I'd like to talk about my daughter first before I share the Aurora snowmobile expedition tour. Many friends and fans asked me why her name is Aurora? Her name is related to this activity.  You will figure out once you read the article to the end. I had two purposes for the 2015 Finland trip. The first one was my first business proposal with the Europeans. The second was Aurora hunting. I made some wishes before I went to Finland. The 2 most important wishes were that I will have successful proposal and I will see the aurora in Finland.


I saw one of my friend's photos of the Northern Lights on facebook before I made the decision to Finland. I wasn't pregnant at that time. I was thinking it'll be so fantastic if one day I pregnant to see the aurora with my baby. I commented on his photos " I hope one day I will see the Northern Lights. " He replied me "Come on! You had been to  Easter Island. It's so far away. I'm sure you will see the Northern lights one day. " Finally I made the decision to attend the MATKA in Finland. I didn't know I was already pregnant before I went to Finland. I found out I was pregnant until I was on the night train from Helsinki to Kemi after attending the MATKA. 


Most tourists want to see the Northern lights in Finland. Everyone has the chance to see the aurora. I think the good luck is the most important factor. It's not easy to see the Aurora. Auroras are produced when the magnetosphere is sufficiently disturbed by the solar wind that the trajectories of charged particles in both solar wind and magnetospheric plasma, mainly in the form of electrons and protons, precipitate them into the upper atmosphere, where their energy is lost. The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emits light of varying colour and complexity. 


I met one Taiwanese tour in Kemi. They already finished the Aurora tour in Finland. They were not lucky enough to see the aurora during the trip. I only stayed 2 nights in Lapland. My last night was in Inari. It would be my last chance to see the aurora in Lapland in Finland. You probably know that I saw the aurora in the Aurora Snowmobile Expedition tour in the end.


********Aurora Snowmobile Expedition*****************


Visitinari.fi company was my second sponsor. Lake and snow Inari is a local tour company in Inari. Inari Aurora Hotel and Holiday Village Inari also belong to the company. The office can help you to arrange the activities and the accommodations in Inari. There are 27 winter activities like Winter fishing, Traditional Reindeer Sleigh Ride and Cross country ski etc.in Inari. 


Inari is a good place to see the northern lights, the most northern you go, the best chances you have to see them. The lake Inari is a perfect place to watch the northern lights in Inari as it is an open space without light pollution. There are 6 aurora activities and 10 summer activities available here. They provide evening tours, the highlight is to watch Northern lights while sitting in a reindeer sleigh or on a snowmobile.


One of their best tours is the Sami culture by snowmobile, which goes to Inari lake "the Sami sea" and some Sami historical sites. They also offer cruises in the summer time to Ukko's Rock, the Sami sacrificial Island on Inari lake. The Northern Lights are also part of the Sami culture, as they had believes about them. It was pity I only stayed one night there, so I miss the chance to discover the Sami culture.


The company arranged me the Winter fishing tour at the beginning, but my schedule couldn't make it, then they rearranged me to the Aurora Snowmobile Expedition tour. 


Aurora Snowmobile Expedition takes 3 hours from 20:00 to 23:00.


the tour guide will take us away from the village glow to a location with the best view of the sky that night. If the weather and luck are on our side, we should get to witness natures own magical dancing light show! Hot juice will be provided to warm us up.


Price: 130€/adult, when 2 persons/snowmobile, 140€/adult, when 1 person/snowmobile, 90€/adult sitting in sleigh. Children from 4- 12 years 45€/child sitting in sleigh.Price includes: guiding in English, fuel, winter equipment, helmet, hot drink and picnic snack, insurance (self-liability 800€/snowmobile in case of accident).


I arrived in Inari was about 5:20 pm. The bus just stop in front of the Lake and snow Inari company. It's so convenience. I contacted with the staff. She asked me that I want to ride the snowmobile alone or sit in the sleigh. She responsibly told me that it takes risk if I ride the snowmobile alone. I thought about for a while then I answer her "I'd like to ride the snowmobile alone."  Actually I was not really alone, I was with my baby. She asked me if I have international driver licence? I showed her mine.


