[Nordic 15-Day Self-Guided Trip] Day 6: Exploring Inari｜Heading to Inari, Chasing the Northern Lights over the Frozen Lake

Table of Contents Trip Overview Trip Preparation Getting to and Exploring Inari A Leisurely Morning & Sauna Time Long-Distance Bus to Inari Inari and Sámi Culture Accommodation & Supermarket Shopping Aurora Night Three: An Aurora Eruption Over the Frozen Lake! Trip Summary & Other Nordic Travel Stories 1. Trip Overview Today is the most relaxed day of this trip, because we already confirmed yesterday that there wasn't much worth exploring in downtown Rovaniemi, so we decided to slow down and really enjoy the morning. Leisurely preparing breakfast at the apartment, handling messages, and after a sauna session, I took a long-distance bus to Inari—one of Finland's famous northern lights viewing destinations. Upon arrival, I first went to the supermarket to shop, specifically choosing reindeer meat as the main course for dinner that evening. As night fell, the aurora forecast showed very high probability, so we quickly set out and successfully witnessed the northern lights erupt over a frozen lake, with incredible luck spotting them for three consecutive nights! 2. Trip Preparation Transportation 🚍 Rovaniemi → Inari Long-distance Bus Journey time: approximately 5 hours 45 minutes Fare: approximately 1700 NTD (€48) Booking website: (Matkahuolto official website) Note: The bus facilities are basic, and there isn't even a luggage net.

Accommodation 🏠 Aurora Apartment Inari (Booking Reservation) This apartment is like the owner's own home — it only opens up for rent when someone books it. Fully equipped with a built-in sauna, it offers a complete taste of everyday Finnish life. About a 15-minute walk to the supermarket & the lake, and much cheaper than lakeside accommodations (NT$9,925 per night).

3. Heading to and Exploring Inari A Leisurely Morning & Sauna Time 7:30 the alarm went off, and everyone got busy in their own way — auntie prepared breakfast, while I took the chance to catch up on messages that had piled up due to the time difference. Once everything was sorted, of course it was time for a sauna! At this point, the three of us outside started chatting about relationship topics — this trip started from an online group meetup, and who would have thought it would lead to making a new friend. Life is really wonderful! Long-Distance Bus to Inari 11:20 we arrived early at the bus stop, and the bus pulled in right on time, nearly full of passengers. The facilities were extremely basic, not even a storage net in front of the seats... but the fare for the 5-hour ride was nearly 1700 NTD — Nordic prices are truly something to sigh about!

Heading north, after leaving Santa Claus Village behind, the bus stopped twice along the way for rest. When we entered Urho Kekkonen National Park, we discovered it's a paradise for many skiing enthusiasts, sparking an urge to get off and explore. We arrived in Inari at 17:00, and as soon as we stepped out, we felt the much colder temperature, but this didn't dampen our excitement!

Inari and Sámi Culture Located in the Lapland region of northern Finland, Inari is the center of Sámi culture, home to Finland's only Sámi Parliament and the Sámi Museum (Siida), offering deep insight into the history and traditions of this Nordic indigenous people. The Sámi people have lived in the polar regions for generations, sustaining themselves through reindeer herding, fishing and hunting, and handicrafts. Their traditional clothing is vividly colorful, and their unique language is still widely spoken within the community today. If you're interested in Arctic indigenous culture, Inari is absolutely worth a visit! (Unfortunately, we only had a brief stopover this time and didn't get the chance to explore it in depth.)

Checking into an Apartment & Grocery Shopping We first went to Aurora Apartment Inari, where we're staying tonight, to drop off our luggage. This apartment looks like a private residential home that opens for rental when someone books it. Almost all apartments in Finland have saunas, which must already be a part of daily life for locals! Grocery Shopping To experience local ingredients in the Arctic Circle, tonight's stars are—Reindeer Meat & Cabbage! 🥩 Reindeer Meat: The taste is like mutton but without the gamey smell. It's unexpectedly delicious! 🥬 Cabbage: It completely lacks the fresh, sweet, and crispy texture of Taiwan's cabbage. Disappointing!

Aurora Night Three: The Ice Lake Aurora Erupts! At 8 PM, the aurora forecast showed a very high KP index, so we quickly packed up our gear and headed toward the lake, eagerly anticipating tonight's aurora.

As we were about to reach the lake, Fat Auntie's sharp eyes caught something unusual in the sky — she checked her phone right away, and sure enough, it was the **Aurora!** We quickened our pace, and there were already quite a few photography enthusiasts gathered by the lake, setting up their tripods to capture the magnificent aurora scene.

While everyone was taking turns showering, I was still glued to the Aurora app, and I noticed there was aurora activity in another area again — I couldn't resist rushing back outside, witnessing the aurora erupt once more right outside the house! This time the aurora was full of movement, like a vibrant, living stream of light, constantly shifting shape, bringing our night in Inari to the most perfect close.

Trip Summary & Other Nordic Travel Notes Today's itinerary wasn't packed, but the relaxed pace, the reindeer meat experience, and the burst of the Northern Lights filled the day with surprises. Thank you to the Aurora goddess for the good luck, letting us see the Northern Lights for three nights in a row. Tomorrow we'll continue driving north to Kirkenes to board the cruise ship! Explore more travel notes from our Nordic four-country independent trip The Nordic region is not just about the Northern Lights and snow, but also the elegance of its cities, the mystery of the polar regions, and the depth of its culture. This journey across Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden will take you to explore the beauty of Europe's purest corner! 🇩🇰 Denmark Free Travel 📍Day 2: Copenhagen One-Day Tour｜📍Day 3: Explore the Freetown, Fly to Finland 🇫🇮 Finland Polar Journey 📍Day 4: Helsinki City Tour & Night Train｜📍Day 5: Santa Claus Village and First Northern Lights Experience 📍Day 6: Rovaniemi husky sledding & city stroll | 📍Day 7: Inari lakeside and the secret aurora zone 🇳🇴 Norwegian cruise voyage & aurora exploration 📍Day 8: Cross the border from Inari into Kirkenes to board the cruise | 📍Day 9: Stopover at Hammerfest and life on board 📍Day 10: Tromsø museum and cable car snow scenery | 📍Day 11: Transport disruption, stranded in Tromsø 🇸🇪 A Stroll Through Swedish Culture and the Perfect Finale 📍Day 12: Flying to Stockholm, witnessing the Aurora Borealis high above the clouds｜📍Day 13: City Hall & the Vasa Museum 📍Day 14: An In-Depth Wander Through the Old Town and Swedish Culture