Finland - Safaris to see northern lights in Rovaniemi and Lapland

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Northern Lights in Lapland of Finland

If you are going to make a Winter trip to Lapland in Finlandsure see northern lights It is one of your goals.

But first of all you should know that it is not always possible.

This is something that you should be clear from the beginning, and we had that when we started our recent trip to Rovaniemi, in that region of northern Finland.

Photo tour to hunt Northern Lights in Rovaniemi

The city of Rovaniemi, of about 50,000 inhabitants, is located next to the line that marks the Arctic Circle,

Precisely the visit of this imaginary line is one of the attractions of the trip, especially when currently said geographical enclave is located within the peculiar theme park that is Santa Claus Village.

How to see Northern Lights in Rovaniemi

Therefore one of the first maximums you need to meet see northern lights, which is to find you as far north as possible from the globe.

What's more, the city of Rovaniemi announces that you have up to 200 days a year with the possibility of enjoying this great spectacle of nature.

The ideal time to see the northern lights extends from the end of August to the beginning of April.

You should know that the Northern Lights it is the result of the solar wind crash with the earth, after which said wind travels through the sphere created by the magnetic force that emerges from the planet's core and exits through the two poles.

Photo tour to hunt Northern Lights in Rovaniemi

In the very interesting Arktikum Museum of Rovaniemi You have a graphic scientific explanation of how the northern lights form, in addition to being able to see in your auditorium a spectacular multimedia presentation of this natural phenomenon.

Therefore, the further north you are, the easier it will be to see auroras, which also has been facilitated in recent years by a large solar activity.

Now, there is another maxim that is that the sky is starry; if it is covered by clouds, it will be impossible for you see the northern lights.

For this reason, when you travel to an ideal place to see them as is the Lapland of Finland, you will be at the expense of the weather conditions.

Therefore, this winter trip must be done to places with enough attractions for visits or activities, as is the case of the aforementioned Rovaniemi, so if you finally see Northern Lights, it will be the sweet that will complete a good experience.

In any case, on our recent trip we have been able to see how there are tourists who in search of the northern lights, every night is point to an excursion different with that goal.

Northern Lights at Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland

Well, indeed, when you get to Rovaniemi, or other corners of the Finnish Lapland, like the city of Kemi where we were also, the offer you have of excursions, called safaris, for "Hunt" the northern lights.

As an example, here is information about aaurora borealis tour in Rovaniemi that you can hire already from Spain, with a duration of about four hours.

In our case we participate in a couple of safaris that also had that purpose.

Of course, you have to keep in mind that all these excursions are carried out with guides in English, but I assure you by their characteristics, the language is not going to be any inconvenience to enjoy this phenomenon of nature.

Northern Lights Photo Tour

The first of the excursions in which we participated was a Northern Lights photo tour which became a true "Northern Lights hunt" aboard a van.

This photo tour which lasts between 4 and 5 hours each night, about 20 hours from hostel Café Coti, where precisely we were staying.

Photo tour to hunt Northern Lights in Rovaniemi

During the same we traveled several locations through the Rovaniemi surroundings.

The tour is for a maximum of 7 people, and you are guided by an expert photographer.

Previously they provide you with the appropriate clothing to withstand the night cold (it is usual to have a temperature of -7 / -15 degrees).

That is, you will have a thick winter jumpsuit, snow boots, gloves and a hat, as well as a headlamp that will provide you with the necessary light to move in the dark through the forest.

As I said at the beginning, the weather is a primary factor when it comes to seeing or not northern lights.

If the forecasts are negative, with a completely cloudy or snowing sky, the excursion is done anyway, as the photographer guide will advise you on how to take night photographs of winter landscapes.

Camp of fire to hunt Northern Lights

Already with the necessary equipment, including camera and the essential tripod, which you can also provide, on board the van we leave the city to look for our first landscape enclave to see northern lights, next to an icy lake.

I will tell you that the weather was quite negative because the whole day was completely cloudy and the forecast is that it was going to snow.

But the truth is that when we reached this stage, already away from the city lights, and after installing the tripod, we saw how little by little the sky was opening and the stars were appearing.

In addition, when making the first photos we verified that that nebulous image that we saw in the sky was actually an aurora.

And in fact, little by little the sky was covering a very soft green color, barely appreciated by the view, but clearly reflected in the photos.

It was certainly a big surprise and the finding that, regardless of bad forecasts, it is worth trying the «Northern Lights Hunt«, Of course if you are in a feasible area for it, as it is Rovaniemi wave Lapland of Finland.

Snowmobile tour to see Northern Lights in Rovaniemi

When the sky became cloudy again, we raised the photo camp and in the van we went to another couple of different scenarios, to see if there was luck, the last one located almost 60 kilometers away from the city.

In these cases the sky was already completely cloudy and began to snow, which did not prevent us from doing various tests of night photography.

Finally, before returning to Rovanimi we arrived at a lavvu, the typical Sami circular shop, where with the heat of a fire we taste sausages and a typical hot infusion of blueberries.

But in Rovaniemi and Lapland you have many other alternatives to this excursion that combine different types of activities.

Northern Lights Snowmobile Safari

On the following night we also had the opportunity to make a snowmobile tour to see northern lights.

Camp of fire to hunt Northern Lights

Starting from the center of Rovaniemi, and after dressing in the appropriate clothing, a long line of hikers left on board the snowmobiles driving over an icy river.

On this occasion we were not lucky because the sky was completely covered and a light snow fell.

That did not stop enjoying the driving of the snowmobile, more when we left the river and went along narrow paths of the forest until we reached a place where there was a camp of Sami stores.

We returned to enjoy the rite of lighting the fire and drinking hot sausages and drinks, as well as others snacks, which certainly helped to withstand the cold, before returning to Rovaniemi in the snowmobiles to complete an excursion of about three hours.

In summary, the Northern Lights tour must be an essential activity in your winter trip to Rovaniemi.

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