Lapland’s Northern Lights: Dreams Meet the Frozen Reality

After a year of wanting to see the Northern Lights, we finally decided it was time. We already knew that we wanted to go to Lapland but then, which part of it was still a question. And the most important thing was when should we go?

As we delved more into the intricacies, we discovered that certain factors are crucial such as New Moon and the KP Index. The moon’s brightness can impact the northern lights. And then there is the KP index, which tells you the probability, it ranges from 1–9. The higher the KP index, the more chances of seeing the northern lights provided the cloud cover is less.

After careful consideration, we settled on February since it seemed like a good time, given the longer nights. The challenging part still is that the actual forecast is only available 2–3 days before the planned day, making it difficult to accurately predict whether you’ll be able to see the Northern Lights solely based on the Northern Lights app.

Once we had finalised the dates, keeping everything in mind, we started booking things. We wanted to stay in Igloo because the experience seemed so magical and dreamy and at the same time also thought maybe, just maybe, we’d be lucky enough to catch the Northern Lights from the comfort of our cozy ice haven.

Now, while all this sounded like a fairytale in the making, let me hit you with a reality check — this was hands down one of the most expensive trips we’ve ever taken. Ouch. It stings to spend this much, and you can’t help but think about all the other trips you could have done with the same money. But hey, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and about memories and hence we decided to let our sanity take a backseat for this tiny bit.

We were quite excited when we reached there, we just got off the plane, and we were like- no, it’s not cold, look at us! but let me tell you that’s the look of being in denial. The twist? We didn’t quite grasp how insanely cold it would be until we arrived. The temperatures were around -20 to -30, it was like stepping into a freezing hell. Staying outside for more than an hour was a stretch; even that felt like pushing our limits.

We were still okay till we reached the resort, and had dinner, still keeping our excitement, we got our Igloo but here comes the funny part- just a few meters into our walk, we slipped on the ice not once, not twice, but thrice! And that’s not the whole story; our hands went numb, and it was genuinely painful. I’m not exaggerating, but those temperatures are extreme, so go at your own risk — the icy adventure is real, haha!

Now coming back to the good part, because of course there is some, we had a couple of winter activities on our list and dog sledging and reindeer safari was one of them. The great part? The resort we stayed in offered all these activities, so we did not have to go far for some snowy adventures.

We got dressed and the third-party agencies also offered us a layer on top of our clothes along with shoes and gloves. Excitement and positivity were back in the air for dog sledding, despite the mishap we had the other day. But they didn’t last long and we got to know that, we had booked a shared sledge. Meaning, that one of us had to be the driver, standing for half the ride, while the other could sit. We tried to convince them to let us both sit, remembering whatever happened the previous day, but it was of no use and we finally had to give in. We finally started the ride with me being the driver, and surprisingly, it wasn’t half bad. After the initial round, I had a lot of fun, especially on the way back for the second round. Look at that smile — freezing, but happy!

I believe the most comfortable winter activity among all we did was the reindeer safari. We just had to sit in the sledge, they cover you with a lot of layers and even offer you berry juice, can’t forget about that! It was a lifesaver: one thing to remember Finland by. They gave us a bunch of blankets to stay warm. It was one of the best experiences despite me ending up with ice around my eyelashes.

Now, here comes the highlight — the reason we embarked on this adventure, the Northern Lights. So, we were diligently tracking them even before the start of our trip, especially my friend, who was continuously tracking the KP index and whether we’d see them on our planned days. To be extra prepared, she even found a backup: a Northern Light Hunter who could take us for Northern Lights Hunting.

We spent more than 6 hours with the Northern Light hunter in and out of the van, chasing the Northern lights. Now, what do you think — did we see it? While the picture might make you think we saw it, the kicker is, that we couldn’t see the Northern Lights with our naked eyes.; we could only capture it with the cameras. But, let me share another magical moment — it wasn’t just about the Northern Lights. The night sky felt like a galaxy of stars, so close you could almost reach out and touch them.

Beyond the winter activities, we dedicated a day to the Santa village. Our plan was to send postcards to friends and family and finally meet Santa. Honestly, there isn’t much to do there if you’ve already experienced all the winter activities. But, on the bright side, you can proudly get a certificate claiming you crossed the Arctic Circle.

Finally, the time had come to return, and trust me, we were more than glad — eagerly anticipating the warmth and comfort of home. It was like we survived, we made it back. I won’t deny there were a lot of good moments that we had throughout the trip, but if you ask me if will I ever recommend it to somebody, I might not, not especially in the months we chose. Unless, of course, you want to turn into a human popsicle, otherwise maybe opt for a warmer vacation spot where the only thing freezing is your favourite ice cream!