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How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Finnish Lapland

From the northern lights to the legendary sauna culture, this arctic destination has it all. Here's what you won't want to miss.

Milamai / Getty Images

Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, is the place to go to check more than a few once-in-a-lifetime experiences off your list — like seeing the northern lights and experiencing the midnight sun. The arctic destination has stunning nighttime skies, wide-open landscapes, and air so fresh it can make you happier. Here’s how to plan a trip to Finnish Lapland that you’ll never forget. 

When to Go to Finnish Lapland

Here’s the good news about Lapland: It’s always beautiful out — well, depending on how you define “beautiful.” The region's peak travel season falls between December and February thanks to a natural phenomenon we’ll get to in a moment. During this period, the region’s average temperature ranges from 3 to 37 degrees Fahrenheit, though it can get down to as low as minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit with added wind chill. 

By contrast, temperatures in the summer can be much milder, usually ranging from 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a prime time to visit the area for hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor adventures.

How to See the Northern Lights in Finnish Lapland

Many visitors travel to Finnish Lapland to take in a few breathtaking natural occurrences — including the aurora borealis, or northern lights. You can see this phenomenon any time between August and April, though it occurs more frequently around the equinoxes in late September and late March. Visit then and look to the sky on clear nights for a chance to witness this incredible celestial light show.

Those looking for a more curated experience can ask their hotel for recommendations, or they can book a guided trip like a  three-hour aurora borealis picnic  in Rovaniemi, which includes a short hike to an outpost with warm drinks and food. You can also take  a snowmobile tour or, the most adventurous of all, an aurora ice floating experience in Rovaniemi . It's just as it sounds — guests don dry suits and set out on a frozen lake to lie back and blissfully gaze up into the night sky.

How to See the Midnight Sun in Finnish Lapland 

Giles Clarke / Getty Images

If you’re not much of a night owl, that’s okay because Finnish Lapland offers another spectacular show: the midnight sun. From late May until early August, the tilt of the Earth means the sky never gets dark. Make the most of the near-constant daylight by taking a hike, going fishing, or even playing a round of golf when you'd normally be asleep. 

What Else to Do in Finnish Lapland

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Go for a hike.

Finnish Lapland is chock full of  stellar hiking trails  fit for all levels. The Arctic Circle and Inari hiking areas offer everything from one-hour hikes to all-day wilderness adventures, as well as restrooms and visitor centers. 

Hit the sauna.

Sauna culture has long been an integral part of Finnish life , and there’s no better spot to experience it than in  Tampere , the sauna capital of the world. Come for the public spas, but stay for the arts, culture, and attractions like the Tampere Market Hall, the largest indoor market in Scandinavia. 

Paddle your way through the region.

Explore Finnish Lapland from a different perspective by taking to its rivers for a canoeing adventure. During the warmer months, you can take in the amazing views as you meander along calming waterways. Try this six-hour canoe trip  down the River Kapsajoki, which includes a campfire lunch and opportunities for fishing. 

Visit Santa Claus.

Fun fact: Santa lives in Finland. And you can visit him any time of year at the  Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. Kris Kringle and his elves open their famous home and workshop all 365 days of the year. Meet the man himself, cross the Arctic Circle (which passes through the theme park), embark on a snowmobile safari adventure in the Lapland wilderness, and dine in a restaurant made of snow while you're there.

Where to Stay in Finnish Lapland 

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Arctic TreeHouse Hotel

At the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel in Rovaniemi, guests can enjoy a host of creature comforts in a nature-centric setting. Every room comes with fur throws and floor-to-ceiling windows, while some even have soaking tubs, fireplaces, and decks from which to take in the surrounding forest. Book the chic two-bedroom Arctic GlassHouse  to enjoy all the bells and whistles.

Seaside Glass Villas

Need more of a view? Spend a few nights at  Seaside Glass Villas , a collection of box-shaped bungalows in the waterfront town of Kemi. Each one has a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Bothnian Bay, as well as a glass roof through which you can enjoy incredible views of the northern lights while lying in bed.

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

You might recognize Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort's gorgeous glass-domed igloos from your Instagram feed, but even the best photos can't capture the magic of actually staying in one. Book the kelo-glass igloo to combine the privacy of a log chalet with the wow factor of the northern lights dancing over your bed.

Those seeking to stay in the lap of luxury need look no further than  Octola , an exclusive five-star hideaway with just 12 rooms and two chalets. Guests can book a single room or buy out the entire space if they want to bring along family and friends. 

What to Pack 

Packing for a summer trip to Finnish Lapland is relatively easy. Just bring whatever you normally would for any other summer getaway — shorts, T-shirts, a bathing suit, pants, and a light jacket for cooler nights. 

If you plan to visit in winter, you'll need to bust out the big checked bag and pack it with cozy thermal underwear, insulated snow boots with a grip, an insulated jacket, waterproof or snowproof pants , a few wool sweaters, warm gloves and socks, a hat, a scarf, and some instant heat packs to throw in your gloves and boots. If your feet tend to get cold, then foot warmers are another option. Don’t forget your camera, and make sure to pack extra batteries — they will drain quickly in the cold weather. 

How to Get There 

Despite being located in Finland's far north, getting to Lapland isn’t nearly as difficult as you may think. First, fly into Helsinki, then, depending on your final destination, continue to either Kemi or Rovaniemi by regional flight. Finnair and Norwegian Air each offer a 90-minute nonstop to Rovaniemi, or you can board a one-stop Finnair flight to Kemi via Kokkola-Jakobstad Airport in Kronoby.

If you've got the time, a scenic seven-hour train ride will get you from Helsinki to Kemi (the ride to Rovaniemi takes 8.5 hours). You can also travel between Rovaniemi and Kemi by train for a 90-minute intra-Lapland adventure.

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Home » Blog » The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Lapland, Finland in Winter

The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Lapland, Finland in Winter

Lapland, Finland is the ultimate winter travel destination! This dreamy part of the world has it all… think reindeer sleigh rides, dog sledding, northern lights, amazing hotels, authentic saunas, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and much, much more!

In this blog post, I’m sharing all the insider tips on everything you need to know for planning your own trip to Lapland, Finland. Including how to get there, which regions to visit, the best things to do, and recommended places to stay.

This trip was in collaboration with Visit Finland. As always, all opinions and reviews are completely my own and truthful. We had such a great time in Finland and I’m excited to share what we got up to!

