Aurora hunting in Finland holiday

Planet

This fantastic winter activity holiday to Levi’s Northern Lights Village combines great winter activities with fantastic accommodation in your own, private, glass-roofed Aurora Cabin.

Your Aurora Cabin is at Levi Northern Lights Village, in Northern Finland, which is fully Green Key certified. This prestigious eco-label represents a commitment by businesses in the tourism industry that their establishments adhere to strict criteria established by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

The business sought out this certification to demonstrate how the preservation of natural resources is at the core of its business concept and is laying the foundations for carbon neutrality in the future.

Waste is meticulously sorted into different categories of bio, plastic, paper, cardboard, metal, glass, deposit bottles, cans and problem waste. Energy output has been redacted thanks to the following measures: motion sensors that control lighting, dimming restaurant lights during meal times, keeping electronics turned off when not in use, and using fireplaces to generate heat, which is then trapped thanks to auto-closing doors with alerts if not properly closed.

Water consumption is limited thanks to the following measures: installing timers on the showers to avoid unnecessary usage, measuring tap and shower water output and keeping it below six litres a minute, and keeping boilers at each cabin which limit the amount of time warm water lasts per usage. Selecting local produce for meals in the restaurant reduces the carbon footprint of ingredients.

A husky and snowmobile safari are included as part of this trip. Both of these always take part on carefully chosen, clearly marked and regularly monitored tracks, limiting the effect on the local environment and wildlife. Finland has strict regulations on animal welfare, so you can be assured that any animals you encounter are well cared for.

Full training is provided for guests which minimises the chances of causing a disturbance by driving effectively and efficiently. Snowmobiles are an essential part of life in these remote parts of Lapland and are less polluting than 4x4 vehicles, which is the only credible alternative. The snowmobiles are well maintained to minimise the impact on the environment, while guests travel two per sled as standard to limit the number of machines on the trails.

People

By using local produce for meal preparations, the business supports local merchants and suppliers, which increases the tourism multiplier effect, demonstrating the positive effect tourism can have on a region such as Lapland.

Respect for the indigenous Sámi people is maintained at all times as Levi Northern Lights Village operates in accordance with the Sámi Tourism Code of Ethics. This was a series of measures passed by the Sámi parliament in 2018 to terminate tourism exploiting Sámi culture and eliminate incorrect information about the Sámi distributed through tourism. It also aims to safeguard the cultural practices and traditions of the Sámi population outside the travel industry.

Levi, and the wider region of Northern Lapland, is an area where tourism plays an integral role in the economy and maintaining a population that might otherwise be dwindling due to a lack of employment options. Using locally owned hotels, that employ local staff ensures that profits benefit the local economy, and eliminates the risk of Tourism leakage.