Aurora Hunting Tour

We don’t have a fixed departure time or set location — everything depends on the weather and nature. If the skies are very cloudy, we may start as early as 15:00–16:00 to reach clear areas. If the weather is better and the drive is shorter, departure is usually between 17:00–19:00. Early and late in the season, when the days are long, departure is 19.00–21.00.

The return time is also flexible and depends on how far we travel, as well as the timing of the aurora (it changes night-to-night). We may return any time between midnight and 6:00 AM. For this reason, I strongly recommend not booking my tour if you have an early flight or morning excursion the next day. Ideally, keep your schedule free until at least noon, so you have time to rest.

How to Book a Tour?

The only way to check availability and book a tour is by sending me a message via WhatsApp. I don’t use automated calendars. I run one van per night and I’m not part of the mass-tourism system.

WhatsApp: +358 400 825 570
(Alexander Kuznetsov)

Sometimes, the weather is simply not on our side. If the skies are too cloudy or aurora activity too low, I may decide not to depart — in other words, if I believe the chance to see the auroras is too low, I cancel the tour.

In rare cases, tours may also be cancelled due to technical or personal issues.

✅ If I Cancel the Tour

You will receive a full refund of your booking fee.
Refunds are usually processed within 5–10 business days.

❌ If You Cancel the Tour

If you cancel your booking — for any reason (being sick, tired, flight is late, seen auroras last night, force majeure, etc.) — the booking fee is non-refundable.

I understand this may feel strict, but it’s necessary. To run a small, non-mass-tourism operation like this, I can’t afford last-minute cancellations that leave empty seats I can’t fill.

Not Sure Yet?

If you’re uncertain about your travel plans, or don’t yet know how many people are in your group — it’s better to wait before booking.

I value commitment and honesty — and I offer the same in return.

Please make sure to read the full tour Terms and Cancellation Policy before booking!

I offer small-group tours with a maximum of 8 guests, and I personally guide every tour. Unlike most other operators, I don’t aim for mass tourism. We use just one van per night — not five or ten — to ensure a more focused and intimate experience.

You won’t be handed off to another guide or staff member. I’ll be your guide from start to finish, and you’ll have my full attention throughout the entire journey.

Short answer – no. Aurora hunting tours involve extended periods of driving across remote areas of Lapland and spending time outdoors in sub-zero temperatures. These conditions can be physically demanding and are not suitable for everyone.

For this reason, I do not recommend the tour for families with children below 15 years of age, elderly guests, pregnant ladies, or persons with disabilities or limited mobility. Unfortuntely, most often we cannot make a “quick & easy” tour. If comfort is a priority, you’re better off booking a cottage in the forest or an igloo hotel.

Teenagers can join, but in my experience, they enjoy it less than adults. 

It’s really impossible to give a guaranteed answer — auroras are a natural phenomenon.
That said, I estimate that auroras are visible on about 85–90% of the nights, but only when the skies are clear.

On those nights, what you see can vary greatly, from a faint green line on the horizon, visible for just a few minutes minutes, to auroras dancing in the sky for hours. Or, they can be anything in between.

With typical solar activity, we might witness one or two arcs near the northern horizon, active for 15–60 minutes. They may usually shimmer and move a little but, but won’t explode dramatically overhead (though this also happen sometimes).

On about 10–15% of nights, auroras may be too faint to see with the naked eye, and they only show up in a long-exposure photo.

We consider the tour a success when we see auroras with our own eyes, even if only briefly. Unfortunately the strength and duration of the aurora are not up to me! If it was, we would have a crazy show every night! 

The honest answer? It doesn’t really matter. No app, website, or forecast can accurately predict how strong the aurora will be, what it will look like, how long it will last, or whether it’ll burst into a dramatic display or quietly glow in the background for hours. Even when we head out together, we still don’t know exactly what the night will bring. It’s nature — a casino!

Yes! I take an unlimited number of photos during the tour — both of my guests and of the aurora itself. After the tour, I carefully go through all the shots and edit them professionally. Once they’re ready, I’ll send you a download link. It usually takes between 3 to 7 days to receive the link, depending on how many photos I took and how busy the tour schedule is at the time.

