Wilderness Hotel Juutua – Northern Lights Winter Week
- Details
Details
Escape to northern Finland for a week-long adventure filled with unforgettable winter activities and exciting Aurora chases.
Your hotel is ideally situated in Inari - a small village with huge cultural significance to the Finnish Sámi people. You'll learn all about this during your guided winter walk to the beautiful Jäniskoski river rapid, an activity completely unique to this hotel.
Thanks to its wilderness surroundings, Inari is also one of Finland's top Northern Lights locations. This trip includes four dedicated activities where you'll go out with a local guide to prime Aurora viewing positions in the surrounding wilderness. During two of your nights, you'll visit specially designed Aurora camps, complete with a campfire to keep you warm. Another night will see you strap on a pair of snowshoes and walk through the stunning snowy surroundings, and finally, you'll take part in an exciting Aurora chase by car. This location also means you'll have the opportunity to search for the Northern Lights every single night as you can simply walk down to the nearby lake and look at the dark night sky.
Throughout the trip, we've included superb winter activities to ensure you make the most of your surroundings in the daylight hours too. You'll get an introduction to snowmobiling to cruise through the snow-laden landscape and try the Finnish pastime of ice fishing. Next, you'll visit a reindeer farm to learn about the significance of Lapland's iconic animal. Finally, you'll experience a dog sledding safari through the wilderness - a must-do experience in Finland!
Important Information
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 your flight, you’ll be met by your local guide and transferred to the Wilderness Hotel Juutua.
Enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel and collect your winter clothing and for the duration of your stay. We suggest you having a good, rested night for the upcoming week full of incredible adventures.
Included Meals: Dinner
Today, following breakfast, you’ll get your first taste of the Finnish wilderness as you learn how to snowmobile.
Meeting with your local guide, you’ll get a driving lesson to get comfortable with the snowmobile. Following your lesson, you’ll then move into the never ending wilderness to enjoy the beautiful scenery. You’ll be out for approximately 4 hours and will be served lunch by the open fire.
Please note, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid driver’s license to drive a snowmobile.
This afternoon, you’ll have time to unwind and enjoy dinner before your Aurora camp tonight. You’ll meet with your local guide who will pull you along on their snowmobile as you sit comfortably in a sleigh behind. You’ll keep your eye on the sky all the way to the camp where a cosy campfire awaits. You’ll enjoy a hot drink while your guide tells you all about the Northern Lights. If conditions are right, you’ll see the green lights start to dance above you.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, following breakfast, you’ll experience the unforgettable activity of dog sledding. You’ll meet with your local guide who will introduce you to your excitable team of dogs. They may be making a lot of noise but as soon as you’ve received your instruction and the dogs start to run, you’ll be met with the silence of your serene surroundings. Riding in a pair, one of you will stand on the back of the sled, with the other sitting in front. There will be an opportunity to switch over halfway through. You’ll be out for approximately 3 hours.
After lunch and dinner back at the hotel, you’ll prepare for your next Aurora activity. This time, you’ll be heading out on a car trip to help you cover more ground and reach a camp spot further into the wilderness and in search of clear skies. You’ll enjoy warm drinks and snacks as you keep your eyes out for the Northern Lights. You will be out for approximately 3 hours.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you’ll get to meet the famous animals of Lapland. You’ll be transferred by car to a traditional reindeer farm where you’ll meet a local reindeer herder who will tell you all about his animals, the life of a reindeer herder, and Sámi culture. You will be out for approximately 2 hours.
Following lunch and dinner, you’ll head back out via snowmobile-pulled sleigh to one of the prime viewing positions of the Aurora camp. Here, you’ll sit around the fire and keep your eye on the sky for the chance to see the Aurora.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you’ll spend a relaxing day in the wilderness trying the popular Finnish activity of ice fishing. You’ll meet with your local guide who will take you in a snowmobile sleigh to a picturesque fishing spot. You’ll learn how to make holes through the ice and then see who the best fisher is as you hear interesting facts about life in the north. You’ll also enjoy a tasty lunch by the open fire.
After dinner, you’ll have a free evening to relax.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast, you’ll learn more about the area and Finnish culture as you meet with your local expert guide and make your way to the beautiful Jänisköski rapid. The walk to the camp spot is approximately 1km and is suitable for all levels. Along the way, you’ll learn all about the river Juutua and why it is such an essential part of Sámi culture. At the camp, you’ll enjoy warm drinks and grill sausages together to give you plenty of time to admire the stunning rapid. You will be out for approximately 1.5 hours.
Tonight, you will enjoy a special five-course meal in the hotel restaurant and have a free evening to spend as you please.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you have the day completely free to enjoy however you would like.
Following dinner tonight, you will take part in your final Aurora activity. Meeting with your local guide, you’ll be shown how to use a pair of snowshoes as you strap in and make your way into the dark night. As you travel silently through the wilderness, you’ll reach a campfire where you’ll enjoy warm drinks and hopefully, a show of the Northern Lights will begin.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you have the day completely free to enjoy however you would like.
Following dinner tonight, you will take part in your final Aurora activity. Meeting with your local guide, you’ll be shown how to use a pair of snowshoes as you strap in and make your way into the dark night. As you travel silently through the wilderness, you’ll reach a campfire where you’ll enjoy warm drinks and hopefully, a show of the Northern Lights will begin.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
What's included?
- Return from London to Ivalo (either direct or via Helsinki). Flight routes are subject to change
- Return scheduled group shuttle airport transfers
- Seven nights in an Arctic Room. Upgrade options available, subject to availability and supplement
- 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners (1 dinner will be a 5-course meal)
- Snowmobile Safari
- Husky Safari
- Reindeer Farm Visit
- ice fishing with snowmobile sleigh
- Winter walk to Jänisköski river rapid
- Two Aurora camps
- Aurora snowshoeing
- Aurora hunt by car
- 24/7 assistance from our UK-based operations team and in-destination support from our local partners
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
Accommodation
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The newly refurbished Wilderness Hotel Juutua is situated right in the heart of Inari village.
Double Wilderness Room
These rooms are in the main building of the hotel and as this is the original hotel building, they are slightly smaller than some of the other rooms. Recently renovated though, they are very tastefully decorated and offer a cosy base with very easy access to the restaurant of course (no need for winter clothing as you simply walk downstairs).
Each room has an ensuite bathroom with a wet-room shower (includes toiletries), they offer a flat screen TV, hairdryer and a kettle. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. All of the Wilderness Rooms in the main building are double rooms and cannot be turned into twins.
Juutua Suite
These upgraded rooms are a very short walk from the main hotel building. Every suite has either a terrace or balcony (depending on which floor they are on) ideal for Northern Lights viewing in the middle of the night! They each have their own private sauna too which is perfect for relaxing after a day of winter adventures. The rooms also have their own tea and coffee-making facilities fridge and hairdryers.
Arctic Premium Room
These rooms are situated just a short walk from the main hotel and restaurant. They can be either double or twin and provide a relaxing and cosy retreat. Each room has its own external entrance and some of them offer the space for an extra bed (on request).
They each have an en-suite bathroom with shower, as well as tea and coffee making facilities and Wi-Fi.
There is also an Arctic Family Room available which offers a double bed and a separate bedroom with twin beds, as well as a sofa bed, meaning that there is space for up to 5 people.
Tour Map
Additional Info
Price is based on 2 persons travelling
Tour terms, click here
Booking conditions click here
Payment and Cancellation Terms:
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
