Aurora Holidays, Utsjoki – review and high recommendation

The authentic Northern Lapland experience long-haul travellers have been searching for

If you’re planning a Finnish Lapland holiday and looking for something beyond the well-trodden Rovaniemi trail, Aurora Holidays in Utsjoki deserves a firm spot on your shortlist. Tucked into Finland’s northernmost region on the banks of the river that borders Norway, this small, family-run property offers one of the most genuinely authentic Lapland experiences available anywhere in the Arctic Circle – and after spending six days there first-hand, it’s easy to see why it’s a standout choice for travellers wanting real connection, real wilderness and real Sámi and Arctic culture, rather than a packaged tourist experience.

Here’s everything long-haul travellers need to know about choosing Aurora Holidays for their Northern Lapland adventure.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Where is Aurora Holidays? Getting to Utsjoki, Finland

Aurora Holidays is located in Utsjoki, Finland’s northernmost municipality, right on the river that forms the natural border with Norway. It’s a part of Finnish Lapland that far fewer international travellers make it to – which is exactly what makes it special.

The good news is that Utsjoki is more accessible than its remote reputation suggests. The trip starts and finishes in Ivalo, which is easily reached by air (Ivalo Airport has direct seasonal connections from Helsinki) or by bus from major Lapland hubs including Rovaniemi and Saariselkä. From Ivalo, Aurora Holidays is a scenic transfer further north into genuinely wild, uncrowded Arctic terrain.

For travellers who have already experienced Rovaniemi or Levi and are wondering what else Finnish Lapland has to offer, Utsjoki and Aurora Holidays are the answer.

What makes Aurora Holidays different from other Lapland accommodation

Anyone researching Lapland holidays will find no shortage of glass igloos, resort-style hotels and big-group aurora tours. Aurora Holidays operates on a completely different philosophy – and it shows in every part of the guest experience.

Small, personal and guest-focused. Run by Tiina and her team, Aurora Holidays is personable and relationship-driven in a way that’s often scarce in the tourism industry. Guests aren’t processed through a checklist – Tiina and her team take the time to actually get to know the people staying with them, which shapes a warmer, more relatable, more human stay from the moment you arrive.

Genuinely inclusive hospitality. Dietary requirements aren’t treated as a logistical inconvenience at Aurora Holidays – they’re a priority from the outset. For travellers who’ve experienced the frustration of being an afterthought on other trips, this level of care and inclusion is a standout feature worth booking for on its own.

A calm, restful, nature-immersed setting. Surrounded by wilderness on the riverbank bordering Norway, the property offers a genuinely quiet, restorative atmosphere – ideal for travellers wanting to properly switch off and reconnect with nature, not just tick off a list of Arctic activities.

Flexible, weather-responsive programming. Because so much of a Lapland holiday depends on the Northern Lights, snow conditions, or seasonal wildlife activity, Aurora Holidays runs a relaxed structure with built-in flexibility – a loose schedule that adapts to weather and conditions rather than rigidly locking guests into a fixed itinerary regardless of what the Arctic sky is doing.

Northern Lights viewing in Utsjoki

Utsjoki’s position deep in Finnish Lapland, well above the Arctic Circle, makes it one of the strongest Northern Lights viewing locations in the country. During our stay, guests were treated to an aurora display that broke through cloud cover late at night – the kind of moment guests stay up for, camera in hand, wrapped in a blanket, or in our case, with a Minttu hot chocolate (a Lapland classic – hot chocolate with peppermint liqueur) in the early hours of the morning.

For anyone specifically travelling to Finland to see the Northern Lights, a northern base like Utsjoki – further from light pollution and further into the aurora oval than more southern Lapland towns can improve improves your odds. That said, and speaking from experience, no matter how much you hope and pray for the sky to explode and dance above you, the weather is completely out of your control. We had a very overcast week meaning minimal aurora visibility, however, that made for all the more excitement when they started dancing above us.

Activities and experiences at Aurora Holidays

A stay at Aurora Holidays isn’t just about the accommodation – it’s a varied program of authentic Arctic and Sámi cultural experiences, including:

• Guided village tours of Utsjoki, including the historic Utsjoki Church and church huts
• Walking the Finland-Norway border, with the chance to stand in two countries at once
• Fell hiking directly from the property, with sweeping valley and river views, autumn colour, berry foraging and wildlife spotting (owl sightings included)
• A full-day excursion to Bugøynes, Norway, featuring a King Crab fishing boat safari with local guides, a fresh crab feast and a sauna and Arctic Ocean dip at Barents Bay. This includes a boat trip, pulling king crabs from the ocean, learning about crab fishing in the area and the crabs themselves, as well as preparing the crabs to be cooked for lunch. If witnessing the crabs being prepped for lunch is a bit daunting, I would suggest taking headphones to listen to music while you stare off into the distance enjoying the magnificent Norwegian landscapes. Or, simply skip the boat trip and meander through the quaint town of Bugøynes.
• A day trip to Inari, visiting the Siida Sámi Museum and Nature Centre for a genuine, respectful introduction to Sámi culture and Arctic natural history. An exceptional museum to visit, however I did feel it was a long day trip from Utsjoki. If you can do this from Ivalo before or after your Aurora Holiday visit, that would be my recommendation.
• Reindeer sightings, which are a regular and delightful feature of travel through this part of Lapland

Every day is anchored by exceptional, chef-prepared meals included in the stay, with vegetarian and other dietary requirements catered for thoughtfully as standard.

Who is Aurora Holidays best suited to?

Aurora Holidays is the right choice for travellers who want:

• An authentic, off-the-beaten-track Lapland experience, away from the more heavily touristed central Lapland hubs
• A calm, restorative pace rather than a jam-packed tour schedule
• Genuine cultural immersion, including Sámi heritage and cross-border Norwegian Arctic experiences
• Inclusive, personalised hospitality, particularly travellers with dietary requirements
• A small, intimate group or solo travel setting rather than large-scale tourism infrastructure

If that sounds like the kind of Lapland holiday you’ve been searching for, Aurora Holidays in Utsjoki should be at the top of your list.

Ready to book your own Northern Lapland adventure?

Use the code LAPLANDLOWDOWN for a discount when booking your stay directly with Aurora Holidays.

If this kind of authentic, small-group Northern Lapland experience appeals to you, register your interest here – a dedicated group trip to Northern Lapland, to include Utsjoki is being planned for September 2027.

Subscribe to the email newsletter to download the free guide

Start planning your Lapland trip