The stand up paddle or SUP or paddle is a water sport where you are paddling with a paddle in your hands on a big board while standing on it. It exists different type of stand up paddle boards that will correspond to your needs: SUP board for cruising, surfing, racing, fishing, yoga, use in a vivid water such as rivers etc. Stand up paddle board can be used both individually and in a group of people, friends, family.
Please let us know your diet before or after booking your adventure. We will take into account your wishes and prepare the food suitable for you.
A booking is confirmed when you receive a confirmation email. If you think you have made a booking and have not received an email confirmation, please send us an e-mail with an inquiry through our contact form, and we will figure this out together.
You can pay through the internet, through our website. This is by far the easiest, safest and fastest way to reserve and pay for your adventure. You will receive a voucher as a confirmation via e-mail which you will need to bring with you for your trip. You will always get a voucher by email: REMEMBER TO PRINT IT OUT AND BRING IT ALONG OR MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN SHOW IT ON YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICE!
Lampivaara Amethyst Mine is probably one of the only amethyst mines which welcomes visitors all year round.
The amethyst of Lampivaara was formed about 2 000 million years ago in the bowels of the ancient mountains. There is now a special gem mine on the top of the hill that will sustain for hundreds of years, because machines aren’t used to dig the amethysts and it’s not exported as raw material. This makes it possible for people to visit the Amethyst Mine and search their own amethyst to keep during the tours.
During the tour people will hear about the geology and history in addition to the properties of the gems and the uses of amethyst. In many cultures there are lots of different beliefs connected to amethyst.
If luck and weather are on your side, then you will be able to see the Aurora Borealis above the inviting streets of Rovaniemi. Whether you see the lights or not are dependant on two different factors. The first being the weather. If the sky is clear, no clouds, then you are halfway there to seeing the astonishing spectacle that is the Northern Lights (although light pollution can sometimes be a problem). Increased solar activity is the second half so, if these two merge together you may well be able to see the Northern Lights from Rovaniemi.
The Northern Lights season is said to be from late August until mid-April. However, if you want to increase your chances of seeing them, it is best to wait until the clear winter months of mid-September until March.
When Northern Lights tours are cancelled it’s usually due to unfavourable weather conditions.
In that case, your options will be to:
1. Reschedule for another day.
2. Find another tour to do and use the deposit for it.
3. Get fully refunded.
Please send us an email (info@nordicadventures.fi) to re-book your tour.
The Northern Lights are natural phenomena and we unfortunately cannot promise you will see them. Their appearance depends upon atmospheric and weather conditions.
We can start our tours with sleds when we have enough snow on our trails, and all the wet areas are frozen. This is often in the first week of December, but can also be as early as mid November.
Although we can drive dogs ourselves under quite difficult conditions, we need very forgiving snow situations before we are able to safely take guests on the trail. Check our booking online calendar, it gives a fairly accurate picture of availability.
We do not provide snow goggles during our tours as we do not recommend using them. Personally we prefer to have our vision unimpaired. Goggles tend to fog up, limit visibility and cause unnecessary driving accidents with unexprienced dog drivers. If you really do want to use goggles please bring your own then.
The answer is complicated and simple at the same time; Sometimes!
We breed dogs to keep our kennel healthy and that means sometimes no puppies and sometimes 1 or 2 litters per year. These pups tend to be born in the spring time and can not be considered “puppies” any more by time the snowfalls. We do our best to prevent unwanted and unplanned pregnancies in the kennel by castrating all our non breeding males.
We are aware that certain kennels time and or plan their litters for display purposes, but we find this a dubious and unethical practice not beneficial to the welfare of the dogs.
If you wish, you can wear your own clothing and boots during our snowmobile tours but we strongly recommend using our special equipment.
