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If you want to see the Aurora in all its glory then you need to escape the towns and cities and their associated sodium glare. That’s where places like Nellim come into their own. The village shop only opens in summer because so few people live here during the winter. It’s Aurora hunting heaven.
Suitable for
Anybody aged 18 years or over.
Day 1: Flights, arrival and introduction
On arrival at Ivalo Airport, you’ll be driven to Nellim (approx 1 hour) where dinner awaits.
Day 2: Aurora workshop, snowmobile safari and Northern Lights search
A busy first day starts with a presentation from your local guide and keen Aurora hunter/photographer detailing how the search for the Northern Lights will proceed and why Nellim is the place to be hunting them down.
It’s not all about the Aurora however. The daytime landscapes of Lake Inari and its environs are just waiting to be explored and a snowmobile is the very best way to do just that. A 30km safari will demonstrate the contrast between the frozen, flat lakes and the immaculate undulating trails through the forests. (2 people per snowmobile)
Tonight you’ll venture out with your Northern Lights Guide in search of the magical Aurora. Mobility is a massive advantage when hunting the Northern Lights so armed with the latest weather and geophysical reports you’ll be driven in a nicely heated minibus in an endeavour to track down the “Magic Sky”.
Nobody knows the local terrain or the Northern Lights better than our guides who live and work here in Nellim. If anybody can find the “Temperamental Lady” then it’s these guys.
Day 3: Husky safari and Aurora Camp
Today is again about Lapland day and night. Nellim has its own small husky farm and you’ll spend 3 to 4 hours driving them across the frozen ice of the lakes and through the more technical forest trails.
This evening, a snowmobile-pulled sled will take you out onto Lake Inari and our Aurora Camp. The views of the Arctic night sky from Aurora Camp are North facing and completely and utterly unobstructed. If the Aurora is in the vicinity, there are few better chances of seeing her.
Day 4: Reindeer farm and Northern Lights search
You can’t come all the way to Sami Land and not meet a few reindeer so today you’ll visit a local farm and learn about the art of reindeer husbandry which has sustained the Sami people for centuries in this often hostile environment.
After dinner, it’s back in the mini-bus for another Aurora hunting session lasting between three and four hours.
Day 5: Departure
Available
Limited places
On request
Pricing Notes
Overnight Kakslauttanen Glass Igloo
An overnight stay includes transfers, half board and winter clothing.
Getting there
Manchester departures available on request (supplements apply).
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.
The wilderness hotel in Nellim is owned and run by the Lappalainen family, whose Sámi routes have been in this area for centuries. They have a strong sense of tradition and we encourage all of our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of all Nellim’s local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc. We have also included activities with a cultural base. 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 accommodation, transport and activity providers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly. The hotel in Nellim also serves as much local produce as possible and stocks locally made souvenirs. 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 Nellim the effects of such a drift could be devastating.
The use of small family run hotels and 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 Nellim. 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 will always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this need.
We do appreciate that some may feel that snowmobiles should not be included in such itineraries however in areas such as Nellim 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. 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.