7-Day Finland Northern Lights Tour: Helsinki & Lapland With Santa Claus Village

Explore Lapland and Helsinki on a 7-day Northern Lights tour with 2–3 expert-guided aurora hunts and an overnight Glass Igloo stay.

Getting started

Begin your 7-day journey in Helsinki, where your airport transfer takes you to your first accommodation as per the itinerary. After settling in, you meet your dedicated English-speaking guide, who outlines the aurora-focused schedule and logistics. Your first scheduled activity is the Helsinki guided city tour, before you later board the overnight train from Helsinki to Lapland.

What to expect

Helsinki city tour

Your introduction to Finland starts with a guided look at the capital before you head north to the Arctic.

Features

• The Helsinki guided city tour takes you to Senate Square, the Sibelius Monument and the harbour front, giving you context for the country before you travel to Lapland.
• Your dedicated English-speaking guide is with you throughout the tour, using this first day to set expectations for the 2–3 Northern Lights hunting tours timed around the new moon and the rest of the itinerary.

Overnight train between Helsinki and Lapland

Travel between south and north Finland is part of the experience rather than just a transfer.

Features

• Board the return overnight train between Helsinki and Lapland for a scenic journey that forms the backbone of your round-trip travel on this tour.
• Your place on the Santa Claus Express style route is pre-arranged as part of the accommodation-as-per-itinerary plan, so you do not need to organise separate long-distance transport.

Lapland aurora hunting and Glass Igloo stay

Once in Lapland, the focus shifts to tracking and viewing the Northern Lights in optimal conditions.

Features

• Across the week, you join 2–3 Northern Lights hunting tours that are expert-guided and timed around the new moon, which gives you darker skies and better chances to observe the aurora.
• An overnight Glass Igloo stay is included for aurora viewing, letting you watch for the Northern Lights directly from your bed without needing to go back outside.
• Professional photo and video coverage runs alongside your aurora activities, and you receive a cloud download link so you can access and share the images after you return home.

Santa Claus Village and Arctic Circle

Your time in Rovaniemi adds some classic Arctic highlights alongside the aurora focus.

Features

• Visit Santa Claus Village and officially cross the Arctic Circle, experiencing one of Lapland's most recognisable locations as part of the scheduled route.
• The Arctic Circle crossing and all related transfers are covered under the airport and scheduled transfers as per itinerary, so you move between these stops without arranging local transport yourself.

Reindeer farm visit

An organised farm visit brings you closer to Arctic culture and wildlife.

Features

• At the reindeer farm visit, you get time on site to see reindeer up close and learn about Sami Arctic traditions around reindeer herding.
• This visit is already built into the tour inclusions, and your guide ensures timings fit around the Northern Lights hunting schedule so you do not miss core aurora activities.

Oulanka National Park

The itinerary also features a full day in one of Finland's best known national parks.

Features

• Spend a full day at Oulanka National Park, where a guided hike takes you through snow trails and past frozen rivers that define this northern landscape in the September to November operating season.
• Your visit to Oulanka National Park is included in the Oulanka National Park and Ruka Ski Center visits, and runs regardless of weather, since all activities are guaranteed.

Ruka Ski Center

Your Lapland stay includes time at Ruka, one of Finland's key ski areas.

Features

• Visit Ruka Ski Center as part of your Lapland days, adding a different mountain environment to contrast with your nights of aurora hunting.
• Ruka Ski Center is combined with Oulanka in your inclusions, and your transfers between these locations are part of the scheduled transfers as per itinerary.

Accommodation and daily logistics

Throughout the week, your stays and essential services are pre-arranged so you can focus on the experience.

Features

• Accommodation as per itinerary is included for the full 7 days, covering your nights in Helsinki, Lapland and the overnight Glass Igloo.
• Daily hotel breakfast is provided each morning, giving you a consistent start to the day before you head out to Helsinki sights, Lapland activities or evening aurora hunts.
• Airport and scheduled transfers as per itinerary connect your arrival, city tour, train departures, Lapland visits and final departure, so you do not need to book separate point-to-point travel.

Wrapping up

The tour concludes after your return overnight train from Lapland back to Helsinki and your final scheduled transfer. From there, you can continue your travels independently, with all professional photo and video coverage already backed up and accessible via your cloud download link.