7 days | Independent tour | Mar-Apr | Ivalo to Kirkenes
Most visitors picture Lapland under deep winter snow, but spring offers a different side of the Arctic. As the season shifts, daylight stretches further into the evening, forests awaken after winter, and the landscape feels quieter and more spacious. Snow often lingers on the fells while trails begin to emerge below, creating a striking contrast that makes spring one of the most rewarding times to experience northern Finland. Better yet, the dark nights can still deliver the magic of the Northern Lights.
This 7-day journey begins at a family-run glass igloo resort near Ivalo, where your secluded Aurora Glass Cabin sits among the pine forests of Finnish Lapland. Days are spent discovering the culture and wilderness of the far north, from visiting the award-winning Siida Museum in Inari and hiking through Urho Kekkonen National Park to exploring the surrounding forests by fatbike or learning about the Arctic sky on a guided stargazing experience. Gather around campfires, enjoy the tranquillity of the lakeside setting, and unwind in the panoramic sauna and outdoor jacuzzi.
The journey then continues across the border into northern Norway and the Arctic coastal town of Kirkenes. Here, experience two of the region's signature adventures: a king crab safari on the frozen fjord, where you'll help retrieve traps before enjoying a freshly prepared king crab feast, and a husky sledding excursion through snowy wilderness and across fjord ice with an experienced musher. Together with opportunities to search for the Northern Lights and enjoy warm Nordic hospitality, this itinerary showcases the best of Arctic Finland and Norway in one memorable journey.
Northern Lights money-back guarantee
Every departure between 15 March and 15 April comes with our Northern Lights Guarantee. If no Northern Lights are seen at either Aurora Village or Snowhotel Kirkenes during your trip, a partial refund applies.
Aurora Village sightings are verified via on-site sky cameras, while guests are asked to declare honestly whether the lights were visible in Kirkenes. An Aurora Alert is included. Simply request the code at check-in, install the app, and you'll be notified the moment the aurora becomes visible at Aurora Village. If an alert is issued and you choose not to view the lights, the guarantee does not apply.
For two people sharing, the available refund (depending on your payment currency) is AUD 815 / USD 579 / CAD 804 / NZD 993.
For solo travellers, the available refund is AUD 574 / USD 408 / CAD 567 / NZD 700.
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this itinerary using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
Through our Climate Action Plan, we measure our carbon emissions each year and set goals to reduce them. But our responsibility does not end when the journey does. A share of our annual profits goes to our Impact Fund, supporting conservation, restoration and the communities we work in.
Local transfers from airport
Flights, meals other than specified, items of personal nature, beverages, and additional activities.
There is no porterage included to your cabins - you use a sled to drag your bags to your cabin.
Fly to Ivalo and transfer to Aurora Village. Upon arrival, you will receive your program schedule before dinner. Depending on your arrival time, cold weather gear is given to you either upon arrival or the next day.
After breakfast, join your guide for a cultural day. Drive along the beautiful landscapes formed by several small lakes and the great Lake Inari. Your guide will tell you stories about Lapland as you approach the Lapp museum Siida where you’ll see a DVD of the Northern Lights. The guide will walk with you through the museum and will be there for you in case of questions. You can have also your own time in the museum of many international awards. The museum displays the original way of living of Sámi people and the Lappish wilderness with its eight seasons of the year. This is an exciting morning to see and hear about the Lappish way of living.
Return for lunch and free time before your evening Northern Lights search by car. After some research on the weather forecast, with a professional Aurora Hunter, you will drive it to places where the sky is most clear and the probability of seeing the Northern Lights is highest.
A hot drink and snack is included. You can get access to the photographs taken during the trip.
Experience Finnish Lapland at your own pace today with a choice of two unique excursions. Explore the forests and trails surrounding Levi on an electric fatbike tour, a favourite way for locals to enjoy the outdoors as the snow melts and the landscape comes to life after winter. With pedal assistance making the ride accessible, you'll venture into the wilderness before stopping for snacks and hot drinks around an open fire.
Alternatively, discover the wonders of the Arctic sky with a guided stargazing experience. Using a powerful telescope and accompanied by an experienced astronomy guide, you'll learn about the constellations, planets and celestial phenomena visible in the far north. The experience also includes an immersive planetarium visit and a warming hot drink, offering a fascinating glimpse into the universe above the Arctic Circle.
