Finnish Lapland in Winter
Finnish Lapland in Winter
Finnish Lapland in Winter
8 Days Starting in Helsinki and ending in Rovaniemi
Visiting: Helsinki, Helsinki / Overnight Train, Rovaniemi / Yllastunturi, Yllastunturi, Rovaniemi
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BMXF
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Visit Lapland – a magical place of Arctic landscapes and snow-dusted woodlands – on this eight-day adventure through northern Finland. Strap on your hiking boots and crunch a path through Finland’s taigas, experience the rush of a real dogsled, then get cosy with the locals over a glass of salmari. From the docks of Helsinki to remote Yllastunturi and Santa’s workshop in Rovaniemi, witness a part of the world where Christmas always feels close.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Helsinki
Location: Helsinki
Accommodation: Hotel
Hei! Welcome to Finland. Your adventure begins in Helsinki with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening, where you’ll meet your leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe head out and pick up some local souvenirs at the lively Market Square or explore the Design District. Finnish architecture is revered around the world for its simplicity and deep connection with nature – just walk around Senate Square and see for yourself! After your welcome meeting, maybe get your group together to sample some traditional dishes, like karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pies) or Ruisleipa (rye bread).
Day 2: Helsinki / Overnight Train
Location: Helsinki / Overnight Train
Accommodation: Overnight Train
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast, join your leader on an orientation walk around Finland’s capital city. Once you get your bearings, the rest of the day is free to explore Helsinki as you wish. Maybe check out the UNESCO World Heritage site Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, located on a group of islands off the coast of Helsinki. Just a ferry ride away, the fortress was originally built to by the Swedish to protect against Russian expansion. You could also acquaint yourself with the Finnish sauna culture by visiting a public sauna and unwinding. This evening, board the famous 'Santa Claus Express', a comfortable overnight train to Rovaniemi, known to many as the hometown of Santa Claus.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Rovaniemi / Yllastunturi
Location: Rovaniemi / Yllastunturi
Accommodation: Guesthouse
This morning, wake up in Rovaniemi – the capital of Finnish Lapland – and depart your train. Continue by private vehicle to a family-run guesthouse deep in the Finnish forest. This location will be your base for the next four nights, situated near Yllastunturi, a popular cross-country and downhill skiing destination. If the skies are clear tonight, take a stroll through the snow and look skywards for the dancing green lights of the Aurora. Far away from the city light pollution, the guesthouse is an ideal base to spot the Northern Lights. The natural display of coloured lights in the night sky is often visible in the high northern hemisphere – there's even an open-top shelter nearby from which to observe them. Grab a hot drink, wrap up and head out into the winter wonderland.
Optional Activities:
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Day 4: Yllastunturi
Location: Yllastunturi
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
Make sure you wrap up for today’s adventures – you'll be racing across the landscape on the back of a dog sled! These incredible huskies are in their element, barking excitedly before darting along sprawling trails. With the wind in your hair, ride through the snow as your new four-legged friends pull you forward. After the ride, warm up by an open fire and enjoy sausages and pulla (a Finnish sweet roll). If you’re lucky, you might even get to give the dogs a pet and a cuddle.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Yllastunturi
Location: Yllastunturi
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
Although Lapland is often associated with winter tourism, it’s much more than just a destination for tourists. See how locals live by visiting a traditional Sami family, who’ll guide you through their daily life. These indigenous people have a deep connection to the Arctic environment, and reindeer herding is a central to their culture. Take a look at one of their traditional tents – also known as a lavvu – and then get ready for a snowshoeing expedition. Far away from the city lights, you’ll have a good chance of spotting the aurora borealis this evening.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Yllastunturi
Location: Yllastunturi
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
Yllastunturi is home to Finland’s largest skiing resort, featuring some of the longest downhill skiing runs in the country. Today you’ll have a free day to explore this winter wonderland at your leisure. You might want to hit the slopes yourself, either through cross-country skiing or downhill. If that sounds like too much physical activity, ice fishing is also an option – plus, you might reel in your own dinner! If it’s very cold, try tossing boiling water into the air and see if it freezes before it hits the ground. This phenomenon is called the ‘Mpemba Effect’ and is free to try.