- Thermal overall
- Balaclava mask (on snowmobile tours)
- Woolen socks
- Winter boots
- Scarf (if needed)
- Mittens
- Helmet (on snowmobile tours)
If the day tour you’re joining includes the use of thermal clothing, you’re welcome to arrive dressed in your normal clothes. However, especially on tours lasting more than two hours we would recommend considering the following clothing of your own:
- Long thermal underwear
- Sport or ski socks worn under woolen socks
- Trousers: loose-fitting, fleece, softshell or similar
- Sweater: wool, fleece or similar warm material
- Neck warmer instead of scarf if you want
- Warm hat
- Your own jacket to be worn under the overall if the temperatures are close to -15 °C or lower
If the outdoor tour you are joining does not include the use of winter clothing, please make sure to bring your own winter boots, weatherproof jacket, trousers and gloves, in addition to the equipment listed above.
There are a few different ways you can book our trips. First of all, you can book almost all our trips right here on our website. There is a booking window on each tour page and we do recommend that you book and pay for your trip there, preferably in good time as we keep our groups small and some tours tend to sell out.
If the trip you would like to book is not bookable online, you can call or email our office directly, the phone number is +358 40 744 2567. Another way is to send us an e-mail with an inquiry through our contact form. What we need to have is your name, how many people are in your party, where you are staying, a way of contacting you either an e-mail or a phone number and what tour you are trying to book.
Safety is very important on our guided tours. Even if everything is well considered, accidents are possible, because of human error. The snowmobile is always covered with traffic insurance, as demanded by the law. This insurance covers all the possible costs that come to the rider, passenger or possible third party persons (transportation, medical treatment, hospital, doctor, surgery) or third party vehicle (damages, broken parts, repair costs). However, this insurance DOES NOT cover the costs that occur to your own snowmobile, if you are the guilty party for the accident. Because of this, participants will sign a document, where they agree that they are responsible for riding the snowmobile (steering, accelerating, using breaks, following the laws, regulations and instructions), they have a valid driving license and they are not under the influence of alcohol or any drugs.
If an accident happens, the guide will be in charge of the situation and he/she will focus first on people’s safety and first aid. After that part is clear, he/she will monitor the vehicles and make the decision on continuing or aborting the tour.
Self-liability in the case of damages is 900€. A participant can buy an additional self-liability waiver (15€ per driver) before the safari starts and reduce his/her self-liability to 150€.
Outside of the snowmobiling, we recommend a travel insurance that will cover other activities.
Snowmobile trails have official speed limits, controlled by local police officers. Speed limits are shown with traffic signs but if there is an area without the traffic signs, the following limits will remain; maximum 60 km/h on the trail, maximum 80 km/h on ice covered water areas and maximum 40 km/h with a snowmobile pulling a sledge.
On guided snowmobile tours the speed is related to the maximum speed limit of the area BUT our first priority is the safety and the skill level of the group. The guide will monitor how the people in the group are riding and the speed is always related to that. Another important thing is the condition of the trail and weather conditions in general. The target on guided tours is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all the participants, also for the ones with no experience at all.
It is definitely possible. Most of our tours are suitable for children of all ages (please see specifications under each tour).
During the tour, children (and parents if they wish) are sitting in a sledge on reindeer hides and are covered by blankets so they stay warm and comfortable.
The sledge is pulled by the guide’s snowmobile – it takes some experience to do it safely and that is the reason why only the guide is allowed to pull the sledge.
If the child is at least 140 cm tall, he/she can also sit on the snowmobile behind the adult. In this case he/she has to pay the price of an adult.
Before and during activities on the multi-day and/or snowmobile tours consumption of alcohol is prohibited. If we suspect that a participant is intoxicated, we will prohibit them from joining the activity.
After the activities of the day are finished, you are welcome to have a drink and relax.
Please note that Finnish law prohibits driving a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol or any narcotic product. As responsible tour operators, we reserve the right to change the route and duration of the tour if deemed advisable for the sake of safety and comfort of the participants. We also reserve the right to discontinue the tour if a participant is seen as a potential danger to him/herself or to others, or is in poor health.
