Almost every aurora tour from Rovaniemi leaves in the evening, heads away from the city lights and serves something warm to drink. The points that decide your night are elsewhere: what happens if the sky stays empty, how many people share the van, who provides the winter clothing and how late you get back. Our verdict rests on these points, all taken from the listings.
The rule for a night without aurora
Arctic GM, Lapland Explorers, Polar Lapland and Into North refund the full price if the camera captures no aurora during the night. Experience Tours Lapland and BookLapland let you choose between a refund and a new tour, which is worth more while you still have nights left in Rovaniemi. Lapin Taivas promises a refund without stating the amount, and Wild About Lapland sells the guarantee as an option. On all of them a faint aurora on a photo counts as a sighting. Every guarantee side by side and naked eye vs. camera.
Small group or bus
The small-group chases take a maximum of 8 guests per van or guide, which means more flexible stops and more time with the guide. Arctic GM, Polar Lapland and Lapland Explorers sell a bus and a small group on the same listing with the same refund rule, so the option you select decides what arrives. Into North runs small groups only, and Arctic Safari Guides drives cars and minivans, never buses. Small group or bus compared.
Warm clothing and photos
Arctic GM includes thermal overalls, BookLapland overalls and boots, and Wild About Lapland winter clothing and boots. Experience Tours Lapland, Polar Lapland, Lapin Taivas and the LumiLena barbecue evening provide no warm clothing, so you stand outside in your own layers. Photos of the night are part of most chases, among them Arctic GM, BookLapland, Lapland Explorers and Polar Lapland. What to wear.
The length of the night
A guaranteed chase runs five to ten hours, and reviewers report returns after 3 a.m. The campfire and barbecue evenings take three to four hours, the Wild About Lapland family tour three. With young children or an early start the next day, the shorter formats are the more realistic choice. Campfire evenings and northern lights with kids.
Autumn and winter
The aurora season in Rovaniemi runs from late August to mid-April. In the snow-free weeks of autumn, Safartica runs lake floating on an open lake; in winter, ice floating in a frozen lake replaces it. Neither floating tour has a guarantee. Best time for the northern lights and aurora floating.
