Top 13 Northern Lights Tours in Saariselka

1.Aurora Hunting Photography Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 325 reviews · 3 hours · from $163Our pick

Spend three hours chasing clear skies around Saariselkä in a heated minivan with guides such as Ivan, Mikke, or Eugene. The route changes with the forecast, and stops may include frozen lakes and dark roadside viewpoints. Your guide explains the Aurora, serves warm drinks and snacks, and takes professional photographs to share afterward.

“Best northern lights we’ve seen in our time here. Mario picked a great spot. We waited and the whole sky lit up. The northern lights were so bright it was almost like day light. A once in a lifetime experience. Can’t wait to see the photos.”

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2.Northern Lights Hunt Snowmobile Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 195 reviews · 5 hours · from $199

Drive a snowmobile through Inari’s silent forest at night, then stop at a tepee or hut for sausages, snacks, and hot drinks by the fire. Guides such as David, Sam, Marco, and Arvid are known for patient instruction and careful cold-weather checks. Aurora is possible but never guaranteed.

“I have no words! It was breathtaking. The guides were fantastic, so kind and attentive. We had sausages in an amazing place, but the most impressive was the magnificent red aurora we saw in the middle of the forest, thanks to them! I have no doubt I'll repeat the experience with them if I return to Saariselka!”

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3.Auroras Northern Lights in Saariselka

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 176 reviews · 5 hours · from $175

Spend five hours hunting the aurora around Ivalo and Saariselkä with an English-speaking guide such as Christina, Linda, or Franzi. You’ll travel beyond town lights, warm up in a hut, enjoy barbecue snacks and hot drinks, hear Lappish stories, and get help with night photography. Aurora sightings and shared photos are not guaranteed.

“The tour was great. The guides were very enthusiastic about the whole experience. Friendly helpful and knowledgeable. We had a lot of cloud cover so was not really expecting to see much. But the guys didn’t give up and still managed to get us see the lights and get some good photos despite the bad weather and bad aurora conditions. Can’t really expect much more than that. No complaints at all. Thanks !!!”

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4.Northern Lights & Reindeer Sledding Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 140 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $222

Meet at Lapponia Tours in Saariselkä, dress in thermal layers, and take a short transfer to a reindeer farm. You’ll ride through a dark forest, feed the reindeer, and warm up with a hot drink by the fire while guides such as Visa, Nilla, and Eemeli share local stories. The Aurora is possible but never promised.

“Appositely awesome . Magical experience. Everything is perfect and Aurora lights were bonus.”

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5.Aurora Photo Tour by Car with Transfer & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 116 reviews · 3 hours · from $135

Leave Saariselkä by minibus with an English-speaking guide and search for clear skies around Lapland’s best aurora areas. The three-hour outing includes hotel pickup, warm clothing, hot drinks, gingerbread cookies, photography advice, and a link to tour photos. Your guide may change locations, but the aurora itself cannot be guaranteed.

“Unfortunately, the tour was disappointing. We did see the aurora; however, the driver didn’t show much enthusiasm, only driving for a while and stopping in a lay-by next to the road. There was some aurora activity, but the high tension cables above spoiled the occasion (as they would interfere with the view and -of course- with the pictures). The driver commented that “we don’t need to go elsewhere: we’ll see the same lights” (i’m paraphrasing, but that was the message). We knew that, but a search for a picturesque scenario (eg, the frozen lake Ukonjarvi ) would have made for a much better experience than stopping at the side of…”

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6.Aurora Photography Tour 3 HOURS

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $167Top rated

Join an English-speaking guide from Arctic Timetravels for a three-hour Northern Lights hunt from Saariselkä. You’ll ride to at least three dark-sky locations, follow changing weather forecasts, learn about the aurora, and warm up with hot drinks. Guides such as Ivan, Walter, Karoliina, Nico, and Centti are praised for persistence and personal help with photos.

