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Best northern lights tour in Oulu: one pick for each situation

Green aurora over a flat coastline, reflected in still water at the shore

Illustration photo: an aurora over a coast, not photographed at Oulu.

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

With a doubtful forecast, book the mobile chase, which moves its start to suit the sky and offers a full refund when the chances are too low. On a tight budget, the guided night walk to Nallikari, from €45 on the operator's own page. With a camera, the six-hour private photography night. Without winter clothing, the Nallikari camp, which lends it.

How the operators compare

Prices are the operators' own published starting prices as of the date this guide was updated, and they change through the season.

e-Coach: mobile chaseMajakka Outdoors: night walkMajakka Outdoors: photographyNallikari Safaris: camp
The situation A doubtful forecast A tight budget A camera to fill No winter clothes
Price €129 €63 (€45 direct) €270 €99
Length 4 h 3 h 6 h 2 h
Getting there Pick-up in central Oulu Meet at the market square Pick-up in Oulu Meet at Nallikari beach
Group Shared Shared Private Shared

Nothing is ranked: each tour is the pick for a different situation, not a better or worse evening. The prices are per person as listed.

Where these figures come from
  • e-Coach: mobile chase: Four hours driving to the clearest sky from central Oulu, with a refund offered on a poor night.
  • Majakka Outdoors: night walk: Ten kilometres on foot from the market square to Nallikari and back, on the sea ice in late winter.
  • Majakka Outdoors: photography: Six hours for your group alone to Hailuoto and the rapids, with photography tips and a barbecue.
  • Nallikari Safaris: camp: Two hours in a stove-heated tent on the sea ice, with thermal clothing lent.

With one or two evenings in Oulu, the tour to book depends on what could go wrong or what matters most, rather than on the sky alone.

A doubtful forecast

e-Coach collects you in central Oulu and drives for four hours to wherever the sky is clearest. Its listing says it moves the start to suit the forecast and offers cancellation with a full refund when the chances of a sighting are too low.1

A tight budget

Majakka Outdoors’ night walk goes from the market square to Nallikari and back, ten kilometres on foot, and onto the frozen sea in late winter. It is €45 on the operator’s own page and €63 on the booking platform, the lowest price we found for an aurora evening in Oulu.23

A camera to fill

The same company’s photography night takes your group alone for six hours to Hailuoto, the Koitelinkoski rapids and Haukipudas, with night photography tips for a DSLR or a phone and a Finnish barbecue.4

No winter clothes

Nallikari Safaris lends overalls, gloves, a beanie and boots, and spends two hours in a stove-heated tent on the sea ice off the beach.5

The tours are compared side by side on northern lights tours in Oulu, by price on northern lights tour prices in Oulu, and the private evenings on the private northern lights tour in Oulu.

Tours you can book

Questions people ask

When can the night walk go onto the frozen sea?

Usually from January to April, according to its listing. Earlier in the winter the walk from the market square to Nallikari and back stays on land, so if walking on the sea ice is part of the appeal, plan for late winter. The listing also says the ten kilometres are not suitable for people with a low level of fitness.

Why do the prices differ between listings?

Majakka Outdoors prints its own prices on its website, and the booking platform and Oulu's weekly programme print others. The night walk is from €45 on the operator's page, €63 on the platform and €90 in the city's programme. Book where the terms suit you, since the platform gives free cancellation up to a day before.

Can the photography night be done with a phone?

Yes. Its listing offers night photography tips for a DSLR or a phone, so a phone is enough to take part. Majakka's driven aurora tour also includes photos taken by the guide, so if pictures of yourselves are the aim rather than learning to take them, compare the two before booking.

Written by

Lapland Handbook Staff

Lapland Handbook is written by its editorial staff in Rovaniemi. Every price, age limit and group size in a comparison is read from the operator's own page and marked "Not stated" when the operator does not publish it. Each guide names who should not book, and names the operator that suits each kind of group, whichever it is.

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