Why March Is the Best-Kept Secret in Lapland
I have lived through 30 Lapland winters, and March is the month I tell my closest friends to book. The numbers tell the story: snow depth peaks at 70-90cm in the forests around Rovaniemi, daylight stretches to 10-12 hours (versus 2-4 hours in December), temperatures moderate to a manageable -5°C to -15°C, and the aurora season runs strong through the end of the month.
But the real advantage is what the numbers do not capture. The February half-term crowds have gone home. Tour availability opens up. Operators who were fully booked in December and February have slots — and they discount to fill them. The same husky safari that costs €270 in December can be €190-220 in March. The same glass igloo that sold for €500/night in December is €300-350. And you are experiencing it with 10 hours of proper daylight instead of 3 hours of grey twilight.
March is also the month when everything is still fully operational. Unlike April, when many husky kennels and snowmobile operators start winding down as the snow softens, March has full winter infrastructure running at peak quality — just with fewer people competing for it. All tours mentioned below are available on Viator — browse all Rovaniemi winter tours to check March availability.
March Weather — What It Actually Feels Like
The raw temperature in March typically ranges from -5°C to -15°C, occasionally dipping to -20°C overnight. But here is what matters more than the number: the sun is actually warm. By midday in mid-March, you can stand outside in a fleece and feel the sun on your face — something that never happens in December. The snow reflects that sunlight, amplifying the feeling of warmth.
The daylight progression through March is dramatic. March 1st: about 10 hours of daylight (sunrise ~07:30, sunset ~17:30). March 15th: closer to 11.5 hours. March 31st: nearly 13 hours, with the clocks springing forward on the last Sunday. By late March you can do a morning husky safari, an afternoon snowmobile tour, and still have daylight for an evening aurora chase — a triple-header that is impossible in December or January.
Aurora viewing in March is excellent. The skies are statistically clearer than December-January. Solar activity is still strong. And the warmer temperatures mean you can stand outside for an hour photographing the lights without your camera battery dying in 10 minutes. The aurora season in Rovaniemi runs through early April — March is the final full month of reliable viewing.
March Tour Availability — What's Running and What's Not
| Activity | March Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Husky safaris | ✓ Full operation | Dogs prefer cooler temps — March is ideal. All kennels running. |
| Snowmobile tours | ✓ Full operation | Best month — firm trails, daylight, comfortable temps. |
| Northern lights | ✓ Excellent | Aurora season through early April. Clearer skies than Dec/Jan. |
| Reindeer farms | ✓ Full operation | Reindeer are in the forests. Farm visits and sleigh rides running. |
| Ice fishing | ✓ Running | Lakes frozen solid through late March. Ice ~60-80cm thick. |
| Ice hotels | ✓ Open | Arctic Snow Hotel open through end of March. Ice bar operational. |
| Santa Claus Village | ✓ Open year-round | Less crowded. Santa receives visitors daily. |
Best March Tours — What to Book
These four tours are what I recommend to friends visiting in March. Each is confirmed running through at least late March, and each represents exceptional value compared to peak December pricing.
1. Husky Safari — The Dogs Are at Their Best
March temperatures are perfect for huskies. They overheat above -5°C but thrive at -10°C to -15°C — exactly March's daytime range. The snowpack is deep and firm, the trails are well-groomed after a full season of use, and the daylight means you actually see the forest you are sledding through. The 5km Lapland Husky Experience (from $117.67) is the best entry-level option — manageable distance, family-friendly, and includes thermal suits. For a more immersive experience, the 10km Taiga Forest Safari (from $272.18) from a family-run kennel takes you into genuinely remote forest that most tourists never see.
2. Snowmobile Safari — T-Shirt Weather (Under Your Thermal Suit)
Snowmobiling in March is the best it gets all winter. The air temperature is -5°C to -10°C during the day — cold enough for firm snow but warm enough that you are not fighting the cold while riding. The trails are hard-packed after months of use. The daylight means you can actually see the landscape. The Snowmobile & Northern Lights combo (from $188.98) is the standout value — you snowmobile through forest trails at dusk, then stop at a remote camp for aurora watching. Two activities in one evening, and the snowmobile portion benefits from March's twilight lasting longer than in December.
3. Northern Lights — Final Full Month of Aurora Season
The aurora is active through March, and the odds are better than December for one simple reason: cloud cover is lower. March skies over southern Lapland average 50-60% cloud cover versus 70%+ in December. You also have the advantage of 10+ hours of daylight — meaning your aurora chase starts at a civilised 20:00-21:00 rather than 17:00, and you are not exhausted from a day spent in near-darkness. The Guaranteed Viewing with Unlimited Mileage tour (from $236.52) is worth the investment — the guide will drive 200km+ if needed, and March's road conditions are better than midwinter for long chases.
4. Reindeer Farm — Quieter, More Personal Visits
Reindeer farm visits in March are more relaxed than the December crush. The herders have more time to talk. The sleigh rides are not rushed. And the reindeer themselves are in good condition — they have been fed through the winter and are not at the stressed peak of the Christmas tourism surge. The Arctic Reindeer Hike (from $141.44) is a proper 2-3 hour forest walk with a herder, not a 500-metre circuit around a pen — and in March the forest is stunning, with sunlight filtering through snow-heavy branches.
Who March Is NOT For
March is not ideal if your priority is the Christmas atmosphere — Santa Claus Village operates year-round but the festive decorations, Christmas markets, and seasonal magic are strongest in late November and early December. March is not ideal if you want the polar night experience (kaamos) — there is no true darkness during the day. And March is not ideal if you specifically want the coldest possible temperatures for bragging rights — -15°C is cold but it is not -30°C.
March is ideal if you want: the best value for money on winter tours, fewer crowds, longer daylight for activities, comfortable temperatures for being outdoors all day, and aurora viewing with better odds than December. If that sounds like your trip, March is the month.
Practical March Tips
- Book by January for March. While March is less crowded than December, the best tours still fill 4-6 weeks ahead — especially the small-group aurora chases and family-run husky kennels.
- Pack for variability. March can swing from -20°C overnight to 0°C on a sunny afternoon. Layering is essential — a merino base layer, fleece mid-layer, and a shell that you can add or remove as needed. See our full packing list.
- Bring sunglasses. The March sun reflecting off snow is genuinely blinding. Snow blindness is real and painful. Polarised sunglasses are not optional.
- Check the clocks. Finland moves to daylight saving time on the last Sunday of March. Your tour pickup time may shift — confirm with your operator.
- Aurora chases start later. In March, tours typically depart 20:00-21:00 rather than 17:00-18:00 in December, because true darkness arrives later. This means you can have a full day of activities and still chase the lights.
