Family northern lights in Utsjoki: what to know with children
Illustration photo: the aurora over a cabin, not in Utsjoki.
The short answer
With young children, choose the holiday village's evening: it starts at half past seven, lasts two to three hours and is the only one with a printed child fare, 80 euros for under-twelves. The village company's minivan evening carries spare clothing but may start late. Keep the four-hour snowmobile sled evening from Karigasniemi for children who cope well with cold.
An aurora evening with children is mostly a question of when it starts, how long it lasts and how cold the waiting is.
The earliest start
The holiday village sets its evenings off at half past seven by default and keeps them to two or three hours, moving the time only when the weather calls for it. Its fare for children under twelve is printed alongside the adult one.1
The evening in a van
The village company’s evening runs for up to three hours somewhere between seven and one at night, with the start time depending on the season, and it can lend some extra clothing.2 Its terms take thirty per cent off for under-twelves and ask parents of children under six to check that a programme suits them.
The long cold one
From Karigasniemi, the hotel’s snowmobile sled evening lasts about four hours, lends overalls and is called off below minus 25.3 It calls itself suitable for the whole family; how much of four hours a small child enjoys in the cold is the question to ask yourself first.
The three evenings are compared by price and style on best northern lights tour in Utsjoki.
Questions people ask
Can a sleeping child stay in the van?
The listings do not say, and it is the kind of arrangement that depends on the guide and the other guests. On the minivan evening the van travels with the group, which makes it the likeliest of the three to allow it, but ask the village company before booking rather than assuming. On the sled evening from Karigasniemi, the shelter is a hut reached by snowmobile.
What should children wear?
More than you think. The Karigasniemi hotel lends overalls and warns there is little exercise on its evening, so dress as warmly as possible underneath. The village company carries some extra clothing in the van. The holiday village's aurora page does not mention clothing at all, so ask whether it lends any, particularly if the guide picks the sleigh.
Do teenagers pay the adult price?
At the holiday village, yes from twelve, since its child fare is for under-twelves. The village company's terms give thirty per cent off for children under twelve, and its booking-platform listing opens on the adult price. The Karigasniemi hotel prints 120 euros a person and no child fare at all, so ask it directly what a child or teenager pays.