do. We had a great group of people on our trip as well and really enjoyed getting to know everyone and sharing the experience. I absolutely loved the week and am already looking at how to get back there as the place is just magical. Aurora Zone staff were amazing and made everything very easy. Their contact at the Lodge, Katrina was very friendly and welcoming. Amy on their sales team was great and very helpful with the booking and made the process very easy. I fully recommend this particular tour and The Aurora Zone.

Although seeing the Northern Lights was the point of this trip, I think the husky safari was the most fun activity. I think the holiday was very well organised. Everything was clearly explained, and there was plenty of time to get ready for each of the activities offered. There was also a good balance between activities and rest time. Having someone to help with photographing the Aurora was an absolute boon!

I highly recommend this trip to everyone! Seeing the Northern Lights - is a reminder that we live on a giant magnet floating in space. Puts everything in perspective. Everything was perfect.

Best holiday we have ever had, overall amazing. Guides were very friendly and didn’t mind you asking them questions and they were very informative about the area and cultures. I loved the peacefulness, no hustle and bustle, no shops, not many people - it was lovely. Northern Lights are just something you can’t explain and very emotional; we loved the husky sledding and the snowmobiling especially the night one.

I must extend our wholehearted thanks to all who organised our recent trip to Finland and the wonderful Muotka. What a truly magical place. The staff were so lovely and nothing was too much trouble, comfortable bedrooms and good food.

Myself and my partner travelled to Finland with The Aurora Zone back in 2015, and it was the excellent customer service that drew us back to the company. We knew as soon as we returned that we'd want to go again, so we booked to go to Nellim for a slightly longer duration this time around! Although the activities planned were the same as last time, we enjoyed them every bit as the first time around. Husky dog sledding was our highlight - there's nothing quite like being pulled across a frozen lake by a team of dogs! The guides at Nellim were all very knowledgeable, and everything was very well organised. The food there is hearty, and welcome after a day of activities. The gear provided is excellent at keeping you warm. We had our own boots, but this time I took up the offer of a snow suit, and boy does that thing keep you warm! We added a private sleigh ride, and a night in a kota onto our trip. The sleigh ride was fantastic - they provided you with two small bottles of sparkling wine, and some chocolates. The cover is clear, and it is heated inside, so you can see your surroundings whilst you're being pulled across Lake Inari. Although we were not lucky enough to see the lights that night, it was an enjoyable experience. The kota was a fantastic overnight stay. Again, we were not lucky enough to have lights that night, but it was a cosy evening! One evening we had an Aurora snowshoe trip - you are taken out to a camp, a fire is built, and you enjoy hot berry juice and biscuits. Whilst we were walking to the camp, the Northern Lights started to appear in the sky. We reached the camp, and I set up the camera. Whilst we were there, the lights just kept on coming! It was an absolutely fantastic display, and at a couple of points, it started dancing and shimmering. On our arrival back from the camp, the lights were still going on, so we decided to make the short walk down to Lake Inari to get some more snaps. We stayed out for another hour and a half just to enjoy the lights, and we were rewarded! More shimmering and dancing occurred, and the sky was just full of gorgeous colours. Whilst I'm not the best photographer, I've added some photos of the lights (and of the huskies). All in all, it was another fantastic holiday from The Aurora Zone, and I would highly recommend the company to anyone. I've got no doubts that we'll be back at some point!

Returned a week ago from the best holiday of our lives! This was a special trip for our Silver Wedding Anniversary, and we spent a long time deciding where to go. Going to Nellim for the 'Aurora in the Wild' was the best decision we could have made! From the moment we arrived at Ivalo Airport we were well looked after, never pressured, but always well organised. Dan (the Rep) was brilliant, always around if you needed him, very welcoming, but never 'in your face'. The hotel staff and guides were all great, very polite, helpful, cheerful and with so much local knowledge and useful information to share. We stayed in a 'Nangu' cabin, definitely worth the upgrade, our friends were in the hotel and the room was a little small, especially with all the gear you need to keep warm!!! We were lucky enough to see the Aurora 6 nights out of 7 with an amazing display on one night which lasted all evening! Every activity was well organised and brilliant. We were lucky enough to be able to share this whole experience with some new friends we made whilst we were there, who we will be seeing again soon. If you are considering this holiday and are unsure, don't be, it is amazing and we would return tomorrow if we could!!!

Dan, our rep, was fantastic - he was attentive without being intrusive. Really helpful, would his best to accommodate the group's requests. Snowmobile safari - guide Lamu was very knowledgeable, and funny! The setting was fantastic - couldn't fault it at all.