Wilderness Hotel Nellim – Wilderness Weekend
- Details
Details
When enjoying a weekend Aurora hunting mini-break, it is always essential to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Based at Nellim, one of our most popular destinations, this wonderful wilderness weekend includes two dedicated Aurora hunts which will really improve your chances of seeing the lights if conditions are favourable.
In the company of expert guides, you will be led out away from all light pollution and into prime Northern Lights viewing locations that only the locals know about.
Your first activity is a visit to one of the area's famed Aurora Camps which you will reach travelling in a snowmobile-pulled sleigh. Each camp has a spectacular location with views of the Northern skies and your guide will choose the best option for the conditions. With warm drinks and great company to pass the time, your stake-out will hopefully be rewarded with a display.
Your second activity will use the mobility provided by either a minibus or a car to try and outrun any localised cloud cover. Your destination will be determined by the forecasts but in this region, if conditions are right, you are unlikely to have to venture too far in order to catch a display. Please note that the order of activities is subject to change and that your Aurora hunting activities may be switched around.
Your days have been left free for you to tailor your itinerary to suit your preferences. You can choose from a number of activities that we have on offer, detailed in the 'Personalise Tour' section on the holiday page. There are some incredible options, including snowmobile safaris, dog sled trips and snowshoeing experiences.
During this short break, you will spend three nights at Nellim Wilderness Hotel, which is one of our best-selling destinations. It offers a wide range of accommodation options including rooms, suites and cabins.
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 travelling 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).
Image credits: Markku Inkilä
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
After you touch down at Ivalo Airport, you will be transferred* to Nellim Wilderness Hotel.
On arrival, you will check in to your accommodation and head for a hearty dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.
Later in the evening you will be issued with your cold weather clothing and have a welcome meeting with one of the local guides. Once you have it, we recommend testing your cold weather clothing by taking a walk down on to the small frozen lake behind the hotel. It is a great Aurora viewing spot (at least 5 members of our office staff have seen the Northern Lights from this point) and gives you chance to check all of your equipment fits correctly and is comfortable for the next few days.
The order of activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only, your final itinerary will be provided on arrival.
*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
After breakfast, your day is free for you to tailor your time. The wide range of options that we have can all be found, in the ‘Personalise Tour’ section.
You may wish to spend time simply exploring the landscape and wilderness in your own time, or you can book an activity and have a guided tour of the surrounding fells. Why not spend the day combining a snowmobile safari and a reindeer experience, as you take a fast-paced ride to the reindeer farm? Once you arrive, you can meet and feed the reindeer and enjoy lunch by an open fire. Or, explore on foot during a guided snowshoe trip, walking over thick blankets of snow into parts of the wilderness that would be unreachable with normal footwear.
Your lunches will be served in the hotel restaurant (unless you book activities which include a meal)
After dinner, it is time for your inaugural Aurora activity– travelling in a sleigh that will be pulled by your guide’s snowmobile. You will sit back and relax as you glide over the snow, beneath hopefully clear skies. Nellim has several Aurora Camps in prime Northern Lights viewpoints, so you will be taken to the most suitable location for the conditions.
Overall, you will be out for around 2.5 hours. Warm drinks will be served as you admire the view and, with any luck, the Northern Lights will dance and shimmer across the sky.
Once more your day is completely free so you can choose to pass your time however you wish. Choose from the many options that we have detailed in the ‘Personalise Tour’ section and you can find yourself snowmobiling on Lake Inari, ice fishing, cross-country skiing or meeting and feeding reindeer.
Depending on which activities you book, both lunch and dinner will be served at the hotel.
Your final evening will be filled with a motorised Aurora hunt as you use the mobility provided by a car or minibus to hunt the Aurora with your guide. You will head to the famous Paatsjoki River – it never freezes – but the route may change based on the Aurora activity levels and the weather forecasts. When you arrive at your destination, you can enjoy warm drinks as you watch the sky for the first signs of a display. The activity will last for around 3 hours in total.
Today your short break comes to an end and you must say farewell to Nellim and take your transfer to the airport in time for your flight home. If you are on an early flight this morning, you will be provided with coffee and a packed breakfast to enjoy on your journey to the airport or while you are waiting for your flight. If you are on a later flight, you can enjoy your breakfast in the restaurant.
What's included?
- Return flights from London to Ivalo (either direct or via Helsinki). Flight routes subject to change.
- Return scheduled group shuttle airport transfers
- 3 nights’ accommodation in twin/double hotel rooms (the hotel can usually accommodate your bed set-availability and supplements up preference, but this can’t be guaranteed). Upgrades can be arranged, subject to
- 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
- Aurora Camp
- Aurora hunt by car or minibus
- Fully qualified guides and instructors during activities
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
- 24/7 assistance from our UK based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
Our Expert Opinion
Time and time again, Nellim is praised by our clients and is a true favourite here at The Aurora Zone. This weekend break allows those short on time to maximise their Aurora hunting over just three nights. Our guests get three nights in prime aurora viewing territory to hopefully see the Northern Lights, utilising the skills of the local guides to maximise viewing potential. There are also two full days which can be totally tailored so you can be as active or as relaxed as you like.
