AuroraCast / Best month / Saariselkä

Best month to see the northern lights in Saariselkä

Planning a trip to Saariselkä, Finland for the aurora? Here's the month-by-month guide. The best months are September, October, February, March. Looking for tonight's odds instead? →

Month-by-month viewing quality

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
MonthViewingWhy
January Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
February Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
March Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
April Marginal Short nights at the season edge
May No — midnight sun Midnight sun — no real darkness
June No — midnight sun Midnight sun — no real darkness
July No — midnight sun Midnight sun — no real darkness
August Marginal Short nights at the season edge
September Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
October Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
November Peak Long dark nights + peak activity
December Peak Long dark nights + peak activity

Why these months?

Two things decide your odds in Saariselkä: darkness and activity. You need real darkness — so the bright midnight-sun months are out no matter how strong the aurora is. On top of that, geomagnetic storms run statistically stronger around the spring and autumn equinoxes (the Russell–McPherron effect), which is why September and October and February and March tend to edge out the dead of winter. Saariselkä's season runs late august to early april.

Saariselkä is a fell resort village famous for its glass igloos and aurora cabins, surrounded by the wilderness of Urho Kekkonen National Park.

Where to stand in Saariselkä

The Kaunispää fell summit just north of the village is an easy elevated dark-sky viewpoint; the igloo resorts let you watch from a heated bed.

Tours & stays to book

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Northern lights tours from Saariselkä

Viator · guided tours · from $89

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Aurora chases & photo tours in Saariselkä

GetYourGuide · guided tours · from $89

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Cabins, lodges & glass igloos near Saariselkä

Booking.com · lodging

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This guide is built from each month’s dark-hours and the long-run seasonal pattern of aurora activity — it tells you when the odds are best, not what any single night will do. Aurora viewing is never guaranteed. Our method & sources.