How do I find the Best Northern Lights Tour Package?

Not all Northern Lights tours are created equal. With so many operators offering "aurora hunting" experiences across Lapland, it can be hard to tell which package will actually give you the best shot at seeing the lights. Here's how to evaluate your options and pick a tour that's worth the money and avoid common mistakes that leave many travellers underwhelmed.

Start With Location

Where you go for a northern lights vacation matters more than almost anything else. In and around the Arctic Circle offers the best viewing conditions overall, but within that region, inland areas of Lapland -  think Rovaniemi, Saariselkä, and Inari in Finland - tend to have drier, more continental climates with fewer cloudy nights than coastal regions so you will have better chances of seeing the northern lights.

Choose the Right Accommodation

Some of the best experiences combine an active hunting tour with a stay somewhere you can also watch the sky passively. Glass igloos, like those at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Saariselkä, let you catch the aurora from the warmth of your bed on nights you're not out touring. This gives you a nice blend of adventure and relaxation on your trip.

The Northern Lights from inside a glass igloo

 Photo credits: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Stay multiple nights

Because the aurora is a weather-dependent phenomenon, no single night is ever guaranteed. Staying in Lapland for between three and five nights makes a perfect northern lights vacation. The strongest tour packages for Lapland account for this by offering multiple viewing attempts by combining specialized accommodation like glass igloos with multiple nights available to go for aurora hunting tours.

Choose the Right Northern Lights Hunting Tour

A safari chasing the northern lights is on every traveller’s bucket list. But it’s crucial that you choose the right kind of aurora hunting tour.

Many operators offer these activities but most guides in Finnish Lapland don't run the exact same route every night regardless of conditions. Instead, they adjust their plans based on real-time weather and solar activity data, using tools like the Kp Index and Bz value to identify the most promising direction and timing for that evening. As the Northern Lights are a pure weather phenomenon, they can never be 100% guaranteed so a tour which covers a wider scope in route and time gives you a better chance.

A couple enjoying the aurora sighting on a Northern Lights hunting tour

A good northern lights hunting tour should also include proper winter gear and refreshments, since you may be out for several hours in the cold. A cherry on top is photography - many guides bring professional cameras and will photograph the aurora for you, which is a nice bonus since capturing the lights on a phone can be difficult.

 

Consider the transport and group size

Think about what kind of experience you want. Group tours are more social and often more affordable, while private tours give you a quieter, more personalized outing which is ideal for families, couples. Good operators typically offer both.

 

Aurora tours come in a variety of styles: minivan tours, snowshoe treks, ski excursions, snowmobile safaris, and even dog sled adventures. Each offers a different pace and atmosphere. Snowmobile and dog sled tours tend to venture further into the wilderness and can feel more adventurous, while minivan tours are typically more comfortable and family-friendly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding these common mistakes comes down to one core principle: treat the aurora as the unpredictable natural event it is, and build flexibility into every part of your trip from your dates, activities, and accommodation.

Many travelers focus entirely on active hunting tours and forget that accommodation choice matters too. Staying somewhere with sky views (like glass igloos) and situated far away from city lights in the middle of quiet wilderness makes a huge difference. Arctic nights, especially around midnight when the lights are often brightest, can be brutally cold so it’s also very important to factor cold temperatures to ensure a comfortable experience for yourself and your family.

Bringing It All Together

The best Northern Lights tour package combines a well-located base, a flexible weather-driven approach, solid inclusions, and realistic expectations about visibility. If you'd like a ready-made itinerary that ties all of this together, take a look at our Northern Light Winter Vacation Tour for a trip built specifically around maximizing your chances of a spectacular aurora display.

Northern Lights over a forest in Lapland