The 8 National Park Trips Under the Northern Lights Worth a Cold Night

1.Small-Group Northern Lights Wilderness Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,515 reviews · 4 hours · from $136Our pick

Leave Rovaniemi with an English-speaking Aurora guide and a group of no more than eight. Your guide checks the forecast, drives to clearer skies, builds a fire, cooks sausages and marshmallows, and photographs you beneath the Northern Lights. Guides such as Nino, Emily, Patrick, and Carlos are praised for patience and persistence.

“Emily as our guide really makes the tour interesting. Learned about aurora and stars as the skies are really clear on that night.”

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2.Abisko National Park Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 462 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $167

Travel from Kiruna to Abisko National Park with a guide such as Gabriele, Gaia, Patrick, or Lilly, stopping wherever the sky opens. You will hunt the aurora in a group of up to eight, learn camera and phone settings, walk near Abisko canyon, and warm up with lingonberry juice and bakery treats before returning to your hotel.

“Elin is an amazing person and incredible guide. She explained us everything about aurora lights, history of Kiruna and all the related informations. Thanks to her, we have witnessed an amazing views of aurora lights and had an unforgettable night. Very highly recommended and hope to see her again in the future!”

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3.Northern Lights Wilderness Small-Group Tour from Rovaniemi

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 290 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $155

Leave Rovaniemi with an Aurora guide such as Atanas, Martina, Amy, or Vince and chase clear skies across the Lapland wilderness. In four hours, you may visit up to three dark-sky locations, learn to build a traditional fire, warm up with hot chocolate and Finnish snacks, and receive tour photos the next day.

“Everything was very well organized. The tour guide was great! We actually saw magnificent northern light! Thank you!”

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4.National Park Northern Lights Photo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 86 reviews · 4 hours · from $176

Spend four hours hunting the aurora around Abisko National Park with a small group of up to eight. Your guide provides a preset DSLR, tripod, warm overalls, and photography help, then chooses between a nearby teepee, 4x4 van, or snowmobile sleigh based on conditions. Bring warm boots and an SD card.

“Fabian and Zacs were amazing and they helped us with the cameras and provided a good assistance. We manage to have the aurora showing up twice and it was AMAZING!!! Beyond words...”

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5.Tromsø, Northern Lights and Wilderness Evening Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 23 reviews · from $158

Board the MS Rygerdronningen at 9pm in Tromsø for a 2.5-hour search for the Aurora. You’ll watch from heated panoramic cabins or outdoor decks, with Norwegian and English guidance. Guide Carlo has earned special praise for his clear Aurora explanations. Food, drinks, and hotel pickup are not included.

“No lights but no complaints about the experience. Ample space on board for outdoor and indoor seating.”

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6.Aurora Hunting & Reindeer Wilderness Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 5 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $152

Ride from Saariselkä with an English or Finnish guide to promising aurora spots, then warm up in a grill hut with sausages and hot berry juice. Feed and pet reindeer at a traditional farm before one final aurora search. This is normally shared, with private or small-group options available.

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7.Northern Lights Hunt in Lapland Wilderness

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 4 hours · from $147Top rated

Leave Rovaniemi by comfortable van with an English-speaking guide and up to seven others. Your guide tracks conditions, takes you into darker Lapland wilderness, and shares aurora science and local folklore. Expect a campfire, hot drinks, Finnish snacks, and time to photograph the sky. Arctic clothing and camera gear are not included.

“I had really lovely time and seeing Northern lights was out of this world. It's like secret heavenly show you're allowed in. Our tour guide Michael was excellent with good knowledge and great sense of humor. Sitting around the campfire, grilling sausages and listening his stories about local life was amazing. I'm now back in cold, wet,gray England and already planning my next trip to Rovaniemi in February. Anyone looking for winter wonderland and beautiful nature, I recommend.”

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8.Denali National Park Plus Aurora Chase Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 18 hours (approx.) · from $350

Join Lindsay of Wandering Alaska LLC for a private, weather-dependent trip from Fairbanks to Denali National Park and back. You’ll stop in Nenana, visit the park or kennels, hike or snowshoe, then wait for the northern lights. Pickup, snacks, hot drinks, aurora photography help, and five edited portraits are included.

“Lindsay is so attentive to her guests! She is knowledgeable about the area, a great driver, and knows the places to see the aurora! While we didn’t see Denali, Lindsay made the trip well worth it!”

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