There are few natural phenomena that make you stop and stare in wonder. The Northern Lights are one of them. When colours begin to dance across the sky, everything else seems to disappear for a moment and your eyes are drawn upwards.
Why Is Lokka a Great Place to See the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights are best seen in places with little or no light pollution. The village of Lokka is located in a remote area, around 90 kilometres from central Sodankylä, with no large towns or industrial areas nearby to brighten the night sky.
Here, the sky can become truly dark – exactly what you need for a good chance of seeing the aurora clearly.
The Northern Lights season typically begins in September and continues until the end of March. Autumn nights can already offer spectacular displays, while the long, dark nights of winter provide plenty of opportunities for aurora watching.
Stay Somewhere with History and Character
You can stay with us in the Traditional Finnish House or in Grandma’s Cottage. Both are charming buildings with a strong sense of history, while still offering all the modern comforts needed for a pleasant stay.
The Traditional Finnish House, also known as the Old Post House, once served as Lokka’s post office and Post Bank. Before 1968, postal vehicles travelled to the village via Vuotso to deliver the mail. The drivers stayed overnight in the house before returning to Sodankylä the following day.
The main bedroom was once used as accommodation for postal workers. Villagers gathered in the main living room to wait for the postal vehicle and catch up on local news. One of the rooms served as the Post Bank, where people could withdraw money and even receive their wages.
Grandma’s Cottage is located in the same yard. Around the turn of the 1960s and 1970s, it was home to the mother of the Old Post House owner.
This local history adds something special to an aurora trip – something you will not find in a chain hotel.
Read more about the
Traditional Finnish House and
Grandma’s Cottage.
Watch the Northern Lights from the Yard
Our yard offers open views of the night sky. There is no need to drive along forest roads or hike up a fell to look for the aurora – you can simply step outside your accommodation and look up.
On a cold winter night, you can quickly return to the warmth of the house, light the fireplace or heat the sauna – a perfect way to end an evening spent watching the Northern Lights.
A Starry Sky as an Extra Bonus
Even when the Northern Lights do not appear, Lokka’s dark skies are ideal for stargazing.
Artificial light reduces the visibility of stars in many populated areas, but in Lokka the night sky can be exceptionally dark. On clear nights, you may even be able to see the Milky Way with the naked eye – an experience many visitors encounter for the first time in Lapland.
Practical Facilities for Your Trip
If you want to combine your holiday with berry picking, fishing or hunting, you can also use our approximately 50 m² heated processing building in the yard.
- For fishing: Clean and process your catch and use the vacuum sealer for packing
- For hunting: A ceiling-mounted hoist can be used for skinning moose, and the vacuum sealer is useful for packing game
- For berry picking: Berries can be cleaned, rinsed and frozen on site
- For storage: Two large freezers provide plenty of space for fish, berries and game
The building also has hot and cold running water and drainage.
How Should You Plan a Northern Lights Trip?
The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, so they can never be guaranteed at a particular time. Aurora activity can be followed through the Finnish Meteorological Institute and various aurora forecast services and apps.
Clear, dark nights usually offer the best viewing conditions. September and October are often milder, while December to February can be much colder, with long hours of darkness.
Our accommodation in Lokka, Sodankylä, is located around 90 kilometres northeast of central Sodankylä. Rovaniemi is approximately 220 kilometres away.
Because of the distance, it is worth allowing enough time for your trip. On a one-night stay, much of your visit can easily be spent travelling.
Two nights is a good start, while a longer stay gives you more opportunities to experience clear skies and, with some luck, the Northern Lights.
Contact us if you are interested in staying with us. We are happy to tell you more about the accommodation and the surrounding area.
