Combining a Finland Northern Lights Holiday With the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi

Heading into the Arctic Circle to see the Finland Northern Lights up close is a magical winter adventure. Many guests make the most of the snowy scenery and exciting winter sports on offer, planning a festive Christmas getaway that every family member will remember.

The Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is one of the many high-demand destinations for visitors travelling to Finnish Lapland to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis. It offers a fantastic opportunity to blend a Northern Lights search with visits to Santa Claus and even joining the Elf Academy!

Today, we’ve shared some insights into what to expect from a Northern Lights holiday in Finland and highlighted the most-loved activities, excursions, and optional extras you might choose to get into the Christmas spirit this winter.

Reasons to Select Finnish Lapland for Your Winter Aurora Holiday

Being able to see the Northern Lights is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The Aurora is one of the most famous natural phenomena in the world, and when the solar particles in the Earth’s atmosphere light up the dark skies, they create a mesmerising spectacle.

Aurora tours, weather permitting, run throughout the winter period across Northern Finland, when visitors have the best chance to see the bright lights glittering and swirling overhead.

Part of the challenge in a Northern Lights search is that the Aurora is best seen as far north as possible, close to or within the Arctic Circle. Finnish Lapland is an ideal location for Northern Lights tours, being at the right latitude within the northern hemisphere. However, visitors must also pick their travel dates wisely since the Aurora is harder to see and less vibrant during the summer midnight sun season.

It’s also key that guests have experienced guides for their Aurora chase or stay in accommodation away from light pollution, which makes wilderness camps and Santa Claus villages in the Finnish countryside an excellent option.

The Northern Lights season starts as early as late August this far north and runs until around early April, but the optimal time to see the Aurora is during the equinox and over the Christmas period, coinciding with festive holidays and family getaways.

Rovaniemi’s Santa Claus Village is uniquely positioned around eight miles north of the city, with a marked line to show where the Arctic Circle passes directly through the complex, inviting guests to cross the circle as a very rare opportunity to do so.

Booking Accommodation at a Santa Claus Village During a Northern Lights Break

There are several Santa Claus villages, wilderness resorts and hotels throughout Northern Europe around the Arctic Circle, including Finnish and Swedish Lapland.

One of the best aspects of booking a customisable package through the Baltic Travel Company is that visitors can choose special accommodation to guarantee a unique experience. Popular options include:

• Private Aurora cabins, tucked into forest hideaways and often with exclusive hot tubs or saunas for a romantic, relaxed view of the Northern sky.
• Staying in an Aurora bubble or reserving glass igloos, with laser-heated roofs offering an unobstructed view that guests can savour as they recline in bed with a roaring fire nearby.
• Choosing an Aurora camp, far from artificial light that can distort the Aurora, and sharing in campfires, winter activities and superb Aurora viewing conditions on each clear night.

For many, the chance to travel in December when the Northern Lights are at their most visible also fits ideally into a festive escape, whether for families travelling with little ones who will be delighted at meeting Santa and his elves or bigger kids who love everything festive, fun and charming about the Christmas season.

Finland’s Santa Claus Village is a wonderful, all-ages option, with a post office where visitors can send a letter with a unique postmark from the Arctic Circle. They can also visit the gorgeously decorated streets with tiny shops selling crafts, treats, and ornaments or head to a workshop to learn more about the heritage leatherwork and Lappish jewellery distinct to this part of the world.

The joy of a Santa Claus Village is that there is something for everyone. Snowmobiles, Northern Lights safaris and husky sleds depart directly from the accommodation, mixed with Christmas activities, a stunning ice bar, and fine dining experiences with restaurants serving traditional salmon, reindeer, and other local cuisines.

Family-Friendly Festive Activities to Try During an Aurora Holiday in Northern Finland

Once guests have visited Santa, seen the Northern Lights, and spent some time soaking in the snowy scenery, they can choose from a range of excursions, tours, and activities, each of which celebrates all that is unique about the Arctic and Finnish culture.

There is little as thrilling as heading out into the snow-covered wilderness on a reindeer-drawn sleigh or with a pack of excited huskies pulling a sled. Guests in Finland can also try their hand at navigating the Arctic tundra on snowmobiles, led, of course, by local experts in the terrain.

While not an exhaustive list, we’ve curated a small selection of the activities on offer, either organised when booking your Finland Northern Lights holidays or during your stay at the Santa Claus Village:

• Relaxing in a snow bathing sauna experience at the SnowHotel, just 21 miles from the village. There is a log-built traditional sauna, jacuzzis and steam baths all designed for relaxed luxury.
• The nearby Raitola reindeer and husky farm, only three miles from your accommodation, welcomes families with children of any age and offers sled rides through the forests.
• Throughout the winter, guests can book a horse-led sleigh pulled by authentic Finn horses, with riding trips and evening Northern Lights safaris departing from the village itself.
• The Santa’s Pets corner is perfect for animal lovers who can meet, stroke and feed alpacas, donkeys, reindeer, sheep and numerous other birds and small animals, with reindeer and alpaca walks in the forests on demand.

This vast range of activities ensures that every guest staying in the Santa Claus Village, either as part of an extended tour of the Finnish scenery or during a short break, has a wonderful experience, combining the Northern Lights with festivities, celebrations, and experiences.

Further information about Northern Lights holidays, Finnish Lapland, winter tours, and the Santa Claus Village is readily available by browsing our packages. You are also very welcome to contact the Baltic Travel Company if you’d like assistance organising a perfect Aurora Christmas break.