New Year's Eve Fireworks in the Nordic Capitals
Capture the Fireworks in the Nordic Capitals on New Year´s Eve...
5 days | Independent | Dec-Jan | Ivalo to Saariselkä
Stay at Wilderness Hotel Saariselkä, a new hotel opened in December 2025, set close to Saariselkä village and the fells of Urho Kekkonen National Park. Well away from busy resorts, this is a good base for looking for the Northern Lights, by car, by snowmobile and at an Aurora Camp. You will also learn to drive your own husky sled through the forest and take a snowmobile safari across the surrounding trails.
Highlights include
- Husky safari through Lapland's snowy wilderness
- Drive your own husky sled and meet the dogs
- Snowmobile safari across the fells of Saariselkä
- Visit a traditional reindeer farm
- Reindeer sleigh ride through a winter forest
- Learn about reindeer herding traditions
- Feed the reindeer
- Aurora Camp experience with Northern Lights viewing
- Snowmobile-pulled sled ride under the Arctic sky
- Campfire with warm drinks in the wilderness
- New Year's Eve festive dinner
- Guided winter activities with local experts
- Day 1
- Fly to Ivalo and transfer to the Wilderness Hotel
- Day 2
- Meet the Reindeer Adventure
- Day 3
- Husky Safari through the winter scenery and Aurora Experience
- Day 4
- Snowmobile Safari
- Day 5
- Departure day
- Start Place
- Ivalo, Lapland, Finland
- End Place
- Saariselkä, Lapland, Finland
- Country Visited
- Finland
- Duration
- 5 Days
- Start Date
- Scheduled
- Travel Style
- Independent
- Suitability
- Independent holiday with moderately active activities and no luggage handling included
- Code
- 50DN1480
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
Details
Transportation
Return shuttle transfers from Ivalo Airport to Saariselkä
Included
- Airport shuttle transfers from/to Ivalo Airport (for scheduled domestic flights)
- 4 nights accommodation in the Arctic Sky Suite or Arctic Sky Villa
- Full board (Breakfast, lunch and dinner) for complete stay (Drinks paid locally)
- Snowmobile safari
- Husky Safari
- New Year's Eve Dinner
- Aurora Camp
- Reindeer Experience
- Outdoor clothing for complete stay
- Daily itinerary will be provided upon arrival
Not Included
- International and domestic flights
- Drinks including alcoholic beverages, juice, soft drinks and hot beverages
Itinerary
Day 1 - Fly to Ivalo and transfer to the Wilderness Hotel
Welcome to Lapland! You will be greeted at the airport with a hotel sign and transferred to Wilderness Hotel Saariselkä (approx. 35 min). Upon arrival, you will receive your program schedule before dinner. Depending on your arrival time, cold weather gear will be given to you either upon arrival or the next day.
Meals
1 DinnerDay 2 - Meet the Reindeer Adventure
Today you will have a nice day meeting the reindeer at the reindeer farm and enjoying a nice reindeer sleigh ride in a snowy forest. You will learn interesting information about the reindeer and the life of a reindeer herding and Sami culture. You have also chance to feed the reindeer in the reindeer fence.
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Day 3 - Husky Safari through the winter scenery and Aurora Experience
After breakfast get ready for dog sledding. A husky safari is a must-do experience when visiting Lapland. Before setting off, you'll receive full instruction on handling the sled, then embark on an unforgettable journey as the eager huskies pull you through stunning winter landscapes.
Each sled is organized for two guests, with one mushing and the other seated in the sleigh. Halfway through the journey, you’ll switch positions to ensure both of you experience the thrill of mushing. The dogs excitement is contagious, and as they settle into silence on the trail, you'll discover why this is truly the best way to explore Lapland.
In the evening enjoy a Aurora Camp experience. You will be comfortably seated in a sledge that is pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. This way you can enjoy the northern sky all the way to the camp site. At the camp there is a hut with an open fire to warm us up on a cold night of Aurora hunting. Your guide will also serve warm drinks to keep you heated and cozy. The camp has a minimum amount of light pollution, so it is perfect for viewing the Northern Lights that will hopefully show up in the sky.
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Day 4 - Snowmobile Safari
After breakfast, explore the stunning fells around Saariselkä on a snowmobiling tour. The white winter scenery is a breath-taking experience that will last for a lifetime.
First you will get familiar with the snowmobile with the guide, have full safety instructions and a driving lesson. Once everyone feels comfortable with the machine, you will head out for a small journey in the nearby surroundings.
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Day 5 - Departure day
After a delicious breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to Wilderness Hotel Saariselkä and head back to Ivalo Airport. Your winter adventure in Lapland may be over, but the memories will last forever.
Meals
1 BreakfastDates & Prices
Standard - per person double share in the Arctic Sky Suite
Single supplement - 1 person in the Arctic Suite (Not possible in Sky Villa)
Family triple - 2 adults sharing with 1 child age 4-14 in the Arctic Sky Villa
Family quad - 2 adults sharing with 2 children age 4-14 in the Arctic Sky Villa
Dates
Valid From
Valid To
From Price
Status
Accommodation
30 Dec 2026
3 Jan 2027
3 Jan 2027
30 Dec 2026
3 Jan 2027
AUD 7,091
Closed
Standard
30 Dec 2026
3 Jan 2027
3 Jan 2027
30 Dec 2026
3 Jan 2027
AUD 4,650
Closed
Extra for Single
30 Dec 2026
3 Jan 2027
3 Jan 2027
30 Dec 2026
3 Jan 2027
AUD 21,352
Closed
Family Triple Total
30 Dec 2026
3 Jan 2027
3 Jan 2027
30 Dec 2026
3 Jan 2027
AUD 26,836
Closed
Family Quad Total
Important Information
The excursions on days 2, 3 & 4 may occur in a different order, depending on availability, timings and weather, but all are included in your stay.
All safaris start with full safety instructions. Your experienced guides will show you how to drive your snowmobile and provide you with a full safety briefing before you hit the trails. You will be provided with thermal overalls, mittens, balaclava, thermal socks, winter boots and helmet for the snowmobile safaris.
All snowmobile safaris have a self-liability of maximum 800€/snowmobile.
Please note that the above itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of the activity providers for reasons of safety or other unforeseen circumstances. Any alternative arrangements will be made so that they are as similar to the original program as possible.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Weather conditions may occasionally affect certain activities, and as a result, the schedule may be adjusted to ensure the best possible experience for all guests. For multi-activity stays, often the order of the activities will be confirmed locally on arrival. Activities might vary slightly in their duration or location due to the weather and local conditions. Any activities that are unable to be re-scheduled due to weather conditions will be refunded as a general practice, as determined by the activity provider.
Gallery
Interactive Tour Map
Inspiration
Why travel to the Nordics before Christmas, or immediately after
Our CEO, who grew up in the region, explains why the days either side of Christmas week are often the smarter time to visit the Nordics.
What is the best month to see the Northern Lights in 2026
Planning a Northern Lights holiday and wondering when to go? While the aurora is a natural phenomenon that can never be guaranteed, there are clear seasonal patterns and conditions that can significantly improve your chances.