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Northern lights with kids in Rovaniemi

A five-to-eight-hour chase is a lot for a child. Shorter formats, a dedicated family tour and clear age limits make the evening work.

Top picks
Small-group wilderness tour with campfire
Wild About Lapland · 4 hours Small-group wilderness tour with campfire
★ 4.3 (1,535) from €103
Book now
Aurora sled ride behind a snowmobile
Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park · 3 hours Aurora sled ride behind a snowmobile
★ 4.1 (779) from €77
Book now
Aurora evening with barbecue
LumiLena · 3 hours Aurora evening with barbecue
★ 4.7 (179) from €67
Book now
Compare all 7 options

The classic aurora chase is a long night: guides drive to wherever the sky is clear, and reviewers report returns after 3 a.m. With children, a shorter format usually works better: a family tour, a campfire evening or, for older children, floating. The table shows the formats with the limits each listing states.

Family-friendly formats and their limits

Shorter evenings with the age, height or temperature limits each listing states. A dash means the listing we checked names no limit. The product page shows child ages and rates. Sorted by number of reviews.

Photo Tour FormatAge / heightDuration Reviews ↕ Price ↕ Book
Small-group wilderness tour with campfire
Wild About Lapland 		Chase + campfire — 4 h ★ 4.3 (1,535) €103 per person Book now
Aurora sled ride behind a snowmobile
Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park 		Sled behind a snowmobile Children not below −20 °C 3 h ★ 4.1 (779) €77 per person Book now
Aurora evening with barbecue
LumiLena 		Campfire / BBQ — 3 h ★ 4.7 (179) €67 per person Book now
Family northern lights tour
Wild About Lapland 		Family tour — 3 h ★ 4.5 (174) €89 per person Book now
Arctic ice floating & northern lights
Nordic Adventures 		Ice floating, age 14+ Age 14+, height and weight limits 3 h ★ 4.7 (68) €129 per person Book now
Ice floating under the northern lights
Safartica 		Ice floating (winter) Min. height 120 cm 3 h ★ 4.5 (26) €124 per person Book now
Autumn lake floating under the aurora
Safartica 		Lake floating (autumn) Min. height 120 cm 3 h ★ 5.0 (11) €136 per person Book now

Prices are per person and come live from GetYourGuide and Viator. Where the guarantee is a paid option, it is added on the booking page. A dash means the listing gives no figure for this point. The product page has the details.

Family-friendly tours in detail

Each tour with what its listing says about the guarantee, the length of the night and the group. Open a card for the full details.

Small-group wilderness tour with campfire
Wild About Lapland

Small-group wilderness tour with campfire

No guarantee as standard (bookable as an option) · max 8 · campfire and up to 3 viewing spots · warm clothing included.

  • Duration: 4 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €103 ★ 4.3 (1,535 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Small group, maximum 8 guests, with up to 3 viewing spots per night
  • Campfire in the wilderness
  • Warm clothing included
  • No guarantee in the standard version; the guarantee is a separate option

What's included

  • Guided wilderness tour with campfire
  • Warm clothing

Know before you go

  • With the guarantee option, the tour is postponed or cancelled with a full refund if conditions look poor, and refunded if no aurora is captured on camera.
  • Without the option, the tour runs as a wilderness evening with no refund promise.

Details from the operator’s listing on the booking platform. The guarantee terms there are the binding version.

Aurora sled ride behind a snowmobile
Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park

Aurora sled ride behind a snowmobile

Ride in a sled pulled by a snowmobile: about 2 hours in the sled, no driving yourself · children not below −20 °C.

  • Duration: 3 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €77 ★ 4.1 (779 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full tour details

Highlights

  • An evening in a sled pulled behind a snowmobile, looking for the northern lights
  • About 2 hours of the evening are spent in the sled
  • You ride as a passenger and do not drive the snowmobile yourself

What's included

  • Guided sled ride behind a snowmobile

Know before you go

  • Children cannot take part when the temperature is below −20 °C.
  • The aurora search happens from the sled, and a clear sky is not something the tour can promise.

Details from the operator’s listing on the booking platform. The guarantee terms there are the binding version.

Aurora evening with barbecue
LumiLena

Aurora evening with barbecue

No guarantee, no warm clothing, no professional photographer · 3 hours · stop at Santa Claus Village.

  • Duration: 3 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €67 ★ 4.7 (179 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Aurora evening with a barbecue
  • The route includes a stop at Santa Claus Village

Know before you go

  • No warm clothing is provided, so bring your own full winter gear.
  • There is no refund if the aurora does not appear.

Details from the operator’s listing on the booking platform. The guarantee terms there are the binding version.

Family northern lights tour
Wild About Lapland

Family northern lights tour

A 3-hour tour designed for families · guarantee available as an option.

  • Duration: 3 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €89 ★ 4.5 (174 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full tour details

Highlights

  • A northern lights tour designed for families
  • Shorter than the classic chase, at 3 hours
  • Guarantee available as an option, as on the operator's wilderness tour

Know before you go

  • Check the child ages and the guarantee option on the product page when booking.

Details from the operator’s listing on the booking platform. The guarantee terms there are the binding version.

