Holiday/Northern Lights advice

[mn2022]

Would like to chance seeing the Nothern lights.
Would also like to try the blue lagoon and an ice hotel.
Have a toddler, so not sure if the 'Finnish lapland(?)' is the best bet as it might have Father Christmas

The northern lights are the priority. But obviously I know there's no guarantee you will see them.

Which country do I go to?
And roughly how much do I budget for?

Thanks

[TheRosesOfSuccess]

We went with these people:

tours.aurora-service.eu/about-us/

What astonished us was how the lights were so different each night, a sheet, a waving curtain of light, vertical rods of light dancing across the sky, dramatic v shaped lights. Absolutely stunning. And we felt like proper adventurers hopping into a little minibus and driving off to find the best display. The pictures don't really do the aurora justice.

[Shieldingending]

We went to Saariselka to see Father Christmas and saw the northern lights. It is weather dependent though! We went with Santas lapland, was a really good trip

[MaskingForIt]

www.mooninfo.org/moon-phases/2023.html

Feb 15-22 2023 would be good, or March 17-24 2023.

[RedToothBrush]

If you really want to go next year, look at the prices and the reports on which slopes are open (and what the snow forecast is) this year then book in the spring armed with the knowledge.

[MaskingForIt]

And yes to picking a time when it is new moon, otherwise the light from the moon can ruin your night vision and make the sky too light.

[MaskingForIt]

The trouble with Christmas and the northern lights is that the lights are at their strongest around the equinoxes, ie September and March. They aren’t as great over he Nov-Jan period, although you can of course strike it lucky. People unfortunately seem to think that they are related to how cold it is, which isn’t true.

[RedToothBrush]

It can be more expensive in Feb than Christmas as its peak ski season then.

I know in recent years some of the resorts in finland have struggled for snow. When we went they hadnt had much of a snowfall that year. Some of the snowmobile trips were cancelled as a result and they weren't hopeful about them running in the next week or so. It was touch and go for the huskies too.

They had some of the ski slopes closed and they were running the snow machines so that hopefully they could have more open for peak santa (we went a week or so before school holidays).

Feb is more expensive and much busier from what i understand.

Ive heard that Rovaniemi isnt necessarily the best choice unless all you want to do is santa.

[OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea]

I am now plotting whether I can go to Ruka. Seems great now my kids are a bit older.

I would love to go to either ruka or saariselka areas in the summer too.

If it were me OP I'd go Feb half term from your choice of dates. More time for bloody covid to settle, your child will be a bit older and all the santa stuff turns me into a grinch (I love Christmas, just not big santa villages).

[mn2022]

We unfortunately wouldn't be able to go in March.

It would either be Xmas 2022 or February half term 2023

[Marshy86]

Hi Op, we've only done Iceland and unfortunately didn't get to see them. Whilst stunning area still probably not as child friendly. Although I recommend going when there is a new moon, we were told this allows better chances x

[countrygirl99]

The best time of year to see the northern lights in Finland is March which might not fit with Santa. Rovaniemi, which is Santa central is not the best place either. Best to decide which is more important and plan around that.

[OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea]

Great photo.

Who did you do your trip with?

[RedToothBrush]

I think tui do santa packages to ruka.

[mn2022]

I've not heard of Ruka, thank you @RedToothBrush

Oh wow, that picture is magical!!

[TheRosesOfSuccess]

@OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea

I would agree light chasing is rather cold and not necessarily great with a little one. My youngest was around 6. We chatted to some of the tour guides who predicted the lights for one night (lots of talk about the weather changes) so we booked reindeer sleigh that night, all the activities give you additional jumpsuit layers and on the sleigh you have a pile of blankets and pelts to snuggle under so it was perfect for little ones. We didn't end up seeing the lights while out but just as we were getting back to our cabin afterwards they started. It was wonderful.

They are magical aren't they. We saw them each night where we were, but drove into Norway to catch a better view one night. Can't resist sharing a photo

[RedToothBrush]

Ruka is an option too.

