Experience the excitement of hunting the Northern Lights along the coast of Oulu, the largest Arctic city in Northern Finland.
Season: October 1 - March 31
Starting time: 7 PM
This is a private experience exclusively for your group – no other participants will join. The experience is available for groups of at least 6 people. You can book it directly through our website at least 30 days in advance. If you wish to make a reservation with shorter notice, please contact us at info@nallikarisafaris.fi to inquire about availability.
Traveling alone or with a smaller group? Join our public Arctic Northern Lights Camp on selected evenings during the winter season. Check available dates and book directly online.
VIEW PUBLIC NORTHERN LIGHTS EXPERIENCE
Planning a Northern Lights experience for your clients? Explore our private group experiences, commissionable rates and Winter 2026–2028 Group Manual.
VIEW GROUP EXPERIENCES & WINTER RATES
Feel the excitement of searching for the Aurora Borealis with experienced local guides while discovering the darkness, coastal nature, and unique atmosphere of Oulu's Arctic coast. Travel through the northern night, stop at carefully selected locations, and experience the thrill of looking towards the northern sky, wondering what the night might bring.
Your adventure begins with a pick-up directly from your hotel in Oulu. We first visit our Nallikari Experience Center by the sea, where everyone changes into warm thermal winter clothing. Once everyone is ready for the Arctic night, we begin our journey by bus along the Oulu coast.
As we travel along the Arctic coast in search of the Northern Lights, the journey itself becomes part of the adventure. Your local guide brings the northern night to life with stories about the Aurora Borealis, Arctic nature, and life in Northern Finland. The changing coastal landscapes, the darkness of the sea, and the anticipation of what might be waiting ahead create a sense of excitement throughout the evening.
One of the highlights of the evening is the journey along the scenic causeway towards Hailuoto Island. The dark Gulf of Bothnia stretching out around you offers a unique perspective on Oulu's Arctic coast. In the heart of winter, when the sea freezes, the landscape transforms into a vast white expanse of ice, making the journey a truly unique Arctic experience.
In Hailuoto, we head to a peaceful location by the sea, where a campfire awaits the group. When the sea is safely frozen, we can also step directly onto the sea ice. Far from the city lights, you can experience the darkness, silence, and vastness of the Arctic coast while we continue watching the northern sky.
Around the campfire, our guide prepares a light sausage dinner accompanied by hot drinks. For dessert, we roast marshmallows over the open fire. During the winter season, guests also have the opportunity to try selected Finnish winter equipment and enjoy the snowy surroundings while waiting to see what the Arctic night might bring.
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and sightings can never be guaranteed. Our experienced local guides will do their best throughout the evening to find good conditions for seeing them. If the Aurora appears, we will also help you adjust your smartphone camera settings so you can capture the moment as well as possible.
Whether the Northern Lights appear or not, Arctic Coast Aurora Safari offers an exciting nighttime adventure combining the Arctic coast, darkness, the sea, campfires, local stories, and the unique northern nature of Oulu and Hailuoto.
Please note about the frozen sea: The sea along the Oulu coast freezes as winter progresses. When the sea is frozen and the ice conditions are safe, parts of the experience can take place directly on the sea ice. At other times, the experience takes place at carefully selected locations along the Arctic coast of Oulu and Hailuoto.
Price: €149 per person
Holiday Season supplement (23 Dec evening, 24 Dec, 25 Dec, 31 Dec evening and 1 Jan): +50% of the service price.
Price includes: Hotel pick-up and return transportation, thermal winter clothing (overalls, gloves, beanie, and boots), guidance by experienced local guides, bus transportation throughout the experience, selected stops along the Arctic coast of Oulu and Hailuoto, campfire experience by the sea, light sausage dinner, hot beverages, roasted marshmallows, opportunity to try selected Finnish winter equipment, and smartphone photography assistance if the Northern Lights appear.
Group-size: 6 - 100 people
Starting point: Your accommodation in Oulu.
Start time: 7:00 PM
Duration: 5 hours
Languages: English
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see the Northern Lights in Oulu?
Yes. Oulu is the largest Arctic city in Finland, at about 65°N, and on clear, dark nights from autumn to early spring the aurora is regularly visible along the coast. Out towards Hailuoto and the frozen sea, away from city lights, your chances are at their best.
Where in Finland can you see the Northern Lights?
You don't have to travel all the way to Lapland. The Northern Lights are visible across northern Finland, including the Oulu region on the Arctic coast, whenever the sky is clear and dark.
When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Finland?
The season runs from about October to the end of March. The dark months from December to March offer the longest viewing windows, and March is one of the best months of the whole winter.
Are the Northern Lights guaranteed?
No. The aurora is a natural phenomenon and can never be guaranteed. That is why the safari is built as a complete Arctic night out, with the coast, the frozen sea, a campfire and dinner, so the evening is worth it whatever the sky brings.
How large can the group be?
This is a private safari for your group only, from 6 up to 100 people. It suits tour groups, incentives and travel-trade itineraries.