Arctic ice floating & northern lights
Nordic Adventures

Arctic ice floating & northern lights

Ice floating combined with a northern lights evening · minimum age 14 · height and weight limits apply.

  • Duration: 3 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €129 ★ 4.7 (68 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Arctic ice floating combined with a northern lights evening

Know before you go

  • Minimum age 14, so not an option for families with younger children.
  • Height and weight limits apply to the floating suit. Check them on the product page.

Not suitable for

  • Children under 14

Details from the operator’s listing on the booking platform. The guarantee terms there are the binding version.

Ice floating under the northern lights
Safartica

Ice floating under the northern lights

Float in a frozen lake in a floating suit · clothing included · minimum height 120 cm.

  • Duration: 3 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €124 ★ 4.5 (26 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Ice floating: float in a frozen lake under the night sky
  • Clothing included

What's included

  • Clothing for the activity

Meeting point

Koskikatu 9, Rovaniemi.

Not suitable for

  • Children under 120 cm

Details from the operator’s listing on the booking platform. The guarantee terms there are the binding version.

Autumn lake floating under the aurora
Safartica

Autumn lake floating under the aurora

Float on an open autumn lake · aurora not guaranteed · minimum height 120 cm.

  • Duration: 3 hours
  • ✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start
from €136 ★ 5.0 (11 reviews)
Book on GetYourGuide
Full tour details

Highlights

  • Autumn lake floating: drift on an open lake in a floating suit while you watch the sky
  • Runs in the snow-free autumn season

Not suitable for

  • Children under 120 cm

Details from the operator’s listing on the booking platform. The guarantee terms there are the binding version.

3 hLength of the Wild About Lapland family tour
120 cmMinimum height for Safartica floating
14+Minimum age for Nordic Adventures ice floating
−20 °CBelow this, no children on the sled behind a snowmobile

The formats that work with children

  • The family tour. Wild About Lapland runs a three-hour northern lights tour designed for families, with the guarantee as an option. Child ages and rates are on the product page. A reviewer who took their children on the operator’s standard wilderness tour describes the guide as very accommodating.
  • Campfire and barbecue evenings. Three to four hours with a fire and food. The LumiLena evening stops at Santa Claus Village, but it provides no warm clothing, so the whole family needs its own winter gear.
  • Floating, for older children. Safartica accepts children from 120 cm on its winter and autumn floating tours. Nordic Adventures starts at age 14. See aurora floating.
  • The sled behind a snowmobile. Children ride along in the sled, but not when the temperature is below −20 °C. Keep a plan B for very cold evenings. See northern lights + activity.

If you want a chase anyway

Guaranteed chases run five to eight hours and can end deep in the night. With older children who can sleep in the van, that can work. Pick a small group, dress everyone warmly and keep the next morning free. With toddlers, the shorter formats above are the more realistic choice. The chase rules are compared on our guaranteed tours page.

Family checklist
  • Check the minimum age or height on the product page before you book.
  • Check whether warm clothing is provided in children’s sizes. See what to wear.
  • Pack snacks, a warm drink and spare gloves.
  • Child rates, where offered, appear on the product page when you select the number of guests.
  • Plan the evening early in your stay, so a cloudy night leaves room for another try.

What families and other travellers report

A guide who made children welcome on a standard tour, a family-style barbecue evening, and a reminder of how late a chase night can end.

“… Our tour guide Jeremy was great and flexible, pivoting quickly to find spots to view the lights, everywhere! He was also super friendly and accommodating to my kids even though the tour we chose is not the "family friendly version" one …”
Ling · Singapore · December 2025 Small-group wilderness tour · Wild About Lapland
“Best agency ever! Local guides and a small group of only 7 people made the experience even more special. … we got to try traditional sweets, fire-roasted sausages, and marshmallows … We also visited Santa Claus Village at night …”
Julio · Brazil · April 2026 Aurora evening with barbecue · LumiLena
“Really awesome night however we didn't get back til 3:30am. We saw the lights at multiple stops and it was honestly a dream come true! Really knowledgeable staff. Only problem is I couldn't find the location to start as the address took me somewhere different.”
Olivia · Australia · September 2026 Northern lights tour with photos · BookLapland

Real traveller reviews from GetYourGuide.

FAQ

Can children go on northern lights tours in Rovaniemi?

Yes. Shorter formats work best: Wild About Lapland runs a dedicated family tour, and campfire evenings take three to four hours. Check the age rules on each product page.

What is the minimum age for aurora floating?

Safartica sets a minimum height of 120 cm on its floating tours. Nordic Adventures accepts guests from age 14.

Are long aurora chases suitable for young children?

They are hard work for young children. Chases run five to eight hours and reviewers report returns in the early morning. A family tour or a campfire evening is easier.

Can children ride in the sled behind a snowmobile?

Yes, but not when the temperature is below −20 °C.

Are there child prices?

Some tours offer child rates. They appear on the product page when you select the number of guests.

Related on this site

Wild About Lapland

The family tour and the wilderness tour.

Aurora camps & campfire

Shorter evenings by the fire.

Aurora floating

Minimum height and age at a glance.

Family formats next to the long chases

Format, guarantee type and duration in one table.

See the comparison