All activities / Photography Expeditions / Rovaniemi
Photography Expeditions in Rovaniemi
The capital of Finnish Lapland, sitting right on the Arctic Circle at the meeting of the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers. Rebuilt after the war to an Alvar Aalto plan and known abroad as the official home of Santa Claus, it is the most reachable base in Finland for hunting and photographing the aurora borealis through the long dark winter.
Why here
Rovaniemi sits right on the Arctic Circle, which makes it the most reliable and reachable base in Finland for photographing the aurora borealis. From roughly September to March the nights are long and dark, and on clear evenings the northern lights arc over the forests and frozen rivers around the town. The trick is escaping the city glow to a dark spot with clear sky, and that is what the local aurora-hunting operators do: they read the cloud and geomagnetic forecasts, then drive small groups to whichever location has the best chance that night, often covering long distances to find a hole in the cloud. A good guide also sets up your camera, so you come home with sharp, well-exposed frames of the lights over snow rather than a blurry phone photo. Rovaniemi pairs this with easy flights, Santa Claus Village and a full menu of winter activities by day.
Best months
The aurora season runs from about late August to early April, best on clear, dark nights around the equinoxes and through deep winter. Nothing is guaranteed, so it comes down to clear sky and solar activity; the better operators chase the clear patches by car and offer repeat attempts. Nights are cold, often well below freezing, so dress for standing still outdoors. Bring a camera that shoots manual and a tripod, though the guides supply tripods and share the know-how.
Getting there & around
Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland and has direct flights from Helsinki and several European cities, plus an overnight train from Helsinki, so it is one of the easiest Arctic bases to reach. Tours pick up from central hotels in the evening and run several hours into the night. You need warm winter clothing, which the operators supplement with thermal suits and boots. No car is needed; the guides drive.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate
Schools & guides (2)
Arctic GM
OutfitterArctic GM, styled the Original Aurora Hunters, is a family-run Rovaniemi operator that traces its Lapland roots back generations. It runs small-group aurora hunts capped at eight guests with unlimited mileage and time, driving as far as clear skies require, and includes professional northern-lights photography with every booking. In 2025 it became the first Lapland operator to receive Tripadvisor's Best of the Best award, placing it in the top one percent of listings worldwide.
Beyond Arctic
OutfitterBeyond Arctic is a Rovaniemi operator that describes itself as the first and original aurora hunting and photography tour company in the town, working with small groups of no more than eight. Its photography guides run nightly minivan hunts from a base at Valtakatu 21, choosing among more than fifty locations by the evening's weather and aurora forecast, and each guest leaves with a gallery of edited photographs shot during the tour. Warm clothing, boots and tripods are provided.