Wilderness Hotel Nellim – Aurora in the Wild
- Details
Details
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.
Please note: If you are travelling over Christmas or New Year, you will enjoy a festive dinner and celebrations on the 24th or the 31st of December (traditionally in Finland, Christmas is celebrated on Christmas Eve).
Itinerary
You will be welcomed at Ivalo Airport by your driver with a Wilderness Hotel Nellim sign and transferred to the hotel (approximately 45 minutes). Upon arrival, receive your program schedule before dinner. Cold weather clothing will be provided either on arrival or the next day, depending on your arrival time.
Transfers operate as part of a scheduled group shuttle, which may include stops at a few nearby hotels.
If you would prefer a more direct and personalised experience, private taxi transfers are available – please contact our Travel Experts for a quotation.
Included Meals: Dinner
Begin your day with a gentle cross-country skiing lesson and loop through the snow-covered forest trails. Your guide will teach you the basic techniques on this activity lasting approximately 2 hours in total.
Later on, join the 1-hour Aurora Workshop, where expert guides will introduce you to the Northern Lights, explaining the science behind the phenomenon and show you the camera settings required for the perfect photo.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Experience the thrill of a snowmobile safari through untouched Arctic landscapes. Following a safety briefing and driving lesson, set off with your guide leading the way, exploring frozen lakes and snow-laden forests. Lunch and warm drinks are provided during this 4-hour adventure. You will travel two people per snowmobile with a chance to swap drivers along the way. Please note that you must be 18 years and over and hold a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Strap on your snowshoes for a guided trek through the pristine wilderness, spotting wildlife tracks and learning about the local flora and fauna. You will be out for around 4 hours including a lunch break during your adventure.
In the evening, your guide will lead you in a sleigh pulled by snowmobile to an Aurora Camp, where a campfire and hot drinks will keep you warm while you watch the sky. The camps are very carefully selected and are in prime viewpoints; hopefully the Northern Lights will make an appearance tonight. You will be out for approximately 2.5 hours in total this evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend the day on a snowmobile-pulled sleigh adventure to the best ice fishing spots. Learn how to drill holes in the ice, try your hand at catching fish, and if lucky, enjoy a freshly cooked meal over an open fire (there is always a backup lunch in case!). A unique Arctic experience that will last for around 4 hours in total.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, you will visit a local reindeer farm and meet the herders, learning about Sámi culture and the importance of reindeer in Northern life. You will even have the chance to feed the reindeer. The activity lasts for around 2 hours in total.
In the evening, set off on an Aurora hunt by car, driving to the best vantage points selected by your guides for clear skies and optimal Aurora conditions. Warm drinks and snacks are served along the way and you will be out for approximately 2.5 hours this evening, in search of the lights.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, experience a husky safari, learning to handle the sled before gliding through the Arctic landscape. You will have the chance to swap roles during the safari, with 1 person driving and the other riding as a passenger. The activity lasts around 2 hours in total, including approximately 1 hour of driving time in total.
In the evening, embark on an Aurora snowmobiling safari, exploring areas with open views of the sky. Your route will entirely be determined by cloud cover and Aurora activity; if a display looks imminent, you will stop and watch it unfold together. There will be a break for warm drinks and a campfire during the activity too. Again, you will travel 2 people per snowmobile with a chance to swap drivers along the way (drivers must be 18+ and hold a full driving licence). You will be out for approximately 2.5 hours this evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Ivalo Airport, bringing your Lapland adventure to a close. Depart with memories of Arctic landscapes, thrilling winter activities, and hopefully, the unforgettable Northern Lights.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Book with confidence – Our flight inclusive packages are fully financially ATOL-protected and backed by a trusted UK operator
- Flights: Direct return flights from London to Ivalo (flight routes subject to change)
- Transfers: Return scheduled group shuttle airport transfers
- Accommodation: 7 nights in a standard twin/double hotel room (upgrades can be arranged subject to availability and supplements)
- Meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners
- Cross-country skiing
- Aurora workshop
- Snowmobile safari
- Snowshoe safari
- Aurora camp
- Ice fishing by snowmobile sleigh
- Reindeer farm visit
- Aurora hunt by car
- Husky safari
- Aurora snowmobile safari
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
- Fully qualified guides and instructors during activities
- 24/7 assistance from our UK based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
Accommodation
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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
Double/Twin Wilderness Room
Wilderness rooms are situated in three separate buildings within the resort area. Each room features a bathroom stocked with amenities and a hairdryer. Guests can choose between rooms furnished with either double beds or twin beds. The rooms are tastefully decorated with decor inspired by the Arctic nature surrounding them, capturing the refined spirit of Lapland.
Arctic Suites
Many guests like to upgrade to one of the six Arctic Suites at Nellim, all of which are situated in one of the annexe buildings across from the reception and restaurant. The suites offer guests additional room and their own space in which to relax after a day or night of activities.
Each suite varies in size and facilities. Suites are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis according to the accommodation which best suits your party.
Cabin
Nellim offers a variety of cabins which offer varying facilities and which are mainly within easy walking distance of the hotel. Cabins are allocated on a first come, first served basis, according to the accommodation which most suits your party and availability. Specific facilities cannot be guaranteed.
Log Suite
Located between 30-70 metres from the main building these charming log suites at Nellim offer approximately 33m² of comfortable space. There are four suites in each of the separate log buildings.
Aurora Cabins
Experience the Northern Lights in comfort from a glass-roofed Aurora Cabin, featuring a double bed, sofa bed, bathroom, shower, and unforgettable views of the Arctic sky. Nellim also offers premium and deluxe cabins.
Other Upgrade Options
Nellim boasts an exceptional range of high-quality accommodations.
For more information please speak to one of our Travel Experts.
Personalise This Tour
Should you wish to explore independently during your stay, then both cross country ski gear and snowshoes can be rented at the hotel. Please ensure that you take a map and always follow marked trails. Ensure that you also have a mobile phone and the hotel’s contact details in case either are required during your outing.
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Additional Info
Price is based on 2 persons travelling
Tour terms, click here
Booking conditions click here
Payment and Cancellation Terms:
If you are travelling between, and including, the dates of 15.12-03.01, the following cancellation terms apply:
– Prior to 31.08 – Loss of deposit (including the full cost of the flights or other services where paid at the time of booking)
– 01.09 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 35 days prior to departure – 70%
– 34 or less days – 100%
Snow coverage in early December
If you are travelling early in the winter season and there is not enough snowfall, then some activities may be adapted by the local team, or alternatives provided, to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. For more information on this, please see section 11 of our booking terms and conditions.
Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists
