Chasing the Aurora from Norway to Finland
- Details
Details
Offering a magical journey through the Arctic, this multi destination holiday starts with your arrival in Kirkenes, Norway, where you'll settle into the Thon Hotel by the water's edge. Kirkenes, located in the far northeast of Norway is a small, charming town known for its unique Arctic experiences. Positioned by the Barents Sea, Kirkenes offers stunning coastal views and invites you to explore the rugged, icy landscapes of the region. It's renowned for its Snow Hotel, which you will visit, featuring intricate ice sculptures, and provides your king crab safari with an included opportunity to taste the freshly caught crab! The town's remote location also makes it an excellent spot for Northern Lights viewing!
After exploring Northern Norway, you will then transfer to the stunning Wilderness Hotel Nellim in Finland, over the next 4 nights you will enjoy perfect blend of thrilling winter activities in a remote winter haven.
Set in the far northeast of Finland, the small village of Nellim provides a stunning setting for this adventure, with excellent potential for viewing the Northern Lights. The welcoming Wilderness Hotel Nellim is situated near the shores of Lake Inari, and its frozen surface offers an optimal spot for watching the Aurora. The hotel also features Aurora Cabins, where you can upgrade for a night of gazing directly at the Arctic sky from the comfort of their bed. While the many evening excursions you will undertake are a highlight, your days are equally filled with incredible activities that showcase the beauty of this Arctic region.
Nellim holds a special place in our hearts, as many of us at The Aurora Zone experienced our first Northern Lights sighting here. Its combination of warm hospitality, stunning landscapes, knowledgeable guides, and lack of light pollution makes it an ideal destination for an Aurora adventure.
Image credits: Babang Deshommes & Wilderness Hotels.
Important Information
Itinerary
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 in Kirkenes, you will be transferred on a short journey to Thon Hotel, Kirkenes situated right on the waters edge. Settle in for the evening and a hearty dinner before the adventures begin tomorrow.
Included meals: None
Today you will explore the best of Kirkenes and discover the magic of the Arctic with a day visit to the Snow Hotel in Kirkenes, combined with a King Crab Safari. Begin your Norwegian adventure by exploring the Snow Hotel, a wonderland of ice and snow, where local artists intricately design each room, to create stunning ice sculptures.
Next, embark on a thrilling King Crab Safari across the fjord, traveling by snowmobile and sleigh. Assist local fishermen in pulling up enormous King Crabs from beneath the ice, before enjoying a fresh, delicious crab feast in a cozy, rustic cabin. An unforgettable Arctic experience.
Included meals: Breakfast, Light lunch (*Fresh king crab)
After enjoying breakfast in Norway, a private transfer will take you to the enchanting landscapes of Finland. The journey takes just over three hours and ends at the stunning Wilderness Hotel Nellim, your base for the next few days of snow-filled adventures. Upon arrival, you will check in and enjoy a hearty dinner in the hotel’s main restaurant.
Before turning in for the night, consider taking a stroll to the edge of Lake Inari, one of the best spots to witness the Northern Lights. Thanks to Nellim’s remote location, light pollution is almost non-existent, so you will not need to venture far to catch a glimpse of the Aurora if the skies are clear.
Please note that the activities outlined in this itinerary are for guidance, and your final schedule will be provided upon arrival at the resort.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Your first morning at Nellim will reveal that this region offers so much more than just Aurora hunting. By day, you’ll find yourself immersed in a winter wonderland of frozen lakes, snow-covered fells, and blanketed forests.
After breakfast, you will embark on an exhilarating snowmobile adventure into the wilderness, led by your expert guide. Before setting off, you will receive a thorough safety briefing and driving lesson. Riding two per snowmobile, you will explore the scenic local trails, taking in your stunning surroundings. You can switch drivers during the safari. The safari will last approximately 2 hours.
Lunch will be served back at the hotel.
In the evening, after dinner, your first Aurora hunt begins with a magical journey to one of Nellim’s Aurora Camps, traveling by snowmobile-pulled sleigh. These camps are in prime spots, offering breathtaking views of the starry night sky.
As your guide prepares a warming fire, you will gather as a group, enjoying hot drinks while watching the skies for the Aurora. You will spend about two and a half hours at the camp.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, you’ll experience one of the most memorable highlights of any trip to Lapland: taking charge of a team of enthusiastic huskies. The kennels are just a short distance from the hotel, and before setting off, your experienced musher guide will provide a full safety briefing and detailed instructions.