I also checked in here and went to my room at the Inari Aurora Hotel. I backed to the office about 7:30. There were many Taiwanese students in this tour. I was the only one girl to ride the snowmobile alone. 


The winter equipment in lake & snow Inari. The snow clothes keep us warm. 


You can see there were so many winter equipments here. 


Everyone was so excited to wear the winter equipment.


Let me show you that I wore the winter equipment. I was ready to go. 


Do I look like the bank robber?


The winter equipment included the balaclava,the ski clothes, shoes and the gloves. It was under minus twenty degrees. The sky was clear. It was not snowing at that night. The tour guide said"we are so lucky tonight. We got the big chance to see the aurora tonight." 


I was very excited and a little nervous. It was my first time to ride the snowmobile. The tour guide taught us the hand signals to make sure we would have a safe trip. We practice at the beginning, then we started our ride. Because we would to a location with the best view of the sky that night without any light, knew the hand signals was very important.


The lake was covered with ice.We were riding on the lake. The lake was not even. I didn't ride the snowmobile very well at first, then I got used to it. 


We saw the first aurora in less then one hour riding. Everyone was so excited. Finally I understood that people said the aurora looks different from the photos. It was not like the green color as the photo. The tour guide Matti said"it just the beginning. we are going to see the more beautiful aurora."


He told us the truth. we saw the aurora was more beautiful than before. I was so touched to see that. I praise god to create the universe is so amazing. I really saw the dancing aurora. It was like in the movie scene. It was like unreal, but it was real!


The dancing aurora and the snowmobiles. Matti gave us the hot drink and the snacks to enjoy the aurora in the chilly night.


The aurora was like a parabola.


I didn't know the aurora could be so various. I was shocked by the beauty of the aurora and earth.


My baby and me with the aurora. Matti said we were so lucky to see the most beautiful aurora in this year.


Finally I had the chance to take the photo with my snowmobile. It was bigger than what I thought.


All the snowmobiles looked new with enough fuel. 


Our tour guide Matti. He was really kind and professional. 

The Aurora Snowmobile Expedition tour was quite popular. It was full booking even in the shoulder season. Please be early to book your Aurora Snowmobile Expedition tour.

Thanks Visitinari.fi company sponsored me the amazing tour, so I had a very impressive experience to see the aurora for the first time. The secret location was so prefect to see the dancing aurora.


I was so touched when I saw the aurora. My dream came true because of  this tour. I really saw the aurora with my baby. That's why we gave the name Aurora to my baby daughter. She can't wait to be my baby, I had the wish was on December,2014, then I came true the dream in one month. Thanks my baby brought me the good luck to see the beautiful aurora in Finland. Thanks god for a safe and blessed journey to us. 


I hope all of you will see the aurora one day.


PS. At that time I'd like to keep the secret that I was pregnant, so the staff didn't know I was pregnant. Thanks god, I am happy that I was safe to enjoy the Aurora Snowmobile Expedition tour.


Finland aurora high season from December to March. You can start to book your accomdation and tour in Inrai now.


Aurora Snowmobile Expedition

Visitinari.fi website:http://visitinari.fi/

Address: Inarintie 38, FI – 99870 Inari, Lapland – Finland

Office open:

7.12 – 31.3  Daily 9am- 7pm

1.4 – 6.12  Monday – Friday klo 9:30am – 5pm

Tel +358 (0)40 179 6069



檢視較大的地圖


在說這個雪上摩托車遠征極光行程前,容Una先慢慢道來極光寶寶的由來。很多人問Una:「為什麼你的女兒叫極光寶寶?」,她名字的由來,就跟這次的雪上摩托車遠征極光活動有關。


今年年初到芬蘭,Una最主要目的是參加國際研討會,那是Una這輩子第一次跟歐洲的老闆和主管開會提案;再來就是去北歐追極光。在出發前Una許下了幾個願望,最主要的兩個願望就是,第一是希望能提案成功,至少贏得一家廠商的贊助;第二個就是能幸運的看到極光。