Riding a snowmobile is easy but you should consider your experience and skills when selecting a tour. Start with easy and short ones (skill levels are pointed out on program description) to get more experience, after which you can choose the longer and more sporty ones if you wish. The main limits for snowmobiling come from the law: you need to be minimum 15 years old and hold a valid driving license – A1, T, A or B category (please check that it is valid in Finland!). For longer tours, you need to be at least 18 years old or travel together with a family member who is willing to take full responsibility of you during the tour.
Please note that Finnish law prohibits driving a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol or any narcotic product. As responsible tour operators, we reserve the right to change the route and duration of the tour if deemed advisable for the sake of safety and comfort of the participants. We also reserve the right to discontinue the tour if a participant is seen as a potential danger to him/herself or to others, or is in poor health.
Valid driving license classes for driving a snowmobile
A1 – a light motorcycle
A2 – a medium-sized motorcycle
T – a tractor
A – any larger motorcycles
B – a car or van
Driving licenses issued in EU or EEA Member States
A driving license issued in EU or EEA Member State is valid in Finland for all driving categories marked on your license within the period of its validity regardless of whether you are visiting Finland as a tourist or living here permanently.
Driving licenses issued in Contracting States
A driving license issued in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or a country that has ratified the Geneva or Vienna Road Traffic Convention (hereinafter “Contracting States”) is valid in Finland when visiting as a tourist until the license expires.
The information on the Contracting States driving license must be written in Latin alphabet or accompanied by a translation into Finnish or Swedish, by a reliable source or an international driving license.
Driving licenses issued in other nations recognized by Finland
Driving licenses issued in other nations recognized by Finland, for example China, are valid for driving categories A1, A2, A or B when visiting Finland as a tourist unless the license has expired.
The information on the foreign driving license must be written in a Latin alphabet or accompanied by a translation into Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English, German or French by a reliable source. The driver must also fulfill the current age and health requirements in Finland.
This is a nice question. We ask all participants to be ready from the start of the pickup time indicated in the voucher. Please be at your assigned location at the start time that you chose when booking the tour.
Here you should wait for your guide. Have your email and phone number listed with us so we can contact you if we run into any trouble finding you.
Early August is still considered summer by many, but by the end of the month, it’s definitely autumn. The Northern Lights start appearing in late August, and September and October are ideal Aurora viewing months.
Temperatures start dropping below zero in October, and first snow usually falls at around the same time period. A permanent snow cover is expected in late November.
Autumn leaf colour paints the landscapes in earthy shades, and days are perfect for hiking and other nature related activities, as nights are best reserved for Aurora spotting. Please see more on activities here.
Typical daytime temperatures in the autumn:
August: 10 to 20 degrees Celsius
September: 5 to 15 degrees Celsius
October: 0 to 10 degrees Celsius
November: -10 to 5 degrees Celsius
The Midnight Sun period officially lasts from early June until early July, but nights are white throughout the summer in Rovaniemi. The summer in Lapland can offer an interesting variety of weather conditions, with a longer warm spell expected in July.
The warmest time of year brings people out in masses, and various events take place in summery Rovaniemi. Prepare to celebrate until the wee hours, as the sun never goes down.
There are plenty of things to do in Rovaniemi in the summer, and with 24 hours of light, there’s no limits to time of action. Please see more on activities here.
Typical daytime temperatures in the summer:
June: 15 to 20 degrees Celsius
July: 20 to 25 degrees Celsius
April is still considered a snowy month in Rovaniemi and Lapland, but the snow gradually disappears as May approaches. The ice on rivers and lakes starts melting, and big chunks of ice can be seen flowing downstream.
In early April, the last of the Northern Lights displays can be seen. Towards the end of April, nights are too light for the Auroras to be spotted.In May, northern nature starts getting ready to blossom once again after a harsh winter. At the end of May, nights are white.
In Rovaniemi, winter activities still run in early April, after which it’s time for non-snow stuff. Please see more on activities here.
Typical daytime temperatures in the spring:
April: -5 to -10 degrees Celsius
May: 10 to 20 degrees Celsius
Winter - Christmas, the Polar Night and snowy spring from December to March.
