We know...
Luosto is surrounded by the fells of Central Lapland and has an excellent record for the Northern Lights. It offers a wonderful range of easy going but truly memorable activities which you can enjoy from the comfort of Aurora Chalet.
This trip aims to maximise the chances of seeing the Northern Lights. On arrival at the hotel you will be given a mobile phone and if the aurora appears in the night sky you will be alerted by text. We've included the Northern Lights Academy and three evening excursions. We can't guarantee that you'll see nature's spectacular light show but we'll do our very best to optimise your chances.
We must stress that the Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon and we cannot guarantee that you will see them during your stay in Luosto. We also reserve the right to alter the above programme in response to local weather condition in order to maximise your chances of seeing the aurora.
You know...
“We enjoyed every moment of the holiday. The different activities were really well planned. Seeing the Northern Lights has to be the highlight although each activity was great. We particularly appreciated the use of local guides and family run businesses. Learning about the culture and history added greatly to the enjoyment of the activities.”
June Vandamme- January 2011
Suitable for
Suitable for anybody aged 18 years or over.
Duration: 6 or 7 nights
Day 1: Flights, arrival and introduction
You will be greeted on arrival in Finland and transferred to the Aurora Chalet for a welcome dinner.
Day 2: Snowmobile driving school
After a welcome meeting and breakfast you will be given a snowmobile driving lesson lasting approximately 1.5hrs which includes full instruction and tuition. It’s an exciting experience and many clients choose to do longer safaris later in the week.
Day 3: Leisurely snowshoe hike and visit to the Aurora Kota
Today you will get up close to the stunning nature which surrounds Luosto during a leisurely paced snowshoe trek, there’ll be plenty of time to take in the scenery.
This evening you will visit Aurora Kota where you will receive a presentation about the Northern Lights and hopefully a live showing (you can travel by snowmobile - see price box for details).
Day 4: Husky safari
You can’t come to Lapland and not participate in a husky safari. There is no better way of admiring the winter scenery than from a sled. Your short safari provides a fabulous introduction.
Day 5: Reindeer safari and Aurora snowshoe
Today you will head to a reindeer farm where you will learn about the lives of the reindeer and their herders. It’s then time sleigh ride lasting approximately 30 mins.
This evening you will depart on a snowshoe excursion into the forest and away from light pollution and hopefully the Aurora will guide you back to Luosto.
Day 6: Secrets of the Amethyst and teepee dinner
One of Luosto’s most unique attractions is the amethyst mine. You will travel by snowmobile-pulled sleigh before taking a tour and digging for your own amethyst.
This evening a short snowmobile sleigh ride will take you to a teepee in the forest where you will be served a farewell dinner. A fitting end to your holiday.
Day 7: Free day or departure (6 nights duration)
Day 8: Departure (7 nights duration)
Available
Limited places
On request
Getting there
Flights
Flights vary depending on departure date and are based on direct charter flights from Gatwick to Kittila except:
* 6 nights duration with scheduled flights from Heathrow to Rovaniemi (via Helsinki).
Manchester and Bristol departures available subject to availability (supplements will apply).
Please note: Christmas, New Year and February half term dates are 6 nights due to unavailability of direct flights. We have to use more expensive scheduled flights via Helsinki which are unavailable for 7 night options.
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. Their 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 need.
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.