但其實在決定要不要到芬蘭參加研討會前,看到朋友馬賽總是po上美麗的極光照片時,心裡閃過一個念頭:「如果有天我能在懷孕的時候,跟肚中的寶寶一起看到極光,那該有多幸福。」(當時有這個念頭的時候,還沒懷孕。)我還記得我在他的相片留言說:「好希望我有一天也能看到極光。」,他回我說:「你連復活島這麼遠的地方都去了,看極光肯定沒問題的。」後來Una還是決定去芬蘭參加研討會和追極光了。在去北歐前Una並不知道自己原來已經懷孕了,而是參加完研討後會,搭上從赫爾辛基前往凱米的夜班火車時,才發現自己原來在北歐出發前就已經懷孕了


到芬蘭的觀光客幾乎都會想看到極光,但能不能看到極光,可以說是人人有希望,但個個沒把握,完全就是個運氣問題啊!因為要看到極光要有好幾個碰巧,第一就是天氣要夠冷;第二個就天氣要很好,天上不能有雲,不能下大雪,不然雲層擋住了極光也看不到;第三就是不能有光害;第四個就是時間剛好要對,這真的就是要看運氣,或是運用極光預測軟體,來賭看看能不能看到極光。如果是跟團的話,追極光的時間都是固定的,所以就要看當時的運氣夠不夠好?要所有的巧合都碰上,才有機會看到極光。若以更精準的方式來說,極光就是太陽風、磁層和高層大氣(熱層)中的原子碰撞造成的發光現象。


當時Una在芬蘭遇到台灣的旅行團,他們已經快結束旅程,在歐普拉區待了幾天還是沒看到極光。而Una也因為跑贊助行程的關係,只有短短兩天能待在芬蘭的歐普拉區,前一晚並沒有看到,這一晚則是Una待在歐普拉區的最後一晚,到底能不能看到極光真的就是運氣了。最後Una到底有沒有在這晚看到極光呢?相信大家也都猜到了。


************進入主題************


Visitinari.fi是Una在芬蘭的第二個旅遊贊助商。Lake and snow Inari是Inari的當地旅行社,老闆共有兩間飯店, 一間是Inari Aurora Hotel,另一間則是Holiday village Inari。在Inari的各式活動和住宿都可以找他們幫忙規劃安排。光是冬天的活動就有27種可以選,像是冰湖釣魚、馴鹿雪撬、越野滑雪等。


Inari是個很棒的地方去看到極光,位於北極圈北部,在這有非常大的機會看到極光。如果是針對追極光的團,除了Una參加的雪上摩托車外,還有其他5種方式可選擇據我所知雪上摩托車和馴鹿雪撬追極光是最受歡迎的選擇。而夏天的活動也有10種不同的活動可選擇。

Inari除了大家所知道的Lake Inari最容易看到極光外,當地最有名的文化就是薩米文化,薩米文化是歐洲最後一批土著的文化。當地最有名的旅行團其實是騎雪上摩托車去INARI湖(又稱薩米海)和看薩米文化的遺跡。夏天也有湖上郵輪團去看Ukko's 岩石,位於Inari湖的薩米犧牲島上。可惜Una這次待在Inari的時間很短,不然很想去一探究竟。


原本公司要安排當天早上的冰湖釣魚,但Una當天的行程到Inari已經是晚上,所以他們就安排Una晚上的雪上摩托車遠征極光行程。

Aurora Snowmobile Expedition 雪上摩托車遠征極光行程共3小時,時間為晚上的8點到11點

導遊會帶領大家騎雪上摩托車到湖面上遠離光害,如果天氣加和運氣夠好,就可以看到舞動的極光。

價錢為兩個人共騎一台雪上摩托車,每人130歐元。若是自己一個人單獨騎一台雪上摩托車,則是140歐元。如果選擇坐雪撬,每個人是90歐元。4-12歲的兒童只能搭雪撬,每個小孩45歐元。