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
Personalise This Tour
This activity lets you experience the thrill of snowmobiling in this wild and remote landscape and also provides an insight into the traditions of Sámi culture, during a visit to a reindeer farm.
After full instruction and a safety briefing, you will travel two people per snowmobile along the local trails, to reach the reindeer herder and their animals. You may also stop along the way to visit the delightful log-built church at Nellim.
At the farm, you will have the chance to feed the animals and learn about their importance to the Sámi people of Lapland and the region as a whole.
Lunch will be cooked over an open fire and warm drinks will be provided before you head back to the hotel.
Please note that you must be 18 years old or over and hold a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile.
Duration: approximately 4 hours
After a full safety briefing and instructions on how to drive and handle the snowmobile, you will head out on an exciting safari, travelling two people per machine (you may choose to upgrade and drive your own snowmobile – please ask our Aurora Travel Experts for a quote).
Travelling along the well-marked trails, you will explore the stunning wilderness which surrounds the hotel, driving over frozen lakes and through beautiful forests.
Please note: You must be 18 years old or over and hold a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile.
Duration: approximately 2 hours
Snowshoeing at night is a wonderful experience, regardless of whether the Northern Lights appear overhead.
The silence of the forests at night is just breathtaking and the landscape takes on a totally different feel at night. Your guide will lead you along the trails to one of the campsites, where you can enjoy hot drinks. If conditions are favourable your efforts will hopefully be rewarded with a spectacular display.
Duration: approximately 2.5 hours
Snowmobiles offer a level of mobility that means that, should there be any localised cloud cover, your guide may be able to lead you to clearer skies.
After full instruction and a safety briefing, you will travel in pairs on the snowmobiles, with one travelling as a passenger and the other in control of the machine (you will get the chance to swap providing you both carry a full driving licence and are over 18). You will be out for around two and a half hours in total and enjoy a hot drink along the way. Please note that the driving distance depends on the weather conditions.
You may choose to upgrade and drive your own snowmobile – please ask our Aurora Travel Experts for a quote.
Duration: approximately 2.5 Hours
This activity is ideal for those who want a day in the wild, trying one of the most favoured local pastimes.
Travelling in a sleigh pulled by your guide’s snowmobile, you will head to a prime fishing spot on one of the lakes around Nellim. You will be provided with the tools you will need, drill your holes and then wait patiently for a fish to nibble on the line.
Lunch will be cooked on an open fire out in the wilderness, and if you’re lucky enough to land a catch, fresh fish may even be on the menu.
Duration: approximately 4 hours
For those who are more confident with the idea of snowmobiling and want to spend longer out on the trails, this is an exceptional activity.
After a full safety briefing and instructions on how to drive and handle the snowmobile, you will head out on your adventure, travelling two people per machine (you may want to upgrade and drive your own snowmobile – please contact our Aurora Travel Experts for a quote). You will have the chance to swap drivers during the activity should you wish.
The route typically takes you along stunning forest trails, before you head towards the vast expanse of Lake Inari, which is ideal for enjoying some thrilling snowmobiling.
Your guide will make a stop for lunch, where they will cook a warming and hearty meal over an open fire. You will then head back to the hotel.
Please note: you must be 18 years old or over and hold a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile.
Duration: approximately 4 hours
A husky safari is effectively a ‘must-do’ activity during your stay in the Arctic.
You will meet your guide at the hotel and will be given full instruction on how to handle the sled and a safety briefing. You will then travel a short distance in a snowmobile-pulled sleigh, to the nearby husky kennels.
You will hear the dogs a long way before you will see them as they will be so excited for the trail. You will be allocated a team between two, with one person driving and the other in the sled (you will have the chance to swap during the activity).
The anchor will be released and then you will set off on your safari. Travelling along trails and then out onto the expanse of Lake Inari on a dog sled is an experience like no other!
Depending on the conditions, you will be out for around 1.5 hours with the dogs. Back at the kennels, you will have the chance to spend some time with your teams and take pictures.
Duration: approximately 2-3 hours in total
Cross-country skiing is one of the most popular Scandinavian activities and this is your chance to learn the basic skills. You will be taught the basics before exploring the trails which surround the hotel. This peaceful activity lets you appreciate the silence and beauty of this area, beware, however, it can be very addictive!
Duration: approximately 2 hours
Spend around four hours out in the wild with your guide, using snowshoes to help you explore the stunning forests around Nellim and walk over the deep snow with ease.
Your guide will lead the way and will point out local flora and fauna as you go, providing information about the local environment and stopping at the most scenic spots.
You will break for lunch around an open fire and you’ll have the chance to really soak in the silence of this wild place.
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
| Tour Loaction: | Nellim,Finland |
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| 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 Loaction: | Inari,Finland |
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| 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 Loaction: | Inari,Finland |
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Tour Map
Additional Info
Price is based on 2 persons travelling
Tour terms, click here
Booking conditions click here
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