Lapland Travel Basics

Best time to go: Dec to March Visit time: 5 to 7 days Getting around: rental car Currency: euro

Getting to Lapland

It’s fairly easy to get to Lapland, Finland. The first step is to fly into Helsinki , which has daily flights to/from many major cities in North America, Europe, and Asia.

My husband and I flew with Finnair from Seattle to Helsinki, with a stopover in NYC. We opted to stay one night in Helsinki so we could explore a little of the city and get a feel of southern Finnish culture. In just one afternoon we managed to walk a few miles around the city, seeing places like Market Square, the Helsinki Cathedral, Uspenski Cathedral, and some of the picturesque residential streets.

We spent the night at Hotel St. George Helsinki , which was conveniently located alongside City Park and a short walk from the train station. Their rooms and customer service were impeccable – would highly recommend it! During your stay in Helsinki, I would also suggest eating at Pizzeria Via Tribunali . A reader recommended it to us and we had the most delicious and authentic pizza… which was not necessarily our expectation for a Nordic trip!

To get from Helsinki to Lapland you can either drive or catch a domestic flight from Helsinki Airport. The flights are fairly affordable with Finnair, so I would recommend that option over driving long hours on potentially icy winter roads.

During winter there are regular flights to destinations such as Kittila, Ivalo, Kuusamo, Kemi, and Rovaniemi. We opted to fly into Ivalo to begin our journey (more information below on how to choose the best Lapland destinations!)

Which region to visit

The Lapland region of Finland is made up of numerous municipalities and towns. Each destination offers different sights, activities, and hotels. Listed below are some of the main winter destinations and what they are best known for. Note that there are more locations than these, but I tried to keep things reasonably condensed!

• Levi: skiing, northern lights, beautiful hotels, reindeer excursions, husky safaris, snowshoeing
• Inari / Ivalo:  northern lights, reindeer excursions, husky safaris, snowmobiling, Sámi museums and cultural experiences
• Saariselkä: skiing, northern lights, snowshoeing, reindeer excursions, husky safaris
• Ruka / Kuusamo: skiing, snowshoeing, reindeer excursions, husky safaris
• Ylläs: skiing, snowshoeing, northern lights
• Kemi: sea icebreaker tours, arctic swimming in the Baltic Sea
• Kilpisjärvi: northern lights, snowshoeing, solitude
• Rovaniemi: Santa Claus and all things Christmas!

We opted to split our week-long trip into the following destinations and I think it was the perfect mix! I also felt like a week was a good amount of time to explore Lapland, though a couple more days would have been happily welcomed!

• 1 night in Helsinki
• 2 nights in Inari
• 1 night in Saariselkä
• 3 nights in Levi

This gave us some nice variation and a chance to explore multiple areas. You could also certainly stay one week in a single destination – either option would work and it depends on how you like to travel! The Visit Finland website has some great information about each destination if you want to delve further into the specifics. I will also be posting destination-specific blog posts within the coming weeks – so watch this space!

Where to stay

We’ve all seen those incredible photos featuring the aurora cabins and tree-houses of Lapland, right?! My husband and I were lucky enough to stay in a few bucket-list-worthy hotels during our trip BUT do keep in mind that they aren’t the only options available. There are a variety of lodging options to choose from in Lapland – ranging from more affordable to more pricey.

Traveling as a family or in a group ? You are probably best to rent a large cabin that has multiple rooms, a kitchen, communal areas, etc. This will help keep costs down and allow for more flexibility around meals and travel. In Levi, we stayed 2 nights in one of Polar Star Travel’s beautiful log cabins, which was even fitted with a private sauna!

You can still experience Lapland, Finland on a budget ! In saying that, I am not going to pretend it’s a super affordable place to travel during the winter months. Some more budget-friendly lodging options can be found on Airbnb , ranging from shared accommodation, private rooms, and even entire cabins/homes. You could also look into options such as couch-surfing and house-sitting/swaps.

Best things to do

Lapland, Finland is one of the world’s best destinations for unique winter adventures and activities. I mean, how many places can you take a sunrise husky sledding tour, a midday sauna experience, a sunset snowshoe, and finish the day with a northern lights snowmobiling tour?!

There are countless options of tours and self-guided adventures to take during the winter months in Lapland. I have listed some of the most common below and will go into more depth in my upcoming blog posts!

• Visit a reindeer farm and take a sleigh ride/safari
• Take a husky dog sledding adventure
• Try out skiing or snowboarding down a Finnish “fell” (mountain)
• Go on a snowshoe hiking adventure
• Enjoy an arctic hammock relaxation tour in the forest
• Have an authentic sauna and hot tub experience
• Watch the northern lights on a dedicated tour or from an aurora cabin
• Take a snowmobiling adventure on a frozen lake
• Walk through a man-made ice and snow gallery
• Toboggan down a fell under the northern lights
• Learn about and immerse yourself in the local Sámi culture
• Take a photography tour on capturing Lapland’s unique beauty
• Sample Lappish food and learn about local culinary culture
• Try out ice fishing on a frozen lake
• Take an arctic swim in the Baltic Sea
• Experience an icebreaker sea excursion
• Visit the home of Santa Claus

I would say my favorite activities of the trip were experiencing the northern lights, snowshoeing up a fell to watch the sunset, taking a reindeer sleigh ride, and being treated to an authentic Finnish sauna… but I LOVED everything we did!

One thing to keep in mind is that it can be quite cold when doing these activities.

For example, we had a cold snap during our visit and it was -35C the morning we took a reindeer sleigh ride and also in the evenings when we were viewing the northern lights. Having adequate winter clothing and gear is imperative – find out what to pack for a trip to the Arctic in this blog post !

I hope this blog post was a nice starting place for your Lapland, Finland trip planning. As previously mentioned, I will be publishing more blog posts on this topic (destination specific guides, how to best experience the northern lights and more) – watch this space! Let me know in the comments if there is something specific you would like me to share.

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16 comments

Great article about Finnish Lapland, thank you! If you are planning to revisit the Ruka area or if Finland is on your bucket list, welcome to our modern and spacious villa at Ruka 🙂

Wow 😲, really a great resources for visiting Lapland.

