"Unbelievable night seeing the northern lights we were so so lucky!!! Artar Nazar and Caleb were fantastic! Would definitely recommend this tour"
Illustration.
From Rovaniemi · 5 to 8 hours · Photos and overalls included
Lapland Northern Lights Tour
BookLapland's guides leave Rovaniemi in the evening and drive towards the clearest sky, up to 200 km or more if needed. Arctic overalls and boots are included, your guide photographs you under the lights. BookLapland's terms: if no aurora is captured on camera, a 100% refund applies or you can rebook for the next available night.
From
US$77
per person on promotion, usually US$155
Free cancellation
Pick your format
Which Northern Lights Tour in Lapland?
For a first northern lights tour in Lapland, stay in Rovaniemi and book BookLapland’s Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Tour – 100% Guarantee & Photos, from US$77 on promotion, usually US$155 a person (checked November 2026). On the four dates we read between 27 November 2026 and 17 February 2027, its cheapest option, the 5-hour group tour leaving at 6:00 PM, cost US$154.88 a person. The guides drive towards the clearest sky, up to 200 km or more if needed, Arctic overalls and boots are included, and if no aurora is captured on camera a 100% refund applies or you can rebook for the next available night.
A hunt from Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Tour – 100% Guarantee & Photos
BookLapland: a heated vehicle that chases clear sky, Arctic overalls and boots, warm drinks and unlimited photos by email. If no aurora is captured on camera, a 100% refund or the next available night.
See dates →Drive a snowmobile
Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Snowmobile Tour – New Snowmobiles
Arctic GM Experiences OY: about 2 hours on forest and tundra trails, two guests to a snowmobile, pickup from your Rovaniemi accommodation. Drivers need a car licence; the lights are a chance, not guaranteed.
See the safari →Staying in Levi
Levi: Northern Lights Tour with Guaranteed Sightings
Arctic GM Experiences OY: up to 8 guests in a 4x4 van from your Levi accommodation, typically 6 to 10 hours, thermal overalls and photos. A full refund if the weather prevents the tour from starting.
See the hunt →Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Rather book on Viator, or take a bus seat for less? The comparison table and two more hunts sit below.
- 4.8 / 5 2813+ Reviews
- 5 - 8 hours Duration
- Up to 200 km The guides drive towards the clearest sky, up to 200 km or more when the cloud needs it
- Overalls and boots Arctic overalls and boots for temperatures down to about −40 °C are in the price
- Free Cancellation
The Experience
What the Hunt Includes
A heated vehicle, a guide who reads the cloud and the aurora data, warm clothes for the waiting, and the photos afterwards.
Highlights
- 100% Money-Back Guarantee – No Aurora, No Payment
- Real Aurora Hunting – Not a Fixed Route Tour
- Drive Up to 200 km for Clear Skies
- Professional Northern Lights Photos Included
- Avoid Crowds – No Mass Tourism Locations
What's Included
- Professional, locally based Northern Lights guide & photographer (English; additional languages available on request, subject to availability)
- Unlimited DSLR photos
- Photos delivered digitally via email
- Arctic winter clothing overalls & boots suitable for temperatures down to −40°C included
- Modern heated vehicles designed for long-distance travel
- Professional drivers experienced in Arctic winter conditions
- Meteorological observations
- Warm drinks & cookies
- All fees and taxes
Good to know: Tours operate only when conditions are suitable for Northern Lights · English is the guaranteed tour language. Other languages may be requested after booking but are subject to guide availability and cannot be guaranteed · Final start time is confirmed on the same day based on weather · Duration typically 4–6h (small group/private up to 6–10h if needed) · Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and may appear stronger in photos · If no aurora is captured on camera, a 100% refund applies or you can rebook tour for next available night · Photos are delivered after the tour via email · It's worth choosing the small group option for higher flexibility and success rate · You can find free parking on the street right next to the meeting place between 6 PM and 8 AM · Not suitable for: Wheelchair users, Visually impaired people, Babies under 1 year, People over 95 years
How the Night Goes
The plan is made on the day: the start time, the direction and the length all follow the cloud.
Check Your Email on the Day
The final start time is confirmed on the day, from the weather. On every date we read (27 November and 10 December 2026, 20 January and 17 February 2027) the group tour started at 6:00 PM from BookLapland's office at Koskikatu 22, and the small group of up to 8 at 7:00 PM with pickup within 15 km.
Suit Up
Arctic winter overalls and boots, suitable for temperatures down to about −40 °C, are included. Bring a hat, gloves and warm layers underneath.
