Book Early the Activities for Winter 2026–2027 – Save 10% with code EARLY27 01.11.2026–31.03.2027 (Excludes husky & reindeer tours)

Nov 03, 2026

Northern Lights hunting tour from Rovaniemi by bus: our guarantee

The question we hear most about our bus aurora tour is simple: what does “guaranteed” actually mean when nobody controls the sky? It is a fair question, and the answer deserves more than one line on a booking page. So here is how we run the Professional Guaranteed Northern Lights Hunting Tour from Rovaniemi by Bus, step by step, in our own words.

We explain where we pick you up, how the guide decides where to drive, what is and is not included, what the guarantee promises, and when one of our other Northern Lights tours may suit you better. Everything about the tour below comes from the product page itself, so what you read here is what you book.

In short: the Professional Guaranteed Northern Lights Hunting Tour from Rovaniemi by Bus costs from 109 € and usually lasts 4–5 hours, depending on the conditions of the night. A professional guide and photographer chooses the direction of the hunt from weather, cloud and aurora forecasts, professional DSLR photos and hot drinks with light snacks are included, and if we do not capture the Northern Lights you get a full 100% refund.

At a glance

• From: 109 €
• Experience type: Northern Lights tour
• Duration: Total duration of tour is usually 4-5 hours depends on conditions of the day
• Difficulty: Easy
• Book in Advance: Cut off: 1 hours before start time
• Included: Professional Northern Lights guide & photographer in English (other languages available on request: (Spanish, Catalan, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Czech, Slovak, Polish, Ukrainian, Macedonian & Finnish. PLEASE NOTE LIMITED AVAILABILITY FOR OTHER LANGUAGES) If another language is required. Please send us an email or WhatsApp after booking.); Information about the Northern Lights; Professional DSLR photos (delivered securely online); Northern Lights guarantee, if we don’t capture Northern Lights you get 100% your money back!; Hot drinks & light snacks
• Cancellation: Free cancellation 24 hours before the activity. We will charge a cancellation fee of 100% if booking is cancelled less than 24 hours before the activity.
• Accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible; Not stroller accessible

How the evening starts: start time, pick-up and meeting point

The start time for this tour varies between 17:00 and 21:00. We confirm the exact time to you by email by 14:00 on the day, once the guides have looked at the evening’s forecasts. That flexibility is deliberate: it lets us leave when the sky is most promising rather than at a fixed hour.

The meeting and starting point is Postikatu 1, 96100 Rovaniemi. We also offer pick-up for this tour from these places:

• Postmaster Hotel
• Aurora Hill Resort
• Santa Claus Village
• Rovaniemi City Centre, Korkalonkatu 26

A custom pick-up is also possible on request. If you are staying somewhere else, send us a message after booking and we will tell you what we can arrange. Bookings close one hour before the start time, so late decisions are possible when space remains.

How we hunt: forecasts first, then the road

This is not a sightseeing drive, and it is not a fixed-location evening by a campfire. Each night our guides study weather forecasts, cloud conditions and aurora activity before choosing the direction of the tour. The aim is to leave the city lights behind and find the clearest sky we can.

That means the route changes from night to night. Some nights the best conditions are close to Rovaniemi; other nights we drive further into the Arctic landscapes around the city. There is no promise of a particular viewpoint, because the sky decides where we go.

Along the way your guide explains what is happening in the Arctic sky and why the conditions matter. If you want the background before you travel, our articles on the aurora oval and why Rovaniemi sits under the lights and the solar maximum and the Northern Lights go deeper into the science.

Please be honest with yourself about one thing, which we also state on the product page: aurora hunting involves a lot of driving and waiting, so it requires patience.

Why a bus, and who this tour suits

Travelling by bus is what keeps this tour at a more accessible price than our small-group minivan hunt. You still get the elements that make a real aurora hunt work: a guide who plans the night from the forecasts, warm transport, carefully chosen viewing places and professional photos when the lights appear.

It suits families, groups of friends and travellers who want a serious attempt at the Northern Lights in a comfortable group format, without paying for a private or small-group vehicle. Children are welcome; if you are bringing small children, please tell us in advance so we can plan for them. Note that infants must not sit on laps and we have no infant seats on this tour.

It is less suited to anyone who needs step-free access: the tour is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. It is also not suitable for pets.

The guarantee, explained without small print games

The product page states it plainly: “Northern Lights guarantee, if we don’t capture Northern Lights you get 100% your money back!” and, in the important information, “A full 100% refund will be given if we don’t capture any Auroras.”