Optional Activities:
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Day 7: Rovaniemi
Location: Rovaniemi
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
After breakfast, return to Rovaniemi by private vehicle. With a free afternoon to explore the city, you can stop off at Santa Claus Village or go hiking along the Ounasvaara Winter Trail. If you’re interested in the history and culture of Lapland, check out Arktikum, the Museum of Finland. Or get familiar with modern art from a northern perspective in Korundi House of Culture. Perhaps round your group up for a farewell dinner and toast to your Finnish adventure!
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 8: Rovaniemi
Location: Rovaniemi
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your trip comes to an end today after breakfast. If you'd like to extend your stay, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), Guesthouse (4 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night) -
Helsinki to Rovaniemi - Santa Claus Express Overnight Train
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Yllästunturi - Dog Sledding
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Yllästunturi - Reindeer Farm Visit
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Yllästunturi - Finnish Bath
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Meals
6 breakfasts
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Helsinki – Helsinki Leader led orientation walk
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Yllästunturi - Traditional Finnish Smoke Sauna
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Rovaniemi – Rovaniemi Leader led orientation walk
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- OVERNIGHT TRAIN
- Finnish overnight trains are a very comfortable way to travel long distances without losing valuable time to explore the destinations. Compartments usually consist of 3 or 4 berths (2 bottom bunks and 1 or 2 top bunks), lockable doors with key-card access, communal bathroom facilities at the end of each carriage (sink and toilet), and plenty of space for luggage. Blankets, pillows and linen are provided, and each berth has a reading light. The exact layout of the cabin depends on the carriage type the group are allocated to. All trains have heating, however please note that windows can't be opened.
Accommodation
- OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
- TWIN SHARE BASIS
- Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
- CHECK-IN TIME
- Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
- PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
- If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
- FACILITIES
- Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Included Activities
- Yllästunturi - Dog Sledding
- Yllästunturi - Reindeer Farm Visit
Important Information
- 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, subject to availability at the time of booking. The price of the single supplement does not include the night of Day 2 - Overnight Train.
- Please also note that due to the small properties we use in Europe there is only a limited amount of single supplements available per trip departure. If you would like to book a single supplement and enquire about availability please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 2. Lapland can be extremely cold at this time of year. Please bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions. During days 3-6 you will be given additional snowsuits from our local hosts as part of your package. These outdoor outfits are intended to be used on top of your own warm clothes or used to keep your main clothes dry. Please see the Packing section in the Essential Trip Information document for more details on what is available for hire in location and what we recommend you should bring along.
Mode of Transport
- OVERNIGHT TRAIN
- Finnish overnight trains are a very comfortable way to travel long distances without losing valuable time to explore the destinations. Compartments usually consist of 3 or 4 berths (2 bottom bunks and 1 or 2 top bunks), lockable doors with key-card access, communal bathroom facilities at the end of each carriage (sink and toilet), and plenty of space for luggage. Blankets, pillows and linen are provided, and each berth has a reading light. The exact layout of the cabin depends on the carriage type the group are allocated to. All trains have heating, however please note that windows can't be opened.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
Lapland can be extremely cold at this time of year. Please bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions. Please see the Packing section in the Essential Trip Information document for more details. There may be the rare occasion where your leader has to alter the itinerary and activities due to the weather. In this case an alternative will be offered. Please also note that even though it will be cold, not always will there be snow cover, especially on the departures earlier in the winter season. In these cases snow dependent activities will be replaced with suitable alternatives.
The Northern Lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis) are a natural display of coloured lights in the night sky of the northern hemisphere. While Northern Light displays can never be guaranteed, as they are a natural phenomenon, you have a higher chance of seeing them in locations at high latitudes, such as Northern Finland. Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies during your visit.
As accommodation on this trip is twin share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. However, if you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge. Please ask your travel consultant for more details. Also, hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Please also be aware that many guesthouses offer shared bathrooms rather than en-suite facilities. Rooms in Finland can be small, and at times you may be accommodated a short walk away from the main building.
Finland can be an expensive destination in terms of eating out. Your leader will be able to advise on how to save money. In Yllastunturi the only option for dinner will be at the guesthouse we are staying at, or alternatively there are cafes and restaurants in the nearby town (approximately 35 minutes on foot, or a short taxi ride away).
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight Under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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