Saariselkä,Kakslauttanen: Aurora Hunting & Photography Tour.

The clever part of this tour is simple: you do not wait in one cold spot and hope for luck. Your guide drives a Mercedes minibus beyond Saariselkä’s village lights, looking for clearer skies and better places to photograph the aurora. That wider search area can make a real difference in Lapland, where clouds may cover one valley while stars shine nearby.

I like the small-group setup and the way a car keeps you warm between stops. I also like the guides’ practical approach. Henry is specifically praised for working hard to find a good viewing place, while another guide, Jen, is described as professional, friendly, and fully engaged with the experience.

The catch is that the Northern Lights remain a natural event, not a scheduled show. You need at least three people booked for the tour to operate, and you must be ready for pickup on time because the minibus has several stops to make.

Key points to know before booking

• A moving search beats a fixed viewing spot: Your guide can drive toward clearer skies instead of staying under cloud cover in Saariselkä.
• Warm transport matters: You can warm up inside the Mercedes minibus when the night turns bitterly cold.
• Pickup covers the main resort area: Collection and return are available within 20 kilometers of Saariselkä, including Kakslauttanen, Kiilopää, and Laanila.
• Small groups keep the night manageable: The minibus is used for a more comfortable group size, with private or small-group options available.
• Photography is part of the service: The guide takes aurora photos, but you agree that these images may be used on the provider’s website and social media.
• Sightings are never guaranteed: Cloud cover, darkness, and solar activity decide what you see.

Why a moving aurora hunt makes sense in Saariselkä

Saariselkä is a strong base for Northern Lights trips, but the village itself is not always the best viewing place. Artificial light can weaken the display, and a cloudy sky over the resort may not reflect conditions farther away.

This tour tackles both problems. Instead of asking you to stand outside at one location for several hours, the guide drives through the Saariselkä and Kakslauttanen area in search of better conditions. If the first stop is cloudy, the group can continue toward a clearer part of the region.

That flexibility is the main reason I would choose a minibus over a snowmobile for this particular activity. A snowmobile trip has its own appeal, but its range is more limited, and you spend more of the evening exposed to the cold. By car, the search area is wider, and you can stay comfortable between photography stops.

The minibus also helps if you are traveling with children or anyone who finds late-night cold tiring. Children may sleep for part of the drive, and adults can take a short rest before the next stop. That sounds like a small detail, but Northern Lights outings often run late, and comfort affects how much patience you have when the sky is slow to change.

Leaving Saariselkä behind the village lights

Pickup is available from Saariselkä, Kakslauttanen, Kiilopää, and the Laanila area, with free collection and return within a 20-kilometer radius of Saariselkä. The main pickup choices listed for the route are Saariselkä and Kakslauttanen.

The pickup window depends on where you stay. At Kiilopää, the guide may arrive 30 to 35 minutes before departure. At Kakslauttanen East Village, allow 20 to 25 minutes. Kakslauttanen West Village is generally 15 to 20 minutes before the start, Laanila is 5 to 15 minutes before, and Saariselkä village is around the scheduled departure time, sometimes with a short delay.

You should be outside and ready at your stated pickup point. The driver has several collections to make and cannot wait for late arrivals. A missed departure is not compensated, so this is one activity where a warm coat and an early wait are better than a last-minute dash.

Once everyone is aboard, the guide leads the group through the polar night by minibus. The precise route depends on the weather, cloud cover, and aurora conditions. That means the evening is flexible by design, not a fixed sequence of sightseeing stops.

Searching the sky across the Saariselkä area

The tour lasts about three to three-and-a-half hours, giving the guide time to check more than one possible viewing area. The advertised route includes Saariselkä for guided sightseeing and a photo stop, with return to Saariselkä or Kakslauttanen.

Do not expect a standard sightseeing circuit with a list of monuments. The main attraction is the sky, and the guide’s job is to find a useful patch of it. You may stop at a darker location, step out for a period of viewing, then return to the minibus and continue if conditions are poor or another area looks more promising.

This is also where the guide’s local judgment matters. A professional aurora guide watches the weather forecast and responds to what is happening in real time. The supplied information says the team checks for clear conditions beyond Saariselkä when the village is cloudy, and that this often succeeds. It is not a promise of lights, but it is a better plan than remaining under a solid cloud layer.

Your guide also explains the Northern Lights and helps with photography. The experience is not limited to a quick stop, a photograph, and a ride home. The strongest feedback centers on guides who are friendly, punctual, and willing to keep searching. One guide took the group to a quiet spot and spent time explaining the lights while taking many photos.

Photo stops and the promise of a lasting record

Aurora photography is included in the experience. This matters because photographing the Northern Lights is harder than it looks. The cold makes camera controls awkward, and a moving display can disappear before you have found the right setting.

The guide takes public aurora photos during the tour. These images may be made available on the provider’s website and social media, so you should be comfortable with that condition before booking. The supplied information does not promise a private gallery or individual camera instruction, so think of the photography as a useful record of the night rather than a personal photography workshop.

You should still bring warm clothing and warm shoes. Even with a heated minibus, you need to step outside for the actual viewing and photo stops. Proper winter clothing also lets you stay outside longer when the aurora appears.

I would treat the photos as a bonus, not the only reason to book. The real value is having a guide search for better conditions, select a darker place, and help you make the most of a short burst of activity.

What the Mercedes minibus changes

The vehicle is not just a way to get from the hotel to the viewing spot. It shapes the whole evening.

A car gives the guide a much wider area to search than a snowmobile. It also keeps the group protected from wind and low temperatures while moving between stops. If the aurora is active for a long time, the guide can move to several photography locations without asking everyone to ride through the cold.