Hej renee, after reading your article,I have commented that Lapland is in my bucket list, finally I made Dog-sledding trip in Lapland. HUHU

Thank you! I am just beginning to look at planning a winter trip to Lapland for next year. Can you discuss how you traveled between the Lapland cities you visited? Is it possible to do this without a rental car or is it best to rent a car once you arrive in Lapland?

Hi Renee, thanks for an amazing post, actually I was thinking about to travel to Scandinavia, And this article is really helpful for me to find something special from there.

Amazing post Renee and comprehensive description. Lapland is in my bucket list too but I want to combine with Swedish and Finnish at once.

We’re planning. What a wonderful synopsis. We’re also going to be leaving out of Seattle.

Makes me wanna go there asap! 😍 I can’t wait for your more detailed lapland travel guide. 😍😍😍

This is my absolute dream!!!!

Greetings from Kuusamo! Nice blogpost! Next time visit Ruka, Kuusamo??

Thank you 🙂 We would love to next time!

I’m planning a trip to Finland for Winter next year and found this blog post very informative! Thanks Renee 🙂

Did you drive from Saariselka to Levi? How were the road conditions? Your photos from this trip are gorgeous!

I love Lapland!

This looks like an incredible trip! Finland is definitely on my bucket list, and the more I think about it the more I want to visit in winter.

Another wonderful blogpost Renee. I’m certainly putting Finland on my bucket list now I’ve seen all your stunning photos. Looking forward to your more detailed posts.

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Santa’s Lapland Review – A Holiday of a Lifetime

Taking a Lapland holiday was something we only dreamt of. I honestly never thought we would actually do it.  Looking out of the window of the plane at the snow covered land, the girls couldn’t believe it. And neither could I – it was such a beautiful landscape. We were all so excited to be going to see Father Christmas !

We travelled to Lapland with Santa’s Lapland in December 2021 and as first timers to this magical winter wonderland, I really can’t recommend them enough. Powder white snow covers every surface as far as the eye can see and this trip was everything we could have wished for – It was a dream come true.

(DISCLOSURE: We were invited to stay in Lapland by Santa’s Lapland but all thoughts and opinions are my own).

Lapland is the most wonderful places to take a Santa breaks with family, especially little ones. As someone who hates the cold and refused to ever go on a snow holiday I am now totally hooked. I feel I need to plan in a snow holiday every year – It took my breath away and was the most magical experience ever. The girls (who are 6 & 3 at the time of writing this article), were so excited to see where all the Christmas magic happens and to meet Santa himself.

In this article I have covered a day by day itinerary into our magical Lapland holidays, as well as some helpful hints and tips about clothing and things to do in Saariselkä, Lapland.

Table of Contents

Santa’s Lapland Review – The Best Lapland Holiday

We all want to make Christmas as magical as possible whilst the children are small. We decorate our homes, bake, visit grottos but the ultimate Christmas experience to remember would be a Lapland holiday to visit Santa in person. We were lucky enough to head off on our own adventure with the girls with Santa’s Lapland in December 2021.

Lapland is located at the northernmost tip of Finland, deep within the Arctic Circle. It is the most magical, snow-filled Christmas wonderland and we had the most amazing winter holiday that none of us will ever forget.

Who are Santa’s Lapland?

Every Christmas dream or fairy tale starts in the North Pole. It is one of the most magical places any family could visit and take a short break. Santa’s Lapland is the perfect choice.  We spent 4 days in Lapland, Finland with Santa’s Lapland. Santa’s Lapland are a tour operator based in the UK who organise amazing trips to Finnish Lapland. These unforgettable trips aim to be as easy as possible with everything packaged up and provide families with a festive, magical holiday including reindeers, husky-sleds; snowmobile and skidoo rides as well of visiting Santa Claus in his log-cabin.

Santa’s Lapland will arrange everything for you to make sure you have the best time, which makes everything so easy – just what us parents need when we have young children.  Flights, transfers, accommodation and all of the activities are included in the package so you literally just have to turn up at the airport.

Santa’s Lapland offer two packages, Santa’s Magic and Santa’s Aurora. You can either choose from a 3 day, or 4 day Lapland holiday. Pop over to the Santa’s Lapland website to see both packages. Both also fly from a number of UK airports, so there is one to suit most family’s locations.

Santa’s Lapland Location

Santa’s Lapland is located in Saariselkä, in Finnish Lapland, which is way up north in the Arctic Circle. It actually overlaps the borders of four different countries and the native Sami people of Lapland always roamed freely across all four countries. Saariselkä is a little Finnish village – the official home of Santa Claus

Our Lapland Holiday with Santa’s Lapland

We spent 4 days in Saariselkä Lapland, Finland and chose the Santa’s Magic package. We would highly recommend the 4 days so that you can really enjoy everything about Lapland. My girls just loved the snow and the 4 day package gives you the chance to do all the things kids really love when you are on a snow holiday – play in the snow!

A large part of day one of your Santa’s Lapland holiday is spent travelling and getting prepared for your few days in the snow.

We took a direct flights- non-stop to Ivalo airport in Saariselkä – you can fly in from 13 regional airports and the flight takes approximately 3.5 hours. The flight itself was one that I have never experienced before with Christmas singing and games the whole way. It really got all the children and adults in the festive spirit ahead of visiting Santa in Lapland!

When you arrive in Lapland you will be welcomed by Santa’s Elves in the airport, followed by a 25 minute transfer by coach with lots of snowy scenery to the accommodation. You are assigned a coach for your stay – We were Snowberry – and you stay in this group throughout your stay.

Before you reach your Lapland hotel, you get taken to the Lapland Safari Center to collect all of your snow gear. As part of our package, you are given a snow suit, snow boots, gloves and woolen socks so there really is no need to bring your own snow gear, just plenty of layers depnding on the temperature when you stay. It was -36 on one of our days so we needed plenty – but we didn’t get too cold despite it being freezing outside (more on what to wear later)! From there, we headed around the corner to our hotel.

Hotels in Lapland

Santa’s Lapland really do get the accommodation options right. I am forever looking for family holidays that cater for larger families with large hotel rooms with more than one bedroom.

There are a number of Lapland hotels to choose from that are all centrally located to Saariselka, these all vary in size and facilities. The largest accommodation caters for up to 13 people so friends and family can all stay together.

Our Accommodation at Santa’s Lapland

We stayed at Santa’s Hotel Tunturi in a four room apartment (Type F on the website). It couldn’t have suited us better. The hotel is set in a wooded area close to the cross-country ski trails and a 2 min walk from the main building when the main bar and restaurant is located.