You’ll ride two per sled, with the opportunity to switch drivers and take turns guiding the dog team as they pull you across frozen lakes and through snow-covered forests. There’s nothing quite like traveling in this traditional way. The husky safari lasts around 1.5 hours*, and upon returning to the kennels, there will be time for photos with the dogs. Lunch will then be served back at the hotel.
This afternoon, you will have free time to unwind or explore the area independently.
After dinner, your evening adventure takes you back into the wilderness, this time on snowshoes. These help you easily trek through the deep snow as you enjoy the tranquil surroundings on your way to a remote campsite. Once there, you will gather around for warm drinks while gazing at the night sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights if conditions allow. You will be out for approximately two and a half hours this evening.
*Please note that this safari is sometimes referred to locally as being 3 hours in duration, which includes the lunch that we provide as standard.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, your expert guide will take you to a local reindeer farm, where you will have the opportunity to meet these iconic animals up close. During the visit, your guide will share insights into the lives of the reindeer and their significance to the region. You will even have the chance to feed them, making for a truly special experience. This activity will last around two hours.
After dinner, you will embark on your final Northern Lights hunt, traveling by car or minibus depending on the size of your group. The advantage of using a vehicle is the flexibility to chase clearer skies, giving you a better chance of outrunning any cloud cover that might obscure the Aurora. Combined with your guide’s excellent local knowledge, this approach increases the chances of witnessing the Northern Lights on your final evening.
Hot drinks will be provided, and you will be out for approximately three hours tonight.
Included meals: Breakfast
Today you will transfer for your return flights home. If you are departing on an early flight, then a boxed breakfast will be provided for you to take with you.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Private transfer: Kirkenes airport to Thon Hotel Kirkenes
- Private transfer: Thon Hotel Kirkenes to Wilderness Hotel Nellim
- Scheduled group shuttle transfer: Wilderness Hotel Nellim to Ivalo airport
- 2 nights in accommodation at Thon Hotel
- 4 nights’ accommodation in twin/double hotel rooms (the hotel can usually accommodate your bed set-up preference, but this can’t be guaranteed. Upgrades available on request.
- 2 breakfasts, 1 light lunch (Freshly caught King Crab) in Kirkenes
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners in Nellim
Accommodation
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Located in a scenic quayside setting, the Thon Hotel in Kirkenes enjoys wonderful views across the waters of the surrounding Bøkfjorden. It benefits from being just a short transfer from the Hurtigruten Terminal and within easy walking distance of the shops, restaurants and tourist attractions of the city of Kirkenes. With its modern and bright Scandinavian décor, the hotel offers guests a friendly and comfortable base from which to explore the delights of Northern Norway. Hotel facilities
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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, Juutua 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 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
- The restaurant/reception building is the focal point at Nellim. With locally-made furnishings, the atmosphere is charming. Hearty buffets of local and international favourites are served three times a day. There is usually a soup and salad selection, two choices of main meal and a pudding for evening meals
- Guests can relax next to the roaring fire and enjoy a drink from the bar in the restaurant
- A sauna is available for guests to use and can be reserved at reception in hourly slots
- There is a fully stocked gift shop which offers a range of local produce and souvenirs for you to take home
- Tea and coffee making facilities are available in the main building for guests outside meal times
- Cross-country skis and snowshoes are available to hire from the onsite activity centre
- The small lake behind the hotel is a great spot for some independent Aurora stakeouts
Tour Map
Additional Info
Trip specific Payment and Cancellation Terms:
Please note that the following cancellation terms supersede in part those mentioned in Section 7 of our general booking terms and conditions.
If you are travelling between, and including, the dates of 15.12-06.01, the following cancellation terms apply:
– Prior to 25.09 – Loss of deposit (including the full cost of the flights or other services where paid at the time of booking)
– 26.09 up until departure date – 100%
For all other travel dates, the following cancellation terms apply:
– Up to balance due date (this is normally 16 weeks prior to departure however some holidays differ. If this applies to your holiday you will be advised at the time of booking) – Loss of deposit (including the full cost of flights or other services where paid at the time of booking)
– Between balance due date and 43 days prior to departure – 60%
– 42 to 16 days prior to departure – 85%
– 15 or less days – 100%
Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists
