Saariselkä was all that I envisioned from a family holiday in Lapland. I was immediately filled with an overwhelming desire to explore. The Northern Lights Village offers a fantastic range of winter activities designed to capture the imaginations of all family members. I fulfilled a lifelong dream and met a team of huskies before embarking on a thrilling safari across the snow. I’m not sure who found the activity most exciting, the dogs, the kids or me…….probably me!
Overview
Key facts
- Duration:3 or more nights
- Suitable for: Anybody aged 4 years or over (younger children may join the holiday, but may not be able to participate in all the activities). Please see terms for details
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What's included?
- Flights: return from London to Ivalo (via Helsinki). Flight routes are subject to change.
- Transfers: return group airport transfers
- Accommodation: a minimum of three nights in a glass-roofed Aurora Cabin
- Meals: half board
- Aurora alert service which you can set to alert you throughout the night or end at a specific time
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
- Fully qualified guides and instructors during activities
- 24/7 assistance from our UK based operations team and in destination support from our local partners
TAILOR YOUR TRIP
A selection of winter activities can be added to your trip at an additional cost. Once you have chosen when you want to travel and for how long (we recommend a minimum stay of three nights) you can select as many or as few activities as you wish from the extensive range on the “Activities” tab and tailor your trip as required. All activities are individually priced and our Travel Experts can assist you with your selection and will then provide a personalised itinerary quotation for you.
Saariselkä is ideally located at the edge of an idyllic winter wonderland in Northern Finland. It is a particularly outstanding destination for families as the town is only a short walk from the accommodation, so despite being north of the Arctic Circle, you have a comforting mixture of modern convenience and serene winter wilderness. This family-based activity pick and mix trip is specifically designed for you to select your favourite activities and create life-lasting memories.
The beauty of this holiday is that you can choose the activities you would like to take part in, as well as having the option to add on extra nights. The majority of activities start on-site and are fully guided by knowledgeable, local experts who are there to ensure that you enjoy the experience safely. Explore the fells via snowmobile or laugh at dad as he attempts to learn how to cross-country ski. Glide over the pristine snow to the gentle sounds of pattering paws with a pack of eager huskies, or unravel the mysteries behind the silent, winter forest during a guided snowshoe walk.
Activities are not restricted to the daytime with long winter nights offering fantastic opportunities to seek out the Northern Lights. A night-time adventure is particularly captivating for children who simply love being allowed to stay up later than usual, but imagine then witnessing flickers of dancing colours before the Aurora becomes more pronounced and lights up the sky.
Very few places offer the chance to stay in an Aurora cabin for the duration of your trip. The cosy, glass-roofed cabins lie on the outskirts of the village with an outlook of deep winter snow. What’s more, come bedtime, you can keep an eye out for the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed. How cool is that?
The village itself is only 1000 metres away from the town which offers an array of amenities, including shops and restaurants.
Simply put, Saariselkä is a special destination and an ideal base for families looking to discover the mysteries of the Lappish wilderness. The 'Narnia-esque' terrain is bound to capture the imaginations of both adults and children alike and any Auroral displays will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
Photography by Markku Inkila, Visit Finland - Robert Smith, Lapland Safaris, Inari-Saariselkä Tourism
Accommodation
Accommodation
Included in price
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Saariselkä Northern Lights Village
Nights: 1-3
Located in the north-east of Finland, the Northern Lights Village is the latest in a long line of innovative Aurora accommodation coming out of Finland. This one is particularly clever because you spend every night in your glass-roofed Aurora Cabin rather than just one which is normally the case. Situated close to, but distinct from, the small ski town of Saariselkä, the village’s outlook is that of a pristine, snow-covered wilderness which will capture the imaginations of children and adults alike. Conveniently, however, the town itself is only 1000 metres away. This means that you will find all the amenities necessary for a relaxed family holiday, yet you are still right on the doorstep of an authentic Lappish wilderness.
Read more about this accommodationThe Northern Lights Village offers accommodation in Aurora Cabins which are half-roofed with glass. Imagine a cosy family evening as the Aurora appears above the panoramic windows. The cabins are unusual in that the glass is heated meaning that any view-restricting snow simply melts.
There are 80 cabins in total, all of which are within a 5-10 minutes’ walk of the village’s central facilities which include the restaurant where you’ll enjoy breakfast and dinner. There’s also the large lobby near reception for you to relax in after your meal.
Village facilities
- Enjoy wonderful family evenings as you seek out the Northern Lights from the comfort of your own cabin. The half-glass roofs are laser heated and offer unobstructed views of the northern sky. An Aurora Alert is included within each cabin.
- Visit the village of Saariselkä which has an array of shops, restaurants and cafés which are only a 20-25 minute walk from your accommodation.
