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Oct 06, 2026

Northern Lights tour in a cottage, Rovaniemi: how our evening runs

When guests ask us about Northern Lights tours, one question comes up again and again: what happens if it is very cold, or if the sky takes its time? That is exactly why we run an aurora evening built around an old wooden cottage by a lake. You still spend time outside under a dark sky, but there is a warm room with walls and a roof a few steps away.

This page is our own explanation of the Northern Lights Tour in Atmospheric Cottage: where we take you, what happens during the three hours, what is included, the small print from the product page, and when one of our other aurora tours might suit you better.

In short: the Northern Lights Tour in Atmospheric Cottage is a 3-hour evening tour from Rovaniemi, from 109 €. We pick you up within 10 km of the city centre, drive about 20 minutes to our lakeside spot with a traditional Finnish cottage over 100 years old and a laavu (open shelter), lend you winter clothing, and serve local snacks and drinks by the campfire while we watch the sky. The activity starts at 20:00 and you are back in the city centre at 23:00.

At a glance

• From: 109 €
• Experience type: Northern Lights tour / activity
• Duration: 3 hours
• Difficulty: Very easy
• Book in Advance: Cut off: 3 hours before start time
• Included: A Tour Guide in English (other languages available on request:  Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German & Finnish.) PLEASE NOTE LIMITED AVAILABILITY FOR OTHER LANGUAGES). If another language is required. Please send us an email or WhatsApp after booking.); Winter clothing (Adult & Child size), overalls, boots, gloves, socks; Local snacks & Drinks by the campfire; Information about the Northern Lights; Surprise gift for the children; Pick-ups and drop-offs are included in the price in 10 km radius from Rovaniemi city center; Photos taken with your own device; Air conditioned car
• 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

Why we built an aurora evening around a cottage

The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, so nobody can switch them on for a set time. Some evenings they appear early, some evenings late, and some evenings the clouds decide for us. Waiting is part of every aurora tour, and how comfortable that wait is makes a big difference to how people remember the night.

Our answer at this location is the cottage. The product page describes it as a traditional Finnish cottage more than 100 years old, located by a lake, together with a laavu. Inside you can warm up, hear the local history and stories our guide shares, and step back outside when the sky starts to change. It is the tour we recommend on our own FAQ when families with small children ask us about the Northern Lights, because it gives children a warm indoor space.

If you want to understand what you are hoping to see before you go, our story How are auroras formed? explains the science in plain language.

Pick-up and the drive out of the city

Pick-up and drop-off are included in the price within a 10 km radius of Rovaniemi city centre. The product page lists a long set of pick-up points, including our own Postmaster Hotel and Aurora Hill Resort, several city hotels, the bus station, Rovaniemi Airport and the Santa Claus Village area. Custom pick-up is also possible on request, and the official meeting point is Postikatu 1, 96100 Rovaniemi.

• Please be ready and wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before your pick-up time.
• Tell us your preferred pick-up address when booking, or send it to booking@staylapland.com or on WhatsApp +358 40 128 7846.
• The transfer time is outside the 3-hour activity time, so we suggest keeping 15–30 minutes free before and after.

We drive in an air-conditioned car. According to our FAQ the trip to the activity location takes about 20 minutes, and the spot is named there as Lake Poikajärvi, on our own land away from city lights.

What happens during the evening

The activity starts at 20:00. Once we arrive, the evening follows the sky rather than a stopwatch, but the ingredients are always the same:

• Warm clothing first. We provide winter clothing in adult and child sizes: overalls, boots, gloves and socks, so you do not need to buy anything special for the trip.
• The cottage and its stories. Your local guide introduces the old cottage and the history of the area, and you can use it as your warm base.
• Campfire, snacks and drinks. Local snacks and drinks by the campfire are included.
• Northern Lights information. The guide explains what the auroras are and what to look for, so you recognise a faint arc before it becomes obvious.
• Photos with your own device. Photos are taken with your own phone or camera.

At the end of the evening we drive you back, and you are in the city centre again at 23:00.

