I traveled solo on a Collette guided group tour to Finland to see the Northern Lights. Here’s my candid review.
I’ve been traveling solo for years. And have learned that with freedom comes responsibility. There’s no one to veto my plans but I’m the one who needs to make the plans.
Astro-tourism is trending and seeing the Northern Lights topped my bucket list. So this winter, I decided to chase the aurora borealis and journey to Lapland, close to the magnetic north pole with no light pollution to dim this spectacular natural phenomenon.
Given Lapland’s remote location, I thought a guided group Northern Lights tour made sense. I knew that aurora hunting could be elusive and hoped to increase my chances by traveling with local experts rather than relying on my phone’s aurora apps.
As a city dweller who loves nature, I found an itinerary that suited me with Collette. The journey combined the Lappish wilderness with cosmopolitan Helsinki and group activities with free time.
HOW IT RATES: Our review of Collette
Solo travel is on the rise, especially among women over age 50 like myself. There are tour companies with itineraries that cater exclusively to solo travelers; however, I was wary that on a solo group tour I might feel compelled to constantly socialize. I wanted a tour where I could be part of the group or not, depending on my mood. My Collette group included one other solo traveler, several couples, and an adult family of eight, a diverse assortment that suited me.
Things to know about Collette’s Northern Lights of Finland tour
- This 8-day trip has a maximum of 24 participants. There were 20 people on my January tour.
- The tour runs from late October thru early April.
- 12 meals are included. For independent meals in Helsinki, our Finnish guide was ready with suggestions. In Lapland, there’s no choice but to eat at the resort.
- Collette has tours at four activity levels, 1 being the slowest pace and 4 being the most active. My tour was level 3. Participants in their 60s and 70s all seemed comfortable with the moderate activity level.
- The itinerary includes three nights at a hotel in Helsinki (the first two nights and the last night) and three nights at a rustic resort in Lapland with cozy log cabins and igloos designed with aurora viewing in mind.
- Seeing the Northern Lights is at Mother Nature’s discretion and while likely, is not guaranteed.
- If you go to Lapland in the dead winter as I did, be prepared for near round-the-clock darkness and extreme cold. I saw the glass half-full, as polar nights meant Northern Lights were visible as early as 4 p.m. Temperatures bottomed out at minus 35 Fahrenheit. The resort loans insulated overalls to wear over your own outwear, but trust me, nothing can keep you warm when it’s this frigid.
Tour highlights
- Guided motorcoach tour of Helsinki
- Northern Lights coach and sleigh tour
- Santa meet-and-greet
- Dog-sledding adventure
- Sleeping in an igloo
Important details
Days 1 & 2
Day 1 is a travel day when participants fly from their home airport (everyone in my group was from North America) to Helsinki.
I arrived at the Helsinki airport in the early afternoon on Day 2. When I travel solo, I usually make my way to the city center on public transportation. But with Collette, a car was waiting to bring me to my comfortable room at the Hotel Lilla Roberts.
Our group’s intro meeting was at 5 p.m. Minna, our guide, told us a bit about herself. She gave us a tour overview and warned us that our time in Lapland would be slow travel, with no television and limited creature comforts.
We walked 15-minutes to Savotta, a traditional Finnish restaurant. There were two long tables set for our group. My tablemates and I chatted as we dined on artichoke soup (almost every meal in Finland starts with soup), rainbow trout, and blueberry pie with a tasty rye crust.
Day 3
After the hotel’s buffet breakfast, we meet at a civilized 10 a.m. for a bus tour of Helsinki with local historian/guide Maria, a Brit who had lived in Helsinki for 40 years.
Helsinki is known for its cutting-edge architecture and design. Must-see sites include the Rock Church, a house of worship excavated directly into solid rock; the Sebelius Monument dedicated to Finnish composer Sibelius; and the Helsinki Cathedral. However, it was Maria’s intelligent commentary on geopolitics that really hooked me. As she spoke of Finland’s history as part of both Sweden and Russia, we discussed the country’s vulnerable location so close to the Russian border.
I was free for the remainder of the day. I had dinner at Rioni, a Georgian restaurant that Minna recommended, feasting on plump soup dumplings.
Day 4
After breakfast, we boarded a coach bound for Helsinki Airport and our two-hour commercial fight to Ivalo, Lapland. Minna advised us to purchase lunch at the airport and eat it on the plane.
A coach met us at the Ivalo airport for the one-hour drive to Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. The property looks lifted from the television Christmas specials I watched as a kid, with snow-covered evergreens sparkling bright. I stayed in a log cabin for the first two nights followed by a night in a glass igloo, each with a fireplace and sauna.
After dinner, we boarded our coach in search of Northern Lights. Minna knew a few prime viewing spots where we were treated to a shimmering canvas of deep green with scarlet accents swirling in the dark night. As we drove back to our resort, we saw a dynamic dance of color sweeping across the ink-black sky. The overwhelming beauty left me speechless.
Day 5
After breakfast, our group had some lighthearted fun with Santa Claus. We drank warm berry juice and nibbled gingersnaps before sitting on Santa’s lap.
The resort offered snowmobiling, ice-fishing, and horseback riding for an extra cost. I was happy to relax in my private sauna and soak in the snow-covered landscape.
After dinner, we saw another magical display of Northern Lights as we traversed the frozen tundra by sleigh, tucked under a mountain of blankets.
Day 6
An exhilarating morning husky safari had us traversing the wilderness on two-person sleds with adorable dogs pulling us. The remainder of the day was free. It was too cold for me to do much more than watch the Northern Lights from the comfort of my igloo.
Day 7
We departed the resort after breakfast for our flight back to Helsinki.
It was a long travel day. Back in Helsinki, we checked into our rooms before walking to our farewell dinner at upscale Victors Krog. Many of us exchanged contact information to stay in touch once we returned home.
Day 8
My flight departed in the late afternoon, giving me the morning to continue exploring Finnish sauna culture. I booked a traditional whisking treatment at the USVA by Terhen Spa and Wellness located inside the gorgeous NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa hotel. As I sweated in the sauna, a spa technician tapped my body with fragrant, leafy birch branches. I felt relaxed and ready for my long plane ride home after a cold plunge.
My trip ended in style, with a ride to the Helsinki airport. On the plane, I realized how much I enjoyed traveling with built-in companions and a guide who handled all the tedious details and logistics. Whether you’re traveling solo or not, I can’t recommend this trip enough.
