Many “guaranteed” Northern Lights tours come with an “unlimited kilometers” promise, meaning your group can drive for hours, sometimes all night in search of clear skies.
While that might sound exciting, these long drives can come with risks. Your guide may be behind the wheel for many hours, navigating dark, icy roads while also watching the sky for the aurora. Fatigue and difficult winter conditions can make these trips challenging and less safe than they seem.

On top of that, the “guaranteed” label creates pressure: guides often feel they must keep driving no matter the hour or weather to fulfill the promise, which can result in uncomfortable, exhausting nights for both guests and guides.

Some companies even promote partial or full reimbursement if the Northern Lights are not seen. However, in practice, after hours of driving and paying a guide for long nights on the road, these refunds are rarely straightforward. Fees are usually deducted, and the process can be far from simple. 
Here’s an example of the issues that can arise with “reimbursements” promoted by companies to attract customers.

Additionally, with long hours spent together, it can feel especially tedious if the guide doesn’t have much to share about the Northern Lights or the surrounding area. A lack of information can turn an already lengthy trip into a less enjoyable experience.

Ironically, on nights when the Aurora is visible close to Rovaniemi, travelers on “guaranteed” tours may end up paying much more than a standard tour for an experience they could have had right near the city with any operator.
If you’ve chosen Rovaniemi as your base for the Northern Lights, you likely don’t want to be spending hours driving to another country or distant city. In fact, Rovaniemi itself offers great chances to see the Aurora without the hassle of lengthy travel.

That said, these tours can be great if your main goal is to see the Aurora. But often, patience works too. The skies around Rovaniemi may clear in the next few days, giving you another chance.

Look for operators who are honest about visibility chances. The aurora is a natural phenomenon, and no one can truly guarantee when or where it will appear. It’s best to choose tours that offer flexibility, rebooking options, or experiences that include learning about the Arctic sky and local nature so your night is meaningful even if the lights don’t show.

It can also be a good idea to book a package that includes several nights of aurora hunting instead of putting all your hopes on just one. This gives you more opportunities and takes away some of the pressure to “get lucky” on a single evening.

Base yourself with a company that communicates openly about weather conditions. In Lapland, skies can change quickly, sometimes waiting a little longer and trusting your chances close to home is better than driving for hours in search of clearer skies.

And remember, there are great alternatives too. Activities like snowshoeing by night or other outdoor adventures let you enjoy the Arctic night even if the aurora stays hidden. That way, you never feel like you’ve wasted your evening, you’ve still lived a real Lapland experience.

Remember: the magic of Lapland isn’t only about the lights it’s about the journey, the landscapes, and the quiet beauty of the North.