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Finland
From
€
7200
pp
per person · based on two guests sharing
Includes hand-picked stays, experiences, trip planning and 24/7 support.
Private Lapland Autumn Aurora & Ruska Tour | 6 Days
Six private days in Finnish Lapland in autumn: ruska colours on the fells of Urho Kekkonen National Park, a glass-roof cabin, Lake Inari and the first northern lights of the season.
Availability
Late August to early October, flexible dates
Duration
6 days / 5 nights
Places you will see
Saariselkä, Urho Kekkonen National Park, Inari — Finland
Pace
Private autumn journey
Request this trip
The journey
Learn more about your trip
At a glance
- Three nights in a glass-roof Aurora Cabin at Wilderness Hotel Muotka, at the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park
- A private hike on Kiilopää fell in the ruska colours, with lunch cooked over an open fire
- Two nights at Wilderness Hotel Inari on Lake Inari, with a private day of Sámi culture
- Two private evenings out after the northern lights, one with a photographer
From late August to early October the fells of Finnish Lapland turn red, orange and gold. Finns call it ruska. After the light summer nights the sky is dark again and the northern lights season begins, while the lakes and rivers are still open, so on a calm night the aurora is mirrored in the water. This private six-day journey takes you to the fells around Saariselkä and to Lake Inari, two of the best places in the far north for both.
You spend three nights at Wilderness Hotel Muotka, by a river at the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park, in an Aurora Cabin with a glass roof over the bed. Your own guides take you up Kiilopää in the autumn colours, along forest trails by electric fatbike and to a reindeer farm, and one evening a guide and photographer takes the two of you out under the dark sky.
Then over Kaunispää fell to Inari, home of the Sámi Parliament and of Siida, the Sámi museum. Two nights at Wilderness Hotel Inari bring a private day of Sámi culture with a boat to Ukko Island, a walk in the forest to pick berries and a last evening looking for the lights by car.
The from price is per person for two adults sharing in mid-September and includes VAT, the flights between Helsinki and Ivalo, breakfast and dinner every day and every private activity listed. Dates, length and rooms are all adjustable, and families are welcome, with a larger log cabin at Muotka. Ruska is usually at its best on the fells in mid-September, and some activities run only until mid or late September, so we confirm the programme and the final price for your dates before you book. The northern lights are never guaranteed.
Day by day
The itinerary
Day 01
1
Day 1 — Fly north to the fells of Saariselkä
An afternoon flight of about two hours and fifteen minutes takes you from Helsinki to Ivalo. Your private driver meets you on arrival, and Wilderness Hotel Muotka is about 40 minutes away, by a river at the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park. Your Aurora Cabin has a glass roof over the bed. Dinner is at the hotel restaurant, and on a clear night you can look for the northern lights from your pillow.
- Flight Helsinki–Ivalo
- Private transfer to Wilderness Hotel Muotka
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight: Wilderness Hotel Muotka, Aurora Cabin
Day 02
2
Day 2 — Ruska on Kiilopää and a night under the aurora
Your own guide drives you a few minutes to the foot of Kiilopää and leads you up through the national park to the bare summit, at a pace that suits you. In mid-September the dwarf birch on the fell turns deep red and the birch forest below turns yellow. Lunch is cooked over an open fire on the way. After dinner a private guide and photographer collects you for about five hours out under the sky, with warm clothing, hot drinks by a fire and photos of the two of you if the lights appear.
- Private guided hike on Kiilopää fell with an open-fire lunch, about 4 hours
- Private northern lights tour with photography, about 5 hours
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight: Wilderness Hotel Muotka, Aurora Cabin
Day 03
3
Day 3 — Forest trails, reindeer and the river sauna at Muotka
A morning ride with your own guide on electric fatbikes, along forest and fell trails that would take far longer on foot, with a snack and drinks along the way. In the afternoon you visit a local reindeer farm privately, feed the reindeer and hear from the herders how their year turns with the seasons. Before dinner the riverside sauna is yours for an hour, with a dip in the river for the brave.
