Finland for Northern Lights Oct 23

[AllTheCoolThings]

I am beginning to feel overwhelmed by all the information out there, so I am hoping for recommendations

We are looking to go to Finland next Oct, with the hope of seeing the Northen Lights. DD would also like a huskie sled if at all possible.

I can find flights to Helsinki from Edinburgh, but I am not sure that is the best airport to fly to. I also need to be mindful of accessibility needs, there will be a wheelchair traveller with us who will need to use their chair for the majority of the time (don't need an actual accessible room however as can walk a few steps).

There are 3 of us travelling, can't afford a lot so it needs to be well planned

I’m sorry I can’t help but will be watching as I have been researching the northern Lights and am baffled by the choices . Several people have recommended Iceland rather than Finland .

I’m a Finn. I think Oct is too early for northern lights. And it’s definitely too early for husky sledges. We’ve been to Lapland early Dec and it was dicy then.

If you fly to Helsinki, you will need another flight to Rovaniemi/Ivalo/Kittilä.

I also can't help with Finland recommendations. I did go to Iceland in Dec one year and can tell you my experience of the northern lights- which I'd never been told beforehand!

• You might have seen spectacular photos of the northern lights and think you will see the same. Sadly, some of these are photo shopped to look more spectacular!
• To the naked eye, we saw some green swirls and faint patterns going on in the sky. Inside- I was feeling very underwhelmed and thought 'so that is it???'
• When we checked the photos we had taken, the colours and patterns were FAR more vivid. I was really shocked as never knew this.
• Learn how to use your phone/camera on a night mode BEFORE the event. So many people were standing in the freezing cold, trying to work this out for the 1st time on the night.

Have a fabulous time. You could also post the question on Tripadvisor under the Finland section and ask for places with disabled access/ where to see the lights etc etc.

Rovaniemi is the biggest resort so more likely to have good options for the wheelchair user. You may also be able to get direct flights - Ry

Pressed post to soon !
For direct flights try Easyjet or Ryanair.
I haven't flown to Rovaniemi but the regional airports in Finland I have been to are teeny so easy to navigate but not a lot of facilities.
If it doesn't have to be October, March is meant to be good for northen lights due to less cloud cover.

We’ve had them as early as September in the UK, you’ve just got to be north enough and have it dark enough. I took this last month in the UK about 7pm. You just need a cold, crisp, clear night.

No advice re resorts, but we flew to/from the US via Iceland in the first week of October and saw the Northern Lights from the plane during our overnight flight. So Iceland definitely could see them in October

I think they happen all year round it's s question of whether it's dark and whether there is cloud cover. Last winter my son was able to see them (though a bit faint) from his flat on the outskirts of Tampere. But that is extremely rare due to light pollution and southern Finland, must have been amazing in the countryside.

We went to ketila in Finnish Lapland for northern lights and husky sledding but we went at the end of feb/beginning of march. Tons of snow and the lights were very active.

We got a flight to Helsinki and then another flight from there up to Lapland. We stayed at a safari hotel that arranged everything for us.

We did husky sledding in the day time and again at night. We also had a couple of excursions on snow mobiles again in daytime and at night. To be able to see the lights best you need to go out into the countryside where there is no light pollution. We drove to the ice hotel on the skidoos and another memorable trip was a reindeer sleigh ride.

It was a fabulous holiday but not cheap.

Hmmm, I am now thinking of maybe delaying until February the following year, and possibly changing to Iceland!

Thanks for all the information, it gives me lots to think about

As others have said October is fine for seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland (we saw them 2 nights out of 4, plus from the plane each way), though you do need to be lucky. Go to Iceland in February if you want snow, but snow may disrupt your travel plans.

Yes avoid Finland before the end of December - there is mass panic on the Lapland forums at the moment as there isn't enough snow for husky sledding and doesn't look to be any on the way either!
I think Dec-March are considered the best months though you could theoretically see them at other times.