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Best northern lights tour in Sodankylä: which hunt for which night

A narrow green band of aurora rising into a purple, starry sky beside tall pines, with patches of snow on the ground

Illustration photo: the aurora over a pine forest, not taken on a Sodankylä hunt.

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

If you have no winter clothing or only a short evening, book Arctic Wonders' two-hour hunt, which lends an overall, boots and gloves. If you want more time to chase gaps in the cloud with a small group and a pickup, book Arctic SISU's four-hour hunt. If the evening should be worth having even without the aurora, book its six-hour night with salmon grilled over a fire.

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.

Arctic WondersArctic SISU: huntArctic SISU: grill night
Suits A short evening, no winter gear More time to chase clear sky A night out, clear or cloudy
Length 2 h 4 h 6 h
Winter clothing Overall, boots, gloves Advice only Not included
Food Hot drinks, cookies Hot drinks, small snack Grilled salmon, berry juice
Getting there From the village office Pickup in a marked area Hotel pickup

Nothing is ranked: a longer hunt is not a better one for a tired child or a cold traveller. Prices are left to the price page for Sodankylä.

Where these figures come from
  • Arctic Wonders: Two hours from the village office with an overall, boots and gloves lent and hot drinks with cookies.
  • Arctic SISU: hunt: Four hours by car with at most eight guests and a pickup, and advice on clothing rather than clothing lent.
  • Arctic SISU: grill night: Six hours in the wilderness with salmon grilled over a fire and hot berry juice, with hotel pickup and drop-off.

The aurora hunts sold in Sodankylä are really three kinds of evening, and the right one depends on what you want if the sky stays closed.

A short evening

Arctic Wonders drives out from its village office for about two hours and lends an overall, boots and gloves, with hot drinks and cookies on the way.1 It suits anyone who came without winter clothing or wants to be back early.

Arctic SISU Experience collects you and spends four hours taking at most eight guests to spots chosen for the night, advising on clothing beforehand rather than lending it.2 More hours mean more chances to drive towards a break in the cloud.

A night out

The same company’s six-hour night stops for salmon grilled over an open fire and hot berry juice, with pickup and drop-off at your hotel.3 It is the evening to book if the fire and the meal should make it worthwhile on their own.

Tours you can book

Priced per person

Price not stated

Questions people ask

Is the grill night the same as the campfire night on GetYourGuide?

It looks like it. Both are six hours with Arctic SISU, a fire in the wilderness and warm drinks; the company's own page adds the salmon and hot berry juice and names hotel pickup, while the platform listing says transport and viewing spots. The two are priced differently, so read the price page before choosing where to book.

What happens if it is cloudy?

None of the listings mentions a free second try if the sky stays shut, so assume the night is the night you paid for. On the longer hunts the guide has more hours to drive towards a gap; on the grill night you still get the fire and the meal. Check the cancellation terms of the listing you book.

Can we take photographs of the aurora with a phone?

Usually, with a recent phone set on something steady and its night mode on, but none of the listings promises photography help. If pictures matter, ask the company whether the guide will take them or help set up your camera, and bring a small tripod and a charged spare battery, which the cold drains quickly.

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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