Methodology · Winter 2026/27
How we rank Northern Lights tours
Every operator is scored on the same six criteria, with published weights. Here's exactly what we measure, where the numbers come from, and who we work with.
What we measure
The six criteria
Each criterion is scored from 0 to 10. Weights reflect what decides whether a Northern Lights night is a success for most visitors: getting under a clear sky comes first.
Aurora strategy & chase range
25%How hard the operator works to put you under a clear sky: forecasting tools, willingness to relocate, distance and time limits.
- Unlimited distance / time policies
- Use of meteorological & space-weather data
- Cross-border relocation (Sweden, Norway)
- Published success rates
Guest reputation
20%Average rating and review volume across Google, Tripadvisor and verified-review platforms. Volume matters: 4.9 from 3,000 reviews outweighs 5.0 from 30.
- Average score (converted to /10)
- Total review volume
- Consistency between platforms
- Awards
Guides & photography
20%Guide expertise, storytelling and safety, plus whether professional aurora photos are included and how good they are.
- Photos included as standard
- Photographer-guides
- Reviewer comments on guides
- Safety record
Group size & comfort
15%How intimate and comfortable the night is: group caps, vehicles, warm clothing, fire, food and hot drinks.
- Maximum group size
- Vehicle quality
- Thermal clothing provided
- Hot drinks, snacks, campfire
Value & guarantee
10%What you get for the starting price, and what happens if the sky doesn't cooperate — money-back, rebooking or nothing.
- Starting price
- Money-back / rebooking policy
- Inclusions vs. extras
Transparency & booking
10%Clear terms, cancellation policies, published company information and sustainability credentials.
- Clear refund & cancellation terms
- Company information published
- Sustainability certifications
The maths
How a score is calculated
The total is the weighted average of the six criterion scores, rounded to one decimal. Here's the worked example for our current #1.
| Criterion | Score | Weight | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora strategy & chase range | 9.8 | × 0.25 | 2.45 |
| Guest reputation | 9.6 | × 0.20 | 1.92 |
| Guides & photography | 9.3 | × 0.20 | 1.86 |
| Group size & comfort | 8.8 | × 0.15 | 1.32 |
| Value & guarantee | 9.5 | × 0.10 | 0.95 |
| Transparency & booking | 8.6 | × 0.10 | 0.86 |
| Book Lapland total | 9.4 | ||
What the numbers mean
- Outstanding9.2 – 10
- Best-in-class across almost every criterion.
- Excellent8.7 – 9.1
- Clearly recommended; small trade-offs.
- Very good8.0 – 8.6
- Strong choice for the right traveller.
- Good7.5 – 7.9
- Solid, but with notable limitations.
- Fair< 7.5
- Niche appeal or limited track record.
Evidence
Data sources
Guest review platforms
Google, Tripadvisor and verified-review platforms such as Trustmary. We record the average and the review count; where an operator only publishes a rounded figure (e.g. “2,900+”), we say so.
Operators' own websites
Tour names, durations, inclusions, group caps, guarantee terms and published starting prices.
Tourism boards & booking platforms
Visit Rovaniemi and Visit Finland listings, plus large booking platforms, to cross-check prices and product details.
Independent travel writing
Guides and blogs from people who've done the tours, used to sense-check reputation and recurring issues.
We summarise recurring themes from guest reviews rather than quoting individual reviewers. We never write or publish testimonials on an operator's behalf, and every review page lists its sources.
Transparency
Disclosure & commercial relationships
Book Lapland is a featured partner of Best Northern Lights and holds the #1 position in our rankings as a featured placement. It is scored with exactly the same six criteria as every other operator, and its weaknesses are listed just as plainly.
All other positions (#2 onwards) are determined solely by the weighted score described above. No other operator has paid for its position, and operators cannot pay to change their scores or remove criticism.
Links to operator websites are ordinary links. If that ever changes for any operator, we'll mark the affected links and update this page.
Freshness
Updates & corrections
Before every season
Full refresh of prices, tours and ratings before the aurora season starts in late August.
Mid-season check
Ratings and review counts are re-checked in January.
Corrections
Operators and readers can report errors; verified corrections are applied and dated.
Current edition: Winter 2026/27, last updated October 2026. Back to the rankings