Drive to Clear Sky
The guides read cloud radar, solar wind and aurora data, choose a direction and drive up to 200 km or more if the sky needs it, then stop and wait with warm drinks and cookies.
Photos by Email
Your guide photographs you under the lights, with unlimited DSLR photos emailed within 24 to 72 hours. BookLapland's terms: if no aurora is captured on camera, a 100% refund applies or you can rebook for the next available night.
Photo Gallery
Lapland After Dark
Snow, spruce forest and open sky north of the Arctic Circle, where the hunts stop to wait for the lights.
Book Your Experience
Check Availability & Prices
BookLapland's hunt from Rovaniemi: a heated vehicle that drives up to 200 km or more for clear sky, Arctic overalls and boots, warm drinks and unlimited photos. If no aurora is captured on camera, a 100% refund applies or you can rebook for the next available night. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Plan Your Nights
Lapland Northern Lights Questions
Where to base yourself, what a tour costs, small group or bus, reading the forecast, the lights by snowmobile or sleigh, and which night to book.
Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle, or 169 to 328 km further north
Where to Stay
Road distances, what the Finnish Meteorological Institute says about Lapland's nights, and the tours that leave from each base.
From US$200 per person on promotion, usually US$222, checked November 2026
From figures, and what the options cost on four dates
Prices
The From price against the options we read for November to February, small group and private hunts, Levi, Saariselkä and Viator.
From US$77 per person on promotion, usually US$155, checked November 2026
From 8 guests in a van to 65 on a bus
Small Group or Bus?
Group sizes, where you get on, how long each format runs, warm clothing, and which formats the refund terms cover.
From US$61 per person on promotion, usually US$121, checked November 2026
Activity now, cloud tonight, and what neither can promise
Aurora Forecast
The Finnish Meteorological Institute's R-index, NOAA's Kp index, the cloud forecast, the hours and months when auroras show, and the limits of every forecast.
From US$77 per person on promotion, usually US$155, checked November 2026
An evening out that still counts when the sky stays shut
Snowmobile or Sleigh
Snowmobile safaris, sleigh rides behind a snowmobile or reindeer, a Levi lake with a telescope, and Lake Inari dinners, with what each asks of you.
From US$159 per person on promotion, usually US$177, checked November 2026
The first night of your stay, and why
Which Night?
Why to book early in a stay, the new and full moons to April 2027, the dark hours, and each tour's terms for a cancelled or lightless night.
From US$66 per person on promotion, usually US$133, checked November 2026
Prices are each page's featured tour: GetYourGuide checked November 2026. Tour prices are in US dollars; euro figures are marked EUR.
Four Hunts from Rovaniemi Side by Side
When they leave, where you get on, group size, warm clothing, photos and what happens on a night with no lights. GetYourGuide and Viator prices with the month they were checked.
| Feature | THIS PAGE BookLapland | Polar Lapland Oy | Experience Tours Lapland | Photography hunt, Beyond Arctic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What You Pay | From US$77 per person (checked November 2026) | From US$66 per person (checked November 2026) | From US$61 per person (checked November 2026) | From US$165 per person (checked November 2026) |
| Length | 5 to 8 hours: the group tour option is 5, the small group 8 | Usually 3 to 8 hours, depending on the cloud | 5 to 8 hours, depending on how far away the clear sky is | 5 to 7 hours |
| Start | 6:00 PM (group) and 7:00 PM (small group) on the dates we read; the final time is confirmed on the day | Usually between 6:00 and 8:00 PM; the exact time by email at 3:00 PM on the day | Group Tour 7:00 PM; small-group pickup usually between 6:30 and 7:30 PM | Evening, after pickup |
| Getting On | Group tour: BookLapland office, Koskikatu 22; small group: pickup within 15 km | Scan your ticket at the Polar Lapland office; the meeting time comes by email | Group Tour: bus stop at Korkalonkatu 23, next to Pub Uitto, no hotel pickup; small group: your accommodation within 12 km | Hotel pickup within 10 km of Rovaniemi, or meet at the Beyond Arctic office |
| Group Size | Small group up to 8; the group tour's size is not stated | Up to 8 per guide and vehicle, or a heated bus with 1 to 3 guides | Group Tour up to 47; small group up to 15 per vehicle | Small group; up to 8 people per booking |
| Warm Clothing | Arctic overalls and boots included | Not included: bring warm layers, a hat, gloves and sturdy boots | Not included: overalls and boots are not provided | Warm clothing and winter boots included |
| Photos | Unlimited DSLR photos, emailed within 24 to 72 hours | DSLR photos, emailed the day after | Unlimited photos, emailed free within 3 days | Edited photos after the tour; a tripod or phone mount for your own camera |
| No Lights? | If no aurora is captured on camera, a 100% refund applies or you can rebook for the next available night | If no Northern Lights are captured on camera, a full refund; no tour when cloud gives a very low chance | If the guides' cameras capture no aurora: a free place on another hunt, as many times as you need, or a full refund (Group and Small-Group Tours) | No sighting refund; free cancellation up to 24 hours before |
| Not For | Wheelchair users, visually impaired people, babies under 1, people over 95 | No limits listed | Children under 6, wheelchair users | Children under 8 |
| Best For | A long hunt with winter overalls in the price and the choice of a refund or another night | Travellers who bring their own winter clothes and want a full refund if the camera catches nothing | A stay of several nights: the free re-hunt can be used again and again | Photography, with a tripod, a photo guide and warm clothing in the price |
| See dates | See the tour | See the tour | See on Viator |
Two More Hunts
A Bus Seat or a Small Van, and a Photography Hunt
Lapland Explorers' hunt sold as a bus tour or a small group of up to 8, and Nordic Odyssey's small-group photography hunt sold on Viator.
