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Northern lights in Oulu with children

Logs burning in a small metal fire basket standing in the snow, with snowflakes falling

Illustration photo: a fire in the snow, not on one of the evenings compared here.

Lapland Handbook Staff How we research this

The short answer

For young children, book the Nallikari camp: it is the shortest evening, the clothing is lent, there is a stove-heated tent to sit in, and it costs a family the least. For a family who want the evening to themselves with photos taken, Majakka Outdoors sells a private tour made for families. The driven chase suits older children who can stay up late.

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.

Nallikari Safaris: campMajakka Outdoors: familye-Coach: chase
Family of four €396 – the lowest total for two adults and two children €776 €516
Child fare Not stated Not stated Not stated
Length 2 h 3 h 4 h, can run on
Your group only Not stated Yes Not stated
Clothing Lent Bring your own Bring your own
Getting there Meet at Nallikari Hotel pick-up Pick-up in central Oulu

Highlighted figures are the best in that row: the lowest total for two adults and two children. Only the family total is marked, and it is four times the adult price because no listing prints a child fare. The private evening costs most because the guide is yours.

Where these figures come from
  • Nallikari Safaris: camp: Two hours in a heated tent on the frozen sea off Nallikari beach, clothing lent, toilets at the centre.
  • Majakka Outdoors: family: A private evening for one family, collected from the hotel, with a bonfire, snacks and family photos.
  • e-Coach: chase: A driven chase from central Oulu that can go on through the night while there is a chance.

With no child fare printed anywhere, a family’s aurora evening in Oulu costs four adult places, and the real differences are how long the night is and where the children wait.

The shortest evening

Nallikari Safaris’ camp is two hours. The family changes into lent overalls, gloves, hats and boots at the centre on the beach, then walks out onto the sea ice to a tent warmed by a wood stove.1

The family’s own evening

Majakka Outdoors sells a private three-hour evening for families: you are collected from your hotel, taken out of the city to a bonfire with snacks and hot drinks, and the guide photographs the family through the evening. Its listing shows 194 euros a person, with a higher price struck through.2

The long chase

e-Coach collects you in central Oulu for a four-hour drive after the clearest sky, and its listing says it will keep going through the night while there is a chance, which is a long evening for a child who needs to be in bed.3

Choosing

With children under ten, the camp is the easy evening: short, close to the city and with clothing lent. The private evening is for a family that wants photos and the guide to itself and does not mind paying for it. Keep the chase for teenagers.

Tours you can book

Questions people ask

What time do the evenings start?

The city's winter programme lists the Nallikari camp from half past nine to half past eleven at night, every day from 22 December to the end of March. The other two listings open their start times only when you pick a date, so check the time in the calendar before booking, and plan a nap for a child who will be out that late.

Do the children need their own snowsuits?

For the camp, the listing does not say which sizes of its clothing fit children, so bring a small child's own snowsuit and boots in case the smallest size is too big. On the other two evenings the listings ask you to bring warm clothing, so dress children as for a long winter evening spent mostly standing still outdoors.

Is there a toilet?

The Nallikari camp includes use of the toilets at its centre before and after the evening, and a changing room for your things; out on the ice there is the tent, not a toilet. The two driven tours do not say, so take children before you set off and ask the guide where the stops are.

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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