Heading towards Levi, Finland, and wondering which activities and experiences you should do while in the area? 

Levi is probably most famous for being a great destination to see the northern lights, especially during the northern lights season – which runs from about the end of August to the end of April. Tourists also come for the skiing and snowboarding. However, there’s also plenty of other things to do in Levi.

Prices for excursions in the Lapland area aren’t the most budget-friendly, so it’s important to choose wisely!

Although you have a high chance of catching the Northern Lights in Lapland, this is never guaranteed – which is why selecting activities and experiences that aren’t always related to the lights is a great idea.

I recently stayed at the Northern Lights Village in Levi and went on three of the most amazing excursions that I’ll remember for a lifetime. In this blog post, I’ll run through how much each excursion costs, if it was worth it, and what I would do differently.

For more of an overall review of my stay and other information regarding the resort, read my other blog post here!

1. Husky Safari

When in Levi, joining a Husky Safari is a must-do. Apart from actually witnessing the northern lights, this was probably my next favourite thing that I did during my stay.

Is going on a Husky Safari worth it?

Definitely! I had so much fun doing this.

So why is it so fun? Well, if the photos don’t say it all... let me explain further. During a Husky Safari tour, you’ll get the chance to drive the husky sled, and also be a passenger on the sleigh. Both are equally as fun!

As a driver, you’ll have the unique opportunity to be in control of multiple dogs, as they zoom through the snow. As a passenger, you’ll get to marvel at just how fast these speed demons go!

I loved getting to meet all the huskies after my tour, and seeing how adorable they are up close. It really amazed me how focused and speedy they were during the ride, but how peaceful and friendly they were after they had their workout. These dogs do really love to run, huh?

Which tour should I go on?

The Northern Lights Village, Levi offers both 5km (approx. 1 hour) and 10km (approx. 2 hours) excursions. I chose the 5km tour, but to be honest, I wish I chose the 10km excursion! I enjoyed the husky sledding ride so much, that time went by extremely fast.

I will definitely have to come back one day and do the longer excursion, as it was such an adrenaline rush that I’d love to revisit!

RELATED: Things to do in Helsinki in 1 Day, Is a Northern Lights Tour Worth It?, Catching the Northern Lights at Northern Lights Village, Levi: My Experience

What would I do differently?

I have to admit, I was not prepared to have the frosty, icy wind constantly hitting me – those dogs go by so fast, and sometimes it felt like my face was about to be frozen!

Make sure to bring gloves. You’ll need these if you want to take photos or videos during your sledding experience. 

While wearing a beanie of some sort is great for covering half your face, I would also use a face covering to cover the lower half. 

Please make sure to listen to your guide when husky sledding. Being successful at sledding involves the use of a particular technique, so pay close attention to ensure that you’ll have a fun, but safe experience.

Prices

Prices vary depending on the season, so it’s best to check the Northern Lights Village’s website. 

If you’re visiting Levi, you can click here to check the prices for your visit.

Generally speaking, the experiences can be as low as 119 EUR for an adult for the 5km safari, and 83.30 EUR for children. Infants ride free! 

I found these prices to be really reasonable, especially considering that I’ve seen other tours in the area charge much higher.

Ready to book your Husky Safari excursion? Click here.

2. Reindeer Rides and Reindeer Experiences

From huskies, and now moving on to reindeers – visiting Levi can be quite the animal adventure!

Is going on a Reindeer Ride worth it?

I’ve honestly never seen a reindeer in my life up until this point. They were so much bigger than expected, almost the size of a cow I thought! So this fact alone made it worth it for me.

Going on a reindeer ride of any sort is a much slower, more calming experience than husky sledding. I would recommend this for families with small children looking for a peaceful activity to do during the day.

From my experience, what happens is a guide will gently stroll along with the reindeer, as you get to enjoy the beautiful scenery around you in the comfort of a sleigh. My tour provided a warm blanket for me, which was much appreciated!

The best part of the tour for me was seeing the reindeer up close and getting to touch it. A very unique experience. 

Which tour should I go on?

Three different options are offered at the Northern Lights Village, Levi when it comes to reindeer experiences, all suited to different needs.

The first option is a quick, 25-minute Reindeer Express ride that takes you around the beautiful, snowy wilderness. This option is suitable for those on a budget, or looking for a quick reindeer activity.

The second option is a slower, 90-minute ride that will allow you to thoroughly explore the Northern Lights Village’s reindeer paddock, where you’ll meet the reindeer, and even get a chance to feed them.