這個價錢包括:英語導遊、燃料、冬季裝備、安全帽,熱飲和小點心和800歐的意外險。

當天下午三點多從極光屋搭巴士,下午五點多到達Inari,巴士停的第一個地點就是Lake and snow Inari的辦公室門口,真的很方便。進辦公室後,先跟工作人員接洽,他問我要選擇坐著雪撬裡,被雪上摩托車拖著?還是要自己一個人騎雪上摩托車?他很盡告知義務的告訴我,一個人騎雪上摩托車是有風險的,有可能翻車。即便如此,我考慮了一下回答她:「我還是選要自己一個人騎雪上摩托車。」(其實當時還有肚中的寶寶,也不算是自己一個人了)她有問我是否有國際駕照,剛好我有帶在身上。因為Una到芬蘭前的願望清單之一,也包括騎雪上摩托車。


接著順便在辦公室check in,先到他們安排的飯店休息一會兒後,晚上七點多就背著單眼相機回到辦公室去參加行程。發現此團剛好有不少台灣留學生,Una竟然是整團中,唯一自己 一個人騎雪上摩托車的女生


辦公室旁邊就是換裝備的地方,可以看到超大件的防寒衣,想在酷寒裡看極光,就得靠這個防寒衣了。


這裡的裝備齊全,可以看到其他旅行社其他行程的裝備。

大家都很興奮穿上裝備的模樣,Una是最後一位搞定裝備的。


就由Una我來當模特兒示範一下給大家看穿完裝備的模樣。

穿完覺得自己好像要去搶銀行



這個行程附贈的全身裝備有:頭套保暖的雪衣保暖防滑的雪鞋手套


當晚的天氣零下二十幾度,真的是凍到快不行。不過天氣夠冷的第一個條件成了。當天晚上沒下雪,天空也沒有積雲層,天空非常的乾淨,第二個條件也成了。接下來就是看運氣了。導遊說我們很幸運,今晚看到極光的機率很高。


剛坐上雪上摩托車時,很興奮又有點緊張,因為這是Una第一次騎雪上摩托車。當天的導遊叫Matti,在出發前,他為了大家夜間騎車安全,有先教大家手勢,也有先排練一下,才正式出發。因為我們要騎到很深處,完全沒有光害的地方,所以搞懂手勢是很重要的。


Inari的湖面早已結成厚厚的一層冰,我們就騎在冰湖上。冰湖上其實滿不平的,因為之前都已經有雪上摩托車騎過的痕跡,再加上積雪。一開始的路線是有彎度的,我才發現龍頭一開始自己有點難控制,中間有幾次沒轉好,差點快撞上了, 自己心中驚險了好幾次,好加上都有驚無險。


騎不到一小時,很幸運的我們就已經看到極光了,大家都興奮極了。在還沒看到極光前,看過的人跟我說肉眼看到極光的感覺,跟照片看到極光的感覺是完全不一樣的。真的現場看到才能體會,肉眼看到的極光沒有像照片中的那麼綠,而是有點像是帶顏色的霧。導遊讓我們拍照一下,又帶著我們騎到更遠的地方,他要我們別急,愈騎到湖中央,極光會愈來愈漂亮。


Matti果然沒騙人,再往裡面騎,極光又比第一次看到得還美。極光明顯極了,這次就像跟電影裡看到的一樣,極光真的會跳舞,在天空舞動著,我的內心也跟著波濤洶湧,讓我讚嘆這大自然的神奇。看到極光的感覺好不真實,卻又是如此的實在。


舞動的極光與雪上摩托車。

在看極光的時候,導遊還拿出熱呼呼的熱飲和點心讓我們能舒服的邊看極光邊享受。當天晚上零下二十幾度,這樣的冷只能意會,只有真正碰上了,才能體會甚麼叫做零下二十幾度的寒冷。為了看到美麗的極光,大家都可以忍受這樣的寒冷啊!最凍的時候就是摘下安全帽要拍照的時候,還有不得不把手套脫掉換電池和拍照的時候。因為天氣太冷,電池很快就會沒電,所以電池一定要多帶。還有騎著摩托車,冷風颼颼都穿到臉上,眼睫毛都會結冰,還好有安全帽和頭套,不然臉肯定會凍傷。


