The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are one of the most breathtaking natural spectacles in the world. Many people dream of witnessing this phenomenon of lights in the sky. However, when planning a trip to see them, you'll encounter two main options: a Northern Lights tour or a Northern Lights hunt. While both promise the opportunity to witness this phenomenon, there are key differences between the two experiences. Here, we explain what each entails and which might be the best option for you.
NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR: It typically involves a more structured and organized itinerary. These tours usually have the following characteristics:
Fixed Location: Aurora borealis tours typically take place in a specific location known for being outside of the city in an open and dark space.
Comfort: These tours often offer amenities such as heated shelters, hot drinks, and/or barbecues. They are ideal for those who prefer a more comfortable and less adventurous experience.
Fixed Duration: Tours have a set schedule. You typically meet with the group at a specified point and spend a few hours at the observation site before returning.
Massive Group: These tours often include larger groups of people, which may involve traveling in buses with a high number of individuals.
PROS AND CONS OF AURORA BOREALIS TOURS: - Pros:
The price is much lower and there are usually no issues with availability since they are characteristic of large companies, so there may be more than one bus for the same tour.
Some offer BBQ as an extra and there is usually a place to make a fire and warm up.
They are most suitable for families with young children, as the bus journey is usually 15/20 minutes and tours typically end between 10:00 PM and midnight, depending on the tour.
- Cons:
The main downside (and most important) is that these tours operate regardless of weather conditions or the likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights. Some companies (though not all) offer a discount to see them another day, even when they know the chances are equally slim. To avoid refunds, many of these companies use the BBQ (a sausage on the fire) or the tactic of "different locations" to prevent complaints. In the latter case, there are often parking lots along the way to their fixed location where buses stop and passengers are asked to disembark for a "second location test". Obviously, if it's cloudy in Rovaniemi and also 50 km away, it's no surprise that the second location between these two points is also cloudy.
Many Aurora tours, due to their fixed schedule and extra services like BBQ, limit the distance to a maximum of 50 km from Rovaniemi to fit everything in.
Accurately interpreting Aurora apps takes time and dedication, as there are many parameters to consider to gauge the likelihood of seeing Aurora that night (solar wind speed, density, Earth's magnetic field strength, bz, etc.). In many large companies, guides change every year, and on Aurora tours, guides are more like drivers/cooks than Aurora experts.
Due to large group sizes, individual attention is often very limited, sometimes non-existent, with little to no contact with the guide or company until the tour begins. In photography tours, there is typically one photographer per bus, meaning each family will have at most 1 or 2 photos.
Some tours, to cut costs, do not offer photography services. It's crucial to know that not all Auroras are visible to the naked eye and often only perceptible through cameras.
The itinerary and schedule are fixed, meaning the same tour goes to the same place at the same time every day. The problem with this is that Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon that cannot be predicted 100%. Not every day is the same in terms of timing, shape, strength, or brightness. Additionally, clouds are another natural element to consider, so always going to the same place at the same time greatly reduces the chances of seeing them.
NORTHERN LIGHTS HUNT
On the other hand, an Aurora Borealis hunt is a more dynamic and exciting experience. The main characteristics of a hunt are:
Mobility: Instead of staying in one place, hunting involves moving from one location to another in search of the best conditions to see the auroras. This may involve traveling long distances in one night and returning in the early hours of the morning.
Flexibility: Aurora hunters are willing to change locations based on weather conditions and solar activity. This increases the chances of seeing the auroras, as they can avoid bad weather and seek clear skies.
Adventure: This type of experience is more adventurous. It's ideal for the most adventurous individuals willing to make an extra effort to see the auroras, as Aurora hunting is completely unpredictable until almost the same day. It's on the day itself, based on weather and solar activity, that decisions are made about when and where to go.
Small Groups: Aurora hunts are typically conducted in smaller groups, allowing for a more personalized and flexible experience.
PROS AND CONS OF AURORA BOREALIS HUNT:
- Pros:
The sole purpose of these activities is to witness the Aurora Borealis, so there's no point in conducting a tour if it's known that the Northern Lights won't be visible (for example, if it's snowing across Lapland). In such cases, it's preferable to cancel or reschedule the tour for another day. Naturally, as a natural phenomenon, it cannot be guaranteed 100%, which is why participants are always informed about the conditions and probabilities beforehand, allowing them to make an informed decision. During Aurora hunts, if the Aurora Borealis is not seen at all, it's common to receive a partial refund, typically covering minimal expenses like gas and guide fees.
