Top Lapland Half-day Tours

Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to move in deep snow. Dating back at least 3500 years, this ancient form of winter hiking is ideal for exploring the Lappish nature offering great opportunities for photography. The tour is guided by a professional photography guide who will also teach you some tricks and techniques for your own landscape and nature photography. We will take breaks during the tour and one longer break will include building a fire and enjoying some light snacks and warm drinks. Tour starts at our meeting point in Levi where everyone will get their equipment ready for the day. We provide you with high quality snowshoes, especially made for deep-snow hiking. After a drive to the wilderness location, we will enter the deep snow in the pristine Arctic nature. If we are lucky, we may encounter some wildlife during our tour.

This is for you who wants to maximise the chances to see the Northern Lights – and minimise the need for luck! The main goal is simple: to see and photograph the Northern Lights with you in the picture, using our professional cameras and years of photography know-how. We drive as far as needed, even across the border to Sweden if that’s where the lights are. Total tour duration is between 4 to 6 hours, depending on the conditions of the night. We’ve explored countless locations around Lapland. Our team monitors live aurora data 24/7, satellite cloud maps, and weather models throughout the day. Once we confirm the conditions are good enough, we move. And when we move, we commit fully: we drive as far as needed - sometimes 50 km, sometimes 200+ km - to find clear skies an seeing the lights. We go where the Northern Lights are – and we take you with us!

Begin your magical Lapland adventure at Santa Claus Village, one of the region's most iconic attractions. Meet Santa Claus in his official office, cross the Arctic Circle, and receive your official Arctic Circle Crossing Certificate. Enhance your visit with an optional 400-meter reindeer sleigh ride (operated on wheeled carts when snow conditions are limited) and a husky ride ranging from 800 meters to 2 km during the snowy season, or 500–1,000 meters on wheeled carts when there is insufficient snow. Whenever possible, we aim to offer the longer 2 km husky ride. From 6 December to 15 March, you can also visit Snowman World, where you can enjoy ice slides, ice skating, snow activities, and winter fun for all ages. Perfect for families, couples, and friends, this unforgettable Arctic experience captures the true magic of Finnish Lapland.

Increase your chances of admiring (and photographing) the elusive northern lights with this high-energy tour that will go to all lengths so you get the show of a lifetime. With maximal time and distance limits, this excursion will take you far and wide to catch the aurora borealis and almost guarantees a glimpse—if the night ends with no photos, you will be refunded.

It would be remiss to visit the Arctic Circle without dropping in to see the region's best known resident, Santa Claus. This half-day tour of Santa's village is available year-round, giving Christmas enthusiasts the option to experience festive magic no matter when their visit to Rovaniemi is. Meet Santa in his busy office before embarking on reindeer and husky rides.

Get to know Rovaniemi and meet Santa Claus at the Santa Claus Village on this family-friendly experience. Discover Rovaniemi’s highlights, Finland’s capital of Lapland, on a panoramic tour as your guide shares facts about the city. Then, travel through the countryside to the magical Santa Claus Village and come face to face with the great man himself. Visit the Main Post Office to send Santa Claus-stamped greetings, join an Arctic Circle crossing ceremony, and enjoy the shops, elves’ workshops, snow activities, cafés and more.

Short on time in Lapland? This 2.5-hour reindeer sleigh and husky sled experience from Rovaniemi is just the ticket. Meet and learn about friendly reindeer at a reindeer farm, and settle on a reindeer sleigh for a wonderful ride through the snowy woods. Receive a souvenir reindeer driving license, see the beautiful sled dogs, and take an exciting husky-sled ride through the wintry forests. Finish with a coffee or sweet hot berry juice before returning to Rovaniemi.

Enjoy the beautiful winter road and landscapes of Lapland during the trip to Zoo (abt. 1-1.5 h is one-way from the Rovaniemi), the beautiful animals (more than 60 species of wild animals, living in their natural conditions) of the outdoor Zoo. The main hero is a unique white bear, which is represented only in Ranua Zoo. And the most comfortable and safe driving by Uncle Alex will be provided. Good mood is guaranteed!