“It was excellent!! We had a great time with Nico!! He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic throughout!! He was persistent to show us northern lights despite overcast conditions and drove all the way up to a place where the sky was clearing. Once we waited a little we got to see beautiful northern lights. Ot was an amazing experience! Thank you Nico!!”

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7.Kakslauttanen: Aurora Hunting & Photography Tour.

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 58 reviews · from $154

Join ArcticTours for a 3 to 3.5-hour Northern Lights hunt from Saariselkä or Kakslauttanen. English or Finnish-speaking guides, including Henry and Jen, drive a small Mercedes minibus beyond village cloud and light pollution, stopping at promising photo spots. Pickup and drop-off are included within 20 kilometers.

“It was amazing experience and the guide was too good we really enjoyed his company”

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8.Auroras in Saariselkä – Northern Lights Photo Tour by Car and on Foot

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 51 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $157

Spend about five hours chasing the aurora around Saariselkä by car and on foot. You receive winter gear, warm drinks, snacks, guidance, local stories, and photos taken by the guide. Guides including Linda, Maurice, and Jukka have led departures, though the guide varies. The evening begins and ends at the Lapland Welcome office.

“Brilliant tour, nice people! Would highly recommend!! Went snow walking around some woods and had dinner in a cosy fireplace hut, then went to river inari to see the lights, also took a detour to see the rapids!”

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9.Northern lights tour to Lake Inari, incl. dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 40 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $214

From Saariselkä, you’ll travel to Koppelo, suit up in thermal gear, and ride a covered snowmobile sleigh across frozen Lake Inari. A small family-run island stop includes reindeer feeding, local stories, hot drinks, and a campfire dinner of salmon or reindeer soup. Guides such as Laura, Ansi, Tina, and Tapio have helped make this a warm, personal outing.

“Great trip - including a wonderful sighting of the aurora. Really well organised - picked up and dropped back at our cabin in Saariselka, which was very helpful. Friendly, helpful guide for the trip, looked after us really well and gave us lots of interesting information while we drank our hot drinks and ate delicious reindeer stew. Warm suits provided but make sure you bring as many warm layers as you can as it gets really cold on the lake even so!”

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10.Northern Lights Hunting Snowshoe Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 26 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $111Best value

Join an English-speaking guide from Safartica for 2.5 hours of snowshoeing in Saariselkä’s dark, snowy wilderness. You’ll receive winter clothing, boots, socks, snowshoes, hot drinks, and hotel pickup and drop-off. Guide Teemo has also helped guests spot animal tracks and adapt the walk to their comfort level.

“It was an exciting experience. Unfortunately because of clouds we couldn't see the northern lights, nevertheless the tour was absolutely great.”

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11.Hunting Northern Lights by Snowmobiles

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 23 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $202

Learn to drive a snowmobile, follow a guide into Saariselkä’s dark wilderness, and stop at a tepee or hut for a fire, hot drinks, barbecue snacks, and Aurora stories. The group is limited to 10, pickup is available, and the guide points out stars, local nature, and old Northern Lights mythology. The Aurora is never guaranteed.

“This was fabulous. There were 7 in the group. Such a personal experience. The two guides were such fun.”

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12.Husky Safari with Aurora Borealis Hunt

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 11 reviews · 3 hours · from $306

You’ll drive an 8-kilometer husky sled through the Arctic forest, sharing one sled with another adult and changing drivers halfway. The small English-speaking group, thermal gear, round-trip transport, fireplace stop, and aurora search make this a full evening experience, though sled driving requires good fitness and the lights are never guaranteed.

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13.Aurora Photo Experience by Car from Saariselkä

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $139

Travel from Saariselkä by car or bus toward clearer skies on this three-hour Aurora Borealis outing. Your guide watches conditions, photographs you beneath the lights, and shares night photography tips. Warm up with hot drinks and gingerbread cookies during the search. Pickup is offered, and the tour returns to Safartica Saariselkä.

“Very friendly guide and a good professional with extensive experience. Despite the bad weather, he managed to give us some magnificent northern lights.”

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