Northern Lights Wilderness Tour with Professional Camera
Small-group (max 8) Northern Lights hunt from Rovaniemi. Your guide will outfit you with winter overalls and boots, drive into the Lappish wilderness to search for clear skies, light a campfire with traditional methods, grill sausages, serve hot drinks and take professional photos of you and the Aurora to be sent the next day. The tour lasts 4 hours and may visit up to three different vantage-poin
In Collaboration with Wild About Lapland. Updated on February 13, 2026.
This itinerary was created in collaboration with Wild About Lapland, inspired by the tour Northern Lights Wilderness Tour with Professional Camera. Please check the tour information during your booking process.
Highlights
- Small-group Northern Lights hunt (maximum 8 guests)
- Professional Aurora guide equipped with a camera — photos sent the next day
- Winter overalls and boots provided
- Campfire break with hot drinks and grilled sausages
- Flexible route: up to 3 locations to maximise viewing chance
Explore all itineraries in Rovaniemi.
Itinerary
Day 1
Evening Northern Lights hunt from Rovaniemi. Meeting point or hotel pickup (pickup window starts 10–60 minutes before tour start; final pickup time confirmed by email).
Meet at Wild About Lapland Office — kit fitting & briefing
Arrive at the operator office for check-in, sign any necessary forms, collect winter overalls and boots, and get a short safety briefing. If you have selected hotel pickup, your confirmed pickup time will be slightly earlier; the office meeting is for guests who choose to meet on location.
Tips from local experts:
- If meeting at the office, arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled start time to allow time for sizing of winter overalls and boots.
- Hotel pickups run 10–60 minutes before the listed start time; check the pickup confirmation email for your exact collection time.
- Bring your passport or ID for check-in and ensure your camera batteries are fully charged (cold drains batteries faster).
Transfer into the Lappish wilderness
Short minivan transfer from the meeting point into the nearby wilderness area selected for that evening’s conditions. The guide monitors weather and aurora forecasts continuously and may move to a different vantage point during the tour to improve viewing chances.
Tips from local experts:
- Expect a 20–40 minute drive depending on chosen vantage point; sit on the warmest seat if you feel the cold after gearing up.
- Keep a small daypack with any personal layers and your camera so you can exit quickly for photo opportunities.
- Use low-brightness settings on phone torches and avoid flash during stops to preserve night vision for everyone.
Northern Lights hunt, campfire snack and photography session
Main field session: your guide chooses clear-sky vantage points (up to 3 locations during the 4-hour tour as conditions require). A campfire break provides hot drinks, grilled sausages and toasted bread while the guide demonstrates traditional fire-starting methods and answers questions. The guide will use a professional camera to take photos of the group and the sky; pictures are shared the next day.
Tips from local experts:
- Wear the provided winter overalls over your layers—they are rated for extreme cold; bring thin glove liners for camera handling.
- Tripod rental is available from the operator if you want to shoot long-exposure Aurora photos with your own camera; bring spare batteries kept in an inner pocket.
- During the campfire, keep personal lights off and use dim red lighting if you need to move to preserve others’ night vision and improve photo results.
Return drive and drop-off in Rovaniemi
Drive back to Rovaniemi and drop guests at their accommodation or the operator office. Guide will confirm when the photos are sent (next-day delivery).
Tips from local experts:
- Allow a short warm-up period in the minivan before removing borrowed overalls; return borrowed equipment to the guide at drop-off.
- Expect drop-off at your original pickup location; if your accommodation is outside the city centre a surcharge may apply—this will have been confirmed at booking.
- Photos taken by the guide are typically sent the following day—check the email used for booking and allow the guide to confirm delivery timing during drop-off.
Itinerary Attributes
| Days | 1 |
| Highlights | 5 |
| Season | - |
| Month | - |
| Persona | Couples |
| Transfers | 2 |
| Restaurants | - |
| Total Activities | 2 |
| Total Places | 4 |
| Activities Types | Neighborhood, Transfer, Experience |
Why this experience
You'll hunt the Northern Lights with a professional photographer who brings high-end camera equipment and teaches you how to capture aurora with your own gear. Unlike a passive aurora tour where you simply observe, you're actively learning photography technique—how to set your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO for aurora, how to compose the landscape with lights overhead, how to anticipate the best shots.
The tour includes a small group (so it stays intimate), a campfire stop for warmth and snacks, hot drinks to sustain you through the cold night, and the guide's expertise in both aurora behavior and photography. By the end, you'll have not just seen the lights, but learned how to photograph them yourself.
Best for couples or friends with a camera (or who want to invest in one) and who want to combine Northern Lights hunting with learning a new skill.
Before you go
- Best time: Winter (September through March). Peak season is December through February when nights are longest. Clear, dark skies are essential.
- Budget: Check the booking widget for current tour pricing. Professional camera equipment, guide service, campfire snacks, and hot drinks are included.
- Difficulty: Easy. You'll drive to viewpoints and stand or sit for aurora viewing and photography. No hiking or strenuous activity.
- What to bring: Your own camera (DSLR or mirrorless with manual mode is ideal; smartphone works but is limited), tripod if you have one (can be rented), warm winter coat, thermal layers, hat, gloves, scarf, warm boots, hand warmers, water bottle, notebook to jot down settings that worked.
- Getting there: Pickup from Rovaniemi accommodation. Exact meeting point provided at booking.
- Accessibility: Vehicle-based transport; accessible to anyone who can stand at viewpoints for extended periods.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own camera? No. Professional equipment is provided and available for your use. But bringing your own means you leave with photos you've taken yourself.
I've never used manual camera settings. Can the guide help? Yes. The guide will explain aperture, shutter speed, and ISO as they apply to aurora photography, and will coach you through the process.
What if the aurora doesn't appear? That's a risk inherent to aurora hunting. The guide will search the best dark-sky spots and read weather conditions, but aurora activity is never guaranteed. Discuss rescheduling or refund options when booking.
What's included in this itinerary? This itinerary on TheNextGuide is free to read and follow at your own pace. The bookable experience includes small-group Northern Lights tour, professional camera equipment and guide (photographer), photography instruction in real time, campfire stop with snacks and hot drinks, and vehicle transport throughout.
Complete your trip in Rovaniemi
Aurora photography is best combined with other activities and indoor warmth:
- Glass Igloo Dinner - Northern Lights dinner in a glass igloo — Evening dining while waiting for lights (you can photograph from inside the igloo)
- Private Glass Igloo - Private glass igloo dinner under Northern Lights — Premium option combining dinner, igloo privacy, and snow scooter tour
- Aurora Tour - Guaranteed Northern Lights with professional camera — Non-photography-focused aurora tour if you prefer simpler hunting
- Husky - Drive your own husky sled through the taiga — Daytime activity to fill hours when aurora is impossible (too much daylight)
Browse all Rovaniemi itineraries at TheNextGuide.
Last updated: April 2026
