Every winter we get the same message from readers, usually from a daughter or son: my parents have always wanted to see the northern lights, but are they going to cope with a night in the Arctic? It is a fair worry. Aurora hunting has a reputation for standing in a field at minus twenty waiting for the sky to wake up, and that is not what most seventy-year-olds picture when they say yes to a Lapland trip.

The good news is that the aurora tours from Rovaniemi come in very different shapes. As a couple living here, with Joona having worked in Lapland tourism for years, we have a clear view of which shape suits older travellers best. This guide walks through the bus-based hunting tour, what is realistic for grandparents and what is not, and the questions worth asking before you click book.

Why the format matters more than the age

The honest starting point is that age on its own tells you very little. We know eighty-year-olds who happily spend a whole night outside and fifty-year-olds with bad knees who would rather not. What matters is the format of the tour: how much walking is involved, how long you stand still, how easy it is to retreat somewhere warm, and how far you travel in a vehicle.

Aurora tours from Rovaniemi fall roughly into three groups. There are bus-based hunting tours where a guide watches the forecast and cloud cover and drives you to wherever the sky is clearest. There are small-group and private versions of the same idea with fewer people. And there are activity-style evenings, such as snowmobiling or sleigh rides, where the lights are a bonus on top of the main activity. For older relatives, the first group is usually the calmest and the most forgiving, which is why it is where we start.

What the bus tour involves

The bus hunting tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is listed at about five hours and rated Easy. The model is simple: the guides track weather and aurora activity, and the bus moves to the best-looking sky rather than staying put. That is a real advantage for anyone who does not want to stand in the cold for hours hoping the clouds break. The tour page lists ages 13 and over plus a 3–12 category, so it works for a three-generation family travelling together.

The operator also says professional photos are included and that there is a refund if no aurora photos are captured on the tour. That is a clear promise, but please read the exact conditions in the booking window before you pay, because refund terms can include details we cannot see from here. If a relative is nervous about paying for a night that might be cloudy, that policy is the main reason we suggest this one first.

Check dates and prices for the aurora bus tour →

Remember that the 5% reader discount works on every StayLapland tour: type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout and it comes off the price automatically.

Mobility, stairs and standing

Here is where we would be careful and practical. Even on a bus tour you will get off at viewing spots, usually on a patch of cleared ground, a lakeside or a forest edge, and these are not paved. Snow is uneven, sometimes icy, and boots are heavy. If your parent walks confidently on a normal winter pavement, they will almost certainly be fine. If they use a walking frame or a wheelchair, or tire quickly on short distances, send the operator a message before booking and ask exactly what the stops look like on the nights you are considering.

A useful trick is to ask whether the group can stay close to the vehicle at the first stop, so that stepping back inside takes thirty seconds rather than five minutes. Guides in Lapland are generally relaxed about this, because they see all ages every night, but it is far easier to arrange in advance than at the side of a dark road. We also suggest letting the guide know at boarding if anyone has balance concerns, so they can offer an arm when the ground is slippery.

Keeping warm without feeling like a snowman

One of the practical reasons we like the small, organised tours is clothing. On the StayLapland aurora tours winter overalls, boots and gloves are provided, so grandparents do not need to buy gear for a single evening. The product details for the small-group version also mention socks, and the tour pages show adult and child sizes. Ask the operator what is included for the exact tour you pick.

What you still need to bring is warm layers under the overalls. Wool or a thermal base layer, a warm mid-layer, and a hat that fits under a hood. Hand warmers are cheap and help older hands a lot, and a flask of something hot is welcome on the bus. We cover the packing list in more depth in our Rovaniemi activities hub, and the principle is the same for everyone: several thin layers beat one thick one, and cold feet end the evening faster than anything else.

See the aurora bus tour times →

The late finish and the sleep question

Aurora tours run in the evening and into the night. The small-group tour page says start times can vary between roughly 17:00 and 21:00, confirmed by email, and a five-hour tour pushes the return into the late evening or after midnight depending on the start. For some grandparents that is the real challenge, not the cold.

Our advice is to plan the day around it. Skip the early morning excursion, keep the afternoon quiet, eat a proper meal before you go, and do not schedule anything demanding the next morning. If your parents are jet-lagged from a long flight, the first night in Rovaniemi may not be the one to book. A second or third night gives you a spare evening if the weather is poor, and it gives everyone time to adjust. If you are weighing how many nights to give yourselves, our post on what sells out first at Christmas and New Year shows how quickly the busy dates fill.

Why the sky decides, not the guide

We never promise the northern lights, and neither should anybody else. Aurora depends on solar activity and clear sky, and neither is something a tour operator controls. What a good operator can do is improve your odds by moving to find gaps in the cloud, and that is exactly what a hunting tour is for.

It helps to set expectations with older relatives before you leave. The lights often look paler to the eye than in photographs, sometimes a soft grey-green arc before they brighten and move. A camera sensor gathers more light than your eyes, which is why the included photos matter. If you manage the expectation, a faint band over a frozen lake still feels special. If you expect a screensaver, a quiet night may feel flat. Also plan a buffer in your trip: more than one night in town gives you more than one chance.

When a gentler or more private option wins

The bus tour is not the answer for everyone. If your relative needs a lot of space, wants to go at their own pace, or you are travelling with a group of six or eight who would rather not share, look at the bus vs small group vs private aurora hunting breakdown. The small-group hunting tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 takes two to eight people, starts from €199 per adult and includes a guide and photographer, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

At the far end, the private aurora hunting tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 starts from €1,990 for your own party, with free cancellation up to seven days before. That is a lot for one evening, but for a milestone birthday or an anniversary with mobility concerns it can be the right call, because the guide fits the pace to you. For everyone else, the bus is the sensible value choice.

Compare the small-group aurora tour →

As always, enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout and the 5% reader discount applies to whichever you choose.

Frequently asked questions

Is the northern lights bus tour suitable for people over 70?
For most active seniors, yes. The tour is rated Easy and mostly happens from a vehicle, but there are short walks on snow at viewing stops. If walking on ice is difficult, message the operator before booking.

Do older travellers need to buy winter clothes?
No. Winter overalls, boots and gloves are provided on StayLapland aurora tours. You still need warm layers underneath, a hat and, ideally, hand warmers.

How long does the aurora hunting bus tour last?
The tour page lists about five hours. Start times are confirmed by email, so plan for a late return to Rovaniemi.

Is there a refund if the aurora does not appear?
The tour page says there is a refund if no aurora photos are captured. Read the exact terms in the booking window, because conditions can apply.

Can children and grandparents go on the same tour?
Yes. The tour lists categories for ages 13 and over and for ages 3 to 12, so a three-generation family can usually book together.

How many nights should seniors allow for the aurora?
We suggest at least two or three nights in Rovaniemi, so one cloudy evening does not end your chances and nobody is rushed on arrival.

Our pick for older travellers

If we were booking for our own parents, we would choose the aurora hunting bus tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 on an evening with no early start the next day, tell the guide about any mobility needs at boarding, and keep a second night free as a back-up. Pack warm layers under the provided overalls, bring hand warmers, and expect a late return.

If you are still choosing between tours, our page on our Rovaniemi activities hub lists everything we recommend in Rovaniemi. When you are ready, check live dates below and enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off.

Book the aurora bus tour with 5% off →