From Rovaniemi: Aurora Borealis Hunting with Photos & Videos

The best thing about this Aurora Borealis hunt is the freedom to keep driving. You are not tied to one viewing spot near Rovaniemi. Guide and photographer Kun uses weather, solar-wind data, local knowledge, and a large record of past conditions to decide where the sky gives you the best chance, even across the Swedish border if needed.

I like two things right away: the small group of up to eight makes the photography session more personal, and the included photos and videos mean you can enjoy the lights without spending the night fighting your phone camera. The main consideration is the late, flexible schedule. Pickup may happen anytime from 17:00 to midnight, and the trip can stretch from six hours to nine when a longer drive is needed.

Key points to know before booking

• Kun leads every tour as a professional photographer and Aurora expert, with English and Korean available.
• The search area covers Finnish and Swedish Lapland, rather than stopping at a fixed viewpoint.
• Photos and videos are included without a stated limit, and are shared in high quality the following day.
• Pickup and drop-off are free within 10 kilometers of Rovaniemi train station.
• The group is limited to eight people, a useful size for camera help and personal attention.
• The tour costs $136 per person, including transport, hot berry juice, gingerbread cookies, explanations, and photography guidance.

Why this Rovaniemi Aurora tour takes a wide view

Seeing the northern lights is partly about solar activity and partly about being in the right place under a clear sky. A fixed evening viewpoint can work, but it gives you little room to react when clouds settle in. This tour takes the opposite approach: Kun can move the group through Finnish Lapland and, if conditions call for it, into Swedish Lapland.

That unlimited hunting range is the tour’s main practical advantage. It does not promise that the aurora will appear on command, because nobody can control the sky. It does give you a more active plan than waiting in one parking area and hoping for a break in the clouds.

The operator reports a nearly 100 percent success rate over more than four years. Treat that as a strong record, not a guarantee. If there is no reasonable chance to find the aurora and the tour is cancelled, you receive a full refund. That distinction matters. A successful outing depends on weather, darkness, and solar-wind activity, all of which can change.

Your evening begins in Rovaniemi

Pickup starts in Rovaniemi, with free transport from accommodation within 10 kilometers of the train station. The exact time is provided on the day of the tour between 16:00 and 20:00. The broad pickup window can feel inconvenient if you prefer a fixed timetable, but it allows the operator to match departure with the season, cloud cover, and solar conditions.

The tour can begin anytime between 17:00 and midnight. In winter, that gives plenty of darkness. The late start also means you should keep your evening open rather than book a restaurant reservation or another timed activity too close to the outing.

If you stay outside the free pickup area, contact Nordies Tour before booking. Pickup and drop-off from farther away may be possible for an extra fee. Do not assume every Rovaniemi address is covered at the listed price.

Once everyone is collected, the group heads out from town. The transfer is not just a ride to a single photo stop. It is the first part of the search, with the route shaped by the night’s conditions.

Six hours of active aurora hunting

The usual duration is about six hours. That is long enough to leave the town lights behind, check conditions, wait for activity, and move again if the first area is not promising. When a longer drive is needed, the trip can last up to nine hours.

This is important when comparing it with a short aurora excursion. A six-hour outing gives Kun time to make decisions instead of settling for the first available roadside stop. The tradeoff is clear: you need stamina, warm clothing, and patience. You may spend long periods outside in cold conditions, then return to the vehicle before moving on.

The route is described as a guided tour through Lapland, with photography stops along the way. The exact stops are not fixed in advance, since the aim is to follow the best conditions rather than sightsee at named attractions. That makes the experience more focused on the sky than on conventional sightseeing.

Remote locations may not have public restrooms. Plan ahead before departure, especially because the tour runs late and can last longer than expected.

Crossing into Swedish Lapland when needed

Many northern-lights tours stay close to Rovaniemi for convenience. This one can travel farther across Finnish Lapland and into Sweden. The border crossing is not presented as a sightseeing stop. Its value is practical: the group can keep searching for clearer skies and better conditions.

That larger range is especially useful on unsettled nights. If one area has cloud cover, driving farther may improve your odds. Of course, more distance means more time in the vehicle, and a longer route can push the outing toward nine hours. You should choose this tour because you are comfortable with that flexible approach, not because you want a quick photo stop and an early night.

The operator’s decision-making is built around a collected database, regional understanding, and solar-wind information. In plain terms, Kun is not relying only on a generic weather app. He brings several types of information together before choosing where to go.

Photography help from Kun

Kun is both the guide and the photographer. That combination changes the feel of the evening. You are not simply being driven to a dark place and told to look up. The tour includes an explanation of the aurora and a photography tutorial, so you can understand what your camera needs in low light.

Night photography can be tricky even when the lights are strong. A phone or camera may produce a bright image that does not match what your eyes see, while an unsteady setup can blur the stars and the aurora. The photography lesson gives you a better chance of making your own images, even if you are not bringing advanced equipment.

The bigger benefit is that you do not have to depend on your own camera. Top-quality camera gear is used for astrophotography and nighttime video, and the finished photos and videos are included. They are shared the next day in high quality.

The photos are a major part of the value here. The tour price is not only paying for a seat in a van and a drive into the dark. It also includes a professional photography service, which would otherwise require equipment, skill, and editing time. The supplied feedback highlights both the guide and the quality of the finished photos, so this is a good choice if a strong visual record matters to you.