[mn2022]

@OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea

We were in saariselka so not exactly different areas to stay in, just a small strip of town. You fly into ivalo to go there. Depending on what you want it might be worth looking at other places too within distance of an airport for different activity choices. Dh was desperate to ski which drew us there.

Was it really good for skiing? We are avid skiers and so that is a massive selling point for DH

[OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea]

We were in saariselka so not exactly different areas to stay in, just a small strip of town. You fly into ivalo to go there. Depending on what you want it might be worth looking at other places too within distance of an airport for different activity choices. Dh was desperate to ski which drew us there.

[mn2022]

I cannot thank you enough @OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea

That sounds like just the sort of thing I need to book and I think you're definitely right that booking it all individually will give me more flexibility.

Which airport did you fly into and which area did you stay in? Thank you

[OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea]

I would agree light chasing is rather cold and not necessarily great with a little one. My youngest was around 6. We chatted to some of the tour guides who predicted the lights for one night (lots of talk about the weather changes) so we booked reindeer sleigh that night, all the activities give you additional jumpsuit layers and on the sleigh you have a pile of blankets and pelts to snuggle under so it was perfect for little ones. We didn't end up seeing the lights while out but just as we were getting back to our cabin afterwards they started. It was wonderful.

[OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea]

Much cheaper. We did Feb so none of the expensive santa stuff. Cheapest finnair flights we could find, airport shuttle bus (dead easy, they time them to the flights) and accommodation through saariselka.com which seems to be a bit of a local advertising page. Didn't do anything else until we got there and explored a bit and decided what we wanted to do. Ended up with kids in English language ski lessons, some ski time ourselves, lots of sledging and walking and a reindeer sleigh ride and talk from a traditional herder.

[TheRosesOfSuccess]

We've done an aurora chasing holiday and saw the lights every night. It's not a holiday to do with a small child (-37°) but it is the only holiday to do If you want to see the lights with any certainty. It was the best trip we've ever done by a mile. Happy to share details if anyone is interested.

Have also done a short trip to much further south in Finland, and I'd say that 4 is still very young. It was -17 and we were outside most of the time. Some of the younger children on the trip got very cold and tired. A do it yourself break as Oakley suggested might be better with a little one.

[mn2022]

@OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea

That is really interesting, thank you.
Did you find it easy to book everything yourself? Was it considerably less or a similar price to buying it as a 'package'?

A package is so much easier but booking it ourselves definitely gives more flexibility with children

[OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea]

We went to saariselka in Finland and saw the lights. Organised it ourselves so no being constrained to times with children. Easy to book all the same activities you'd do on a tour yourself so you can do things in your own time and pick and choose. Lots of small child friendly paths and woods to explore with a sledge and the ski area has Ice skating, a huge toboggan run and snow tubing and all you'll need to pay for is a day lift pass if you wanted to get the lift up to the top of the toboggan run. You can walk up though. Best thing in the ski area is the cafe has a room downstairs you can eat your own food in so you are not held hostage to the prices. Though the prices are very reasonable. There is a hotel with a big swimming pool you can pay to use if not staying at the hotel so on days when the snow is coming down in blizzards you can hunker down in there. No ice hotel but there is an ice bar, you pay to go on but your ticket gets you a drink so it is just a way of stopping people going in just to look and not buying anything. They have hot chocolate and hot berry juice for the kids. Our little self catering lodge was great, tiny but comfy with sledges provided in the shed, an open fire and plenty of wood (not needed apart from for fun as heating was fine), a drying cupboard and a private sauna. All for less than a uk holiday cottage!

We would have gone back already if it wasn't for covid. Maybe next year!

[mn2022]

@safariboot

Not long past solar minimum now. Going in 2022 or 23 will be better chance as solar activity increases towards maximum in 2025ish.

Yes I was reading about this. It would be Xmas 2022 we go so I hope that's ok?