- The Northern Lights Village is home to a herd of reindeer and you can watch them go about their business in the paddock.
- For all of your provided winter clothing, simply go to the onsite Safari House where overalls, gloves, boots, skis and snowshoes are stored for easy access.
- For an extra charge (booked privately) you can relax in the sauna and hot tub after your day exploring the Arctic. If you’re feeling really brave, there’s also the Ice Pool for you to plunge into.
Aurora Cabins
The Aurora Cabins have a half-glass roof and all face north. The design is based on the traditional wooden kotas (teepee) of Finland.
Each cabin has twin beds (which can be made into a double) and a sofa bed, suitable for an additional adult or two children. There is a shower room (with underfloor heating) and a toilet (please note that the hot water is limited in the cabins). Tea and coffee making facilities, a hairdryer and a minibar are also included.
Importantly for duvet-based Aurora hunting, a timer switch can be used to heat the glass roof should your view be obscured by snowfall. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to melt the snow so there’s no need to go out and sweep the roof in your pyjamas!
Cabins are not cleaned between arrival and departure unless requested from reception. Additionally, towels can be exchanged at reception if required.
Free Wi-Fi.
Image credits: Markku Inkila, Matt Robinson
Activities
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Dates & Prices
We include more, no hidden costs
Price based on: two adults (15+) sharing a Family Suite with 1 child or 2 children.
Activities: please note that the activities are not included in the prices below. All you need to do is select your preferred activities from the 'Activities' tab and our Travel Experts will create a personalised itinerary quote for you.
Please note: if you are travelling early in the winter season and there is not enough snowfall, then some activities may be adapted by the local team, or alternatives provided, to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort. For more information on this, please see our booking terms and conditions.
Dates
Next season’s dates and prices
You can make a pre-reservation to secure your holiday at this stage by paying an initial deposit of only £50pp. The provisional departure dates, prices and itineraries remain subject to change. We will contact you when the final dates, prices and itineraries are confirmed, and you will have 14 days to decide if you would like to go ahead. You will then need to pay the remainder of your deposit to confirm your booking in full. If you decide not to travel, we will refund your initial £50pp payment. Our Travel Experts will happily provide you with full terms and a complete quotation. Please note: where listed in the What’s Included section, pre-sales prices include return UK flights.Please note: the prices below are subject to change due to availability at the respective hotels; supplements may apply. Please note: our payment and cancellation terms will be unique to each booking – they will be confirmed with you at the time of quotation.
| Dates | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Sun 01 Dec 2024
to Tue 07 Jan 2025 |
Adult price (per person):
£1935.00
to £2505.00 |
Adult (extra night): £325.00 |
Child (age 4 - 14):
£1325.00
to £1725.00 |
Child (4 - 14) (extra night): £115.00 | Enquire |
|
Wed 08 Jan 2025
to Sun 02 Feb 2025 |
Adult price (per person):
£1675.00
to £1885.00 |
Adult (extra night): £285.00 |
Child (age 4 - 14):
£1095.00
to £1235.00 |
Child (4 - 14) (extra night): £95.00 | Enquire |
|
Mon 03 Feb 2025
to Mon 24 Mar 2025 |
Adult price (per person):
£1845.00
to £2265.00 |
Adult (extra night): £325.00 |
Child (age 4 - 14):
£1255.00
to £1405.00 |
Child (4 - 14) (extra night): £115.00 | Enquire |
|
Tue 25 Mar 2025
to Mon 31 Mar 2025 |
Adult price (per person):
£1425.00
to £1585.00 |
Adult (extra night): £165.00 |
Child (age 4 - 14):
£1045.00
to £1165.00 |
Child (4 - 14) (extra night): £55.00 | Enquire |
Terms
For our full booking terms and conditions please click here
The Specifics
Holiday group size (approximate)
This holiday requires a minimum of 2 people to run, however, on some dates we require a minimum of 10 people for our flight allocation. Maximum 30 people (approximately). Please speak to our Travel Experts for further information.
Group Size
We always try to provide an approximation of the group size you can expect to be with for the duration of each of our holidays. It may be that you are joined by others for parts of your holiday (such as transfers and particular activities) but the above number reflects those you can normally expect to be with from beginning to end. If group size is something which is particularly important to you, please speak to our Travel Experts and they can suggest the best holidays for you.
Tailor-made holiday group sizes will vary for all activities as will the group size for any additional activities you book.
Minimum numbers required for a holiday to operate
Some of our holidays require a minimum number of participants to operate (as listed in the ‘Group Size’ section). If your holiday departure has not yet reached the minimum number, you will be told at the time of booking. In the unlikely event that your chosen date is not guaranteed by nine weeks before your scheduled departure date, we will contact you to discuss the available options as per our booking conditions.
Minimum and maximum age
The minimum age for this holiday can be found in the ‘Key Facts’ section of the holiday overview.
