Aurora Hunting in Finland's Arctic Lakeland
Lentiira Resort in the wilds of Northern Kuhmo is a place of such exceptionally low light pollution that even simply staring at the night sky is an awe-inspiring experience. However, the resort is also home to a professional aurora hunter, Kerttu Komulainen, who leads workshops designed as a deep dive into the celestial wonders of the Finnish arctic lakeland. We caught up with her to find out more.
image courtesy Koe Kainuu Adventures
ECT: What is an Aurora hunter?
KK: It’s a person who is obsessed with northern lights! Aurora hunters keep their eyes on both the weather and the aurora forecast so they know when and where they can be seen. They can read satellite data to forecast auroras with 10 minutes accuracy.
ECT: What is the most memorable Aurora you have witnessed?
KK: One September, a big solar storm hit the earth and caused very fast moving and intense auroras which I could see reflecting on Lentiira lake.
ECT: There are many myths and stories surrounding auroras - can you share one or two?
KK: The Finnish word for auroras is ’revontulet’, which means fox fires. People used to believe there was a magical fox living in the forest which, when it ran past trees and rocks, created a spark that flew up to the sky causing auroras. Some people also said that the aurora arch is a gateway to the land of the dead and that the souls of those who have died travel through it when it becomes visible.
ECT: What can our guests on our holiday expect to experience during the Northern Lights experience?
KK: They will learn so much during my workshop that, by the end, they will also be able to call themselves aurora hunters! First, I teach them everything I have learned over nine years of aurora hunting, then we go outside to practice the things we just learned. My teaching style is fun, so there are always a few laughs when I tell my stories.
ECT: What skills will they take home with them to use in future aurora sightings?
KK: I will explain interesting things about space weather in an understandable way and introduce some great, free, online tools that help to plan an aurora photoshoot. Everyone will know how to read satellite information, how to find beautiful locations and how to set up their camera for different types of auroras. These skills can also be used to photograph other night scenes such as starry landscapes.
ECT: Why is Lentiira such a special place to see an Aurora?
KK: Nowadays there aren’t many places in Europe with no light pollution, but luckily Lentiira is one of them because it’s so far from any towns. It is also a very quiet area so you might hear the eerie singing of wild birds while watching the auroras.
Come and learn the secrets of aurora hunting as part of our gentle Arctic adventure, Discover the Wild in Finland’s Taiga 2026