BUS OR SMALL GROUPRovaniemi: Aurora Hunt - 100% Guaranteed, Free Photos
Lapland Explorers Oy's hunt from Rovaniemi as a bus tour for up to 54 guests from Korkalonkatu 25 or a small group of up to 8 with accommodation pickup. Photos, hot drinks and snacks are included. If the camera captures no Northern Lights, a 100% refund.
ON VIATORNorthern Lights Photography Hunting Experience in Rovaniemi
Nordic Odyssey's small-group photography hunt from Rovaniemi: up to 8 travellers, about 3 hours, winter overalls and boots, coffee or tea, and pictures taken with a professional camera. Hotel pickup or meet at its Jaakonkatu office. Minimum age 8.
Northern lights tours in Finnish Lapland
How the Tours Differ
Where to stay, how the night runs, what happens when no lights show, what it costs, and what to know before you book.
Where to base yourself
Rovaniemi sits on the Arctic Circle and has its own airport, 9.5 km by road from the centre. Its tours meet in the city centre or pick you up, then drive wherever the sky is clearest that night. Levi is 169 km by road further north, Saariselkä 258 km and Inari village 328 km.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute puts the chance of seeing auroras on a dark, cloudless night at roughly 50% of nights in Lapland, naming the ski resorts of Ylläs, Levi and Saariselkä, and at 75% at Kilpisjärvi in the far north-west. It gives no figure for Rovaniemi, and the word that matters is cloudless. A tour from any base spends much of its night looking for a gap in the cloud. Rovaniemi, Levi, Saariselkä or Inari compares what each base offers.
How the night runs
The Rovaniemi hunts start in the evening and run late. BookLapland confirms the final start time on the day from the weather; on the dates we read, the group tour left at 6:00 PM and the small group at 7:00 PM. Polar Lapland Oy's hunt usually starts between 6:00 and 8:00 PM and emails the exact time at 3:00 PM on the day.
That timing fits the sky. The institute gives midnight, and a couple of hours before and after, as the typical time for auroral displays. In midwinter the dark comes early: on 21 December 2026 the sun is above the horizon in Rovaniemi from 11:07 to 13:22, and the sky is fully dark from 17:40.
| Date | Sunrise in Rovaniemi | Sunset | Sky fully dark from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 November 2026 | 09:09 | 14:52 | 18:11 |
| 21 December 2026 | 11:07 | 13:22 | 17:40 |
| 15 January 2027 | 10:19 | 14:34 | 18:13 |
| 15 February 2027 | 08:26 | 16:37 | 19:36 |
| 15 March 2027 | 06:38 | 18:15 | 21:22 |
Finnish time (UTC+2), computed for Rovaniemi; the figures agree to the minute with published Rovaniemi sun tables. “Fully dark” is the end of astronomical twilight.
Hours in a heated vehicle are part of the deal. BookLapland’s hunt lasts 5 to 8 hours, and its guides read cloud radar, solar wind and aurora data before choosing a direction. Guests on Lapland Explorers Oy's hunt wrote in October 2026 of driving 1 hour 40 minutes to clear sky one night, about two hours towards Oulu another, and into Sweden a third.