December and January are snowy months shrouded in the darkness of the Polar Night. The sun comes out in February and marks the start of the snowy, light-filled spring. March is often terrific for Northern Lights viewing.
In Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, Christmas is a special time, as many flock to the arctic town to meet Santa in person and experience the festive season in magical wintery surroundings.
The winter is a great time for a number of activities both in the snow outside and experiencing local culture inside. Please see more on activities here.
Typical daytime temperatures in the winter:
December: -20 to -10 degrees Celsius
January: -30 to -15 degrees Celsius
February: -20 to -15 degrees Celsius
March: -15 to -5 degrees Celsius
1. Start with thermal underwear and warm socks.
2. If it’s really cold, –20 or below, wear an additional fleece layer on top of your thermals. Another pair of socks, preferably woolly or thermal, will keep your feet warm.
3. Wear pants with thermal lining. Don’t underestimate the importance of a neck warmer or a scarf. Slip into your winter boots and do them up well.
4. Almost done! Throw on your winter jacket, put on a warm hat and thermal gloves. Don’t forget to tuck your gloves into your sleeves and zip your jacket ALL the way up
Nordic Adventures is happy to tell you where you can rent costumes if there is such a need!
Most European cell phones work on Finnish GSM network; North American ones use a different standard. Finland now has the highest rate of cell phones use in the world. Mobiles work in towns and on virtually all main travel routes.
Free Wi-Fi is in almost all public places, and we also recommend buying a local sim card, which will have both: minutes of talk and internet connection. The cost is 5-10 euros. You can buy it at any mobile phone store, any R-Kioski, gas stations. No unnecessary manipulation or documents for this is required : buy, insert into the phone, start to use.
Finnish electrical standards are European (50Hz, 240 volts) so many North American electrical devices will require converters. Plugs are generally two-pin, so devices brought in from the Asia, UK and North America will require adapters.
The Euro (EUR). All major currencies can be exchanged at the airport, banks and currency exchanges. Visa and MasterCard are accepted almost universally, and ATMs are generally not hard to find.
Unfortunately there isn’t just one simple answer to this question.
There is not just one single setting for your camera that ensures great captures. but if you have manual options, you are probably best served with experimenting with various combinations of ISO, aperture, and exposure settings. As a rule of thumb, ISO setting between 800 and 3200, aperture between f/2.8 and f/5.6, and shutter speed at between 15 seconds and 30 seconds have proven effective.
Different combinations may give very different results. Higher ISO setting will allow you to capture faster exposures, but the downside to this might be for example grainier images.
If the shutter speed is above 15 seconds it will result in slight star movement.
Wider angle lenses are usually more versatile in low light settings, but longer lenses give you different options for compositions. Make sure that you remove all lens filters, as they may distort images. You will probably get the best results with manual setting for infinite focal length.
Be sure to remove all lens filters, as they may distort images. You will probably get the best results with manual setting for infinite focal length.
Northern Lights are natural wonder and therefore we cannot guarantee seeing the lights during the tour.
Seeing the lights always depends of the weather and timing but finally you also need a lot of luck :)
We do not refund any money or give you new tour if you do not see the Northern Lights during your safari but we will do our very best that you will enjoy your tour with or without them.
If we cancel the tour it’s because in our opinion there is no chance of seeing the lights and we don’t want to bring you out for nothing.
Then your options are:
1. Reschedule for another day.
2. Find another tour to do and use the deposit for it.
3. Get fully refunded.
In all cases you will need to contact our sales desk via email (info@nordicadventures.fi) or phone +358 40 744 2567.
Like you might have heard, the northern lights are a pretty difficult thing to predict.
You can check http://aurorasnow.fmi.fi/public_service/ to see the forecast and if the level is high and the skies are clear then it’s very likely that the tour is going. If the canceled you will receive an email telling you so.
If we think there is no chance at all of seeing the lights we will cancel the tour. We don’t want to bring you out and disappoint if there is no chance to see the light.
