We know...

Seeing the Northern Lights is right up there on most wish lists but we fully understand that not everyone wants to combine this with Arctic activities such as dog sledding. Consequently, we have created this leisurely holiday which enables you to hopefully fulfil your Aurora Borealis dream whilst leaving you to decide how active or relaxed you want your stay to be.

During the day you can relax in the pool or spa, take a gentle stroll or try a variety of Arctic activities which we can arrange for you.

Your evenings are filled with gentle Aurora activities designed to enhance your chances of witnessing nature’s light show. You will be given a presentation covering the science of the Lights, be guided around an Aurora trail and head off for a Northern Lights dinner.

You will be equipped with an Aurora alert system throughout and our Northern Lights at Leisure clients are also granted access to the hotel’s Aurora Lounge.

Luosto’s Northern Lights record is one of the best in Finland and we aim to help you as much as we can when it comes to your search for the Aurora.

If you fancy a relaxing Aurora holiday over Christmas, New Year or Half Term then please see our special 6 night Northern Lights at Leisure.

Day 1: Arrivals and introduction
Upon arrival at either Kittila or Rovaniemi Airport it’s only a 90 minute transfer through spectacular countryside to Luosto. At the hotel you will be provided with your Aurora Alerts before settling in to your room or suite. Our Northern Lights at Leisure guests stay in the hotel’s new wing and are all provided with tea and coffee making facilities (a very rare facility in Scandinavia).

After dinner at the hotel you can either retire to your room to rest or, if like many people you’re too excited to snooze, then you can watch the skies from the comfort of the Aurora Lounge.

Day 2: Introduction to the Northern Lights and the Aurora Trail
This holiday is all about relaxation and flexibility during the day and Aurora based activities in the evenings. It’s a combination designed to provide you with a tailored holiday and excellent Northern Lights viewing opportunities.

There is no shortage of daytime options here in Luosto. You can relax in the pool, try some spa treatments, have a go at cross country skiing, take advantage of the downhill slopes, blast across frozen lakes on snowmobiles, take out a team of eager huskies, take advantage of the excellent sledging slope by the Ski Centre…….. the list goes on.

As many of our guests choose to include some activities in their stay we provide a full list of what is available in advance. To avoid disappointment we recommend that any activities be confirmed prior to your balance being paid i.e. at least 9 weeks before departure. Some activities can be a very popular and resources such as huskies and snowmobiles are limited. We would hate for you to miss out.

After your first day in Lapland you will be formally introduced to the Northern Lights by a local expert. Your Aurora guide will tell you about the science (in brief), the myths and the legends surrounding the Northern Lights during a video and picture presentation at the hotel.

Following the presentation a guide will take you to the small lake behind the hotel where you will follow the Aurora Trail around the lake. Your guide will show you the best viewpoints and will be on hand to answer questions. A fire will be lit and warm drinks served as you wait with baited breath for a glimpse of the Aurora.

Day 3: Free Day
Today you can really design your own holiday as your day is free for you to take advantage of the facilities or activities. The beauty of Luosto is that everything is so accessible and you can achieve an awful lot in a day.

In the evening, dinner will be served at the hotel but make sure your Aurora alert is close to hand so that you don’t miss out.

The Aurora Lounge is also available to you all evening but you may decide that a second night on the Aurora Trail is your preferred option.

Day 4: Kuusiranta and Northern Lights Dinner
This will be your last day in Lapland so be sure to make the most of it. We’ve certainly got the evening covered.

Late in the afternoon you will be collected for your final Aurora quest. Your destination is Kuusiranta, a fabulous lakeside location around 25km from Luosto. En route you stop and visit a reindeer farm where you will get the chance to meet the animals and admire their ability to survive in the Arctic winter.

On arrival at Kuusiranta there will be the opportunity to try some ice fishing on the lake and everyone will have the chance to create their own souvenir from wood.

As with the rest of the holiday the pace is leisurely here and the sauna will be heated for you to try. For those who may want to freshen up before dinner there is an ice hole where the bravest of swimmers can take a quick and extremely bracing dip. You must be in excellent physical condition and have no heart problems to participate.

This evening’s meal is a delight as you will dine in a traditional wooden kota where a menu of Lappish specialities will be served.

Kuusiranta is situated in an ideal Aurora view point and should a display occur before, after or during dinner you are in a prime location for viewing the night sky. Hopefully the Northern Lights will come to bid you farewell.

Day 5: Departure or Free Day (Extension for Christmas, New Year and Half Term)
After your Aurora search last night, today you may like to spend the morning at leisure. Many of our guests choose to hire snowshoes or cross country skis and this allows you to explore at your own pace and take in the beauty of the fell landscape.

Day 6: Aurora snowmobile sleigh to Aarnikota and pancakes
Be sure to make the most of your last full day in Lapland.

This evening, after dinner you will be taken by snowmobile–pulled sleigh through the snowy forests to Aarnikota, a beautiful spot far removed from any significant light pollution.

Aarnikota is a traditional wooden kota and here you will be served warm drinks and pancakes as you anticipate the possible arrival of the Aurora Borealis. Hopefully the Lights will come and bid you farewell on your last night in Lapland.

Day 7: Departure  

Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main source of employment and income, replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Working within this growth industry in rural and remote areas means that we must take a great deal of responsibility; socially, environmentally and economically.

We fully appreciate the impact of tourist visits on local communities and their residents and strive to ensure that we are having a positive effect. We always encourage all of our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc.

We have also included activities with a cultural base in our holiday. In addition, we always encourage our clients to get involved in local events and activities which help to sustain traditional values and customs.

In all of our destinations we ensure that we use local suppliers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly.

Our suppliers in Luosto provide a vital source of employment throughout the whole region. The restaurant serves as much local produce as possible. Many of our safaris in Luosto also utilise other local enterprises such as the amethyst mine and the remote smoke sauna and restaurant we use in one of our activities is the primary income for a local couple.

Through the tourism multiplier effect, this all helps to generate incomes and employment where the drift might otherwise be towards larger employment areas such as towns and cities. In a small and remote village such as Luosto the effects of such a drift could be devastating.

The use of small businesses means that the tourism income, generated by our presence, stays where it should, in the local economy. We firmly believe in paying a fair price for all the services provided by our suppliers regardless of where they are in the world.

Our holidays rely on visiting beautiful and un-spoilt areas, and they don't come more un- spoilt than Luosto. Naturally we wish to maintain the natural settings in which we work, not just for the future of our company, but also for future generations. We always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this.

The wooden chalets that we use as accommodation are built using sustainable timbers and are all extremely well insulated to ensure maximum efficiency.

We do appreciate that some may feel that snowmobiles should not be included in such itineraries however in areas such as Luosto they are a way of life. They are the only means of keeping in contact with remote reindeer herders and communities as the road infrastructure is not extensive.

All trails are well managed. The alternatives to snowmobiles would in most cases be large, gas-guzzling off road vehicles. All snowmobiles are regularly serviced and kept as fuel efficient as possible. Our suppliers also utilise new 4-stroke engines that are less polluting.

The snowmobile service industry is also another vital source of employment in these remote areas. We always ensure that all litter is removed from any of our activity sites, we strongly encourage group transfers to reduce traffic volumes and we make our clients aware of their obligation to the environment. We always offset our air travel emissions and would encourage you to do the same.