Saariselkä,Kakslauttanen: Aurora Hunting & Photography Tour.

The clever part of this Aurora hunting tour is the ability to move. Instead of waiting under cloudy skies in Saariselkä, you ride out with a guide who checks conditions and searches for clearer weather elsewhere. That wider range can matter more than any fancy viewing shelter.

I like two things right away: the small Mercedes minibus, which keeps the trip warmer and more comfortable than a snowmobile ride, and the hands-on photo help. The main catch is simple: the Northern Lights are wild, not scheduled. The tour gives you a strong chance to see them, but no honest guide can promise a display.

Key points at a glance

• A moving search area: The minibus can cover more ground than a snowmobile, giving your guide more options when clouds settle over Saariselkä.
• Small-group comfort: ArcticTours uses Mercedes minibuses, with private or small-group arrangements available.
• Pickup across the area: Collection is available in Saariselkä, Kakslauttanen, Kiilopää, and nearby locations within 20 kilometers of Saariselkä.
• Photography included: Your guide takes public aurora photos during the evening, giving you a record of the night without making you manage every camera setting.
• A warm alternative to a snowmobile: You can step outside for viewing and photos, then warm up in the vehicle when the cold bites.
• A real weather gamble: The trip operates only when at least three people are booked, and the lights themselves remain unpredictable.

Why a Moving Aurora Hunt Makes Sense

Northern Lights tours are often sold as a simple wait in the dark. This one takes a more practical approach. You travel by minibus through the Saariselkä and Kakslauttanen area, looking for a break in the clouds and a darker place away from village lights.

That matters because Saariselkä village can have both poor weather and noticeable light pollution. Even when aurora activity is strong, clouds or streetlights may spoil the view. A guide who can change location has a better set of choices than someone tied to one viewing field.

The stated tour time is three to three and a half hours. That is long enough to include several stops if conditions are promising, but short enough to fit into an evening without taking over your whole holiday schedule. The exact start time changes by date, so check availability before booking.

I would choose this format over a snowmobile aurora trip if my priority were seeing the lights rather than the ride itself. A snowmobile offers speed and adventure, but a minibus can search a wider area, keeps you out of the wind, and lets you rest during a late night. If the aurora becomes active, the vehicle also makes it easier to move between several photo locations.

Meeting the Minibus Around Saariselkä

Pickup is included within a 20 kilometer radius of Saariselkä. The main collection areas are Saariselkä village, Kakslauttanen East and West, Laanila, and Kiilopää.

The pickup window depends on your location because the guide collects several groups before the tour begins:

• Kiilopää: approximately 35 to 30 minutes before departure
• Kakslauttanen East Village: approximately 25 to 20 minutes before departure
• Kakslauttanen West Village: approximately 20 to 15 minutes before departure
• Laanila: approximately 15 to 5 minutes before departure
• Saariselkä village: approximately 10 to 0 minutes before departure

You need to be ready outside at the correct time. The minibus has several pickups to make, so a late arrival can mean losing the excursion without compensation. A short delay of a few minutes may happen during the route, but you should not treat the pickup time as optional.

The use of a Mercedes minibus is more than a brand detail. It signals a small-group setup, which is useful on a night when everyone needs space for winter clothing and camera gear. A crowded vehicle would make the warm-up breaks much less pleasant.

Private or small-group options are available. The exact group arrangement depends on the booking, so check the choice shown for your date if keeping the group small is important to you.

Leaving Saariselkä Behind

The trip begins with pickup in Saariselkä or Kakslauttanen, followed by a guided search through the local area. The route is not a fixed sightseeing circuit with a long list of named attractions. Its purpose is to respond to the night: find darker skies, avoid cloud cover, and stop when the guide sees a promising place.

That flexible plan is the heart of the experience. You may spend part of the evening on the road, watching the dark forest and snow country pass by through the windows. You may also stop several times if the aurora appears or the guide finds a useful photography position.

Do not expect a guaranteed order of stops. A clear sky in one direction may send the minibus away from the original route. This can feel less tidy than a standard tour, but it is the right method for a natural event that changes by the hour.

The guide provides the local judgment. ArcticTours describes its guides as Aurora specialists, and the service is offered in English and Finnish. Guides named in the available experience details include Henry and Jen. A guide identified as Henry is described as making a strong effort to find a good viewing place, while Jen is noted for enthusiasm and friendly service.

Those details point to the human value of the trip. You are not simply being driven to a parking area. You have someone making decisions about cloud cover, darkness, timing, and where to stand for a better view.

Chasing Clear Skies Beyond the Village

If the weather over Saariselkä is cloudy, the guide searches elsewhere. That does not mean the minibus can outrun every storm, but it gives the evening a better chance than staying in one fixed spot.

The local village is not always ideal for aurora viewing. Artificial light can weaken the contrast, especially for photography. Moving to a darker location helps the colors show more clearly to your eyes and can improve the background of your photographs.

This is also where the tour’s 3 to 3.5 hour duration earns its keep. A short drive to one field may work on a perfect night, but a longer outing gives the guide time to assess conditions and relocate. If the lights remain active, changing viewpoints can help you avoid blocking other people or simply give you a different setting for your pictures.

Still, you should keep your expectations sensible. Aurora activity is unpredictable, and cloud cover can win. The tour is designed to give you an opportunity to see the lights, not to promise a show. I would book it for the search and the professional help, not because the price buys certainty.

What the Photography Stops Are Like

Photography is part of the tour rather than an optional extra. The guide takes public aurora photos during the trip, so you can concentrate on watching the sky instead of spending the whole evening adjusting a camera.

That is especially useful if you have never photographed the Northern Lights. Night photography can be awkward in winter gloves, and a phone may not capture what your eyes see. A guide who knows where to position the group and when to take pictures can give you a much better record of the evening.