The midnight sun phenomenon only occurs for about a month north of the Arctic Circle. Don’t miss out on seeing it and catching it on camera with this Rovaniemi Midnight Sun Photography Tour. Enjoy taking pictures of the phenomena in a Lapland forest with a guide to help you. Coffee or tea and round-trip transport are also included with this tour. Please note: If you're booking this tour outside of Midnight Sun time (June 6th to July 7th, then you'll enjoy taking pictures of the sunset instead.)

Experience a reliable Northern Lights hunt from Rovaniemi with an expert team focused on finding clear skies and real aurora visibility — backed by our simple promise: No aurora = No payment. We do not follow fixed loops, we chase conditions. Each night our route is planned from scratch using cloud data, solar forecasts, and road access so we can position ourselves in the best possible viewing locations. If the skies are open 120 km away, that’s where we go. On larger departures, we operate with a warm and comfortable heated coach bus and multiple guides to ensure smooth coordination, guest support, and photography assistance throughout the night. All departures are led by a trained Aurora photographer who documents the night with professional DSLR equipment and sends the edited photos digitally after the tour. Throughout the experience we keep you comfortable with warm berry juice and snacks served at our viewing spot.

Take the chance out of finding a great location to photograph Rovaniemi’s Midnight Sun, and get a guide’s shortlist of top photogenic spots instead. Enjoy the convenience of having round-trip transport, snacks, and drinks included. Improve your photography skills, see incredible viewpoints, and get top tips on the best techniques and settings to capture the soft and vivid light of the Midnight Sun.

Back-country skiing is both a fascinating sport and an age-old, environmentally friendly way of getting around in Arctic conditions. On our back-country skiing adventure, we use specialist skis that represent the newest innovation in Finnish wilderness exploration. These skis enable us to move away from known tracks and head directly into the deeper snow. The tour is guided by a professional photography guide who will share his knowledge in landscape and nature photography, so you can get the photos you desire. Expect some unforgettable landscapes and opportunities for photography! If we get lucky, we might also encounter some wildlife. During this journey in nature, we will find a place for us to build a fire and prepare some light snacks on the open fire.

This tour will take you on a thrilling aurora hunting to the witness nature's most spectacular light show. We start on a trip in the evening. Since nature is unpredictable, we are going to visit a few spots in order to increase our chances of seeing the Northern Lights. We are going tens of kilometers away from the city lights beyond the Arctic Circle and stop in picturesque places to discover the real arctic nature and the frozen forest. Enjoying the Northern Lights we are grilling sausages, taste Finnish pie, warm up with hot berry juice with cookies, and grill some marshmallows by a cozy fire under the Arctic sky. This tour is perfect for adventurers, photographers, travelers Aurora Borealis is a nature unpredictable phenomenon and there is no guarantee to be hunted every night.

Snowmobiling at night in Lapland offers a unique perspective — riding through silent, snow-covered forests under the Arctic sky, with the chance to see the Northern Lights above. With Arctic GM, the experience focuses on quality and comfort: small groups, quieter routes away from mass tourism, experienced guides, and premium equipment. Operated by The Original Aurora Hunters®, Arctic GM is a family-run company with roots in Lapland dating back to the 1600s. Your evening begins with pickup and transfer to a private base. After instructions, you’ll set off on snowmobiles shared between two guests, with a driver switch during the ride. The route includes around 2 hours of driving through forests and open landscapes, far from city lights. Stops are made to enjoy the surroundings and check the sky — if conditions are favorable, the Northern Lights may appear. After the ride, warm up with hot drinks and light snacks.

Visit the northernmost zoo in the world, Ranua Zoo, on this organized trip from Rovaniemi. With tickets purchased in advance and all transportation arranged, this is the easiest way to visit the zoo. During the tour, learn about the more than 50 Arctic species living in natural enclosures on the property through guided commentary.

