Arctic Circle in Nine Winter Days: Snow, Saunas, and a Seven-Minute Aurora
We landed in Rovaniemi, scooped up an all-wheel-drive hatchback, and packed our days with sled dogs, reindeer, saunas, an icebreaker cruise across the Gulf of Bothnia, a frozen-waterfall climb, and one surreal night inside the Arctic SnowHotel. Cloud cover made aurora chasing a waiting game, but when green curtains finally rippled for seven unforgettable minutes, the whole week of frosty stakeouts felt justified.
• Day 1 – Arrive in Rovaniemi, collect the car, explore Santa Claus Village
Budget
Flights – 48 000 points + $273 pp
Accommodation – $2 234
AWD rental car – $635
Reindeer sleigh ride – $160 pp
Dog-sled safari (@apukkaresort) – $152 pp
Overnight & dinner at ice hotel (@arcticsnowhotel) – $441 room / $78 pp dinner
Icebreaker cruise (@polar.explorer.icebreaker) – $288 pp
Snowmobiling + ice-fishing (@snowmobilepark) – $153 pp
Snow-sauna & outdoor jacuzzi – $181
Cross-country ski pass + gear – $174 pp
Ice-climbing lesson (@blissadventurer) – $325 pp
Total trip cost: $6 256
Three Things to Know Before You Go
Aurora reality check: Even in peak season, clear skies are rare. We saw the lights once—for seven minutes. Patience (and a thermos) is key.
Speed limits are serious: Fines scale with income. A Nokia exec once paid six figures for 15 km over. Cruise control = your friend.
Sauna culture: Every cottage, hotel room, and gas station (almost) has one. Sweat, roll in the snow, repeat. You’ll miss it when you leave.
Gear We Couldn’t Live Without
Merino-wool base layers – stay warm without bulk
Rechargeable hand warmers – our camera-battery savers
Extra camera batteries – cold kills charge fast
Microfiber lens wipes – snowflakes love front elements
Packable down jacket – layers are life
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Was it Worth the Cost?
Nine frosty days, one fleeting aurora, and a lifetime of “Remember when we slept on ice?” stories. If winter magic in the Arctic Circle is on your list, budget smart, layer up, and leave space for the unexpected—because that seven-minute light show was worth every frozen fingertip.
We're the adventure-loving duo behind the lens and the keyboard, swapping nine-to-five predictability for jet lag, desert sunrises, and stories worth replaying. Follow our journey to 50 countries while we share all our tips, mistakes and hidden gems along the way. We love finding the world's most unique bucket list adventures and stays to share with you here!
We're Holly and luke
meet us
los angeles, usa
BAsed in:
Norway
