Northern Lights Village Saariselkä – Santa Experience & Aurora Cabins
- 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.
Itinerary
Arriving at Ivalo Airport, your family adventure in Finnish Lapland begins with a transfer to Northern Lights Village Saariselkä, where you will check in to your glass-roofed Aurora Cabin.
Specialist cold-weather clothing is included for the duration of your stay, ensuring you stay warm and comfortable while exploring the Arctic surroundings. In your cabin, the Aurora Alert system on the in-room tablet will notify you when the Northern Lights appear, allowing you to unwind and relax in comfort while you wait for the magic to unfold.
This evening, enjoy a cosy dinner in the restaurant, the perfect opportunity to settle in and begin soaking up the magic of Lapland together.
Included Meals: Dinner
Today is when the magic truly comes to life. After breakfast, step into the festive spirit at Northern Lights Village Saariselkä, where a full day of unforgettable Arctic experiences awaits.
Your morning begins in the company of Santa’s cheerful Elves, as you join them to craft Santa’s favourite gingerbread treats. After baking, you’ll meet his gentle reindeer and enjoy a short sleigh ride through the snow-covered forest. The adventure continues as you travel by snowmobile-pulled sleigh in search of Santa’s hidden cabin. Deep in the forest, you’ll be warmly welcomed by Father Christmas, with time to share a magical moment and receive a small gift.
A warming lunch is included, giving you time to relax before your next adventure, a thrilling husky safari. Travel approximately 5km through the pristine wilderness as you guide your own team of eager dogs across the snowy landscape. The experience is both exhilarating and unforgettable, offering a unique contrast to everyday life.
Later in the afternoon, younger adventurers can enjoy a mini snowmobile experience, navigating their own specially designed snowmobiles under expert supervision, always a highlight of the day.
As evening falls, enjoy dinner in the restaurant, the perfect opportunity to unwind and reflect on the day’s experiences. With a little luck, the Northern Lights may make an appearance, providing a magical finale to an already unforgettable day.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, your time in Lapland comes to an end. After breakfast, you will transfer from Northern Lights Village Saariselkä to Ivalo Airport for your journey home.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Book with confidence – our flight inclusive packages are fully financially ATOL-protected and guaranteed by a trusted and fully regulated UK operator
- Flights: Return direct flights from London to Ivalo (flight routes subject to change)
- Transfers: Return group airport transfers
- Accommodation: 2 nights in a glass-roofed Aurora Cabin
- Meals: Full board
- Searching for Father Christmas with short reindeer ride
- 5km Husky Safari
- 30 minutes children’s snowmobile (age and height restrictions apply)
- 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
- Aurora alert service which you can set to alert you throughout the night or end at a specific time
Accommodation
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Located in far Northeast Finland, the Northern Lights Village sits on the outskirts of the ski resort of Saariselka. Tucked away from the town, the location is ideal for viewing the Northern Lights but is still within walking distance (around 1000m) of the town’s amenities. The ski slopes can be accessed via a shuttle (small charge applies) or a pleasant walk of around 40-50 minutes.
The Northern Lights Village offers accommodation in Aurora Cabins which are half-roofed with glass. The twin or double beds are situated beneath the panoramic roof and provide the chance to view the Northern Lights from your bed!
There are 80 cabins in total, all of which are within a 5-10 minutes walk of the Village’s central facilities which include the restaurant.
Facilities
- The Village restaurant is an atmospheric place, inspired by traditional wooden kotas (Finnish teepees). Breakfast is a buffet of continental options and some hot dishes. Evening meals are a buffet with starters of soups and salad, a choice of local meat or fish will follow (the reindeer and white fish in this region are delicious!). Typically, a cake will be served for pudding, keeping you well-fuelled for your nocturnal Aurora hunting adventures. Dietary requirements are all well-catered for as long as we are informed at the time of booking (you will also need to make staff aware of your requirements locally because of the buffet service). There’s also a large bar and lounge area.
- The Northern Lights Village has an onsite reindeer paddock and all activities start in the village so there is no need for transfers.
- Saariselka is around a 20-25 minute walk from the Northern Lights Village (40-50 minutes to the ski slopes) which means that all of the amenities, shops, cafes and local restaurants are within easy reach.
- Guests can pay extra to use the hot tub, sauna and ice pool.
Aurora Cabin
The Aurora Cabins have a half-glass roof which is laser heated to keep it clear of ice, and they all face the Northern sky.
Each cabin has a double (separate duvets) or twin beds and some have an additional sofa bed, suitable for an additional adult or two small children. There is a shower room (with underfloor heating) and a toilet, as well as a luggage storage area, Tea and coffee-making facilities, free WiFi, a hairdryer and a minibar (payable locally) are also included.
Importantly for duvet-based Aurora hunting, a timer switch can be used to heat the glass roof should your view be obscured by snowfall. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to heat and melt the snow so there’s no need to go and sweep the roof in your pyjamas!
A few housekeeping notes we always like guests to be aware of – cabins are not cleaned between arrival and departure unless requested from reception. Additionally, towels can be exchanged at reception if required. The hot water is plentiful, but not unlimited (10-15 minutes per half hour), so please bear this in mind.
Polar Sky Suites
There are 16 Polar Sky Suites situated at the top of Kaunispää Hill with expansive views of frozen lakes and forests stretching to the horizon.
Each suite has a half-glass roof, allowing you to look up into the sky in search of the Northern Lights and out across the snow-covered fells. The suites are located on the southern slopes of the Kaunispää Hill, close to Saariselkä’s ski slopes and above the tree line. The suites have an open-plan design, consisting of twin beds (made into a double), a kitchenette area, dining table, TV, and a sofa that converts into a sleeping space for up to two extra people. There is a separate bathroom with a toilet, shower and sauna.
When staying in the Polar Sky Suites, complimentary shuttles between the suites and Northern Lights Village Saariselkä are included. The regular shuttle service will take you to the Northern Lights Village for all of your meals, as well as your activity starting points; the journey time is approximately 5 minutes one-way and operates hourly.
Please note that 8 of the suites will be newly built for Winter 2025-26 and therefore their inclusions and layout may differ from the description above and the images displayed.
Tour Map
Additional Info
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 20.12-07.01 and 05.02-20.02, 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 the flights or other services where paid at the time of booking)
– between the balance due date and 98 days before departure – 60%
– 97 to 64 days before departure – 80%
– 63 days or less before departure – 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 the flights or other services where paid at the time of booking)
– between the balance due date and 63 days before departure – 60%
– 62 to 36 days before departure – 80%
– 35 days or less before departure – 100%
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
