My Fantastic Holiday: Chasing the Northern Lights

March 20th,

Many people dream of seeing the Northern Lights at least once in their life. Only a small percentage of the world has experienced this magical phenomenon. And now, I can say that I am one of those lucky people.

I saw the Aurora Borealis, and it was incredible.

My holiday was divided into two parts. The first took place in Kilpisjärvi, a small village in the far north of Finland, close to the borders with Sweden and Norway.

To get there, my friends and I traveled for almost 17 hours. The journey was long and exhausting, but when we finally arrived, it was worth it. Our accommodation was a small house surrounded by nature, almost in the middle of nowhere.

Near our house stood the famous Saana mountain, rising 1,029 meters above sea level. We rented skis to hike and explore the area.

On the first day, we climbed Mount Saana. The landscapes were breathtaking. Snow-covered forests, frozen lakes, and even a few reindeer crossing our path. Everything looked like a winter postcard.

During our trip, we met a man who called himself an “aurora hunter.” He knew the best spots to observe the Northern Lights, so every night we followed him to different locations.

And then it happened.

We saw multiple auroras dancing in the sky. Green waves moving silently above us. The first night was particularly special,  our guide told us it was a rare type of aurora that had not appeared for three years. We couldn’t believe our luck.

It felt like a dream.

The only challenge was the temperature. One night, we stood on a frozen lake with nothing around us, no trees, no walls, just wind and open space. The temperature dropped to −28°C. I stayed until midnight before finally returning home because of the cold.

After this unforgettable adventure, I continued my trip to Rovaniemi, where I met some friends. I stayed there for three nights and four days.

The first evening, we went to a restaurant to celebrate our arrival together. The next day, we explored a famous hiking trail with a tower at the top. From there, we had an amazing view over the city.

Later, we borrowed some sledges and tried the snowy slopes. At first, the track didn’t work very well, but eventually we found a huge slope, and it was incredibly fun.

We also visited the famous Santa Claus Village. Personally, I found it a bit too touristy and expensive, but it was still a fun experience. The village is also known for marking the Arctic Circle, which makes it a unique place to visit.

On another day, we went on a much longer hike. We took a bus to reach the starting point and then walked through deep snow-covered landscapes. Sometimes it was difficult to move because the snow was so soft and thick.

At one point, we walked across a frozen lake completely covered in snow. The view was absolutely stunning.

We also discovered a small pizzeria in Rovaniemi that was surprisingly cheap and very good. And to finish the trip, we celebrated one of our friend’s birthdays with a cake. It was a simple but very joyful moment.

Looking back, this holiday was unforgettable.

If you ever have the chance, I truly recommend visiting the north of Finland. There are so many things to experience, incredible landscapes to discover, and maybe, if you are lucky,  you will see the Northern Lights too.

And when that happens, you will never forget it.