Northern Lights Feel at Home in Kilpisjärvi
Are you planning a visit to Lapland in pursuit of the elusive Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis?
Kilpisjärvi is one of the best places in Finnish Lapland to experience the Northern Lights. Lady Aurora visits us frequently, and on a clear night, you may even see her from your accommodation.
But there is something quite different about leaving the lights of the village behind and heading out into the Arctic night.
On this private evening tour, we take you away from the village and into the surrounding wilderness, where no roads lead. Here, darkness, silence and the open landscape create the setting for an evening under the northern sky.
The tour is privately guided for your own party of 1–6 guests.
Into the Arctic Night by Snowmobile Sled
After getting dressed and receiving a short safety briefing, we head out from the village.
You travel as a passenger in a sled pulled by your guide’s snowmobile, seated on cushions and wrapped in warm blankets. You don’t need to drive or concentrate on handling a snowmobile in the dark. Just sit back, enjoy the journey and keep your eyes on what is happening around and above you.
We live and work in Kilpisjärvi and adapt the evening to the local weather conditions. We stop along the route when the sky looks promising, find peaceful places to watch the sky and spend some time at a wilderness camp, warming up around a campfire.
Wilderness Camp Experience
Since time immemorial, people have gathered around campfires to share stories, and so do we during the evening. The camp is not private, and there will most likely be other Northern Lights hunters there as well. Your guide, however, is there just for you and your party, serving a traditional Finnish fireside snack with hot drinks and sharing stories of village life, Arctic nature and the Northern Lights.
What If Lady Aurora Doesn’t Appear?
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and no guide, forecast or tour operator can guarantee that they will appear on a particular evening. A forecast of cloudy skies or snowfall does not necessarily stop us from carrying out the tour, as weather conditions in Kilpisjärvi can be just as unpredictable as Lady Aurora herself. We do not, however, venture out if the weather is stormy or otherwise affects guest safety.
Photographing the Northern Lights
Naturally, you may want to capture memories of the Arctic evening to take home with you. Please bring your own fully charged smartphone or camera. You can also bring your own tripod or use the one provided by your guide.
If you are not familiar with nighttime photography, practice before the tour! A cold Arctic night is not a good place to start looking for the right settings. Before you arrive in Kilpisjärvi, we will send you simple instructions to help you set up your smartphone for Northern Lights photography.
Tour Details
Starting time: 7:30 PM (19h30)
Total duration: 3 hours / 15 km (9 miles)
Group size: 1–6 guests
Tour type: Private tour for your own party
The 3-hour total duration includes dressing, safety briefing, transportation and the outdoor experience.
The price includes:
Private guide
Transportation in a passenger sledge pulled by your guide's snowmobile
Protective clothing: snowsuit and overcoats, boots and socks, mittens, balaclava, safety helmets
Traditional Finnish fireside snack: sausages grilled over an open fire, campfire coffee, tea, hot berry juice, and a homemade pastry
Phone tripod for Northern Lights photography
Smartphone photography instructions sent before the tour
Value-added tax (VAT)