Younger family members may be able to participate but may not be able to take part in all activities. Please contact one of our Travel Experts if you have any questions.
Itinerary amendments
The order of activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only, your final and detailed itinerary will be provided either with your final travel documents (which are uploaded into your online account around a week prior to departure) or upon arrival.
Medical History and Advice
We want our holidays to be accessible as they can be and will do our best to accommodate any special requests and requirements where possible. We have a wide range of holidays and destinations and so our travel experts will help find the best holiday for you.
In order to give us the best possible chance to do this we ask that if you or any member of your party has any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday or has any special requirements, that you tell us at the time of enquiry or booking. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. You may need to provide a doctor’s note and proof of insurance in some cases as the health and safety of our clients is absolutely paramount.
In providing this information you are allowing us to work with our expert local partners to ensure that your whole party can enjoy the holiday. By letting us know in advance we can discreetly work with you to adapt any part of the holiday which may potentially be challenging. Being able to prepare for this in advance makes an incredible difference to what we can offer and minimises any impact on your party and the rest of the group.
Unfortunately, if you choose not to share this information with us in advance then it may limit some or all of the itinerary you have booked, and we cannot be held accountable for any additional costs or missed activities resulting from this.
It is vitally important that you advise us prior to departure of any medical or dietary condition relating to any member of your party so that we may notify our local staff before you arrive. We recommend only drinking bottled water from bottles with unbroken seals and be vigilant about the use of ice in drinks and ice cream.
Insurance
Insurance is not included in your holiday, but it is a pre-requisite to travelling with us. You will need to ensure that you have cover for all the activities that you will be participating in during your holiday.
It is extremely important that you take out a suitable travel insurance policy at the time of booking. Plans do sometimes change, and you will need this policy should you need to cancel your holiday.
If you are struggling to find a suitable policy then details of our preferred provider, who will cover you for all the activities we offer, can be found on our website by clicking here. Please note that this policy is available to EU residents under the age of 75 only.
The UK Foreign Office Advice
Our clients’ safety is at the centre of everything we do, and our operations team continually assesses and monitors the destinations we feature. We carry out thorough risk assessments and work closely with all of our suppliers to continually follow best practice. For up to date travel advice the UK government offers its Travel Aware website as well as the advice detailed below.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice
We receive all updates from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) with regards to travel advice and we always ensure that we follow this advice in our operations. The FCO issues travel advisories for countries based on a very wide range of factors. They may provide notification about things as simple as a football match and crowds, or they may go so far as to advise against all travel to a region. We ask all our clients to refer to the relevant Travel Advice by Country for the destinations they are visiting in order to make an informed decision on the safety of the destination based on the details provided. It also provides vital information regarding entry requirements, embassy information, local laws and customs as well as specific safety and health. Guests should take responsibility for keeping themselves up to date with this advice. Please also ensure that, if you are transiting through another country, you have read the advice and meet the entry requirements for that destination too.
The FCO travel advice is applicable to British Passport Holders. Most governments will issue their own travel advice for a region and, if you are not a UK resident then you can find some helpful links below:
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/
Canadian Consular Affairs Bureau http://voyage.gc.ca/
The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english.html
If the FCO deems that there is an unacceptable level of risk for UK citizens then, together with the government, they may issue an advisory against all travel to a region or country. If such an advisory is published, then we will act accordingly, and this may require the cancellation, curtailment or amendment of a holiday itinerary. These decisions are made on the basis of ensuring our clients’ safety and will affect all clients on the holiday, regardless of their nationality.
If one of our local experts suggests an amendment due to a situation which develops locally then we may also take the decision to amend an itinerary appropriately.
If we have to cancel your holiday prior to departure you will be offered the option of an alternative trip (where any price difference will either be refunded to or covered by you) or a full refund of the monies paid.
If we have to curtail a holiday, then you will be refunded for any costs for the elements we have been unable to deliver, where we have been able to secure a refund from our suppliers. If we must reroute a holiday, then any basis for refund is determined on a case by case basis and dependent on whether the central holiday experience was provided or not.
Booking activities locally
Additional activities can be booked locally in almost all our destinations. However, as per our booking conditions, we cannot be held responsible for any injury or loss incurred through participation in activities which are booked at your destination outside of our holiday itinerary (see our ‘Terms and Conditions’ for further details).
When arranging any such activity please always ensure that safety is your primary concern.
In some of our destinations, you can borrow or hire equipment for use in your free time. You do so entirely at your own risk. You must ensure that you are correctly prepared, have the necessary equipment and knowledge (maps, etc.) and ensure that where applicable, you follow marked routes. We recommend discussing your plans with the local teams who will be able to advise on the most suitable options for you.