Yes! My tour departs from Rovaniemi, and I offer pickup from any hotel or Airbnb within the Rovaniemi city center and a 10 km radius. Unfortunately, I’m not able to provide pickup outside this area — including igloo hotels in the Rovaniemi region or other destinations in Lapland. This is to keep the departure time flexible, and be able to depart on a short notice — long pickup does not work well with this.

This means that pickup is not available from Apukka Resort, Arctic Snowhotel, Aito Resort, Hotel Boreas, Lakelodge Kiehinen, Nova Galaxy, Vaattunki resort etc. If you want to stay in an igloo hotel during your vacation — that’s great, but please book it for another night.

Please note that joining the tour by driving from another city is not possible. Distances in Lapland are long, and having several hours more drive on top of a long tour is not ideal. This also does not work well with flexible departure times, or last minute cancellations.

Short answer — no. Our tour is focused on finding clear skies and capturing the best aurora moments, not on culinary experiences. Most of the time, I’m busy driving, checking data, making decisions, and filming the auroras. Also, having a picnic outside at –30°C isn’t exactly a great idea!  There are “aurora barbeque tours” available in Rovaniemi, but they aren’t really about the aurora! 🙂
I recommend having a good, early dinner before the tour. You’re also welcome to bring your own drinks and snacks to enjoy in the car during the night.

I recommend bringing your own camera and gear for the best results. However, I do have a couple of spare tripods available if you need to borrow one. I’m also happy to guide you and help with taking photos during the tour.
That said, if you have an older DSLR and little to no experience with nighttime photography, it might be better to leave it at home — in many cases, your phone camera will actually capture better results under the aurora.

Generally, winter night temperatures in Lapland are between 0 and –35°C. Staying warm in the cold comes down to layering — the colder it gets, the more layers you’ll need. I recommend that for every –10°C degrees, you would add another layer.

Start with thermal underwear (sometimes even two layers), add a fleece jacket and a wool sweater, and wear sports trousers under insulated ski pants. Use woolen or technical socks — two pairs often work best. Hand warmers and toe warmers can make a big difference, too. And of course, don’t forget good gloves and a warm hat!

I provide warm winter overalls and boots as part of the tour, but they are meant to be the final layer of protection against the cold. You should still arrive wearing your full normal winter clothing — including a proper winter jacket and shoes. Usually, we put on the overalls and boots once we arrive at the spot, as they are too warm and bulky to wear while driving for several hours in the car.

Unfortunately, on aurora tours, finding a warm and working bathroom can be even rarer than spotting the northern lights. Lapland is mostly wilderness, with only a few small towns and villages scattered across vast distances. And even in those, everything tends to close early — usually by 21:00.

If we leave early enough, we might be able to stop at a gas station before heading into the wild. But on the way back, there’s often nothing open. So when nature calls… it usually means stepping out into nature.

I keep a close eye on the weather conditions. If the forecast looks unfavorable and there’s availability for the next night, we can reschedule your tour at no extra cost — your booking fee will simply be moved. However, if the weather is bad across the region and finding clear skies is unlikely, or the chances of seeing the auroas are low, the tour could be cancelled. Your booking fee is then returned fully (within 5-10 working days).

Congratulations on your romantic plans! Proposing during the tour is absolutely possible — just let me know in advance so I can be ready to capture the big moment. We can even agree on a special cue or word I’ll say to give you the perfect signal to begin your proposal.

Yes — but it’s easier if you’re at least two people. Most of my guests are couples, and the van has 8 seats.

If you’re a solo traveler, I recommend the following options:

• Book on short notice (0–3 days before the tour), if there’s availability

• Join the waiting list — sometimes guests cancel

• Travel during quieter months like September, October, or early April, when availability is more flexible

You’re very welcome — we just need to find the right timing!

Short answer — no. I’ve done a few private tours in the past, however, usually there is already someone booked for the same date. Technically, you could buy out all 8 spots on the tour, but this won’t be cheap.

If you’re a family with small children, I strongly advise against booking this tour — even privately. This is not a comfort-focused experience. It’s designed for those who are serious about seeing the auroras and willing to put in the effort it takes — long drives, cold weather, and late nights.

So, in most cases: no, I do not offer private tours.