The best northern lights agencies in Rovaniemi

So there you go, you’re coming to Rovaniemi and of course it’s to see the northern lights. Obviously there are other great things to do in the capital of Finnish Lapland, but the aurora is non-negotiable.

So yes, you can sometimes see them in town, even though Rovaniemi is a really bright city, and yes, you can hire a car and head off on your own. But if you don’t want to drive, and you want to get away from the light pollution, you’re left with the local guides.

Let’s look at all that.

The 3 best agencies in Rovaniemi

These are the 3 best, the most reputable, and obviously they’re small groups. You can book them with your eyes closed! (but open is still better for seeing the aurora, ohohoh). Since chasing the northern lights takes experience, you can count on these ones!

Why go with an agency / a guide to see the northern lights

I often hear people say “naaah, you don’t need a guide to see the aurora”. Hold on, that’s not quite true. Well yes, when you know how to drive on snow AND the weather plays along, sure, it’s easy enough. And quite honestly, to see the northern lights, you’re better off stacking the odds in your favour.

There are loads of reasons why you’d need a guide, and they’re all valid:

• you don’t drive, so you obviously can’t get out of town
• you don’t want to drive on snow/ice, and fair play to you, because it takes a bit of practice, especially when conditions are tricky
• you have to drive in the evening, sometimes until late, and you don’t really fancy it
• you want to know everything about the northern lights, how to chase them, where to go. So you go with a guide on the first night and you’re on your own the following days
  • that one’s an excellent reason too!

Other excellent northern lights agencies in Rovaniemi

Yes, there are quite a few good agencies and guides for seeing the northern lights in Rovaniemi. Thankfully! Even though I’ll point out the criteria you need to watch out for, you can go with these ones. You need to be able to tell apart a “travel agency” that acts as a middleman with no guides of its own, and a real agency with its own guides. So I’m trying to shed some light on all that.

Seeing the northern lights by bus on a small budget

The best agencies, small groups, independent guides: it’s all expensive, and prices go up every year. I’m well aware that not everyone can afford to spend that kind of money on small-group tours.

That’s why bus tours are so popular. It’s cheaper, it does the job.

There you go, it does the job. Meaning their goal is for you to see the northern lights, that’s all. Not in the best conditions, not in the best spot, not with a great view. Just see the aurora.

So it suits some people and not others, but quite honestly it’s better than nothing.

There are a few advantages:

• the really attractive price
• if you get cold you can wait in the bus, since they leave the engine running

But also some drawbacks:

• no flexibility at all
• you stay by the side of the road
• lots of people, so noise, lights, torches
• generally shorter tours

How to choose your northern lights guide

Over the last few years you’ve heard a huge amount about the northern lights. On social media, in the press, pretty much everywhere really. So it’s become much more popular and, above all, it has drawn in some “guides” who were never guides to begin with, people who switched to aurora chasing out of pure opportunism.

Except that aurora guiding is a profession. It takes experience, it’s real customer service. So you really need to be careful who you book with.

All the agencies I’ve told you about above are excellent. I won’t name the ones that aren’t good, because that’s just my opinion and some people may still like them, but above all, with the pointers I’m about to give you, you’ll be able to make up your own mind.

So here’s what you need to check:

• the reviews! It’s the most important thing. That’s why I recommend going through GetYourGuide or Viator, as they gather reviews, ratings and comments. Don’t just look at the rating, read the comments. That’s where you’ll really see how the guides behave, whether they go the extra mile. And why a rating is bad (if it’s because of bad weather, that’s not the guide’s fault)
• the size of the vehicle, this matters a lot too, depending on whether you want a small group or not. That’s what I prefer, because I like the calm and the flexibility. So you need to pay attention: is it a minivan, a big coach? Look closely
• the price – when it’s really cheap, there’s a catch. Either it’s a big coach, a short tour, an agency with a bad reputation, or a guide who isn’t really a guide. I’m not saying pay full whack and take the most expensive option possible, just be wary of prices that are too low.
• the guide’s language – the vast majority of tours run in English, so check the tour language before you book, especially if English isn’t your first language. It can be an important factor for some people, to communicate better and understand the explanations
• the length of the tour – some only offer 2- or 3-hour outings. Given that you sometimes have to go a long way, that means you’ll see nothing, or next to nothing. Or that the agency really doesn’t go far. The aurora can show up early or late, so so little time isn’t great.
• the words “aurora guaranteed” – nobody can guarantee the northern lights. Agencies can commit to clear skies, but if nature doesn’t want to show the aurora, there’s not much anyone can do. So check those claims carefully, and see if there’s a catch hidden somewhere.
• cold-weather suits: because yes, it’s cold in Finnish Lapland. Really cold. If you don’t have the right gear, you can hire it or some agencies will lend it to you during the tours. Handy!

Be careful when you pick a provider: you’ll often see a super-low headline price, but that’s the bus version. When “small group” isn’t mentioned, it’s a bus. It’s often hidden because it’s not exactly sexy, I’ve put an example below. And it proves you need to read the small print.

Other activities to do under the northern lights

And why not double the fun? You can do loads of other activities under the northern lights. See reindeer, go snowmobiling and plenty of other fun stuff. Here are 4 rather nice examples!

4 perfect places to stay to see the northern lights

That’s something great we don’t really have on the Norwegian side. You’ve got a whole bunch of brilliant places to stay, ideally located for watching the northern lights without leaving your bed! Mind you, it costs an arm and a leg, but it’s really worth it.

Conclusion and more resources on Rovaniemi and Finnish Lapland

There you go, you know (almost) everything!

Seeing the northern lights in Rovaniemi is obviously essential, from late August/early September to mid-April. And as you can see, if you don’t have a car, it’s really easy to find skilled guides without it costing you an arm and a leg. Not bad, eh?

Here are some other articles to help you plan your stay in Rovaniemi and the surrounding area:

• what to do in Rovaniemi – everything you need to know for the perfect stay
• going dog sledding in Rovaniemi – another flagship activity here, and it’s a really great region for it!
• where to stay in Rovaniemi – the best hotels, the most convenient, the cheapest, sleeping under the northern lights
• the map of Finnish Lapland – all the places, activities, accommodation, absolutely everything on a single map!
• sleeping under the northern lights in Finnish Lapland – the best glass igloos to fall asleep under a bright green sky
• the best activities in Finnish Lapland – absolutely everything, you’ll know all there is to do once you’re out in the big freeze!
• which town to go to in Finnish Lapland – Rovaniemi, Levi, Ylläs, Inari… find out which town suits you!