- Private e-fatbike ride, about 2 hours
- Private reindeer farm visit, about 2 hours
- One private hour in the riverside sauna
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight: Wilderness Hotel Muotka, Aurora Cabin
Day 04
4
Day 4 — Over Kaunispää fell to Lake Inari
Your private driver takes you up Kaunispää above Saariselkä for a last wide view over the fells, then north to Inari, about an hour and a quarter in all. Inari sits on the shore of Lake Inari, the largest lake in Lapland, and is the centre of Sámi culture in Finland. Your Arctic Chalet at Wilderness Hotel Inari has its own sauna and fireplace. In the afternoon a guide walks you into the forest to pick lingonberries and crowberries and to look for mushrooms, until the end of September.
- Private transfer Muotka–Kaunispää–Inari
- Private foraging walk, about 2.5 hours, until 30 September
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight: Wilderness Hotel Inari, Arctic Chalet
Day 05
5
Day 5 — Sámi Inari and an aurora hunt by car
A private day of Sámi culture. Your guide takes you round Siida, the Sámi museum and nature centre, then to lunch outdoors by the Juutua river and on a boat across Lake Inari to Ukko Island, a sacred place for the Inari Sámi. The boat runs until about mid-September; later in the season we replace it with a guided forest walk to the 18th-century Pielpajärvi wilderness church. After dinner your guide drives you wherever the forecast is clearest to look for the northern lights.
- Private guided visit to Siida, tickets included
- Outdoor lunch by the Juutua river
- Boat to Ukko Island on Lake Inari, until about mid-September
- Dinner at the hotel
- Private northern lights hunt by car, about 3 hours
- Overnight: Wilderness Hotel Inari, Arctic Chalet
Day 06
6
Day 6 — Departure from Ivalo
Breakfast by the lake, then a private transfer of about 45 minutes to Ivalo Airport for your flight to Helsinki and your connection home. Want more time? Extra nights in Lapland or in Helsinki are easy to add.
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Private transfer to Ivalo Airport
- Flight Ivalo–Helsinki
- Optional extra nights in Helsinki
What's in, what's out
Inclusions & exclusions
What's included
- 5 nights: 3 at Wilderness Hotel Muotka in an Aurora Cabin, 2 at Wilderness Hotel Inari in an Arctic Chalet
- Breakfast and dinner every day
- Lunch on the hike and on the culture day
- Flights Helsinki - Ivalo - Helsinki with checked bags
- All private transfers in Lapland
- Private guided hike on Kiilopää fell
- Private northern lights tour with photography
- Private e-fatbike ride
- Private reindeer farm visit
- One private hour in the riverside sauna at Muotka
- Private foraging walk, until 30 September
- Private Sámi culture day with Siida and, until about mid-September, a boat to Ukko Island
- Private northern lights hunt by car
- Trip planning and 24/7 contact during the journey
Not included
- International flights to and from Helsinki
- Lunches unless listed
- Drinks
- Hotel nights in Helsinki, on request
- Travel insurance
- Tips and personal expenses
Where you stay
Accommodation options
01 Tier
Wilderness Hotel Muotka · Saariselkä
A wilderness hotel by a river at the edge of Urho Kekkonen National Park, about 40 minutes from Ivalo Airport. Our base for three nights, in an Aurora Cabin with a glass roof over the bed.
02 Tier
Wilderness Hotel Inari · Lake Inari
On the shore of Lake Inari, close to the village and to Siida. You stay two nights in an Arctic Chalet of 44 m² with a private sauna and a fireplace.
03 Tier
Riverside Log Cabin · Muotka
For families or anyone who wants more room: a 72 m² log cabin by the river at Muotka with a private sauna and a fireplace, for up to five guests. Instead of the Aurora Cabin, on request.
Booking enquiry
Private Lapland Autumn Aurora & Ruska Tour | 6 Days
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We will check availability, confirm the current pricing and adapt the route where needed.
Every request is handled personally by a dedicated travel designer.
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