Our suite was over 2 floors with stair gates on the stairs. The 3 bedrooms were perfect for us with one on the ground floor and 2 on the second. The main bathroom had a shower, toilet and sauna, and there was another toilet on the second. It was great to also have a small kitchen with a small cooker and microwave for snacks, and it came complete with tea, coffee and sugar. The suites all have free WiFi.

By the time you arrive to your hotel and get yourself organized, there is just enough time for a play in the snow (because that’s what everyone wants to do right!) before heading to dinner.

Meals in Lapland

You dine on a half board basis in Lapland, but we really only need to buy one lunch meal whilst at the hotel so additional costs are kept at a minimum. There is a choice of buffet food for breakfast and dinner, and on the last night you’ll get to enjoy a special Gala Buffet Dinner. All of which is located in the main Saariselkä building.

The food was fairly basic which of course the kids loved – chicken nuggets, pizza, burgers and chips, with chicken, fish and salad options for the adults.

Day 2 – Snow Day

Lapland at Christmas is one of the most magical things you will ever do in your lifetime – the snow actually sparkles like millions of tiny diamonds, it’s just incredible.

One of the strangest parts of our Lapland trip was the light. I hadn’t quite prepared myself for how dark it would be. Whilst we were there, the sun rose at 10.30am, and set at 2.30pm, which meant a lot of the day is spent playing in the dark which, in our opinion added to the fun and the magic – it was a real Christmas winter wonderland.

If you are taking the 4 day Santa’s Lapland holiday, day 2 is a free day for you to have fun in the snow. And honestly, this is all the girls wanted to do and I really recommend you having this extra day to enjoy Lapland.

We kept this day rather relaxed and spent most of our time playing in the snow and tobogganing, but there are a few extra things you may also like to do too.  Things you can do during your snow day…

·      Toboggan down the toboggan run – it’s a 5 min walk. Come out of the hotel and turn left. Follow the road around the corner and up the hill until you reach the T-junction (the Lapland Safari shop is opposite you). Turn right here and follow the path down the hill and the slope is just over the road ahead of you.

·      Take a walk through the trees on the toboggans – if you come out of the main restaurant and head across the road and down the small slope, you can take a lovely quiet walk through the trees on the ski tracks.

·      Just play in the snow. There is heaps of snow everywhere and the girls just loved climbing in it and jumping where ever possible. They had never experienced a winter snow holiday before so this was so special to be able to do this!

·      Visit the aurora hut –If there is a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights, then the aurora hut is a must. If you walk to the big map board with the temperature display just down from and before the Tunturi hotel, then facing it, walked towards the right just a very short way onto the ski tracks but rather than following the tracks (big mistake!) turn quite quickly left into the trees where it’s lit, follow the path on and up, and you pretty much can’t go wrong from there … it’s about a 10-15 min walk.

·      Book one of Santa’s Lapland ‘extra’ activities such as Rudolph’s Reindeer run, the northern lights tours, or the snowmobile safaris.

Day 3 – Visiting Santa in Lapland

Wow, what a day – the one we had all been waiting for. It was our chance to meet Santa in Lapland – his home!

Day 3 is all about the magic of Santa. We were picked up by coach from the hotel and taken on a 25 min coach ride through the snow covered countryside.

Once we arrived, one parent is asked to stay on the coach, whilst the other gets off to play a few games led the Santa’s Lapland staff. This is so that you can be filled in with all the ‘secret’ info for your day and then the magic begins!

What’s Included in Santa’s Magic Package

There are two activity areas to your Santa’s day adventure, both offering different activities; The Husky side and the Reindeer side.

With 5 main activities, and heaps of smaller ones, there is plenty to keep the fun going all day long and they are all suitable for children of all ages.

The Main winter activities on Santa Day are;

Husky Sledding

The husky rides were our favourite part of the day (apart from meeting Santa of course). Adults get to drive 5 huskies, whilst pulling the rest of their family in the sleigh through the winter wonderland. The ride lasts around 5 mins which was just perfect for little people. After your ride, you get to meet your huskies which the twins were so excited about as they are massive animal lovers!

Reindeer Sleigh Rides

Sit back and relax and enjoy the enchanting Lapland whilst being pulled by one of Santa’s reindeer – the reindeer rides were an incredible journey whilst the sun was beginning to set. The reindeer behind often popped their head over your shoulder whilst they were walking which the girls thought was hilarious!

Elf Theatre Show

Before the Elf show began, we were invited into the ice bar for a drink… yes there really was a whole bar, with tables and sculptures made of ice. There was an extra charge for these but how could I resist a glass of baileys in Lapland!

The Elf theatre was inside a huge igloo – it was incredible and such a treat which the girls loved.

Visiting Santa in Lapland

This was what we had come to Lapland for and it was one of the most special things for the girls to experience in their lives. We left meeting Santa to the end of the day because we wanted to end on a high and that we certainly did. It is a private family meeting and you do this with just your family.

When our time came to meet the big man himself, we were escorted by snowmobile and sleigh, through the woods to a hideaway log-cabin for an exclusive play with the elves, and private meeting with Santa Claus himself – it totally blew us all away how magical and special this was. It will stay with us forever.

Other Outdoor Activities

Matilda’s absolute favorite was the skidoos – a child’s size snowmobile attached to a tree and they are able to drive it on their own. She absolutely loved it! Besides from the skidoos, there was also ice fishing, ice hockey, toboggan runs where I think the twins fell of every time but loved it, and tandem skiing. You can do any of these activities as many times as you like.

If the children start to get chilly at any point during the day, there are kotas dotted around with open fires in to warm you up, as well as warm drinks and traditional ginger bread biscuits – yum.

Lunch is included in the day. They served either vegetables with rice, or spaghetti Bolognese, both with bread and a jug of berry juice.

Once we had squeezed in as much as we possibly could, we got back on the coach and headed to the hotel. It’s a rolling service on the way home and you can leave anytime between 3pm and 5pm. They left every 20 mins or so.

Gala Dinner

Santa’s Lapland invites all of its guests to a gala dinner on the last night. Whilst it was busy, it was such a lovely evening with tables decorated with crackers and decorations and a Christmas dinner with children’s options too.