The best time to see the northern lights is when the sky is clear of any clouds. Some people claim the aurora comes out when temperatures are colder. This isn’t the case – it’s just that when the skies are cloudless, temperatures tend to drop.
The northern lights are most commonly seen between 17:00 and 02:00. They don’t usually exhibit for long – they may only show for a few minutes, then glide away before returning. A good display may last for no longer than a quarter or half an hour, though, if you’re really lucky, it could extend to a couple of hours or longer.
The waxing and waning of the moon makes no difference to the northern lights. While a full moon lightens the sky, and may therefore reduce the visual intensity of a display, the northern lights can be seen at all stages of the moon’s cycle. In fact, seeing the Northern Lights behind a full moon is quite a spectacular sight.
Our guaranteed nightly Norther Lights hunting departures are from the end of September to April!
Please, send us an email hello@nordicadventures.fi
Cancellation
More than 3 days notice - full refund, 25 € cancellation fee will be charged.
Less than 3 days no show notice - No refund
For all bookings of day tours operated by Nordic Adventures, a minimum of 72 hours notice of cancellation is required for a full refund. If cancellation is made after these time limits pass no refund is given.
Some tours have exceptions, please read the cancellation policy when booking a specific tour.
Changes
For any changes to the reservation, please inform Nordic Adventures via e-mail at hello@nordicadventures.fi and refer to your booking number. All changes or alterations to be made to the reservation shall be made in writing within office hours in Finland. The requested changes are subject to the written approval of Nordic Adventures. Any changes to reservations depend on availability. Any extra costs incurred for making the change will be charged to the customer. Cancellation of any tour, product or service included in a reservation will not be considered a change for purposes of this section and will be governed by the applicable cancellation terms.
You can join an already scheduled safari where we have other participants. This way you only pay for yourself.
Please let us know (hello@nordicadventures.fi) the dates when you would like to join the activities and we will be happy to make it happen.
The price of the tour is the same, no matter if you use our transportation option or not.
Most of our tours (please see specifications under each tour) include transfers from accommodation in Rovaniemi city area. It is included in the adventure price.
The pick up is usually 5-20 min before the start of the safari (time in your voucher). Transportation back is immediately after the end of the safari.
We try to provide exact pickup time one day before the start of the tour by email or text message/whats-app, which is why it is important that you provide your valid email and phone number when booking a tour.
We are happy to arrange our programs privately – just send an email inquiry to info@nordicadventures.fi and we will look into available options.
This depends on the nature of the excursion and the season of travel, but our rule says: no more than 16 people in a group.
Bus tours: We do not travel this way in any of our tours. But…
Exeption A) Big Private groups
Exeption B) When we book for you with other tour operator then Nordic Adventures
All major credit card are accepted.
Most Finns speak fluent English. In fact, they welcome the opportunity – so never be shy about approaching an Finn.
Not at all! Frequent flights operate to Finland from Europe´s and North America main cities and many gateways are served daily. Flight times from Europe are two to four hours. And also an excellent connection with most Asian major cities.
All children will sit in a sleigh pulled by the guide for safety reasons. Children taller than 140cm can sit behind their parents on a snowmobile when paying an adult price. We do not recommend long snowmobile safaris for small children.
Riding a snowmobile is easy but you should consider your experience and skills when selecting a safari. Start with easy and short ones (skill levels are pointed out on program description) to get more experience, after which you can choose the longer and more sporty ones if you wish.
The main limits for snowmobiling come from the law: you need to be minimum 15 years old and hold a valid driving license – B category (please check that it is valid in Finland!). For longer safaris, you need to be at least 18 years old or travel together with a family member who is willing to take full responsibility of you during the tour.
Please note that Finnish law prohibits driving a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol or any narcotic product. As responsible safari organizers, we reserve the right to change the route and duration of the safari if deemed advisable for the sake of safety and comfort of the participants. We also reserve the right to discontinue the safari if a participant is seen as a potential danger to him/herself or to others, or is in poor health.