Experience the thrill of the snowmobile safari comfortably in a sleigh. For this experience you do not need a driver license so this is suitable for everybody. Enjoy your heated and covered sleighs that ensure you the most comfortable snowmobile experience. You can enjoy the magical arctic forest scenery without a hassle and also take great pictures during the ride. We will also stop for some warm drinks and snacks on the way.

Step into Lapland’s heritage with a reindeer safari from a 200-year-old farm that offers a more traditional and intimate Arctic experience. Travel through snowy landscapes by sled while learning about Sámi culture and reindeer herding traditions that shape life in the region. This small-group experience provides a quieter, more personal alternative to high-speed activities, connecting you with local traditions in a meaningful way.

Hunting the Northern Lights in Lapland is an unforgettable experience — and with Arctic GM, it’s approached as a structured Aurora hunt guided by real-time conditions. Operated by The Original Aurora Hunters®, Arctic GM is a family-run company with roots in Lapland dating back to the 1600s, bringing generations of local knowledge into every tour. The evening begins at a central meeting point in Rovaniemi. Travel by comfortable coach as guides continuously adjust the route based on weather and Aurora forecasts, with the possibility of driving up to 2 hours from the city, including toward the Swedish border when conditions require. Stops are made in carefully selected locations away from light pollution. When the sky clears, step into the Arctic landscape while guides assist with photos under the Northern Lights. Thermal overalls, hot drinks, and light snacks are included. The experience lasts approximately 4–6 hours.

The aurora borealis (northern lights) are best seen from Rovaniemi city limits—although sightings can never be guaranteed. Spend a magical evening in the Arctic countryside on this group tour. After pickup in a comfortable car, your guide brings you to an open cottage for a Lappish barbecue feast and hot drinks with marshmallows around a fire as you wait for the lights.

Get off the beaten path to experience some of the best Lappish traditions in the wilderness outside of Rovaniemi. Try out a Finnish sauna, go ice swimming in an Arctic lake, then cozy up around a fire in a cozy cottage for a smoked salmon dinner cooked by a fireplace. To enhance the experience, your guide fills you in on the cultural significance of all the activities as you go.

Comfortable transport, flexible pacing, and easy walking paths, this tour is perfect for all ages and seasons—whether winter’s snowy magic or summer’s forest charm. Experience Arctic wildlife, ideal for animal photography and families. You’ll be picked up from your accommodation or a meeting point and travel ~80 km to Ranua Zoo near Rovaniemi. Explore the 2.8 km walking trail through pristine forest, home to over 50 Arctic species, including polar bears, wolves, and moose, all in their natural habitats. The tour lasts 2–3 hours inside the park, with plenty of time to enjoy wildlife, visit the souvenir and local chocolate shop, and capture stunning photos.

Get up close and personal with two animals that symbolize Lappish culture with this excursion to reindeer and husky farms near Rovaniemi. Learn how to navigate a reindeer sleigh to earn your “reindeer sleigh license” and snap photos of these iconic animals, then head off on a husky safari through the snow-covered forest on board an authentic dog sled. Hotel pickup and drop off are included for convenience.

Step aboard the historic Aurora Train in Rovaniemi for a magical evening through the snow-covered forests of Finnish Lapland. Cozy, atmospheric carriages, festive scents, and the gentle rattle of the rails set the stage for a truly unique Northern Lights adventure. Designed with families in mind, the earlier departure suits children’s schedules, but both start times offer the same experience for everyone. Onboard, elves entertain guests, share stories, and build excitement, while Santa joins later, giving everyone a chance to meet him and take photos. At Kemijärvi, step out into crisp Arctic air to enjoy hot glögi, ginger cookies, and a fiery outdoor performance. The train then continues to Misi, one of Lapland’s prime Aurora spots. The attentive driver stops for sightings, while multilingual guides share Arctic tales and photography tips. This four-hour ride is a cozy, festive, and unforgettable way to experience Lapland’s winter magic and the Northern Lights.