The evening finished with games and dancing for the kids, whilst the adults enjoyed a glass of wine with our new friends we had made! What a great way to end a fabulous trip to Lapland.

Day 4 – It’s Time to Head Home

Under usual circumstances, you may have an hour or two to play in the snow before it’s time to pack up to go home, but as we were travelling during the pandemic, and just as the rules had changed to us requiring more tests before we flew, time was needed to get these done at the airport so it meant an early departure for us – do pack plenty of snacks for your return journey, as well as your outbound flight in case of delays as the food is limited at the airport.

Santa’s Lapland FAQ

What do i wear in lapland.

As well as the complimentary thermal snowsuits, boots, socks, gloves and hats – my answer is layers. And how many you need to wear, depends on how cold it is – check the weather before you go but it is better to take too much than not enough.

The climate in Lapland is classed as sub-arctic with the first snow falling in September and staying on the ground until early May. In December, Lapland is freezing cold and temperatures reached -36 whist we were there so had to make sure the children stayed warm. We were wearing 5 layers a day.

For this reason, you should bring many layers of warm, comfortable inner wear such as long johns, long sleeved shirts, jumpers and thermal trousers.

• Warm fleece jumper
•  Thermal underwear and base layers
• Scarf or snood and hat
• Thin thermal gloves (ideal as a base layer under snow gloves)
• Take a small backpack or rucksack to pop an extra layer

Whilst the best snow wear was provided, I advice you travel in a warm coat and sensible shoes.

Did you get cold?

On one occasion the girls got chilly, but we did layer everyone up well – it got up to -36 on this particular day. We just popped on an extra layer which we carried with us and then carried on play – you just have. to go prepared. We also found heat pads were great for keeping small hands and feet warm.

Is there a supermarket?

Yes, it’s about an 8 min walk from the hotel. We didn’t really buy much other than milk for hot drinks.

What camera did I use?

I used my iphone and didn’t have any problems with it – just keep it warm in your pocket when you are not using it. Also pop it onto airplane mode and it didn’t zap our battery either!

Did you need to take much spending money?

The only extras we bought was lunch one day at the resort, and evening drinks. Lunch was roughly £15 per adult and £10 per child. Wine was £35 a bottle.

You could buy a few souvenirs in the shops and we thought these were reasonably priced.

How much did it cost?

So much impacts how much a trip to Lapland costs. When you go, the hotel and the size of your room or apartment but to give you an idea, our stay in a 3 star, 3 bedroom apartment for the 5 of us cost just under £6500.

Trips to Lapland and Covid – What are the Rules?

Always check the government website before travelling as rules are changing regularly.

How to Book a Trip to Lapland

Lapland is popular destination in the winter season so make sure you book well in advice. But booking is simple, just pop on to the Santa’s Lapland website to see availability, accommodation options and up to date pricing. Dates for Santa’s Lapland 2023 have just been released!

I hope you have found this Lapland guide helpful and inspiring to book your family trip to Lapland – Santa’s Lapland is the best choice in our opinion because you receive such a personal service and it really does bring the magic of Christmas alive – I am already thinking about our next trip!

If you would like any further information or advice regarding Finnish Lapland holidays and a Lapland break, please don’t hesitate to send me an email on [email protected]

1 thought on “Santa’s Lapland Review – A Holiday of a Lifetime”

Wow, wow, wow this is exactly the sort of experience I have always dreamed of giving my children ever since I was little. I always wanted to go to Lapland when I was a kid but my Mum couldn’t afford it. Now as the parent I have been trying to decide on the best time to go. I want it to be magical but I also want them to remember it, our youngest is now 8 so I think we are finally at a suitable age . Great pics Anna x

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Hi, I’m Anna, a travel loving wife to Tristan and Mother to 6 year old twins Poppy and Tabitha, their 3 year old sister Matilda, and together we are Twins and Travels.

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The Ultimate Itinerary for Lapland and Arctic Circle, Finland

This article is  Part 1 of our 4 part series on planning the ultimate trip to Lapland, Finland 

Read Part 2 The Ultimate Guide to Packing for Finnish Lapland   (opens in a new tab)

Read Part 3 The Ultimate Guide to Lapland Safaris (opens in a new tab)

Read Part 4  Staring at the Northern Lights in Saariselka   (opens in a new tab)

Most people (us included!) wouldn’t blink an eyelid before planning a trip halfway around the world just for a single once-in-a-lifetime experience. Be it jumping off a bridge in South Africa , watching the sun rise at Angkor Wat (Cambodia) , participating in the Tomatina Festival in Bunol (Spain ), or staying in a villa suspended over water in Bora Bora – we’re all guilty of booking an air ticket just to tick one item off our bucket list.

But what if a trip promises not one or two but over a dozen once-in-a-lifetime experiences at one go? You’d jump right into it, wouldn’t you? Well that’s what we did.  We slept in an igloo, rode on reindeer sleighs, played with husky dogs, tobogganed down ice slides, walked on a frozen ocean, marvelled at the elusive Northern Lights, and even floated in water with icebergs for company. Phew!!

Finnish Lapland is a truly phenomenal corner of the world. We’ve been to over 45 countries and have experienced some crazy things but very rarely have we seen beauty that left us dumbstruck. Literally! I’ll let you into a secret – I carry a travel journal with me wherever I go. I’m perpetually scribbling notes in it. It’s somewhat of a ritual. But for one whole week in Finnish Lapland, I penned nothing in my journal. Yep, nothing, nada, zilch!!

That’s how long it took me to accustom myself to the surreal beauty of Finnish Lapland. This corner of the world, located at the Northernmost tip of Continental Europe is so special that I don’t know where to start. The air is clear (no pollution here!), water is sugary sweet, the sky sparkles with thousands of stars, and the snow-laden landscape seduces people into thinking this is paradise. It could well be!

If you want to explore this area for yourself, look no further. Here’s the ultimate itinerary for exploring Finnish Lapland.

Now for the fun stuff. Get ready, ladies and gentlemen, for the virtual ride of a lifetime. Don’t blame us if you’re tempted to book a flight to Lapland as soon as you finish looking at these photos. Here’s a summary of our experiences and our suggestions for planning an itinerary for Lapland 🙂

Day 1 – Fly into Oulu

Oulu is just over an hour away from Helsinki. The two cities are well connected through multiple flights a day. You will find a white landscape, laden with snow, when you land in Oulu. Once you’re in Oulu, you could stay there for the night or take the train to Kemi, a small Finnish city close to a deep harbour.