The key word is capture. Our guide is also a photographer, and cameras pick up the aurora better than the eye does. We say this openly on the product page: the Northern Lights look stronger on camera than to the naked eye. On a faint night you may see a pale arc overhead while the camera shows clear green. If we capture the auroras, the tour has done what it promises; if we capture none, you get your money back in full.

What the guarantee does not do is control the weather or the sun. Nobody can promise a strong display, and we never will. If you want to know exactly how a refund is handled for your booking, ask us when you book and we will explain it for your case.

What is included, and what is not

Included in the price, as listed on the product page:

• A professional Northern Lights guide and photographer in English (other languages on request with limited availability; if you need another language, email or WhatsApp us after booking)
• Information about the Northern Lights
• Professional DSLR photos, delivered securely online
• The Northern Lights guarantee: 100% money back if we do not capture the Northern Lights
• Hot drinks and light snacks

Photos are delivered within 2–3 business days, so please give us your email address. Winter clothing is not listed among the inclusions for this tour, unlike our small-group hunt, so dress warmly in layers with gloves and a hat. If you travel light, see our page on renting premium winter clothing in Rovaniemi, and our article on the winter gear provided on our tours explains which tours include it.

Timing and season

The tour usually lasts 4–5 hours, and the duration can change within that range depending on the weather each night. Because the start can be anywhere between 17:00 and 21:00, plan your evening loosely and keep an eye on your inbox for our confirmation email by 14:00.

For the dates we run it and live availability, the booking calendar at the end of this article is always up to date. Our overview of the Northern Lights season 2026–2027 in Rovaniemi explains how our aurora tours fit together across the winter.

The small print, quoted from the product page

• Cancellation: free cancellation 24 hours before the activity; a 100% cancellation fee applies if the booking is cancelled less than 24 hours before.
• Passport: please bring your passport on the tour. Our FAQ notes that aurora routes can cross borders, so identification belongs in your pocket.
• Booking cut-off: one hour before the start time.
• Accessibility: not wheelchair accessible, not stroller accessible.
• Children: welcome; infants must not sit on laps and infant seats are unavailable.
• Pets: not suitable.

If a departure is closed or sold out, or you are booking for a larger group, contact us by WhatsApp on +358 40 128 7846 or at booking@staylapland.com and we will try to arrange a departure for you.

Book this if, or choose another of our tours if

Book the bus tour if you want a genuine forecast-led hunt with professional photos and a money-back guarantee at the lowest price of our hunting tours, and you are comfortable with a group and a 4–5 hour evening.

Choose the Professional Small Group Northern Lights Hunting Tour from Rovaniemi – Guaranteed instead if you prefer a group of 2–8 people, winter clothing and pick-up within 10 km of the centre included, and a longer hunt with unlimited mileage and time (typically 4–10 hours). It is from 199 €.

Choose the Northern Lights Tour At The Campfire instead if you would rather wait by a fire in a teepee at our viewing spot than drive in search of clear sky. It is 3 hours, from 99 €, includes winter clothing and pick-up within 10 km, but has no guarantee and photos are taken with your own device. You can see all our aurora options on the Northern Lights activities page.

Staying with us at Postmaster Hotel or Aurora Hill Resort makes the logistics easy, as both are pick-up points for this tour. Booking early for winter? Our site-wide EARLY27 offer is shown in the booking card.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Northern Lights bus tour from Rovaniemi cost?

The Professional Guaranteed Northern Lights Hunting Tour from Rovaniemi by Bus is priced from 109 €. The booking calendar shows the price for your date.

What happens if we don’t see the Northern Lights?

If we don’t capture the Northern Lights, you get a 100% refund. The guarantee is based on capturing the auroras, and the lights look stronger on camera than to the naked eye.

How long does the tour last?

Usually 4–5 hours, depending on the conditions of the night.

What time does the tour start?

The start time varies between 17:00 and 21:00 and is confirmed to you by email by 14:00 on the day.

Where do you pick us up?

The meeting point is Postikatu 1, Rovaniemi, and we offer pick-up from Postmaster Hotel, Aurora Hill Resort, Santa Claus Village and Rovaniemi City Centre (Korkalonkatu 26). Custom pick-up is possible on request.

When do we receive the photos?

Professional DSLR photos are delivered securely online within 2–3 business days, so please give us your email address.

Can children join?

Yes, children are welcome. Please tell us in advance if you have small children. Infants must not sit on laps and infant seats are unavailable.

Ready to book?

You may also like

• Professional Small Group Northern Lights Hunting Tour from Rovaniemi – Guaranteed — from 199 €, Total duration of tour is usually 4-10 hours depends on conditions of the day
• Northern Lights Tour At The Campfire — from 99 €, 3 hours