Travelling to Rovaniemi alone in winter is one of the best-kept secrets of Lapland. You get quiet streets, soft snow, hotel staff who have time to talk, and the odd sense of being the only person in the world watching the sky. It also raises one practical worry that we hear a lot: how do you do the aurora on your own without feeling awkward, unsafe or wildly overcharged?

We live in Rovaniemi, Joona has worked in Lapland tourism, and Alla has done her share of solo travelling, so we can answer from both sides. The short version is that the bus-based hunting tour is the easiest solo option, because the price is per adult, the group is mixed, and nobody expects you to bring a friend. Here is the detail for December 2026.

Why the bus hunting tour suits solo travellers

Solo travel and group tours can be a good match if the group is large enough that nobody is the odd one out. The bus hunting tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is a mixed-group experience: couples, families with teenagers, friends and solo travellers share the same vehicle and the same guide. You will not be the only person without a partner, and there is no expectation that you chat unless you want to.

The price is listed per adult from €109, so you pay for yourself and not for a half-empty vehicle. Compare that with the private tour, which is from €1,990 for the whole experience, and you see why the bus is the natural solo option. Our post on which tours work alone in Rovaniemi in winter covers the wider picture, and best Lapland activities for solo travellers explains what to book and what to skip.

If you want to talk to other travellers, the long waits between stops are the best time. If you want to be left alone, a window seat and a warm hat do the job.

What the tour is, from the listing

The tour runs for about five hours, led by professional guides who choose the route based on the weather and aurora forecast. The listing says professional photos are included and that you get a 100% refund if no aurora photos are captured, which is a real safeguard for a solo traveller who has paid for an evening and a long drive. Ages are listed as 13 and over and 3 to 12, so you may share the vehicle with families.

The product name says guaranteed, but treat that as a refund policy on photos, not a promise about the sky. No operator controls the clouds. What a good guide can do is drive you to where the sky is clearest, and that is the entire point of the hunting format.

Your exact start time and meeting point are confirmed close to the evening, so keep the late evening free and make sure your hotel knows you will be out late.

Check dates and prices for the bus hunting tour →

Is it safe to do alone?

Rovaniemi is a safe, quiet town, and organised tours with professional guides are an easy way to do dark, cold, remote things without a plan. The tour handles transport, location and timing, so you do not need to drive, navigate or choose a spot. That removes the main worries: getting lost in the forest, running out of battery with no phone signal, or standing alone in the cold with nobody who knows you are there.

Still, use common sense. Tell your hotel which tour you booked and roughly when you expect to be back. Carry a charged phone, keep your valuables in an inside pocket, and follow the guide's instructions at every stop. Our post on whether Rovaniemi is safe gives the broader answer, and activities for solo female travellers has specific tips.

The hardest part of being alone is often a practical one: nobody to hold your bag or take your picture. Ask the guide, who is there to help.

Bus or small group when you are on your own

The small group tour, from €199 per adult for groups of 2 to 8, is the better product if you want more personal attention. The guide has fewer people to look after, and you are more likely to get a proper photo of yourself. The extra €90 per adult is worth it if the aurora is the highlight of your trip, and less so if it is one activity among several.

The bus tour is better value, and its slightly bigger group can feel more sociable. If you are an introvert, the small group may feel more intimate; if you are an extrovert, the bus offers more people to meet. Read the details of the small group tour5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 on the booking page and decide. Our comparison bus vs small group vs private aurora hunting is the longer version.

Either way, type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off. For a single traveller the saving is small but real, roughly €5 on the bus tour, enough for a hot chocolate after.

How to book and when

Our rule for solo travellers is to book the aurora evening early in the stay and keep a second evening free. In December the nights are long, the hunting tours are busy, and a short two- or three-night trip leaves little room for a rescheduled evening.

Check the live calendar, pick the evening with the best forecast, and read the cancellation terms on the booking page before you pay. A solo traveller often has more flexibility than a family, so you can wait until the afternoon to see the forecast and then book, but only if seats are still available. For the busiest December dates, do not wait.

If you do not know how to read the forecast, our guide to the aurora forecast for Rovaniemi explains the basics. A clear sky matters more than a strong forecast number.

One more planning point for solo travellers: eat before you go. Evening departures vary, and a five-hour tour with only a hot drink is a long time to be hungry. A proper dinner or a substantial snack beforehand keeps you warm and keeps you cheerful when the group stands waiting for the sky to move.

What to wear, bring and expect

Wear warm base layers, thick socks and a hat that covers your ears. Check the tour page for which winter clothing is provided on this product, and bring your own for anything not covered. You will spend a lot of time standing still, so cold toes are the most common complaint.

Bring a power bank, a thermos if you like, and a small snack. Photos are included on the tour, but a phone with a charged battery is still useful. Our guide to what to wear on a northern lights tour has a full list.

Expect a long evening: much of it is travelling, waiting and watching. The reward is a quiet moment under a sky that moves. It is one of the most peaceful experiences you can have alone.

Make the rest of the trip easy too

An aurora night alone is easier if the rest of the trip is simple. Choose a hotel in the town centre so you can walk to restaurants, and book your daytime activities in advance. A reindeer farm visit or a husky ride works well for solo travellers because the group sets the pace. The Rovaniemi without a car guide explains how to get around, and our hub, activities in Rovaniemi, lists everything we recommend.

If you want a calmer evening, the Northern Lights Tour at the Campfire5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 from €99 is a cosy alternative with a fire, a hot drink and a guide. It is not a hunting tour, so it depends more on local conditions, but it is a gentle way to spend an evening alone.

See the campfire tour dates →

Frequently asked questions

Is the bus hunting tour suitable for solo travellers?
Yes. You join a mixed group and pay one adult ticket price, from €109 in the listing.

How long is the tour?
About five hours, with the exact start time confirmed close to the day.

What if I do not see the aurora?
The listing says there is a 100% refund if no aurora photos are captured. Read the exact conditions on the booking page.

Is it safe to go alone?
Organised tours with professional guides handle transport and location. Tell your hotel where you are going and follow the guide's instructions.

Should I choose the small group tour instead?
If you want more personal attention and can afford €199 per adult, yes. The bus is better value.

How do I get the discount?
Type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off every StayLapland tour, with no expiry.

Who should skip it, and our pick for December 2026

Skip the bus hunting tour if you dislike long evenings in a vehicle, if you cannot stand in the cold for an hour, or if you want a private experience for a proposal. In the last case, the private tour from €1,990 is the right choice, and our post on booking a private aurora hunt explains when it is worth the splurge.

Skip it, too, if you are travelling in a month with little darkness, since aurora season in Rovaniemi runs through the long nights of autumn, winter and early spring. December is right in the middle of it.

Skip it, finally, if your budget is very tight and you would rather see the sky from a free spot near town. It is possible, and our guide to seeing the northern lights without a tour explains how, but alone, in the dark, without a car, a guided hunting tour is a calmer way to go.

If we were arriving alone on a December evening, we would book the bus hunting tour for night one or two, type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout, and spend the saving on something warm afterwards. If we wanted more attention from the guide, we would step up to the small group tour.

Then we would book a daytime activity, keep a second evening free, and let the weather decide the rest. Travelling alone in Lapland in winter is not lonely. It is calm, and the sky takes care of the drama.

Book the bus hunting tour with 5% off →

And remember: HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 takes 5% off every StayLapland tour with no expiry.