Lapland Summer & Autumn Private Experiences
The other half of the year: sun at midnight, rivers instead of snow, and in September a forest that turns red and gold. A quiet season, with the same team and the same chauffeur service.
Lapland Beyond Winter
From late spring the snow goes, the light does not, and the same team arranges the days out. Chauffeur, residence and guides work exactly as they do in winter.
Late August through September is ruska, when the forest turns. It is also when the first aurora of the season appears, once the nights are dark enough again.
- Midnight sun, from early June to early July
- Private hiking with a guide
- Fishing and fly fishing
- Canoeing, kayaking and boat days
- Autumn colours (ruska) in September
- Chauffeur and residences, as in winter
Lapland Through the Year
Each season has its own weeks. Here is when they fall, with the daylight and temperature to expect, so you can plan well ahead.
- Midnight sun: Early Jun – early Jul
- Hiking and fell walking: Jun – Sep
- Fishing: Jun – Sep
- Canoeing and boating: Jun – Sep
- Autumn colours (ruska): Sep
- Early-season aurora: Late Aug – Oct
- Chauffeur and residences: Year round
- Midnight sunEarly Jun – early Jul
- Hiking and fell walkingJun – Sep
- FishingJun – Sep
- Canoeing and boatingJun – Sep
- Autumn colours (ruska)Sep
- Early-season auroraLate Aug – Oct
- Chauffeur and residencesYear round
Choose a month to see what is in season.
- Early June – early July
Midnight sun
The sun does not set in Rovaniemi from early June to early July, and further north it stays up from late May. June averages 12.5 °C, with almost 24 hours of daylight.
- June – September
Summer days
Hiking, fishing and boat days, with the fells walkable and the rivers and lakes open. July is the warmest month, averaging 15.6 °C with warm spells above 25 °C. Mosquitoes are part of early summer.
- September
Autumn colours (ruska)
The birch and fell plants turn red, orange and gold, with the first colour from late August. September averages 7.7 °C, with about 13 hours of daylight.
- Late August – October
Early-season aurora
From late August the nights are dark enough for the aurora again. By October they are longer than the days, so there are more hours to watch the sky.
- October
First snow
October averages just above freezing and brings the first snow. Daylight falls to about nine and a half hours, and husky and reindeer safaris start in November.
- Year round
Chauffeur and residences
The chauffeur service and residences run all year, and outside the winter peak the residences are easier to book.
Daylight and temperatures are monthly averages for Rovaniemi, as in the chart below.
Light and Cold in Lapland, Month by Month
Day length changes far more than the temperature does. The figures are for Rovaniemi.
| Month | Hours of daylight | Average temperature, °C |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4.4 | -10.3 |
| February | 8.1 | -10.3 |
| March | 11.8 | -5.6 |
| April | 15.5 | 0.1 |
| May | 19.6 | 6.5 |
| June | 23.8 | 12.5 |
| July | 21.5 | 15.6 |
| August | 16.9 | 13.1 |
| September | 13.1 | 7.7 |
| October | 9.5 | 0.8 |
| November | 5.7 | -4.4 |
| December | 2.7 | -7.7 |
Questions About Summer and Autumn
Anything not covered here, send it to us and a person replies within 30 minutes, 24 hours a day.
For a different trip, yes. The midnight sun runs from early June to early July in Rovaniemi, and from late May further north. The fells are walkable, and the rivers and lakes open up. There is no snow, no husky sledding and no aurora at midsummer.
Not at midsummer, when the sky never gets dark. Aurora viewing returns from late August, as the nights get dark again.
The Finnish word for autumn colours, when the birch and fell vegetation turn red, orange and gold in September.
Yes. The service runs all year.
Yes. Many Lapland residences are available all year, and outside the winter peak they are easier to book.
Midsummer days are mild, with July averaging around 15 °C in Rovaniemi and warmer spells above 25 °C. Evenings by the water can be cool, and mosquitoes are part of early summer.