13 independent reviews for Northern Lights hunter short break
Reviews for Northern Lights hunter short break
Caroline Bullock review 10 Mar 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Definitely seeing the Aurora three times during the week. The last time was spectacular, it was arching,dancing, circling overhead for h45 minutes as we lay on the snow during our night snow mobile Aurora hunt on the frozen lake2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Chat to everybody, read all the hints given about clothing and expectations.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Local people such as the husky team and reindeer farm owners obviously benefited. Also felt the natural surroundings, outdoor lifestyle, good wholesome food all contributed to lower environmental impact.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent, an adventure of a lifetimeDavid Theobald review 8 Mar 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The dog sled tour2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring a head torch for photography and walking in the dark to your cabin.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not necessarily. Most hotel staff were from other countries. I did get the feel that there was much local employment with the hotel and amenities.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Definitely a must go to experience.Sarah-Louise Mitchell review 29 Jan 2024
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The highlights were the husky sled riding and snowmobile riding. Both out of my comfort zone but fantastic achievement to do. Also the snowshoe walk at night was led by a lovely person who 'read' the group well. In addition: 1) The staff at the hotel, both the bar/waiting staff but also the guides for the activites were excellent. Funny, dry sense of humour, knowledgeable and kind. 2) The arrangements all worked fine, it was well organised.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
1) Do consider booking your own flights and flying direct to Kittila (as Jet2 do for example from Manchester and others) - it save a lot of time and can be cheaper. 2) There is no wake up service for the northern lights as there is in Iceland for example (and other Aurora resorts in sweden) so if you are going for a while, worth paying the 10-20 euros for the app that tracks the likelihood (although can still be cloudy). 3) The photos of the food on the hotel website are of an upgraded menu (which you pay extra for), not what is included in the aurora package. We felt the extra payment wasn't worth it.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
It very much felt part of nature - all about respecting the countryside and supporting a traditional way of life. By employing people from lapland, although some came from other parts, this did feel it supported the area and the history of the Sami people.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
We really enjoyed the holiday. We were very pleased that the activities were included as they were brilliant but would have been expensive add ons. We didn't see the northern lights but had fun trying.Sean Lee review 12 Jan 2020
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Watch the Northern Light2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Consider the length of stay against what you want to do for the trip.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely. The activities are all run by local people who are very passionate on their work. Salute.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
ExcellentMoon Kuan review 1 Apr 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the Aurora. We saw the Aurora from the frozen Lake Inari, near the hotel2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take warm clothing.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Employment for local people. Our guides advised us of the importance of nature and not to take anything from the forests or land. The hotel staff advised us the room is serviced every alternate day and there is a charge to have fresh towels every day. These measures help to reduce the environmental impact.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent. Everything is well organised and we did not have any worries from start to finish. The guides and hotel staff were very friendly and helpful. They all spoke English.Susan Benson review 16 Feb 2019
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing the northern lights.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
However cold you think it may be in Jan double up on thermals.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes, yes in Torresseppi, no not really.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
After a disastrous start due to a cancelled ongoing flight and being stranded in Stockholm, despite our dilemma being on a Sunday full back up by the tour company.Paul Moran review 18 Feb 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Snowshoeing on the fell above Luosto in a winter wonderland. Leading a team of Huskies. Snowmobiling in the dark.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Book activities before you go - some were full. Check out the Finnish laws/attitudes towards alcohol. Bars close at 22:00, but stop serving at 21:30. Alcohol is expensive average 9 Euros for a beer, 40 Euros for abottle of wine and only alcohol up to 5.5% is available in the local shops (i.e no wine or spirits). However, the food is amazing.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
An excellent holiday, good accommodation, great activities, wonderful food.Sands Richard review 27 Oct 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The journey at night from Tromso to search for the Northern Lights. Unfortunately not visible to the naked eye. Camera caught the solar activity though2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Do a trip every night until you see the lights. Avoid GATWICK airport3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We supported the local economy by providing jobs for the locals. I'm sure our carbon footprint and impact on the environment was negative.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Wonderful experience BUT the weather was poor. Rain and wind caused our RIB Safari to be cancelled and the clouds /low solar activity meant we did not fulfil our dream of seeing the Northern lights.Adele Weiss review 7 Mar 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Of course we loved, loved, loved seeing the aurora and the dog sledding was incredible.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Pack and then cut what you bring in half.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not so much...most of our guides indicated that they were from southern Finland and the snow mobiles definitely did nothing to help conserve the environment but it was a wonderful holiday all the same.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Well, I wouldn't exactly say, "reborn" but it was definitely one of the best holidays I've been on and I have now been to 43 countries.Ray Wiley review 7 Feb 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
My wife and I were treated personally by all concerned and seeing the Northern Lights.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
At times the activities were a little tiring (then we are 70 ish!!) but we were always so cared for this didn't cause any problem.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We would hope so.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Absolutely wonderful. All the people on site were magnificent - we can't speak more highly enough. We have never been looked after any better on any holiday we have taken.Read the operator's response here:
Hi Ray - thank you so much for your kind comments and glad that you were looked after during the activities.
