Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Hunt by Van with Pro Photographer

Summary

Chasing northern lights far from Rovaniemi city lights with locals

You’ll leave Rovaniemi behind and follow your guide deep into Lapland by van, tracking clear skies for the best shot at seeing the northern lights. Warm drinks and Finnish snacks keep you going as you wait under silent skies—then suddenly there it is: green light swirling overhead while your guide snaps pro photos you’ll get later by email. It’s unpredictable but unforgettable.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t think I’d ever eat a sandwich at midnight in the middle of Finnish Lapland, but that’s exactly what happened on our northern lights hunt from Rovaniemi. The city faded behind us pretty quickly — just headlights and snowbanks for miles. Our guide, Jussi, kept checking his weather app and muttering about “cloud gaps.” He’s done this hundreds of times, but still seemed excited. At one point he just pulled over and said, “We go north now — better chance.” I honestly lost track of how far we drove (over 100km?), but it felt like we were chasing something wild.

The van was warm inside, which mattered more than I expected because every time we stopped to check the sky, the cold hit hard — that sharp Lapland air you feel in your teeth. Jussi handed out berry tea and these homemade-looking sandwiches that tasted way better than they looked (rye bread? I should’ve asked). He showed us how to set up our cameras for the aurora, though honestly I mostly just watched him work. My fingers were too clumsy in gloves anyway.

We waited at two different spots. The first was dead quiet except for someone’s boots crunching on snow. No lights yet — just a weirdly peaceful darkness. The second stop… well, that’s when it happened. It started as a faint green smear and then grew into these shifting curtains overhead. Someone gasped (maybe me). Jussi snapped away with his big camera while we tried not to fall over looking up. It wasn’t perfect — clouds drifted back in after maybe twenty minutes — but I still think about that sky.

I got my photos emailed two days later. They look unreal compared to what my eyes saw, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? There’s no fixed route here; you really do chase the aurora wherever it might show up. It’s not an early night either — we got back close to 2am and I slept like a log after all that cold air and excitement.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Northern Lights hunt with VIP van

• Depart between 18:30 and 19:00
• Travel 50 to 120 km to dark spots
• Visit 2 to 3 viewpoints
• Enjoy Finnish sandwich and berry tea
• Photographer captures Northern Lights photos
• Return around 01:00 to 03:00

Top questions

How far do you travel from Rovaniemi on this northern lights hunt?

The tour usually travels at least 50 km from Rovaniemi—sometimes up to 120 km one way—to find clear skies for viewing the aurora.

Is hotel pickup included for this Rovaniemi northern lights tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for hotels within 20km of Rovaniemi city center.

Do I need my own camera for photos of the aurora?

No—your guide is a professional photographer who takes photos during the tour and sends them to you by email within 12–72 hours.

What snacks or drinks are provided during the tour?

You’ll get a Finnish sandwich and berry tea as part of your evening snack during the aurora hunt.

When does this northern lights tour start and end?

The tour usually starts between 18:30–19:00 and ends around 01:00–03:00 depending on weather conditions.

Is this tour suitable if I have an early morning activity next day?

No—it is not recommended if you have another early morning activity because you return late at night.

Are infants or children allowed on this trip?

Yes—specialized infant seats are available upon request so families can join safely.

Do you always see the northern lights on this day trip from Rovaniemi?

No guarantee—but they have a 93% success rate during the season by chasing clear skies across Lapland.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup and drop-off within 20km of Rovaniemi center, snacks like Finnish sandwiches with berry tea served during stops, WiFi onboard the van so you can share updates if you want, power banks to keep your phone alive in the cold, plus all professional photos taken by your guide delivered straight to your email afterwards—no extra charge.