The final option is a 3-hour Reindeer Day, where you’ll get to spend even more quality time with the reindeer in the paddock, ride a reindeer sleigh, as well as enjoy a warm soup lunch which includes rye bread, warm berry juice and cookies.

What would I do differently?

This time, I was prepared for the cold – so I wouldn’t do too much differently. I did wish I had more time with the reindeer, so if you think you’d want this too, don’t hesitate to book a longer tour!

Again, please listen to your guide as they explain the do’s and don’ts of the experience. Reindeer are known to be particularly sensitive to loud noises, so please talk in a quiet voice when on the tour.

Prices

Prices for the Reindeer Express tour vary – but usually start from 69 EUR for adults, and 34.50 EUR for children (infants get to enjoy the experience free of charge). In my opinion, this was a reasonable price for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The other tours are slightly more expensive than the Reindeer Express tour, so check the Northern Lights Village for the exact price.

Ready to book your Reindeer experience? Click here.

3. Aurora Hunting

This is what I would call the ‘main event’ experience when staying in Levi. It’s most likely the reason why people flock to Lapland.

Aurora Hunting involves going out into the wilderness – far from your hotel room and any light pollution – to maximise your chance of seeing the aurora borealis.

Is going on an Aurora Hunting tour worth it?

Yes, yes, yes!

I was actually lucky enough to see the northern lights from the comfort of my cabin (more on that in this blog post) before my northern lights tour – but I would NOT rely on this.

Being close to any kind of artificial light might lower your chances of seeing the northern lights, and generally, the further up the arctic circle you go, the higher your chances of seeing them.

Going on an Aurora Hunting tour with a knowledgeable guide ensures that you’ll get the best chances of seeing the lights on that night, as the guides will usually take you to spots that have previously seen high aurora activity.

Even if you don’t manage to catch the lights, it’s generally just a fun experience to go out into the wilderness at night with a big group of people, bond with your fellow travellers over a warm fire, and gaze at the night sky.

Which tour should I go on?

I went on the Aurora Hunting by Heighted Sleigh tour, and as you can tell from the photos, the tour absolutely sleighed! (get it??) 

Seriously though, my guide that night was super informed, and even gave me some tips on how to photograph the northern lights – and took some photos of me himself! Needless to say, I was extremely warm and comfortable being driven around by heated sleigh. So from personal experience, I would recommend this tour.

However, the Northern Lights Village, Levi offers many other tours, which includes:

• Aurora Hunting in the Wilderness (travel by bus);

• Aurora Hunting by Snowmobile (hunt the lights using a snowmobile – this looked super fun, too);

• Aurora Expedition on Snowshoes (hunt the lights by foot); and my tour -

• Aurora Hunting by Heated Sleigh (travel by a warm sleigh)

In addition, the Village also offers an Aurora Photography Workshop, if you wanted to learn how to shoot the lights effectively.

What would I do differently?

Nothing! The tour was mind-blowing, and I got to take so many breathtaking pictures. But I also wanted to give you some tips.

You should definitely wear a full thermal suit, down to the snow boots (the resort will provide you this, free of charge) as it will be freezing outside. 

Luckily, I studied and played with my camera’s settings long before I went on this tour, but if you’re unsure of how to capture the auroras – make sure you do your research, or sign yourself up to the Photography Workshop that the Village offers. You don’t want to miss something that could potentially be a once-in-a-lifetime moment!

Prices

Because there are so many tours on offer, prices will vary greatly.

My 3-hour Aurora Hunting by Heated Sleigh tour cost 120 EUR for adults (60 EUR for children, infants get to join free), and I would say that the tour was completely worth it – especially for a rare experience like this.

Ready to book your Aurora Hunting excursion? Click here.

Overall – I loved going on all three of these experiences and would recommend all of them to you. If I had to pick one essential experience, I would say it would be an Aurora Hunting tour, followed by a Husky Safari. These two experiences are just simply unmissable if you’re already in the Lapland area.

Ready to book a stay at the Northern Lights Village, Levi? Click here.

How do take photos of the Northern Lights?

Please refer to my other blog post on the Northern Lights, where I go into detail about which equipment I used to shoot my photos.

For more about the Northern Lights Village, Levi and the tours they offer, head to their website.

Want to read more about my experience at the Northern Lights Village in Levi? Read my other blog post here!

Which activities will you embark on while in Lapland?

Thinking about staying at the Northern Lights Village? Let me know in the comments below!

The activities I embarked on at the Northern Lights Village was part of a collaboration between myself and the resort, but I can promise you that all opinions are mine and made in complete honesty.

Follow me on Instagram, @asherxtravel, to keep up with all my travel, content on the northern lights, and all the experiences I had while in Lapland.