Seeing the auroras: what we can and cannot promise

We are open about this: because the Northern Lights depend on weather and solar activity, we cannot guarantee a 100% sighting on any single night. What we can do is take you to a dark spot away from city lights, keep you warm while you wait, and help you read the sky.

Our FAQ notes that the Northern Lights are visible in Lapland for a period of over eight months, from early August until late April. If you like to follow the forecasts yourself, our post on the KP index and the Northern Lights explains the number most apps show and how we use it.

Who this tour suits, and who should pick another of our tours

The tour is rated very easy. It works well for guests who want a calm evening with some shelter from the cold, for families (there is a surprise gift for the children), and for anyone who enjoys a bit of history with their aurora watching.

Book this if you want a warm indoor place to return to, you are travelling with children, or you prefer a relaxed evening close to the city.

Choose another of our tours if you want a teepee campfire setting (our Northern Lights Tour At The Campfire, also 3 hours, from 99 €, explained in our campfire evening post), or you want to travel into a remote forest on a sleigh pulled by a snowmobile (our Northern Lights Tour Sleigh Ride, 4 hours, from 109 €).

Accessibility: the tour is not wheelchair accessible and not stroller accessible. Our FAQ recommends a minimum age of 3 years, as winter conditions can be too harsh for infants. There is no maximum age.

Exactly what is included, and what is not

Straight from the product page, the price includes:

• A tour guide in English (other languages on request: Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German and Finnish, with limited availability; contact us after booking if you need one)
• Winter clothing in adult and child sizes: overalls, boots, gloves, socks
• Local snacks and drinks by the campfire
• Information about the Northern Lights
• A surprise gift for the children
• Pick-up and drop-off within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre, in an air-conditioned car
• Photos taken with your own device

Not included: professional photos, and transfers from addresses outside the 10 km radius (ask us about custom pick-up). If the departure you want is sold out, or you are a larger group, contact us and we will try to arrange a departure for you.

The small print from the product page

• At least 2 people are required for the tour to take place on weekdays and Saturdays, and at least 4 people on Sundays and public holidays.
• Children under 13 must be accompanied by adults paying the full price. Infants must not sit on laps.
• The tour may be cancelled or rescheduled if the group is smaller than 2 people, or in extreme weather.
• Booking cut-off: 3 hours before the start time.
• Cancellation: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity; a 100% fee applies if you cancel less than 24 hours before.

Combining the cottage evening with your stay

Because the tour starts at 20:00 and ends at 23:00, it fits easily after a day activity. Many guests pair it with a snowmobile or husky tour during the day, and stay with us at Postmaster Hotel in the old post office in the city centre or at Aurora Hill Resort, both of which are on the pick-up list. You can browse all our activities in Rovaniemi to plan the rest of your days, and our services are also available as gift cards.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the cottage Northern Lights tour start and finish?

The activity starts at 20:00 and lasts 3 hours; you are back in Rovaniemi city centre at 23:00. Transfer time is outside the activity time, so keep 15–30 minutes free before and after.

Where is the cottage?

Our FAQ names the spot as Lake Poikajärvi, on our own land away from city lights, about a 20-minute drive from Rovaniemi. The cottage is a traditional Finnish cottage over 100 years old by the lake, with a laavu.

Is pick-up included?

Yes. Pick-up and drop-off are included within 10 km of Rovaniemi city centre. Tell us your address when booking, or email booking@staylapland.com or WhatsApp +358 40 128 7846.

Will we definitely see the Northern Lights?

We cannot guarantee a 100% sighting, because the auroras depend on weather and solar activity. We take you to a dark location and do our best to give you a great evening either way.

Do we need our own winter clothes?

No. Winter clothing in adult and child sizes is included: overalls, boots, gloves and socks.

Is the tour suitable for small children?

Yes. The recommended minimum age is 3 years, and we recommend this cottage tour for families because it has a warm indoor space. Children under 13 must be accompanied by adults paying the full price, and infants must not sit on laps.

What is the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity. A 100% fee applies if you cancel less than 24 hours before.

Ready to book?

You may also like

• Northern Lights Tour At The Campfire — from 99 €, 3 hours
• Northern Lights Tour Sleigh Ride — from 109 €, 4 hours