Times Travel – See the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland
- Details
Details
Spend a week in two incredible Finnish locations, ticking Arctic and Aurora experiences off your bucket list along the way.
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kittilä airport, you will be met by your driver and transferred to Harriniva to begin your week-long Northern Lights adventure.
You will check into your cosy rooms and have time to settle into your snowy surroundings. Enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant and keep an eye on the Aurora forecast as you are now in prime northern lights territory.
Included Meals: Dinner
After breakfast, you will have the morning free to explore your new surroundings and explore this stunning location on the banks of the Torne River. That’s Sweden on the other side by the way.
Following lunch in the hotel, your Arctic adventure gets off to a flying start when you try dog sledding. You will go to the nearby sled dog centre where chances are, you’ll hear the excitable pack before you see them.
You’ll receive a full safety briefing and instructions before stepping onto the sled to explore more of the snowy surroundings. It can be a tad frenetic at first (hint: keep your foot on the brake at the start) but as soon as the dogs settle into their preferred pace, their barking is replaced with soft panting, leaving you to soak up the tranquillity of the pristine environment.
You’ll ride two people per sled with the chance to swap drivers along the way. The dog sled ride will be approximately 15km long and upon return to the centre, you will have time to thank your loyal team and take pictures with them.
Later this afternoon, you will enjoy a Northern Lights workshop. During this presentation from your expert local guide, you will learn all about the Aurora, from the science behind the phenomenon to some of the ancient myths and legends. A hot drink and snacks will be served, and you can ask any questions about the Northern Lights and life in Lapland.
Following dinner, it’s time for your first Northern Lights hunt. Step aboard the Snow Shuttle carriage as you head out into the wilderness. Your guide will drive a snowmobile which pulls the Snow Shuttle carriage, and the type of carriage used will depend on availability and weather conditions on the day. Along the way, you will stop for warm drinks in a prime vantage spot. The activity will last for approximately two hours in total.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning is free for you to enjoy as you like ahead of this afternoon’s adventurous snowmobiling safari.
Snowmobiles are a vital form of transport in these remote locations but are also a thrilling way to explore the vast expanse of snowy wilderness. After a full safety briefing and instructions, you’ll set out on the trails, travelling approximately 30km. Please note, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile.
Your dinner this evening will be served in some very special surroundings, an authentic Lappish Kota (think a teepee on a grander scale). Here, you will sample local delicacies and drinks around a cosy fire and embrace the flavours of Finland. After dinner, you’ll also enjoy a live joik music performance, a traditional form of singing in Finnish Lapland.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you will be transferred to nearby Jeris where you will meet your guide to try one of our very favourite pastimes in Finnish Lapland. After full instructions you will try your hand at snowshoeing. You may feel a bit silly at first walking around with what feels like tennis rackets stuck to your feet, but once you see how much easier it is to walk in the deep snow you will swiftly become a snowshoe convert.
The guide will lead you into the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park which offers breath-taking wilderness scenery and the chance to learn about the environment here, including the hardy flora and fauna which thrive in the arctic climate. The snowshoe activity will last around three hours and no previous experience is necessary.
Following lunch at Jeris, you can unwind in the traditional lakeside saunas and even take a dip in the icy lake.
You will be transferred back to Harriniva for dinner in the restaurant.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you will transfer to Levi, approximately an hour away. Here, you will check into your spectacular Aurora Cabin and settle into your new surroundings.
Lunch and dinner will be served in the hotel’s restaurant ahead of tonight’s search for the Northern Lights. Using the mobility of a bus to your advantage, your guide will drive you further north to a location determined by the local weather and Aurora forecasts.
Along the way, you will stop and take photos at some scenic locations before travelling along the shore of Lake Äkäslompolo.
Once you reach a prime Northern Lights viewpoint, you can enjoy warm drinks and snacks as you wait in anticipation of a show. This activity lasts for approximately three hours.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you will visit a traditional reindeer farm and meet with the local herder to gain a deeper insight into the cultural and economic significance of these animals.
You will learn all about reindeer herding and the Sámi culture before jumping into the sleigh and letting these wonderful animals take you on a one-kilometre ride through the wintry forest.
There will also be time to feed the reindeer and take photos with them. Drinks and snacks are included. You’ll be out for around one and half hour in total.
The rest of the day and evening has been left free for you to enjoy as you please. After lunch and dinner in the hotel, you could lay in your Aurora Cabin, awaiting a potential display, or take a walk into the surrounding wilderness as you search the skies.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today has been left completely free for you to explore Levi as you please.
If you enjoyed the activities in Harriniva, you could also try dog sledding and snowmobiling here – please ask your travel expert for a quote at the time of booking and we will add on additional activities.
As usual, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sadly, it is time for your week-long Arctic and Aurora adventure to come to an end. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home. If you have an early departure time, we’ll box up breakfast for you to take with you.
Included Meals: Breakfast
What's included?
- Return flights either direct from London Gatwick to Kittilä or indirect via Helsinki (depending on departure date)
- Return airport transfers and transfers during the holiday
- Seven nights’ accommodation: four nights in a Wilderness Plus Room at Harriniva and three nights in an Aurora Cabin at the Northern Lights Village, Levi
- Seven breakfasts, six lunches*, seven dinners (*If you are travelling on direct flights, you will receive 7 lunches)
- Dog Sled Safari (Harriniva)
- Secrets of the Northern Lights Workshop (Harriniva)
- Aurora Snow Shuttle (Harriniva)
- Snowmobile Safari (Harriniva)
- Kota Dinner (Harriniva)
- Snowshoes to National Park (Harriniva)
- Arctic Spa and Sauna (Harriniva)
- Aurora Hunting in the Wilderness (Levi)
- Reindeer Farm Visit and Sleigh Ride (Levi)
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay (must be handed back at Harriniva and new sets collected at Northern Lights Village)
- Fully qualified guides and instructors during activities
Accommodation
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| Ideally located in the north-west corner of Finland, high above the Arctic Circle and in the very heart of the Aurora Zone, Harriniva Wilderness Hotel serves as a perfect base for your adventure holiday. Owned and run by the Pietikäinen family, the hotel has developed a growing reputation for its warm ambience and a large range of enjoyable activities on offer. Hotel facilitiesThe hotel has a range of facilities that have been designed to make your stay here as enjoyable as possible.
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| Located in the far north of Finland, 16km away from the centre of Levi and close to the ski resort (approx. 14km), the Northern Lights Village sits tucked away in its own piece of wilderness. With 40 Aurora Cabins, you’ll have the brilliant opportunity to view the Northern Lights right from your bed. Each cabin comes equipped with a half-glass roof with the twin or double beds situated underneath. This is one of the few places in the world where you’ll prefer a sleepless night! All cabins are in walking distance of the restaurant which serves local, Lappish delicacies. Facilities
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Tour Map
Key Facts
For your best chance to see the Northern Lights, contact the UK’s only Aurora specialists
