Bucket List Travel is thrilled to offer a five-night trip to Utsjoki, Finnish Lapland to see the spectacular Aurora Borealis - the Northern Lights!

We will be staying in cozy private cabins at the charming Aurora Holidays resort, 280 miles above the Arctic Circle. It is  one of the best places on Earth to experience the lights! 

ALL of the guests who have stayed here since 2017 - every single one - have seen the lights here!!

Group size is limited to under 12 guests.

Seeing the Northern Lights is on everyone's bucket list - so make 2024 the year you stop dreaming, and start packing!

The Aurora Borealis is the most amazing natural phenomena in the world! But most people never get the thrill of seeing it. (I made three winter trips to Iceland hoping to see the Northern Lights and never saw them!) The Lights are usually only visible on Earth during four winter months from a 700-mile-wide band near the North Pole, known as the “Aurora Zone.” Our destination is located smack-dab in the middle of the Aurora Zone, in the tiny village of Utsjoki in Lapland, northern Finland. ("Lapland" is situated in Scandinavia and often referred to as the northern area of Finland.)

The guides at Aurora Holidays are Northern Lights-hunting professionals, ensuring you always get the best views of the spectacular aurora borealis. We’ll actively hunt the lights three evenings of our tour. The guides search the night skies and analyze conditions, always choosing the best nights, places, and times when you will most likely see the Aurora. (Sometimes the Lights are visible from your cottage!) Our viewing might take place around the resort or on the road in our van - guided by where we predict you will have the best possible chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis. These northern lights tours last between two to three hours, but some nights we are out longer if the lights appear at the end of our tour. 

Keep in mind that there is no guarantee you will see the Northern Lights during your stay. We will do our absolute best to make sure that your bucket list dream comes true, but we are at the mercy of nature and can't make any promises.

Your package includes full board (all 14 meals included) of delicious homemade Finnish, Sami, and Scandinavian cuisine based on local ingredients of the best quality. The restaurant serves local free-range/grass-fed meat, and fish from local rivers, lakes and the Arctic Ocean. The resort's owners are an indigenous Sami reindeer-herding family, so self-raised free range reindeer meat is the star of the menu. They always have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free meal options. The chef accommodates everyone based on individual dietary preferences, allergies, or restrictions. You'll enjoy five breakfasts; four lunches, either in the dining area or during the activities; five two-course dinners, including non-alcoholic drinks, water, soda or juice; and evening snacks when we are chasing the Northern Lights. In addition, the bar and kitchen are there if you want anything else (at additional cost.) The restaurant consciously works to avoid food waste, support small local businesses, chooses ecological options whenever possible, and uses only the cleanest local water (no bottled water). 

You will stay in one of six cozy wooden Finnish two-bedroom cottages that sleep up to four people each. You might have a cabin all to yourself, or share it with up to three other friends or family members. These high quality Finnish cottages are fresh and clean, because they are quite new, well maintained, and smoke-free. They are equipped with everything you need, including a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. Each cottage has a private sauna where you can warm up after a cold night chasing the lights. The cottages face directly north, so you can check what is happening in the sky any time, and you can watch auroras from your window all night long if you like! 

Aurora Holidays is actively LGBTQ friendly. It is the first business in Lapland to join the "We Speak Gay" community. 

The cost of this trip is $2,449 per person. There is no single supplement. Children under 15 years old are half price.

This does NOT include airfare to and from Finland.

Your space will be secured when we receive a  nonrefundable deposit of $500.

Tour deposits are non-refundable.

The balance is due three months before your departure (June 24, 2024.)

This tour includes:

• Five nights accommodation at Aurora Holidays resort
• Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks)
• Unlimited WIFI in all cottages
• Three guided Northern Lights chasing tours
•  Assistance with your photography
• Village tour of Utsjoki
• Tour of Northern Norway
• Polar Plunge
• King Crab safari and feast
• Snowshoeing adventure
• Reindeer feeding experience
• Transfer to and from the airport and all activities 
• Firewood for your outside fireplaces
• 24/7 assistance by experienced guides

It does not include:

• Flights
• Optional activities
• Travel Insurance
• Alcohol
• Tips for guides (suggested total $50 per guest.)

Utsjoki is such a great place to see the Northern Lights because it is in a remote area of Lapland close to the North Pole. Yup, this is Santa country!

We recommend you fly Finnair (through Helsinki) and then to  Ivalo airport, which is a 2.5 hour drive from the resort. Transportation to and from our location is included in the package. 

You should book a flight that arrives Ivalo Tuesday, September 24, 2024 around 1 p.m.  We pick you up from Ivalo airport at 1:30 pm on Tuesday. 

Departure flights should be scheduled on Sunday, September 29, 2024 after 1 p.m. We'll drop you off at the airport around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. 

Note that you might be better off arriving to Ivalo already on Monday, depending on your flights. 

If you are unsure about the flights – please contact us before booking your flight so that we can advise you.

If you'd like to extend your trip, we offer an optional three-night extension to Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia.

