A guide to Saariselka | The Week
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Seeing the Northern Lights will become easier this winter, as Finnair launches twice-weekly seasonal flights from Gatwick to Ivalo airport on 14 December. Regular buses serve the nearby
resort-village of Saariselka, where aurora-focused hotels are complemented by ski slopes and restaurants serving Lappish cuisine. Be warned, though: at around 150 miles into the Arctic
Circle, Saariselka will be a little nippy.
The Northern Lights season lasts from November to March, peaking in January, with displays most nights. Alas, clouds and light pollution often get in the way; to dodge the latter, stay
outside of town at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort (see below), and travel with a specialist UK operator like The Aurora Zone. Their veteran guides know all the best spots.
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