像拋物線般的極光


直到這晚我才知道原來極光有這麼多變的美和震撼,忍不住想唱起孫燕姿的綠光。


難得我跟極光寶寶與極光的合照啊!!!導遊Matti直說我們很幸運,因為那一晚也是他在今年看到最美的極光。


最後行程結束,才有機會拍下Una這位孕婦騎雪上摩托車的英姿。雪上摩托車真的有夠大台,不要以為像是在台灣騎小綿羊或125好嗎?好加在,Una這位不良騎士,最後有安全的結束行程。


他們提供的雪上摩托車滿新的,狀況都很好,當然出發前也都已經幫大家加滿油了,不用怕。


當天的雪上摩托車遠征極光團的導遊Matti,本團很多小女生都搶著要跟他合照。他們的雪上摩托車追極光團還滿夯的,我參加的時候是淡季,此團就已經額滿了。所以要參加的人最好是提早預定,以免向隅。


很感謝Visitinari.fi幫Una安排這次的雪上摩托車遠征極光,讓Una很幸運這輩子第一次就可以看到如此美麗又夢幻的極光,在導遊帶領到沒有光害的秘密基地,有了這輩子的極光初體驗。


後來上網才發現台灣旅行團都是禁止孕婦騎雪上摩托車的。所以記得如果是懷孕的女生參加此行程,請換成選擇坐雪撬。這裡也要解釋一下,Lake and snow Inari公司當時並不知道Una已經懷孕的狀況,畢竟當時才剛得知懷孕,並沒有想要馬上昭告天下。Una相信若是公司知道的話,肯定也不會讓Una自己一個人騎雪上摩托車的。感謝主,讓傻人有傻福的我,安全的跟肚中的寶寶享受這次雪上摩托車遠征極光團。


當晚看到如此美麗的極光真的很感動,真的讓Una實現了在懷孕的時候,跟肚中的寶寶一起看到極光的願望。這也就是為什麼Una的女兒會被叫做極光寶寶,她是為了跟媽媽一起看極光,而迫不及待來當Una的寶寶的。去年12月才想的願望,今年1月就馬上實現了,真的很不可思議。當初出發到芬蘭前,自己就有種直覺這趟旅程一定會看到極光,不知道哪來的自信。很謝謝極光寶寶帶給媽咪的好運,實現媽咪的願望,順利看到美麗的極光。


在這裡我也祝福看到此篇文章的朋友們,祝福你們到芬蘭追極光時,也能幸運的看到極光。

追極光建議

每年在芬蘭看極光最好時間為12月到3月,想省錢的朋友,可以選擇1.10-1.30淡季來觀光,可以避開觀光人潮,比較好訂房,也可以省一些住宿費。

雪上摩托車遠征極光旅行團頁面

官網http://visitinari.fi/

地址 Inarintie 38, FI – 99870 Inari, Lapland – Finland

營業時間

7.12 – 31.3  Daily 9am- 7pm

1.4 – 6.12  Monday – Friday klo 9:30am – 5pm

電話: +358 (0)40 179 6069



檢視較大的地圖

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【Traveling in Finland 公主背包客。 芬蘭篇】Meeting with boss+ 2015 the launch of a new accommodation-Kelo-Glass Igloos in Hotel kakslauttanen 全台獨家跟極光屋老闆開全球會議+公布2015最新房型照片、價錢與訂房攻略

【Traveling in Finland 公主背包客芬蘭篇】MATKA Speed Meeting & Won the Sponsors 速時會議初體驗 & 贏得贊助

【Traveling in Finland 公主背包客芬蘭篇】Preface 序。北歐夢想之旅

【Traveling in Finland 公主背包客芬蘭篇】Swimming with ice cubes 世界唯一的冰海浮泳


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