Always let the reception/guide know where you are planning to go and take a torch and mobile phone (with the hotel/guide’s phone number stored). It is also a good idea to leave your contact number and the time you expect to return to the hotel should the hotel need to contact you.
Flight schedule changes and connecting transportation
On your documentation, we will confirm your flight schedule. Sometimes the flight number, routing and timings might change prior to your departure. If the change is classed as a significant change then we will contact you to discuss this. Please see our booking conditions for details.
Flight schedule changes can impact on your pre and post-holiday travel arrangements if these have been booked separately to your holiday. We strongly recommend that you do not book transport (such as trains or transfers), car parking or non-connecting flights to the departure point for your holiday until you have received your final confirmed travel times when your final travel documents are issued. We are not responsible for the effect of any schedule change on your pre or post travel arrangements. We strongly recommend that you do not purchase non-flexible or non-refundable tickets to avoid cancellation and penalty charges.
Booking your own flights cancellation disclaimer
If you have chosen to book your own flights, then you will need to wait until we confirm to you that the holiday departure has met the minimum numbers required to run (if applicable to your chosen holiday). Once the holiday is guaranteed to run, you will be informed and you can then make your arrangements.
If transfers are included in your holiday, please ensure that any potential flights will be met by our standard transfers (speak to one of our Travel Experts for advice) otherwise private transfer supplements may be applicable. Once your flights are booked, please send us a copy of your detailed flight itinerary.
Please be aware that most tickets are non-refundable in the case of cancellation. For this reason, we strongly advise you check the rules of the ticket and check the limitations of your cancellation insurance before booking. We cannot be held liable, in the unlikely eventuality that we should be forced to cancel or amend your trip, for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made.
Specific Payment and Cancellation Terms - Northern Lights Villages
Please note that the following cancellation terms supersede in part those mentioned in Section 7 of our general booking terms and conditions.
- Up to balance due date (This is normally 12 weeks prior to departure however some holidays differ. If this applies to your holiday you will be advised at the time of booking) - Loss of deposit (including the full cost of flights or other services where paid at the time of booking)
- between balance due date and 43 days prior to departure - 50%
- 42 to 15 days prior to departure - 80%
- 14 or less days - 100%
Terms and Conditions
Our full booking terms and conditions can be found on our website: https://www.activitiesabroad.com/booking-conditions
Please note: our payment and cancellation terms will be unique to each booking – they will be confirmed with you at the time of quotation. The terms listed above are noted as a guide only
Reviews
Traveller Reviews
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We absolutely loved our holiday and really had a magical experience. Thank you! 29 December 2022 by The McCartan Family
What was the most memorable part of your holiday? We loved the sense of wilderness, adventure and the exposure to the Finnish culture. Great guides (especially Iiero and Christian), food and exposure to Finnish culture. Snowmobile and Nordic skiing were fantastic and not just the activity but the guides. We absolutely loved our holiday and really had a magical experience. thank you!
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A once in a lifetime magical experience 26 December 2022 by The Strudley Family
What was the most memorable part of your holiday? Impossible to pick one bit as the cabin we stayed in exceeded expectations, all the activities were out of this world and the food was fab. A once in a lifetime magical experience We loved all the activities - especially the huskies, the snowmobiling and the snowshoe hike in the Fells So many friends asked who I booked with once they saw my…
Read more Instagram reels and facebook post - delighted to fully recommend
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The holiday exceeded all expectations 16 February 2020 by The Karmali Family
Everything was well organised with no hiccups at all. Loved all the activities. All guides brilliant and friendly.
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Ideal holiday 29 December 2019 by The Wallis Family
Overall we were very happy with the accommodation and facilities - it was an ideal relaxed atmosphere and safe environment for 3 generations of our family.
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Saariselka - Activity Pick & Mix 27 December 2019 by The Gosling Family
All the instructors were great and we were so impressed that everyone spoke good English.
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Saariselka - Activity Pick and Mix 17 February 2019 by The Mead Family
The activity guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. They found ways to entertain the children on the aurora hunts when the clouds descended.
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We had an absolutely brilliant time. 14 March 2018 by Mark Nimmo & family
We had an absolutely brilliant time. The weather was perfect and the snow so powdery it was impossible to build a snowman. A once in a lifetime experience and to capture the Northern Lights as well was icing on the cake so to speak. The accommodation was great and the quality of the food exceeded our expectations - the latter being really very good.
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Fantastic holiday with Activities Abroad 30 December 2017 by The Nicholls Family
Another fantastic holiday with Activites Abroad. Guides were fantastic and activities were well organised. Hotel and activity staff were so helpful and welcoming. Activities Abroad make for really stress-free memorable holidays.
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A wonderful holiday 28 December 2017 by The Lindsay Family
The snowmobiling was an exhilarating experience. A wonderful overall holiday.
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