Scandinavian Northern Lights
Scandinavian Northern Lights
Scandinavian Northern Lights
9 Days Starting in Helsinki and ending in Stockholm
Visiting: Helsinki, Ivalo, Saariselkä, Rovaniemi, Gammelstad, Luleå, Jokkmokk, Kiruna, Stockholm
Tour Overview
Snow, Santa Claus and the fascinating culture of the Sámi people await on this arctic adventure in pursuit of the Northern Lights that dance across the dark winter skies of Finland and Sweden.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Helsinki
Location: Helsinki
Accommodation: Holiday Inn City Centre
Meals Included: Welcome Reception
Welcome to Helsinki! This lively hub for creativity and design is the perfect start to your northern adventure and your search for the mystical Northern Lights. On arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel. There's time to freshen up and enjoy the Finnish sauna or rooftop pool before joining your Local Specialist for a city sightseeing tour. Later, a Welcome Reception will set the tone for your epic Scandinavian adventure.
Day 2: Journey To Saariselkä Dive Into Culture
Location: Helsinki, Ivalo, Saariselkä
Accommodation: Santa's Tunturi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today our flight takes us north from Helsinki, across the Arctic Circle to Ivalo. On arrival, we delve into the centuries-old traditions and heritage of the Sámi people on our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Siida Sámi Museum on the shores of Lake Inari. Explore the museum’s collections showcasing the spirit and history of Sámi culture over the centuries, as well as the evolution of the Sámi languages, Northern Lapland’s unique natural environment and how this community has survived and indeed thrived in the Arctic's extremes. Later, a short drive brings us to the enchanting snowy escape of Saariselkä, our home for the next two nights.
Day 3: Discover The Arctic Dive Into Culture
Location: Saariselkä
Accommodation: Santa's Tunturi
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is your chance to try your hand at some winter activities. Perhaps ride a snowmobile, try snow shoeing, or build yourself a snowman. This evening, you'll want to join an Optional Experience to go out 'hunting' for the Northern Lights with an expert Local Specialist, who will explain this extraordinary phenomenon and maximise your chance of a sighting.
Day 4: Off To Santa Claus Village And Rovaniemi Dive Into Culture Stays With Stories
Location: Saariselkä, Rovaniemi
Accommodation: Apukka Resort Aurora Cabins
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel south to Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus, where you'll discover the magic of Christmas and Dive Into Culture at Santa’s official post office. Send a letter to your loved ones or snap a selfie at the edge of the Arctic Circle before continuing on to visit Rudolph and his friends. Dive Into Culture once more as we visit the home of Santa’s sleigh-pullers. Be sure to bundle up for this unique opportunity to get up close and personal with these incredible Arctic creatures. The perfect finale to this amazing day comes when we check in to tonight’s iconic Stays With Stories hotel. Spend the night gazing upwards through your Aurora Cabin’s perfectly positioned glass roof in search of the Northern Lights, all while staying warm and cosy in the middle of the Arctic wilderness.
Day 5: Venture To Luleå In Swedish Lapland
Location: Rovaniemi, Gammelstad, Luleå
Accommodation: Elite Stadshotellet
Meals Included: Breakfast
Bid farewell to Finland, bound for Sweden. Today you will visit the unique church village of Gammelstad, UNESCO-listed for its 424 wooden houses built around an early 15th-century stone church, providing visitors with a view of what such a village would have looked like in northern Scandinavia several centuries ago. Continue to Luleå, the largest city in Swedish Lapland. Tonight perhaps join an Optional Experience to enjoy a dinner of locally-sourced Nordic specialties in a stunning lakeside lodge.
Day 6: Onwards To Kiruna Connect With Locals
Location: Luleå, Jokkmokk, Kiruna
Accommodation: Scandic Kiruna
Meals Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest
This morning we venture north to Jokkmokk, an historic meeting place for the indigenous Sámi people for trade and festivals alike. Enjoy a guided tour through the fascinating Ájtte museum, learning the story of life and survival in the demanding northern climate. Continue on to Kiruna, the most northerly town in Sweden, where tonight we will Connect With Locals over a truly unique Be My Guest experience, joining members of a Sámi family for a traditional meal.
Day 7: Kiruna Your Way
Location: Kiruna
Accommodation: Scandic Kiruna
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you have a free day to get acquainted with this Swedish mining centre, which is in the process of being relocated a few miles from its original location due to the growing size of the iron mine beneath its surface. Perhaps join a unique Optional Experience, navigating the snowy landscape on a husky safari, holding on tight as the eager dogs race across the white landscape. This exhilarating encounter with one of the most special canine breeds in the world is an experience you'll never forget. In the afternoon, you might choose to visit the incredible Icehotel on an Optional Experience to marvel at the ice sculptures and have a drink at the Ice Bar. Tonight, be sure to take the last chance to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights in this extraordinary Arctic environment.
Day 8: Enjoy Stunning Stockholm
Location: Kiruna, Stockholm
Accommodation: Clarion
Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
This morning we depart the frozen north to fly to Stockholm, Sweden’s sophisticated capital. We join a Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of the city locals refer to as 'beauty on the water', built on 14 islands where the lakes meet the sea. Tonight, your journey across Lapland in search of the mystical Northern Lights comes to an end with a walk through the cobbled streets of the Old Town and a memorable Farewell Dinner with new friends.
Day 9: Farewell Stockholm
Location: Stockholm
Meals Included: Breakfast
As our journey in the snowy Arctic lands of reindeer and Father Christmas comes to an end, the memories of ancient Sámi culture and Nordic traditions in our hearts, we bid a fond farewell to newfound friends. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
What's Included
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1 Be My Guest
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1 Farewell Dinner
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1 Welcome Reception
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2 Dinners
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8 Breakfasts
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
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Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Check out our Q&As
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Trafalgar allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform trafalgar, 90 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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