When no lights show
Each of these four Rovaniemi hunts gives a full refund if the guide’s camera captures no aurora, two also offer another night instead, and each words its terms differently. Read them closely, because the camera decides, not your eyes, and the lights often show stronger in photos than to the naked eye.
- BookLapland: if no aurora is captured on camera, a 100% refund applies or you can rebook for the next available night. Tours operate only when conditions are suitable.
- Polar Lapland Oy: if no Northern Lights are captured on camera during your tour, a full refund. No tour runs when cloud gives a very low chance.
- Experience Tours Lapland: if the guides’ cameras capture no aurora, you choose a free place on another hunt, as many times as you need, or a full refund (Group and Small-Group Tours).
- Arctic GM Experiences OY: a 100% refund if no Northern Lights are captured on camera; any aurora captured by camera counts as a sighting, and intensity, colour, size and duration are not guaranteed.
None of this is a promise of a bright display. Which night to book sets out how to use a refund-or-rebook term on a short stay.
What the price buys
BookLapland’s price covers the heated vehicle and driver, a guide who is also the photographer, Arctic winter overalls and boots for temperatures down to about −40 °C, warm drinks and cookies, and unlimited DSLR photos emailed within 24 to 72 hours. For a first night out with no winter clothing of your own, it is the hunt to book.
See dates for the Rovaniemi hunt
The options cost more than the headline: on the dates we read, the small group of up to 8 with pickup within 15 km cost US$232.87 a person and the private hunt US$2,105.89 for the group. Northern lights tour prices sets out the options across the Rovaniemi hunts, and small group or bus what the larger groups trade away.
The same BookLapland hunt sells on Viator as Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Tour, 100% Guarantee with Free Photos for US$88 (checked November 2026). The operators price in euros, so what you pay in US dollars depends on the day’s conversion.
Other ways to see the lights
Not every evening is a minivan chase. Arctic GM Experiences OY's snowmobile safari puts you on a snowmobile for about 2 hours; Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park's sledge ride pulls you in a sledge behind one. In Levi, Keo Wilderness waits on a remote lake with a telescope and a fire. None of these sells a refund for a night with no lights. By snowmobile, sleigh or lake compares them.
Before you book
- Passport. Bring a passport or ID card on Polar Lapland Oy's and Experience Tours Lapland's hunts, because some nights cross into Sweden.
- Warm clothing. Overalls and boots are included on BookLapland’s hunt; on Experience Tours Lapland's they are not provided, and Polar Lapland Oy excludes warm clothing.
- Who it does not suit. BookLapland does not take wheelchair users, visually impaired people, babies under 1 or people over 95; Experience Tours Lapland does not take children under 6.
- Your phone. Keep your email open on the tour day: start times and cancellations come by email, often in the afternoon.
- The forecast. How to read the aurora forecast explains what the Finnish tools show and what they cannot.
Guest Reviews
What Guests Say
4.8/5
from 2,813 reviews
"Absolutely amazing experience! Our guides, Ivan and Narazai, were fantastic! The company is very well organised, offering coffee, tea, hot chocolate and warm clothing and boots. We visited two locations during the Northern Lights hunt and spent over an hour at the second one, which was enough to witness this incredible natural phenomenon. The guides also provided professional photos and helped us capture great moments on our own phones. Everything was perfect, from start to finish. An unforgettable experience and highly recommended!"
"Lachin and Paul were great! We had a great time and hot drinks and cookies were served. The spot was great and we see very strong northern lights today!"
"Had a wonderful experience with Lachin & Paul and saw the most amazing auroras. Great communication and clearly know their stuff well worth a trip with these guys"
"It is truly worth visiting. The northern lights were incredibly beautiful, and the staff were humorous and kind. I enjoyed sharing this experience with my friends. Hanna We had a special day by the great cameramen. They were very kind and very funny. Ayano I was worried I wouldn't be able to see it because the weather had been forecasted to be bad, but it was a truly wonderful experience to see the beautiful aurora. The photographer and the tour guide were so lively, it was a fun time that made all the cold disappear. Haruka The northern lights and starry sky were unforgettable! Our kind guide made the photo session so much fun. Thanks for the posing tips and quick replies. I’d love to join again and will recommend you to my friends in Japan! Akari from Japan"
"Value for money and the tour guide are perfect. Good speaking"
"The tour was great, the northern lights are an incredible experience and Santiago was a great guide, making the experience way better."
