Chasing Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland

Not long now till I’m on a plane en route to chasing Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland, my home! I spent the first 18 years of my life in Finland. A big bulk of it I lived in the small town of Ivalo, more than 300km from the Arctic Circle. Living there it was easy to get sick of the cold and the never ending winter darkness. Visiting now, I have a whole new appreciation for the place. The pure white snow, the fresh crisp air and yes, the auroras that sometimes make an appearance! Usually when you least expect it…

Going to Finnish Lapland has been a Christmas tradition of mine for a long time. It’s the perfect chance to get to see family and friends, but also to do some of my favourite winter activities. Whether it’s snowboarding in nearby Saariselka, ice fishing on Lake Inari or just chilling by the fire at a log cabin, I always try to fit in something fun to do. There are a whole range of activities available, from husky sledding to feeding cute reindeer or getting adventurous on a snowmobile safari. 

Getting to Ivalo is now easier than ever, with direct flights available from London with Finnair.  However, these flights only operate during the winter months. Norwegian as well as Finnair also flies there via the capital Helsinki where I’ll also be stopping by for a few days. While flying direct to Ivalo is convenient if you have less time available and just want to check out Finnish Lapland, Helsinki is also worth a visit. I’ll be writing a few posts about both Helsinki and Lapland, so stay tuned if you’re pondering your next winter or city break destination. 

Thinking about a tropical destination? Read my post about Montserrat, the least visited Caribbean island, here!