The included images are described as public aurora photos. You should understand what that means before booking. Photos taken during the trip may be made available on the provider’s website and social media channels, and participation means accepting that arrangement. If you prefer complete control over images showing you or your family, ask for clarification before reserving.

You should still bring your own camera or phone if you want personal shots. The supplied details do not promise private portraits, individual camera instruction, or a particular number of images. Think of the included photography as a helpful service and a chance to receive memorable pictures, not as a private photo session.

At each stop, expect to spend some time outside in winter clothing. You may watch the sky, listen to the guide explain the aurora, and pose for photographs before returning to the minibus. When the temperature drops, the vehicle becomes a welcome place to warm your hands and feet.

Why the Minibus Beats a Snowmobile for Some People

A snowmobile trip has obvious appeal. It feels active, fast, and firmly tied to Arctic adventure. But an aurora hunt is not always improved by spending the whole night exposed to cold air.

The minibus has three practical advantages. First, it can cover a wider search area. Second, you are protected from the temperature while moving between stops. Third, you can rest during the drive, which matters when the tour runs late at night.

Children may sleep for part of the ride, and adults can take a short rest too. That is not a minor benefit after a full day of winter activities. A snowmobile excursion may suit you if the ride itself is your main goal. This minibus tour suits you better if comfort, flexibility, and the best chance of reaching clear skies come first.

The compromise is that the vehicle ride is less thrilling. You will not get the same engine noise, speed, or direct contact with the snow. For many people, that is a fair trade on a cold night when the actual target is above your head.

Cold Weather, Children, and Late Nights

Bring proper winter clothing and warm shoes. The supplied information does not promise thermal suits, boots, or hand warmers, so you should dress as if you will stand outside for extended periods.

Layering matters. You need enough warmth for the photo stops, not just the drive. The minibus offers relief from the cold, but it does not remove the need for good clothing. Warm shoes are particularly important because your feet may stay still while you wait for the sky to change.

Parents should think carefully about the late timing. The activity takes place in the evening and at night, and children may struggle with both the cold and the waiting. The minibus allows young passengers to rest, but babies under one year are not suitable for this activity.

For older children, the flexible format can work well if they are comfortable with short outdoor stops and a slow search. I would avoid booking it as a family surprise without explaining that there may be stretches of driving and waiting rather than constant action.

The $154 Price and What You Receive

At $154 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend an evening in Lapland. The value depends on what you want from the outing.

You are paying for three to three and a half hours of guided aurora hunting, pickup and drop-off within the stated area, transport in a small Mercedes minibus, local route decisions, and public aurora photos. The strongest value comes from the ability to move beyond Saariselkä when the sky is poor. If you were planning to watch from a hotel or glass cabin anyway, the tour adds mobility and practical guidance.

The price makes less sense if you only want a quick ride or a guaranteed photo. No tour can control cloud cover or solar activity, and this one does not claim to guarantee the Northern Lights. It is best viewed as a weather-sensitive search service with photography support.

The activity runs only when at least three people are booked. Check that condition when making your plans, especially if you are traveling alone or with one companion. A private or small-group option may be available, but the cost and exact setup should be confirmed for your date.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps when your Lapland schedule depends on weather and other evening activities.

Who Will Get the Most From This Tour

I would recommend this experience to you if seeing the Northern Lights is a major holiday goal and you want someone else to handle the driving and location search.

It is a good fit for:

• Couples who want a comfortable evening with included photos
• Families with children old enough to manage a late night
• First-time aurora watchers who need help with timing and camera basics
• Visitors staying in Saariselkä, Kakslauttanen, Laanila, or Kiilopää
• Anyone who prefers a warm vehicle to a snowmobile
• Photographers who want several possible locations rather than one fixed viewpoint

You may want another type of activity if the snowmobile ride is the main attraction, if you dislike late-night outings, or if you need complete certainty about seeing the aurora. The weather remains the deciding factor.

The service has a 4.4 rating from 58 reviews, with praise focused on prompt pickup, friendly guides, effort in finding a good location, and the quality of the evening as a memorable experience. That matches the tour’s strongest practical features: personal service and an active search rather than a passive wait.

Final Call: Book It for Flexibility, Not Certainty

I would book this Aurora Hunting and Photography Tour if I were staying near Saariselkä or Kakslauttanen and had one important night available for the Northern Lights. The minibus gives you a broader search area than a fixed viewing spot, while the heated ride makes the cold and late hour easier to manage.

Book it early enough to secure a date, but keep your expectations realistic. You are buying expert effort, transport, location flexibility, and photo support. You are not buying a guaranteed aurora.

Before you confirm, check the starting time, pickup point, three-person minimum, clothing requirements, and photo-sharing policy. If those terms suit you, ArcticTours offers a sensible and comfortable way to search the dark skies around Saariselkä.

FAQ

Where does the aurora tour depart from?

Pickup is available from Saariselkä, Kakslauttanen, Kiilopää, and nearby locations within 20 kilometers of Saariselkä.

How long does the activity last?

The guided aurora hunt lasts approximately 3 to 3.5 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

Is hotel pickup included?

Free pickup and drop-off are included within a 20 kilometer radius of Saariselkä. The listed pickup areas include Saariselkä village, Kakslauttanen, Kiilopää, and Laanila.

What vehicle is used?

The tour uses a Mercedes minibus. Private or small-group arrangements are available.

Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?

No. The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and the tour cannot guarantee that you will see them. The guide searches for clearer skies and darker locations to give you an opportunity to view them.

What should I bring?

Bring warm clothing and warm shoes. You should be prepared to spend time outside during photography and viewing stops.

Can I cancel the tour?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Reserve now and pay later is also available. The activity takes place only when at least three people are booked.