In late September, the daily high temperature is around 41°F, and rarely falls below 35°F. Overnight lows average 33°F, and rarely falls below 25°F. 

In late September in Utsjoki, the chance of a day with only rain is 18%, the chance of a day with mixed snow and rain is 3%, and the chance of a day with only snow is 1%.

When packing. for this trip, follow the Nordic saying: "There's no such thing as bad weather. There's only bad clothing." Weather conditions in Lapland can change quickly and often, so you should bring many layers of warm, comfortable inner wear such as long johns, long sleeved shirts, and trousers. Here is a suggested packing list for your Lapland winter holiday: 

• Insulated boots with good grip
• Insulated jacket (preferably waterproof too)
• Waterproof or snowproof trousers
• Thermal underwear and base layers
• Warm woollen or fleece jacket
• Warm gloves, scarf and hat
• Thin thermal gloves (ideal as a base layer under snowmobile gloves)
• Warm woollen socks
• Small backpack
• Camera with extra battery pack
• Heat pads for hands and feet
• A swimsuit if you're going to take a polar plunge in the ocean. (Towels and swimming footwear are provided)

The owners of Aurora Holidays are a traditional Sami reindeer herder family, and there are some resident reindeer around the resort. During the winter the reindeer are fed every day in their enclosure, and you’ll get to help us feed them!

Reindeer are not fully domesticated animals, and by nature do not like to be touched. But if they are feeling brave, they might eat directly out of your hand!

We respect their natural tendencies and will never force human interaction with them. 

For his full-day trip, we leave the resort around 8:30 a.m., and drive to the picturesque village of Bugeynes, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean in Norway. We'll stop to admire and photograph the spectacular scenery along the way. The unique landscapes of the stunning Arctic coast will take your breath away! This day trip includes an opportunity to plunge into the clear frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean! This quick dip will be followed by a sauna, to warm you and bring calm to your very core.

On the way back, we'll stop at a sea-side bistro for a feast of local King crab! This trip can also be a vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free friendly, and we can work around physical disabilities. On the way back to Utsjoki, we'll look for northern lights along the way of course! 

Disclaimer: All activities are dependent on weather condition and availability. We reserve the right to make modifications for health or safety reasons.

This package includes three nights of aurora chasing activities, a village tour of Utsjoki, a tour of northern Norway, a polar plunge, a King Crab fishing expedition and feast, and a daytime reindeer feeding activity. 

You can opt to spend the rest of your time relaxing in the resort. Depending on the weather, other winter activities, such as dogsledding,  may be available at an additional cost.

Bucket List Travel recommends travel insurance for all of our guests. Travel insurance provides financial protection for unexpected events that affect a trip, such as a cancellation, illness, or an injury that occurs during the trip, and may include coverage for trip expenses, medical emergencies, travel delays, and luggage.

We have partnered with a company called Travel Insurance Master, which works with 11 of the country’s best travel insurance providers to find the best plan and value for you so you don’t have to figure it out yourself. 

They take into account your age, trip cost, and the features you want, and present you with what they think is your best option, as well as several alternatives. You only pay the premium amount; there is no additional cost to you.

Take a look at Travel Insurance Master, and rest assured they’ll find you the best trip insurance for your needs.  https://travelinsurancemaster.com/a?5cc9488b-808d-4077-a31f-c22a7c47abd2 

If you cancel more than 90 days before arrival, you only lose your deposit.

• Between 90 and 46 days before your arrival date, 50% of the entire tour price.
• 45 to 31 days before arrival, 25% of the full cost will be refunded
• Less than 30 days before the holiday is scheduled to start: no refunds.

If a person in your group must cancel, someone else can take their place for no extra charge. It is also possible to change the booking to another time, if there is availability.

Your trip to Aurora Holidays in Utjoski, Finland is scheduled for five nights, Sept. 24-29,, 2024. If you would like to extend your trip, we are offering a pre-tour three-night add-on package to Helsinki and Tallinn, Estonia, Sept 21-24, 2024.

You should arrive in Helsinki on Saturday, September 21, 2024, and make your way to the beautiful downtown hotel, the Scandic Grand Central Helsinki.

On Sunday, September 22, we’ll take the ferry from the port of Helsinki across the Gulf of Finland to the country of Estonia. Once in Tallinn, the capital city, a guide takes you on a walking tour to discover the best of Tallinn’s medieval Old Town in just a few hours.

The next morning (Monday, September 23), we'll have a tour of Helsinki's most popular spots by Eco-Friendly Transportation. We will visit Helsinki Central Railway Station, Olympic Stadium, Esplanadi Park, Sibelius Park, Havis Amanda (The Little Mermaid statue), Old Market Hall, Kauppatori (Market Square), Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, Uspenskin Cathedral, and Helsinki Market Square.

The next morning (Tuesday, September 24), after breakfast, we’ll head to the airport for the flight to Ivalo to continue our tour at Aurora Holidays.

The price for this tour is $669 per person, double occupancy. Single supplement is $100. This does not include the price of any flight.