That comfort is especially useful for families. The tour is not suitable for babies under one year, and parents should consider whether young children can stay awake late and spend time outside. Older children may appreciate being able to sleep during the drive, then step out when the sky becomes interesting.

The small-group format is another plus. ArcticTours uses Mercedes-Benz minibuses and describes the smaller capacity as more comfortable for everyone. Private or small-group arrangements are available, though the exact format depends on the option you book.

A small group also makes stops less cumbersome. You are not waiting for a large coach to unload, and the guide can communicate more directly with the people in the vehicle. That helps during a weather-led search, when the plan may change several times during the evening.

How reliable is the Northern Lights plan?

The service appears reliable in the practical areas that matter most: pickup, transport, and guide support. The strongest praise focuses on guides arriving on time, working hard to find a good location, and taking photos. Henry is singled out for trying his best to locate a suitable viewing place, and Jen is described as a friendly, professional guide who helped make the night memorable.

The aurora itself is the uncertain part. No tour operator can guarantee a display. You may have clouds, weak solar activity, or a short appearance that fades before the group reaches the best viewpoint.

You should check the latest cloud and solar activity forecasts before going. Still, do not judge the tour only by the forecast at Saariselkä. One reason to pay for this service is that the guide can search beyond the village when local conditions look poor.

The 4.4 rating from 58 reviews suggests a generally strong experience, with the most consistent praise going to the guides. That is useful because an aurora hunt can feel disappointing even when the service is good. A friendly guide who keeps looking, explains what is happening, and handles the cold well can make the difference between a frustrating night and a worthwhile one.

Is $154 a fair price?

At $154 per person, this is not the cheapest way to step outside at night and look up. You are paying for more than transport, though. The price includes pickup and return within the stated 20-kilometer area, a three-to-four-hour guided search, a professional aurora guide, minibus transport, and public aurora photos.

The value improves if you are staying in Saariselkä, Kakslauttanen, Kiilopää, or Laanila and would otherwise need to arrange transport to a dark viewing point. It also makes sense if you do not want to drive on icy winter roads or guess where cloud cover may be lighter.

I would be less enthusiastic about the price if your main goal is simply to stand outside for a few minutes. The tour suits you best if you value mobility, warmth, local guidance, and help with photographs. It is also a reasonable choice for a short Lapland visit when you have only one or two chances to see the aurora.

The reserve-now-and-pay-later option gives you some flexibility when planning. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity, according to the stated booking terms. The tour only operates when at least three people are booked, so check the current availability before arranging your evening around it.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it most strongly to first-time aurora hunters who want someone else to handle the route and weather decisions. You get a warm vehicle, a wider search area, and a guide who can explain what you are seeing.

It also suits couples and families who prefer comfort over a more rugged snowmobile outing. The minibus lets you warm up, rest, and move between several possible photography spots without spending the entire night outdoors.

Photography-minded visitors should find the included photos useful, but I would not book this as a technical camera class. The stated service centers on guide-led hunting and public aurora photos, not detailed lessons in manual camera settings.

You should reconsider it if you dislike late evenings, cannot wait outdoors in winter clothing, or need a guaranteed sighting. The tour improves your chances, but it cannot control the clouds or the aurora.

Small details that make the night go better

Wear your warmest available layers, winter shoes, gloves, and a hat. The minibus protects you during the search, but each viewing stop takes place outside.

Be ready earlier than the official departure time if you are staying outside Saariselkä. The listed pickup lead times are substantial at Kiilopää and Kakslauttanen, and the driver has a planned route through several collection points.

Keep your expectations realistic. The goal is to give you the best practical chance of seeing the Northern Lights, not to promise a show. If the aurora appears, the guide can move the group to more than one photo location, but conditions may also remain cloudy for the full outing.

Also remember the photo-use agreement. By joining, you accept that images taken during the trip may be shared on the provider’s website and social channels.

Should you book ArcticTours?

Book this tour if you want a warm, mobile, guide-led search with pickup from Saariselkä, Kakslauttanen, Kiilopää, or nearby Laanila. The best reasons are the wider driving range, small Mercedes minibus, friendly professional guides, and included aurora photos.

Skip it if you need certainty, dislike late nights, or would rather take a more active snowmobile trip. The $154 price is easiest to justify when you have limited time in Lapland and want a serious attempt at finding clearer skies rather than waiting beside the resort.

For most first-time visitors, I would choose the minibus. It gives you more room to chase the weather, more comfort between stops, and a better chance of making the night enjoyable even when the sky refuses to cooperate.

FAQ

How long does the aurora tour last?

The tour lasts about three to three-and-a-half hours. The guided aurora hunt is also described as lasting three to four hours.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is available from Saariselkä, Kakslauttanen, Kiilopää, and the Laanila area. Free pickup and return are offered within 20 kilometers of Saariselkä.

How early should I be ready for pickup?

The guide may arrive 30 to 35 minutes before departure at Kiilopää, 20 to 25 minutes early at Kakslauttanen East Village, 15 to 20 minutes early at Kakslauttanen West Village, and 5 to 15 minutes early in Laanila. Saariselkä village pickups are generally 0 to 10 minutes before departure.

Is the Northern Lights sighting guaranteed?

No. The aurora is a natural phenomenon, and sightings depend on cloud cover and solar activity. The guide searches for clearer skies, but no sighting can be promised.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing and warm shoes. You will spend time outside at viewing and photography stops, even though the minibus provides shelter between locations.

What languages does the guide speak?

Live guides are available in English and Finnish.

How many people are needed for the tour to operate?

The activity only takes place when at least three people are booked.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now-and-pay-later option is also available, subject to the booking conditions.

Are photographs included?

The guide takes public aurora photos during the trip. By joining the activity, you agree that photographs taken during the tour may be used on the provider’s website and social media channels.