Aurora hunts always include photography services. As mentioned, it's important to note that Auroras don't appear every day, and they're not always equally strong. Moreover, they may not be visible to the naked eye but can be captured with a camera. Hence, participants are always equipped with cameras to capture these moments and take home photos of the Aurora.
Clients always receive comprehensive information at the start of the activity. Due to smaller, more personalized tour groups, there's more direct communication. Throughout the day, tour guides inform clients about specific conditions for that day, ensuring everyone is well-prepared when the activity begins.
Since these hunts involve smaller groups, there's much more flexibility in terms of schedule and distance traveled. The timing is based on the distance needed to drive that night, usually to avoid clouds, and the expected peak solar activity. With only one or two vehicles, these tours are more dynamic, making it easier to advance, change locations, or direction more quickly. There's usually no time limit, and it's not uncommon to cover several hundred kilometers in one night, greatly enhancing the chances of witnessing the Aurora Borealis.
Another advantage of these hunts is the experience of seasoned guides who have multiple seasons of Aurora hunting under their belt and are experts in their field. They often form a network with fellow hunters, sharing information on the best locations for the night. All groups have limited spots (hence higher prices), reducing competitiveness and encouraging recommendations among fully-booked tours. Moreover, most guides are skilled Aurora photographers, helping participants configure their own cameras for capturing Auroras.
- Cons:
Many Aurora hunts do not allow children. This activity can involve long hours of driving, and participants must be prepared for extremely cold temperatures outside the vehicle. Moving quickly or waiting outdoors, sometimes for hours, may be necessary (though waiting inside the vehicle is often an option). Additionally, unlike in Spain, Finland's roads often lack service stations, meaning bathroom breaks may involve outdoor stops in the forest. Some companies that do accept children charge a flat rate per person because spots are limited and paid for per seat, rather than distinguishing between adults and children (otherwise, reservations by adults would exclude children), and there are other conditions for activities with children. In our case, you can read about the aurora hunt activity on the relevant page.
Since they are only available in small groups, the places are limited to between 8 and 16 people (one or two vans), this, combined with the fact that the guides are much more experienced, many of whom are trained in the aurora borealis, is a long drive in one night and the treatment is much closer and more direct even before the activity starts, makes the prices of aurora hunting trips higher than those of aurora tours.
They are more likely to be canceled. As we explained earlier, the only goal of this activity is to see the Northern Lights. In the case of snow or no solar activity, the activity is not carried out, returning 100% of the money or rescheduling it for another day.
The exact time when the activity will end is never known. The duration of an aurora can range from a few minutes to several hours, can start around 20:00 in the afternoon or midnight, which is why there are days when the activity starts at 18:30 and at 00:00 you are back because there is no more solar activity and there are days when it is necessary to drive much further beyond the Swedish border to avoid clouds, the activity is around 00:00, it lasts a couple of hours and then returns, in this case, the tour can end at 4:30.
Barbecue is not offered. When looking for Northern Lights, you can find that the activity is suddenly weaker than expected and the Aurora stays much lower on the horizon, so you will have to drive much further north to see it a little better or suddenly the clouds cover the place where you are, for this reason, in a northern Aurora hunt, you try to waste time at least on other things than the search for northern lights, so it is not necessary to stop for dinner, although it is usually allowed to bring drinks and food to the activity, as well as hot drinks and snacks are normally offered. Also, for a few years now, it has not been permitted to make a fire in places that are not suitable for it or to allow tourism companies to use public places for profit
What is the Best Option for You?
Now that you know all this, you can choose the tour that best suits your needs. Remember that the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon and their visibility can vary. While there may be days when the auroras are strong enough to be seen from the city center, this typically happens only 3 or 4 times throughout the season. Therefore, if you prefer a more comfortable and structured experience, a Northern Lights tour may be ideal. If you are adventurous and want to maximize your chances of seeing this spectacle, an Aurora Borealis hunt would be the best option.
Another piece of advice is to carefully review the cancellation policies or flexibility offered by Northern Lights tours. Many companies do not reschedule tours in case of bad weather or offer refunds, so if you plan to take a Northern Lights tour, we recommend booking it on the same day and ensuring good viewing conditions. Tours with buses will never turn you down for a reservation.
For Aurora hunts, since spots are limited, it's better to book in advance, and it will be much easier to reschedule outings with them.
With all this information, we hope you can choose the activity that best suits you and enjoy this magical spectacle.