This excursion includes: 

·  3-night stay at the Scandic Grand Central Helsinki, double occupancy, with breakfast

·  One day tour with personal guide of Helsinki  

·  One day tour of Tallinn, Estonia, including round trip ferry transportation

Meet and assist at Ivalo Airport.

Transfer by van to Aurora Holidays resort.

Please note: Activities during your stay are all weather dependent. Staff will arrange the weekly activities based on predicted weather each day.

Looking for a truly responsible, informative and fun experience with adorable reindeer? Then this activity is for you.

• Meet and hand feed friendly reindeer
• Learn about traditional Sami reindeer herding and reindeer racing

We are a Sami reindeer herding family located in the far north of Finnish Lapland in authentic Sami lands. We have a small herd of male reindeer living nearby our resort, that participate in traditional Sami reindeer racing.

This herd grazes in the wilderness with our larger herd during the summer months, but come fall, they find their way back to their fence by our resort. They come on their own, because they are used to having a nice meal served to them each day during the colder season. They are also accomplished racing reindeer and are hence more used to people than average reindeer.

 We will go inside the fence (if you wish so) where you can get really close to the individuals as you hand feed them their favourite treat, lichen. We never force our reindeer to engage with us, instead we let them come to us if they choose to… and having lichen in your hand, usually means they choose to!

Join us for a tour of Utsjoki village and learn more about the local culture and way of life. We will visit the Sami bridge (border bridge), where you not only get some great views of one if Europe’s largest salmon fishing rivers, but you also have the chance to stand with one foot in Norway and the other in Finland. You will have the chance to visit our local café Giisa and souvenir shop with handmade souvenirs, made by local artists. Perfect to warm up with a hot drink and try some local sweet treats. The tour will also take you to Utsjoki church and Kirkkotuvat, the church huts.

Take a deep dive into Sami culture on this half-day trip to the Siida Sami museum in Inari. During the day we will also admire the landscapes as they change from Arctic tundra to the Arctic boreal forests as we drive from Utsjoki to Inari. In Inari you will have ample time to explore the interactive and beautiful Siida Sami museum, enjoy lunch at the local restaurant and visit the Jäniskoski rapids.

Siida museum is your one stop guide to Sami culture and northern nature.

Part of Juutua river the Jäniskoski rapids are a sight of raging waters amongst the rocky river bend heading towards Lake Inari. A cable bridge takes you across the river to the rest stop on the other side. From the road the distance to Jäniskoski rapids is less than 1 kilometre and is unobstructed.

What’s included in this activity:

• Transportation and guide from Aurora Holidays Utsjoki to Inari and back.
• Tickets and lunch at Siida Sami museum
• A guided trip to Jäniskoski rapids (when conditions allow).

This day trip is a true bucket list experience.  After all,  you’ve traveled this far to reach us at Aurora Holidays in Northern Finland, why not experience the wonders of Northern Norway too!

Together with "Visit Bugøynes," we’ve put together an excursion to let you enjoy and explore the most memorable activities in Northern Norway and the Arctic Ocean.

Our destination is the picturesque village of Bugøynes (Pykeija), also known as “Little Finland”, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean in Norway.

The stunning nature of the arctic coast will take one’s breath away, as we drive through some unique landscapes and on coastal routes. We also stop to take in and photograph the scenery on the way and to enjoy a snack break. 

• Sightseeing in gorgeous Northern Norway
• King crab boat safari in the Arctic Ocean (weather permitting)
• Feast on King Crabs you pulled out of the Arctic Oceans an hour earlier!
• Explore the small fishing village of Bugøynes aka “Little Finland”
• If you're brave enough, take a polar plunge into the Arctic Ocean!

Want the absolute best odds at seeing the northern lights? These guided Northern Lights experiences are included in our holiday packages, but are also available as a one off activity to do in Utsjoki if you are visiting the area.

Our resort is located in one of the best places on earth to experience the northern lights. We have years of experience on predicting Aurora Borealis activity along with a vast knowledge of various viewing locations here in the far north of Finnish Lapland. This activity might take place around our resort or on the road with our minibus depending on where we predict we will be able to give you the best possible chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis each night.

These guided northern lights experience usually last anywhere between 1 to 3+ hours. Our main goal is to show you the northern lights. Some nights it takes longer than others as we are dealing with a natural phenomenon and Arctic weather. Not having a specific end time for the tour means, that, if the lights appear right at the end of the 3hr mark; we will stay longer for you to actually take in the northern lights. 

• Guided northern lights experience.
• Transportation (during the experience when neede).
• Snacks and warm drinks.
• Photos of you and the northern lights taken with our professional gear.
• Warm overalls if needed.

We will always schedule the Northern Lights experience based on weather conditions and aurora activity. Please make sure you give us your contact information so that we can easily reach you, to inform you about the pick up time and the plan for the evening.

After breakfast, we'll drive you back to the airport in Ivalo to start your voyage home. 

You'll never forget the stunning polar night scenery of Finnish Lapland, and the amazing Northern Lights,