"My original Northern lights tour with another company was cancelled (due to no forecast northern lights) I booked this tour last minute and was not disappointed the driver only drove for around 1 hour found parking space with clear skies, and we waited 10 minutes and the norther lights appeared 2 professional photographers taking incredible photos of everybody who asked (multiple if you ask nicely). Absolutely incredible experience. Prior to departure you can wait in their shop in the centre of Rovenenmi with free biscuits and coffee, then a 1 minute walk to the bus. Bus has heating a toilet and very comfortable chairs. Don’t miss out this is the best option for your northern lights experience in Rovenenmi!"
"Thank you Santiago and Lachin, our guides. They were great and professional. The tour was wonderful! BookLapland is a great team. Gratefully, Marina."
"The tour was amazing. It was my first time hunting Aurora. The driver did what he could to find clear skies. We went to Sweden to search the Nothern Lights. He was so patient as well when taking the photos and finding the best spots for us. Totally worth it!"
Read all 2,813 verified reviews
See All ReviewsOut of Town, Under the Clearest Sky
BookLapland's hunt from Rovaniemi: a heated vehicle, Arctic overalls and boots, warm drinks, unlimited photos, and a 100% refund or a rebooking if no aurora is captured on camera. Starting from US$77 per person on promotion, usually US$155, checked November 2026.
See datesMore from Lapland
Aurora and Winter Tours with Open Dates
Other northern lights hunts and winter evenings in Lapland with live availability. Where each starts, what it includes and the cancellation terms show before you book.
Lapland Northern Lights Tour: Questions
Which tour, what it costs, start times, nights with no lights, warm clothing, Levi and Saariselkä, children and Viator.
For a first night out, BookLapland's Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Tour – 100% Guarantee & Photos, from US$77 on promotion, usually US$155 a person (checked November 2026): a heated vehicle that drives towards the clearest sky, Arctic overalls and boots, warm drinks and unlimited photos. If you are staying in Levi, Arctic GM Experiences OY's Levi small-group hunt collects you from your accommodation. The comparison table above sets four Rovaniemi hunts side by side.
BookLapland's Rovaniemi hunt shows From US$77 on promotion, usually US$155 a person (checked November 2026), but on the four dates we read between 27 November 2026 and 17 February 2027 its cheapest option, the 5-hour group tour, cost US$154.88. Across four Rovaniemi hunts read on those dates, the cheapest options cost US$132.59 to US$154.88 a person, the 8-hour options US$188.30 to US$255.16, and the private hunts about US$2,000 to US$2,100 for the group. See northern lights tour prices.
In the evening, and for 5 to 8 hours on BookLapland's hunt and on several others from Rovaniemi. On the dates we read, BookLapland's group tour started at 6:00 PM and its small group at 7:00 PM; the final time is confirmed on the day from the weather. The Finnish Meteorological Institute gives midnight, and a couple of hours before and after, as the typical time for auroral displays.
No. The guarantees on these tours are refund terms, not a promise of a display. BookLapland: if no aurora is captured on camera, a 100% refund applies or you can rebook for the next available night. Experience Tours Lapland's hunt offers a free place on another hunt, as many times as you need, or a full refund. The camera decides, and the lights often show stronger in photos than to the eye. See which night to book.
On BookLapland's hunt, no: Arctic winter overalls and boots for temperatures down to about −40 °C are included. Polar Lapland Oy's hunt excludes warm clothing, and on Experience Tours Lapland's overalls and boots are not provided. Bring a hat, gloves and warm layers whichever you book.
Rovaniemi has many evening hunts to choose from and an airport 9.5 km by road from the centre; Levi (169 km by road north) and Saariselkä (258 km) are further inside the zone where the Finnish Meteorological Institute puts auroras on roughly 50% of dark, cloudless nights. Cloud decides more than latitude on any one night. See Rovaniemi, Levi, Saariselkä or Inari.
On BookLapland's hunt, yes, except babies under 1. Experience Tours Lapland's hunt does not take children under 6, Into North's small-group hunt not under 7, and on Arctic GM Experiences OY's snowmobile safari children under 6 cannot join. The hunts run late, so plan the next morning around it.
Yes, on the hunts that may cross into Sweden. Bring a passport or ID card on the hunts of Polar Lapland Oy, Experience Tours Lapland, Arctic GM Experiences OY and Lapland Explorers Oy. Lapland Explorers Oy's guests wrote in October 2026 of a night that ended in Sweden.
Compare on the day you book: the operators price in euros, so both platforms' US dollar figures move with the exchange rate. BookLapland's group hunt sells on Viator as Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Tour, 100% Guarantee with Free Photos, at US$88 (checked November 2026). Both platforms allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Still have questions? Email us at info@laplandnorthernlightstour.com