Departure 2026: September 7th-13th End of August & September are the best times, ask for exact dates suitable for you!

The nearest airport is Kittilä Airport, 35 km away, and Kolari train station is 37 km away. Both have bus connections to Ylläs. You can also book a private transfer through us for €150 – ask for more details.

Two nights in a Lapland Hotels Saaga in Ylläsjärvi (two persons/room). Single room is possible. Other nights will be spent with 2 person in 3 person tents. Ask for a private tent! All food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, small snacks). Dinner at the hotel on two evenings.

You don’t need previous trekking experience to join this tour — just a good physical fitness and a proper outdoor clothing. Expect to hike 10–15 km per day with a backpack weighing around 15–20 kg. We’ll guide your preparation with a packing list, a pre-trip video call, and a group chat. Weather in Lapland is unpredictable, from sunshine to showers, with temperatures ranging between +5 °C and +15 °C.

route planning Pihka Outdoors guide safety briefing tents sleeping bags sleeping pads cooking gear, stoves and fuel accommodation before and after the hike dinner & breakfast at accommodation on arrival dinner & breakfast at accommodation after hike breakfast, lunch, dinner for each day on trail snacks

flights train backpacks outdoor clothing own travel- and accident insurance (these are a must on this trek)

After your booking, we’ll send you a detailed gear list and full expedition info.

Northern Lights Hiking Tour

Description

Northern Lights Hiking Tour is an all-inclusive trekking adventure deep into the Arctic tundra of Northern Finnish Lapland in Scandinavia. Backpack through vibrant autumn colours, drink from pure mountain streams, and spend your nights in a tent under the stars – watching the Northern Lights dance across the sky. A unique, off-trail wilderness experience where nature leads the way. Nearest airport is Kittilä, Finland.

Key points:

Excellent chances to see the Northern Lights
Off-trail hiking in remote wilderness
Sleeping in tents, carrying your own backpack
No other people, no cell phone connection
Ruska: the most colourful time of year in Lapland
Pristine nature, wild berries, crystal-clear waters
Fairly easy hiking distances (5–15 km/day)
Chance to learn bushcraft skills
Meeting point at hotel Saaga in Ylläsjärvi (35km from Kittilä airport)
5 days in the wild, 7 days in total

Hiking in daytime, Northern Lights in night-time

In the northernmost part of Finnish Lapland there’s just you and the wilderness. Pure unspoilt scandinavian arctic tundra in beautiful autumn “ruska” colurs as far as eye can see. This time of year the evenings are getting darker and the chances of seeing the Northern Lights are very good. The Northern Lights Hiking Tour consists of a five-day trek in the remote wilderness, sleeping in tents, plus one night at a nice accommodation before and after the trek. All-inclusive.

We hike off-trail with backpacks through the Ropitunturi area, a remote wilderness region in northwest Finnish Lapland. There are no official hiking trails, so we go wherever we feel like. The Northern Lights Hiking Tour is more about feeling the atmosphere with all senses than sporting and hiking great lengths. The area is surrounded by small lakes, crystal-clear rivers, and majestic Lapland mountain landscapes.

Here in scandianvia, “Ruska” means the stunning yellow, orange and red autumn colours of nature and they particularly strong in Lapland. Water is drinkable from the pure streams, there are clean berries you can eat straight from the bushes, such as bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. There is a possibility to stop for some fishing and there may be mushrooms we can eat too. In the evenings we set up tents, get the cameras ready and wait for darkness – if you can see stars, it means you can see the Aurora Borealis. All you need is patience.

What happens on a Northern Lights Hiking Tour?

On our Northern Lights Hiking Tour the daily distances vary between 5 – 10 km. We sleep in shared two-person high quality hiking tents in cosy and warm sleeping bags, cook on gas stoves and drink straight from the streams. The weather conditions can be anything – it is good to be prepared for cold days and nights with a down jacket, as well as T-shirt weather. Lapland conditions can always surprise you.

During the 5-day Northern Lights hike, each hiker will carry their own gear in a backpack and also participate in carrying common equipment such as food. We have all the hiking food and snacks for you ready, in addition to tents, sleeping bags and air mattresses. You just pack the clothing in a backpack, plus your camera gear. Before the trek you will get a comprehensive equipment list and have an online meeting with the guide to go through the upcoming trek in detail. In addition, a WhatsApp group will be created among the trekking group, where you can exchange information and ask questions.

Before and after the hike we spend one night comfortably in a hotel, where you can leave some of your belongings not needed on the hike. If you are traveling as single, you will have your own room, otherwise accommodation is in two person rooms.

The evenings get dark enough for Aurora Borealis in the end of August. The best time for an Autumn hike with the colourful ruska is mid September, and this is when our all-inclusive Northern Lights Hiking Tour is organised.

Itinerary of the tour

Day 1. Arrival in Ylläs, hotel or B&B accommodation (nearest airport is Kittilä, Finland, 35 km, nearest trains station Kolari 38 km). Dinner together and safety briefing.

Day 2. After breakfast transport to the start of hike in Käsivarsi wilderness area, about 3 hours drive. Start of hiking, ascending slowly through birch forest up to open tundra. We walk 6-8 km. After dark we concentrate on getting our camera setup right for night-time photography and wait for some green lights in the sky. If there are no clouds, there is always a good possibility to see the Northern Lights. Night in tents, 2 persons/tent.

Day 3. Hiking in wilderness 5-10 km. Exact route depends on the weather conditions and will be decided by our guide. There are no official trails so the route can take us anywhere anywhere through the open wilderness, passing fells and crystal clear lakes. We can stop to eat berries or collect mushrooms, according to your wishes and what we see in nature. Night in tents.

Day 4. Hiking in wilderness approximately 5-10 km. The exact route will be decided by the guide depending on weather conditions. Passing through the beautiful wilderness area of Finnish Lapland in solitude. Chance to see unique wildlife and even bump into reindeer herds! The evening is all about dancing auroras again. Night in tents.

Day 5. Hiking in wilderness approximately 5-10 km along a route decided by the guide. If the weather conditions allow, we can summit Ropi fell for a chance of beautiful views of the area. In the far distance you might even see mountains of Norway and Sweden. Night in tents.

Day 6. Last day of hiking in wilderness. Transport back to Ylläs, about 3 hours drive. Night at a hotel/B&B, dinner together and photo show of the best Bucket List-shots or the Northern Lights! Possibility to enjoy very Finnish Sauna.

Day 7. Breakfast and check out. End of adventure! There are direct busses to Kittilä airport and Kolari Train station from Ylläs.