• Take bus no. 9 from Oulu Airport to the city centre/train station.
• You can book your train tickets to Kemi in advance on this website :  www.vr.fi/cs/vr/en/

Days 2 and 3- Float with Icebergs in Kemi

This is when the fun begins in real ernest. On this day, you will witness a castle made entirely out of ice and hop aboard an ice-breaker cruise ship. Ice-breaker sampos are used to transport goods from one port to the other in this part of the world but Kemi’s ice-breaker sampo is one of the very few that allow tourists on board.

A free shuttle bus ferries passengers from Kemi’s train station to the Ice Breaker Sampo. A short drive later, you will see a ship looming large in the distance. Chunky boulders of ice surround it. This is the Gulf of Bothnia, Europe’s largest mass of frozen ice. You might have been on many a cruise but nothing like this one. A loud horn heralds the start of an unforgettable journey – the ship leaves the harbour, cutting through the frozen Baltic Sea.

It might be cold outside but it’s hard to tear yourself away from the surreal sight of a frozen sea stretching out in front of your eyes. Our favourite part? A short pit-stop in the middle of the journey where passengers are given the opportunity to don bright floatation suits and plunge in ice-cold waters with a few other fellow crazies for company. My heart was in my mouth for the first ten seconds of the plunge but I really really enjoyed the rest of it 🙂

The free shuttle bus is waiting for passengers when the cruise ship gets back. It drops tourists at the snow castle of Kemi, which is straight out of the fairytales. You could wander around and walk back to the train station (a pleasant 20 minute walk) or spend the night at one of their unique ice-rooms. Did you ever think you would be sleeping on a bed of ice? Now is the chance to make that dream come true

• This should be one of the first things you book because cruise tickets get sold out months in advance. The cruise can be booked here :-  www.visitkemi.fi . You could also send an email to  [email protected]
• The Sampo Icebreaker Cruise costs €270 per person. This cost includes food, polar plunge experience, and the return journey on the cruise ship
• There is a free shuttle bus that ferries tourists from Kemi train station to the Ice Breaker Sampo and the Snow Castle
• Entry to the Snow Castle costs €15. If you want to spend a night in the ice hotel, prices start at €155. More information on their website  www.visitkemi.fi/en/snowcastle

Day 4  – Settle into Rovaniemi

A short train ride will get you to Rovaniemi, the bustling capital of Lapland situated on the Arctic Circle. Rovaniemi is also famous for being the home of Santa Claus. Did we not say Lapland is straight out of our childhood fantasies? 🙂

Rovaniemi is the perfect base for exploring Lapland and all it has to offer. No wonder it features heavily on most itineraries of Lapland. We stayed at Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus and loved it. The hotel’s location is perfect – it’s less than a five minute walk away from most of Rovaniemi’s supermarkets, restaurants, and excursion providers.

Our spacious suite was on the sixth floor, overlooking the river. The room was modern, kitted out with a private Finnish sauna (where Vid spent most of his time 😉 ). Breakfast was plentiful with a wide variety of vegetables, salmon, eggs, meat, fruits, cookies, and cheese on offer.

• Stay in a centrally-located hotel in Rovaniemi. We stayed at Santa’s hotel Santa Claus and will happily recommend it. You can find the best rates here
• Make sure you spend time in the Finnish sauna – it’s unique and rejuvenating

Days 5 and 6 – Experience the best of Lapland’s safaris

Once you’ve settled into Rovaniemi, it’s time for the adventures to begin. There are photo opportunities galore. You can spend your days snowmobiling on frozen rivers, driving through stunning Arctic forests, visiting husky dog farms and playing with furry creatures, or hunting for the mysterious Northern Lights. Northern Lights’ excursions in Rovaniemi involve driving out of town, spending hours listening to Sami folk tales and BBQing sausages in a tent in the Arctic Wilderness – SO good 🙂

• Lapland Safaris offer husky-dog safaris, snowmobiling, visits to reindeer farms, and Northern Lights excursions. Safaris start at €100/person.
• We recommend pre-booking all your safaris with Lapland Safaris. That way you can keep their Arctic overalls, ski gloves, even snow boots for the length of your stay in Rovaniemi for free. You’ll keep warm and you won’t need to pay a penny. You can thank us later 😉 More information on their website  www.laplandsafaris.com/en/

Day 7 – Meet Santa Claus on a day trip

Did you know that Finnish folklore has it that the ‘real’ Santa Claus resides in Rovaniemi’s Santa Claus Village with Mrs. Claus and an army of elves. No wonder it’s Christmas 365 days an year in Lapland 🙂

Santa Claus Village is a short bus ride away from the centre of Rovaniemi. You will hear Christmas carols and festive music as soon as you enter the hallowed gates of this dreamy village. Of course, there’s no better way to arrive at Mr. Claus’ house than on a reindeer sleigh. Now let me tell you something. This might not be your first skirmish with Arctic Safaris but one thing is for sure – it’ll be your favourite one. It belongs in a fairytale, nowhere else.

Once you’ve exhausted yourself by playing in the snow, giggled at the little elves in the village, and hugged snow-men, head to Kotahovi Restaurant  in Santa Claus Village for a warm meal. The restaurant is housed in a traditional Lappish wooden hut. The roaring fire at the centre of the restaurant is comforting and made us feel cosy almost immediately. We devoured the creamy salmon soup with rye bread (€14)  and the sautéed reindeer with mashed potatoes, lingonberries, and pickled cucumbers (€26) and spent hours looking at the snow falling outside the window.

• Bus number 8 takes you from the Rovaniemi city centre to Santa Claus Village. Bus tickets cost €2.20/per person.
• Entry to Santa Claus Village is free. You can meet the ‘real’ Santa Claus for free too.
• Don’t leave Santa Claus Village without hopping on a reindeer sleigh. It will take you through magical snow-laden trains and Arctic forests. It was one of our favourite experiences on our entire trip of Lapland. The owner at Santa Claus Reindeer, Janne, is a great photographer. Make sure you ask him for a frame-worthy photograph once you’re in the sleigh 🙂
• Reindeer Sleigh rides start at €22/per person. We opted for the 3 km ride and loved it. You can book it here :-  www.santaclausreindeer.fi
• More information about Kotahovi Restaurant here :- www.santaclausreindeer.fi

Day 8 – Devour a traditional Lappish meal and say bye to Rovaniemi

Sampling local food is the easiest way to acquaint oneself with a new culture. If you’re a regular reader of Bruised Passports, you’d know we never leave a new place without trying out all the local delicacies we can get our paws on. We had a fair few Finnish meals in Lapland but Restaurant Nili came out triumphant by a mile (and a half).