This morning, drive to Saariselkä by minibus. Together with a guide, hike up to the fell region of Urho Kekkonen National Park. It is Finland’s second largest national park, comprising the fell regions of Saariselkä, as well as the forest regions of the northern sections of the municipalities of Savukoski and Salla. This area named Koilliskaira is one of the last wilderness regions of Western Europe. The task of the National Park is the preservation of the native forest, bog and fell countryside. Good outdoor clothes and sturdy footwear are recommended.
Return to Aurora village and relax with a private sauna booking. Watch for Northern Lights from the jacuzzi or panoramic sauna. Perfect for your last night in Finland.
Activities can be changed if needed.
Today, travel from Ivalo across the far north to Kirkenes, a remote coastal town on the shores of the Barents Sea. This region is known for its Arctic landscapes, rich fishing heritage and close connection to the sea, making it a fascinating contrast to Finland's forested interior.
On arrival, join a memorable king crab safari, one of northern Norway's signature experiences. Travel by snowmobile sled across the frozen fjord to check the traps and learn about the giant Red King Crab, an introduced species that has become both an important local industry and a culinary delicacy. After posing for photos with your catch, watch as the crabs are prepared before sitting down to enjoy a fresh king crab feast served in traditional northern Norwegian style. It's an authentic taste of Arctic coastal life and a highlight of any visit to Kirkenes.
Experience one of the Arctic's most iconic traditions with a husky sledding excursion through the winter landscapes surrounding Kirkenes. After meeting the enthusiastic sled dogs and your experienced musher, settle into a shared sled and glide across frozen fjords and through lightly forested wilderness, taking in the peaceful scenery that defines Norway's far north.
Along the way, enjoy a break to learn about life as a musher and the special bond between the dogs and their handlers. Weather and ice conditions permitting, there may even be an opportunity to try driving the sled yourself. Combining breathtaking scenery, local storytelling and the exhilaration of travelling by dog team, this memorable experience offers an authentic glimpse into Arctic life in northern Norway.
Say goodbye to Snow Resort Kirkenes as you catch your transfer to the Airport.
This journey is available with our Northern Lights Guarantee for all departures between 15 March and 15 April.
Should no northern lights be seen at either Aurora Village or Snowhotel Kirkenes during your trip, a refund will apply. Sightings at Aurora Village are verified via on-site sky cameras, while guests are asked to declare honestly whether the lights were visible in Kirkenes.
For two people sharing, the available refund (depending on your payment currency) is AUD 815 / USD 579 / CAD 804 / NZD 993.
For solo travellers, the available refund is AUD 574 / USD 408 / CAD 567 / NZD 700.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
The order and timing of activities is confirmed locally on arrival at Aurora Village. Weather conditions may occasionally affect certain activities; any that cannot be rescheduled or replaced with another activity will be refunded by the activity provider as standard practice.
Note: This package is not recommended for children under 12 years.
EXTEND YOUR JOURNEY:
Add a night or two in Helsinki before flying north to Ivalo, a natural gateway to Finnish Lapland. After Kirkenes, board a Havila coastal voyage southbound along Norway's dramatic coastline, arriving in Bergen after five nights at sea. From Bergen, continue to Oslo by train on the Bergen Line, with an optional detour on the Flåm Railway down to the fjords, or fly if time is short.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL:
Your glass igloo hosts in Ivalo were the first accommodation in Northern Lapland to receive the Green Key award, the leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry. This prestigious eco-label represents a commitment by businesses that their premises adhere to the strict criteria set by the Foundation for Environmental Education. Some examples of how they carry this out include offering recycling facilities in all cabins and no longer offering plastic bottles in accommodations, along with protecting the diversity of the surrounding nature, i.e., bird house and insect hotels. Hiking, biking, and skiing tracks are direct from the hotel and as such they encourage low carbon activities such as snowshoeing and toboggans.
ANIMAL WELFARE POLICY:
At 50 Degrees North, animal welfare is a top priority during all our tours and packages. We carefully select suppliers who adhere to strict animal welfare standards, ensuring that wildlife interactions are respectful and comply with local, national, and international regulations. We avoid offering excursions that involve captive wildlife, except where they are properly regulated, and all activities are designed to minimise disturbance to natural ecosystems. Our travellers are educated on responsible, including responsible animal interactions, through our 'Responsible Travel Tips' for travellers, and our guides are trained to lead by example, promoting ethical conduct towards both wild and domesticated animals. By prioritising animal welfare in every aspect of our tours, we ensure that your travel experience is both enjoyable and ethically sound. Read our article on Animal Welfare to learn more.
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