This trip benefits the local people and promotes responsible tourism in many ways. For example, through supporting traditional herding communities when visiting the reindeer farm. The hotel is also one of only two in Luosto and thus a holiday here provides valuable economic support to the small local community. Many of our safaris in Luosto also utilise other local enterprises such as the amethyst mine and the remote smoke sauna and restaurant we use in one of our activities is the primary income for a local couple.
Kind regards,
Sandra Thomas review 4 Mar 2017
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Northern lights, all booked trips were excellent, and everything went to plan2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Make sure that you book your trips ahead of going. In Svolvaer on sunday nothing to do, everything closed and any trips were fully booked, another day when we had nothing booked we were able to book a boat cruise, but it would have been good if we had the option to do it from here.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Probably4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It could have been better if more trips had been includedRead the operator's response here:
Hi Sandra,
The team are pleased that you enjoyed your trip to the Lofoten Islands and that you were fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights!
Regarding the activities, our local supplier is limited in which activities can be booked in advance but they are always on hand to offer advice on how to utilise any free time in Svolvaer. We will suggest our clients look into the options during the welcome meeting and book early in their stay.
Regarding question three and the trips benefit to the local people, the environment and conservation we would like to highlight the reasons why we chose to run a trip in Svolvær on the Lofoten archipelago. The accommodation at Svinøya Rorbuer showcases excellent examples of environmental sustainability through its construction which restored and renewed old fisherman’s huts to be used as an accommodation option. The Scandic hotel chain has long been a leader in environmental sustainability in the hospitality environment, indeed it was a member of the Scandic hotel chain that suggested the ‘hang up
your towel if you want to use it again’ which is standard in numerous hotel chains now across the world. It now has numerous policies to help encourage environmental sustainability such as recycling, water wastage management and using renewable energy as much as possible. Scandic Hotel Svolvær has the Nordic Ecolabel showing that it promotes products and services that are the most environmentally sound.
When it comes to community, the family run Svinøya Rorbuer encourages interaction with local communities and strives to highlight the importance of fisheries to the region. This is shown in its small on-site museum and also through its à la carte restaurant, which is not only housed in an old quayside warehouse but serves locally-sourced fish and produce.
Thank you once again for your feedback and we look forward to hearing from you again,
Joanna Kelly review 19 Jan 2016
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The snow!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don't be afraid to ask the hotel staff if you need anything, they are very helpful and knowledgeable.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Probably benefitted local people by providing jobs.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Good.Thomas White review 12 Dec 2014
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The snowmobiling through the forests to go husky sledging and reindeer sledging was brilliant!2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
It was easy to put too many layers of clothing on when doing sporting activities such as skiing. Take your own balaclava or two and glove liners. You can rinse out your clothes it you get too sweaty and dry them in electric dryers that each hotel has. So you don't need to go over the top with too many winter clothes. The warm winter clothes they supply are excellent and all you need are some thermals for a couple of days3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Everything was very 'eco'. The people are so friendly and helpful... I only met one grumpy person in a shop!4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I had reservation when I booked this holiday. It was in my top three holidays and I have travelled a lot. An absolute must!Holiday Reviews
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