The evening we spent at Restaurant Nili made us so happy that we just had to go to the kitchen to give the chef a hug. The unassuming exterior makes it seem like a small neighbourhood eatery but locals swear by Nili’s exquisitely-crafted Finnish food. We loved the fact that the food was modern without being excessively experimental.

We opted for the sensational set menu called The Rovaniemi Menu. The meal kicked off with a delectable Lappish blini, perfectly complimented by whipped sour cream and grainy fish roe. Main course was reindeer rack on a bed of fluffy parsnip purée, braised root vegetables, and a creamy sauce. We opted for a full-bodied Merlot with the reindeer meat and the two were a match made in heaven. A refreshing scoop of Nili’s black currant sorbet followed – the perfect palate cleaner to prepare our taste buds for the Cheese Plate. We wound up the feast with a glorious panna cotta (the creamiest I’ve ever had!) garnished with apples and wild raspberries. But we didn’t stop there – a couple of shots of Finnish Tar liqueur followed. We could fly back to Rovaniemi just to have a meal at Nili all over again 🙂

Take a bow Chef Marko, you did good 🙂

• Don’t leave Rovaniemi without trying delectable Finnish food at restaurant Nili.
• Reserve in advance because Restaurant Nili can get really busy in the evenings.
• We loved their sensational set menu called The Rovaniemi Menu (€58/per person) but you can go the à la carte route too. More information on their website  www.nili.fi

Day 9 – Sleep on a bed of ice at The Arctic Snow Hotel

After you’ve explored Rovaniemi to your heart’s content, it’s time to go to a snow haven 30 kms outside Rovaniemi. Arctic Snow Hotel is built from scratch in November every year. It’s nestled in Lappish wilderness and provides a fairytale experience.

The reception area, communal toilets, and breakfast rooms are heated. However the fun begins when you enter the main building made of ice. The corridors are full of ice-carvings and sculptures and bright LED lights lead visitors to the Ice Bar and Restaurant. Here drinks are served in glasses made of ice and food is served on intricately carved ice plates. Finnish specialities such as creamy soups and elk are on the menu. Stools and benches might be carved out of chunky blocks of ice but they’re covered with Finnish fur rugs that keep guests warm.

Each ice suite has a different theme – we loved the playful Angry Bird themed room. Stunning beds are carved out of ice. Artic-style sleeping bags are provided to guests so they keep warm as they doze off. But doze off you mustn’t. For there is a lot of fun to be had.

Don’t miss the outdoor jacuzzi for the world – there is nothing quite like sitting in a hot tub in the middle of an Arctic forest and feeling warm when it’s -20°C out. You can count stars and if you’re lucky, you can spot the mysterious Northern Lights. Bucket list or not, an open-air hot tub is one experience that NEEDS to feature on your itinerary of Lapland.

• Arctic Snow Hotel is open to visitors from November to April
• It is possible to visit only for a meal but we suggest sleeping in an ice room for 1 night for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Prices for overnight stays start at €125. You can compare and book here .

Days 10, 11, and 12 – Immerse yourself in Arctic Wilderness in Saariselka and spot the Northern Lights

It’s time to head north to delve deeper into the Arctic wilderness. Frozen slanting trees, ice-laden hills, and fields covered with untarnished snow – the scenery at the northern tip of Lapland is beyond your wildest imagination .

A 3 hour bus ride from Rovaniemi will get you to Saariselka. There is a variety of accommodation on offer in Saariselka – log cabins are a popular choice. But we are partial to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, where you can sleep in a heated igloo under the Northern Lights. The bus will drop you at the gate of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. To say we had the time of our lives here would be the understatement of the decade. We spotted the Northern Lights ever so often while we were there. We were so taken in by the surreal beauty of this hotel that we decided to extend our stay by 2 days.

We spent our days trying to absorb the immense beauty of Finnish Lapland. Reindeer safaris provide a glimpse into the life of Sami people (indigenous people living at the very northern tip of Europe) and will convince you that you’re in a fairytale. Just when you’re drifting into your dream world, the reindeer will stop in the tracks to pee or grace the ground with perfectly-shaped reindeer droppings 😉

• The bus journey from Rovaniemi to Saariselka is gorgeous. The bus has wifi and is extremely punctual. Bus tickets can be bought in person or booked online on this website :-  https://www.matkahuolto.info/lippu/en/
• Read our detailed review of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort with photos, tips, and more before you flesh the itinerary for your trip to Lapland.
• We suggest staying in the glass igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort for 1-2 nights and their rustic log cabins for 2-4 nights depending on how much time you have. You can compare prices and book here .

Day 12 Take the flight back from Ivalo

Ivalo airport is close to Saariselka and Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort offers regular transfers to the airport. Take the flight back to Helsinki – we promise you’ll spend the flight thinking about all the surreal panoramas you saw on your trip to Lapland and counting the crazy experiences you had. One thing is for sure – it’ll be hard to pick favourites. After all, how often does one get to pick between petting a reindeer and sleeping in an igloo 🙂

Planning your trip to Finland – The Essentials

If you’re there for winter sports and the Northern Lights, then visit Lapland between December and March. If you want to drive around, then summer is a good time since Finnish Lapland boasts of sunlight 24*7. Winter Wonderland transforms to the Land of the Midnight Sun during the months of June, July, and August.