What the small group changes

The maximum group size is eight. That is not a private tour, but it is much more manageable than a large coach outing. Kun can give more direct help with camera settings, and the group is less likely to feel like a crowd around a single viewing point.

A smaller group also suits the personal photography setup. If several people need help framing a portrait with the aurora, a compact group makes the process easier. Private tours can be arranged for an additional fee if you want the route and photography attention entirely to yourself.

The small-group format does not remove the need for cooperation. You will still share transport and outdoor stops with other people. If you want a completely private schedule, ask about the private option before booking.

Warm clothing is not optional

Bring warm clothing and warm shoes. Lapland nights can be extremely cold, and the tour may keep you outdoors while waiting for the sky to change. The included gingerbread cookies and hot berry juice are welcome comforts, but they are not a substitute for proper winter gear.

An adult set of third-layer winter jacket and pants can be rented for €10. Shoes, gloves, hats, and scarves are not included, so you must bring those yourself. The word third-layer matters: the rental is an outer layer, not a complete cold-weather outfit.

Dress so you can stand outside for a while without losing feeling in your hands or feet. You should also expect some time in the vehicle between stops. The combination of warm layers and patience will matter more than style.

The experience is not suitable for children under six, pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, wheelchair users, or people with a cold. It is also not suitable for pets. These limits reflect the long, late schedule, cold outdoor conditions, vehicle time, and remote stops.

What the $136 price covers

At $136 per person, this is not the cheapest way to look for the aurora. It is also not a bare-bones transfer. Your price includes pickup and drop-off within the 10-kilometer zone, the full search across Finnish and Swedish Lapland, the guide, the aurora explanation, a photography tutorial, hot berry juice, gingerbread cookies, and high-quality photos and videos.

The most valuable inclusion is the photography package. If you want polished images of the aurora, having a professional photographer and specialized equipment can make the price easier to justify. You also avoid buying or renting a camera setup for one evening.

The value is weaker if you only want a short ride to a nearby viewing area and do not care about photos. In that case, a simpler and possibly cheaper outing may suit you better. Here, you are paying for time, mobility, expert planning, and the chance to move farther when local conditions are poor.

The refund policy also reduces some of the risk. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If the operator cancels because there is no chance of finding the aurora, you receive a full refund. The policy does not change the natural uncertainty of the sky, but it does protect you from paying for a cancelled attempt.

The return to Rovaniemi

After the final viewing or photography stop, the group returns to Rovaniemi. The standard trip lasts about six hours, but a longer search can extend it to nine. Your drop-off follows the same service area as pickup, with free service within 10 kilometers of the train station.

The next day, your photos and videos are shared in high quality. This timing is useful if your Rovaniemi stay continues, since you can receive the files before moving on. It also means the outing itself remains focused on the night, rather than on downloading or sorting images in the cold.

Who should book this experience

I would choose this tour if you want the best possible chance to find clear skies and care about receiving professional photos afterward. It fits people who can handle a flexible departure, a late return, and a long drive when conditions require it.

It is also a strong match for photographers who want guidance rather than a simple viewing stop. Kun’s photography tutorial gives you a chance to learn, while the included images provide a safety net if your own camera work is not perfect.

I would hesitate if you need a fixed start time, a short evening, easy restroom access, or guaranteed accessibility. The tour is built around remote locations and changing conditions. It asks you to give up some control of the schedule in exchange for a wider search area.

The small group, strong photo package, and ability to cross into Swedish Lapland make the $136 price reasonable for the right person. Just pack seriously for the cold and keep your evening free.

FAQ

How long does the Aurora Borealis tour last?

The tour usually lasts about six hours. If the group must travel a longer distance to find better conditions, it can last up to nine hours.

What time does the tour start?

The starting time can be anytime between 17:00 and 00:00. The exact pickup time is provided on the day of the tour between 16:00 and 20:00.

Where can the tour travel?

The search area covers Finnish and Swedish Lapland. If necessary, the tour can cross into Sweden while looking for clearer skies and stronger aurora conditions.

Is pickup included from my accommodation?

Free pickup and drop-off are included within a 10-kilometer radius of Rovaniemi train station. Locations farther away may be possible for an additional fee, so contact the operator to confirm.

Are photos and videos included?

Yes. The tour includes unlimited high-quality photos and videos taken with equipment designed for astrophotography and nighttime filming. They are shared the next day.

Do I need to bring winter clothing?

Yes. You should bring warm clothing and warm shoes. An adult third-layer winter jacket and pants set can be rented for €10, but shoes, gloves, hats, and scarves are not included.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is not suitable for children under six years old. It is also not suitable for pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, wheelchair users, people with a cold, or pets.

What happens if the aurora cannot be found?

If there is no chance to find the aurora and the tour is cancelled, you receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund.

Should you book the Nordies Tour aurora hunt?

Book it if you want more than a quick look at the sky. The wide hunting range, small group, professional photographer, and next-day photo and video delivery give this outing real value. The strongest reason to choose it is the combination of flexible routing and a finished visual record.

Skip it if you want a short, fixed evening close to Rovaniemi or if cold, late hours, and long drives are a poor fit. For everyone else, this is a serious aurora search with practical planning behind it, not simply a ride to the nearest dark field.