Rovaniemi Aurora Hunting Photography Tour with Barbeque: An In-Depth Look
The Northern Lights. I mean, is there any natural spectacle that captures the imagination quite like them? Visiting Finnish Lapland to see them dance across the sky is, that’s to say, a dream for tons of travelers. So, Rovaniemi, known as the official home of Santa Claus, actually offers loads of tours promising an Aurora experience. After doing quite a bit of checking around, and honestly, reading reviews until my eyes crossed, I decided to go with the Rovaniemi Aurora Hunting Photography Tour with Barbeque. I’m going to share the ins and outs of the tour here, along with if it lived up to expectations.
What to Consider When Choosing an Aurora Tour
Picking the correct tour can honestly feel a bit overwhelming, you know? You might want to keep several elements in mind. The promise of the tour, that’s what’s included, is definitely important, I suppose. Like, some focus strictly on hunting the lights, moving to multiple locations. Whereas, others incorporate a cultural aspect, such as the barbeque element of the one I took. The guides really make or break the experience. So, look for tours with experienced guides, someone with good local knowledge and the ability to explain the Aurora. Group size really matters, too. Very small groups tend to be pricier but also a little more personalized. Then, photography assistance could be something that you might like. Several tours really cater to photographers, and actually offer guidance on camera settings and composition, is that right? Of course, cost matters, but often the cheapest option isn’t, really, the best. Keep the value, really, for money, in mind.
Booking and Preparations
Booking this tour was pretty straightforward, you know, it happened a few weeks before my visit through one of those big online travel marketplaces. It’s almost as if they give a good overview of what the tour offered. That includes the promise of transportation, the barbeque, photography tips, and thermal suits for rent. Yeah, you heard that right. The tour operators provided detailed info about what to expect and, too, what to bring – warm clothing, a camera if I wanted to capture the Aurora myself, and honestly, a sense of adventure. It might be a good idea to check the Aurora forecast in the days leading up to the tour to get a feeling of your likelihood, is that right? Sites, too, like the Space Weather Prediction Center can provide insight.
The Aurora Hunting Experience
The tour began around 6 PM, as a matter of fact we met at a central location in Rovaniemi. A minibus was waiting to pick us up, with a guide who just bubbled with excitement and clearly knew so much. You could rent a thermal suit, which I took advantage of – definitely worth it since the Lapland nights are just darn cold! Very bundled up, our group of about ten people started traveling away from town, going deeper into the Arctic wilderness. Our guide described the science behind the Northern Lights as we drove, including what causes this, you know, the solar winds and Earth’s magnetic field interacting. I mean it almost felt like being back in school, just way cooler! At our first stop, the sky, in a way, was cloudy. Yet, our guide wasn’t discouraged and, you know, talked about how he watched the forecasts and actually believed we would have better luck elsewhere. He was right too! A bit later we found a location, maybe an hour’s drive, where the sky started clearing up, just a little. You could almost feel the anticipation growing in the bus as we pulled up.
Photography Tips and Tricks
Our guide gave helpful tips to get great shots as the lights grew in strength. Things like, for starters, setting your camera to manual mode. This seems scary, yet it’s something that you can figure out! So, it’s something that gives you total control over your images. For example, adjusting your aperture to the lowest setting available (something around f/2.8 to f/4) permits as much light in as possible. Then your ISO, start with something around 800 and increase it until your pictures are very bright. Also, your focus. Because autofocus often struggles in low light conditions, switch to manual focus. Use the focus peaking if your camera has it, or use live view to actually zoom in and adjust until stars are sharp, might be helpful. He also mentioned how the perfect composition could improve photos, maybe a landscape or landmark. After some experimenting, some beautiful images started popping up on the camera screens! Even I, who’s really an amateur, you know, managed to get a few shots that I’m going to print.
The Barbeque Under the Aurora
Probably what set this tour apart, that is, was the barbeque. A crackling fire actually provided heat and some ambient light. And that aroma? Just amazing! Our guide started grilling sausages and prepared hot juice, very Finnish, very tasty after standing in the Arctic air. He then told folk tales and stories of the Aurora while we ate, passed between generations. Under a sky that shimmered and danced with green and purple hues, this experience was magic. And everyone started talking together around the fire, so warm and open. And while food might seem beside the point, honestly it did add a layer of hospitality, I think, to an experience already filled with wonder.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
So, after it was all done, I’d actually say that the Rovaniemi Aurora Hunting Photography Tour with Barbeque is a great combination of natural beauty, photographic instruction, and cultural exchange. From preparing with proper clothing to experimenting with camera settings in darkness, every piece just did its job. As is said often about travel experiences, this did exceed expectations. Do I advise it? Absolutely, but it’s something that comes with provisos. Manage your expectations. As the tour guides said, you know, the Aurora Borealis is a natural occurrence, and sightings aren’t really guaranteed. Yet, I am more inclined to support tour operators who use weather models to track the Aurora. Be ready for the cold. Actually, I did rent that thermal suit and was so very glad that I did. Learn camera basics beforehand. Although I went through all of that information about using your camera in manual, know that if you just give it some basic preparation, it could lead to photos you didn’t realize you might take.