Length of the trip

We suggest setting aside at least 10-12 days for a trip of your lifetime to Finnish Lapland. A rough breakdown is as follows (scroll down for the detailed itinerary 🙂 ) :-

• Fly into Rovaniemi/Oulu from Helsinki
• Kemi: 2 nights
• Rovaniemi and surrounding areas: 4-5 nights
• Saariselka: 3-4 nights
• Fly back from Ivalo to Helsinki

Finnish Lapland is not the place for backpackers. Scandinavia is infamous for being notoriously expensive and Finnish Lapland is no exception. Moreover it’s an extremely remote corner of the world. Consequently transport, hotels, food, and excursions can get pricey here. Try to set aside approximately €200 per person/day when budgeting for your trip. This includes the  hotel rooms, excursions, food, and transportation within Lapland but excludes flights from your hometown. [box]

Don’t come back without trying these typical Finnish things

• Finnish Sauna (Finnish people are obsessed with it and with good reason!). We love Visit Finland’s introduction to the Finnish Sauna
• Reindeer meat – a local delicacy, Finns sure know how to dish up the perfect reindeer steak. Ok you can skip this and opt for creamy salmon soup if you’re a bit squeamish about devouring Rudolph’s li’l red nose 🙂
• Spending a lazy evening in a Sami lavu/teepee making pancakes, BBQing sausages or just acquainting yourself with Sami Folklore.
• Sipping on dozens of glasses of warm lingonberry juice – this local speciality the perfect antidote for Lapland’s Arctic winter.
• Spending an evening in an outdoor hot tub while it’s -20°C outside. It’s a surreal experience to watch your drink freeze as you lounge comfortably in warm water and stare at Lappish sky, coloured green by the Northern Lights. Words can’t do justice to such an experience, can they?!

[/box] That’s it – our itinerary and favourite things to do in Finnish Lapland. You need to put this corner of the world on your travel bucket list – it will leave you spellbound and you will come back, wanting more.

Leave us a comment below if you enjoyed reading about our journey or if you have any questions about planning a trip to Lapland – we’ll make sure we get back to you as soon as possible 🙂

Want to include some more offbeat places in your winter trip to Lapland? Check out this article on 10 Must Dos In Lapland for pointers 

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Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – Truly ‘Once-in-a-lifetime’

Packing for Lapland, Finland : Staying warm in the Arctic

217 thoughts on “ the ultimate itinerary for lapland and arctic circle, finland ”.

That’s like the trip of dreams come true!!! So beautiful.. I have to find someone to go along with me . M saving up!!

Now you’ve found Madhuri 😉 Go, go, go. PS It really was the trip of our dreams

Sound amazing!! can I ask where you found the outdoor hot tub? or accommodation you would recommend with this.

OMG this is insanely awesome. I would love some dessert served on a carved piece of ice! The Northern Lights are definitely a bucketlist, along with a loooong list of thing! :-p

xox head2heels.co

I know right?! I want to have food on those plates everyday 😉 The Northern Lights were amazing, definitely the highlight of the trip

this is one of the most beautiful post !!! this seriously seems some magical stuff!!! i could not even imagine that something like this existed !!!! so so so beautiful !!!!

Thanks Kushagr – we couldn’t believe our eyes when we first saw the scenery at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort 🙂

hey could you guys please connect.Travelling this year with my girls.

We want a budget trip to Lapland & Estonia in January 24 – 1st or 2nd week for 10- 11 days.

Rashmi, can i tag along =p I LOVED this post. trip of dreams indeed. thanks for this post. this definitely goes on my bucket list.

hehehe!! Sure :P:P The more the merrier 😉

Love the sound of this 😉

Thanks Madhuri – this was a dream trip indeed! Rashmi and you better make it there quickly 😉

Hey can u plz suggest where is the best Sauna in rovenamemi …we leaving in 2 days for Finland for my birthday 😊

Hi Harleen,

A belated happy birthday and hope you had a great time in Lapland 🙂

Wow, what an epic trip! Yes, I’d love to tick off all those things, except the reindeer meat (I’m a veggie)! I’m obsessed with Finland and I was there in December but not more northern than Tampere, I didn’t have the time or the money to head up to the

sorry! that cut out and posted unfinished!

I didn’t have time or enough budget to head to the arctic north and centred my trip in the south. I’m hopefully heading back in the summer to drive down from Norway to Helsinki and I can’t wait to experience the light nights and the far north!

I also can’t wait to get back to saunas! Oh how I miss them, absolutely the must do for Finland!

Such a great post guys!

Rachel I hear you – it’s so easy to fall completely in love with Finland 🙂 I hope you manage to make it to the North soon, Lapland is straight out of the fairytales

I decided to visit Finnish Lapland for my honeymoon as soon as I saw your first Facebook post on the Icebreaker Cruise in Kemi. Then when you posted about the Northern Lights, there was no looking back. I was looking forward to reading this post. It’s answered most of my questions and I will be following your itinerary. I have 1-2 questions about budgeting and flights- can I email you for that?

Sure Sher – drop us an email. Lapland is the perfect place for a honeymoon 🙂

What an awesome writeup – watching the northern lights has been on the bucket list for a while – had a couple of questions ?

– WHats the probability of seeing northern lights during the stay ? What are the best months for the same ? – I understand from the pictures that its cold – how cold does it actually feel ? At any ;point did u experience the feeling of unbearable cold ? – Availability of vegetarian food in the northern hinterlands ?

Hey Maulik – The chances of seeing the Northern Lights in Lapland, especially in a place like Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort are very high between November & March. Vegetarian food is never a problem. One never feels unbearably cold because of snug Arctic jumpsuits which can be rented from a number of shops 🙂

Finnish Lapland looks like quite the chilly place – but it looks like you enjoyed yourself. Hope to do it myself soon!

We really loved it there Elaine – you must plan a trip to Lapland soon 🙂

One of the places we really enjoyed was a Thai Cultural Theme Park – Phuket FantaSea. Every service area there was beautiful and neat. We enjoyed watching their beautiful, costumed parade culminating at an outdoor stage with a Bangok theme show. The place is really somewhat like Disneyland of Thailand! The highlight their main show held at a beautiful Palace of the Elephants Theater. I must say it was pretty amazing, I left overwhelmed by their beautiful culture. International buffet dinner was good, particularly the noodle soup. We remember it as one of our nicest outings in Phuket and do recommend it for a quality evening-into-the-night entertainment. Don’t miss it!

Loved reading about your Lapland adventures! It was very inspirational so we are planning a trip for March next year. I’m hoping this will be a good time to go. How far in advance do you recommend booking? Is it worth staying in Oulu?

Hey Michelle,

March should be a good time to go. We booked 3-4 months in advance. We flew into Oulu and spent the night there – didn’t really see much there. You should try and go to Kemi from there to try out the Sampo ice-breaker cruise. It’s an amazing experience.

Straight out of my dreams!! I hate you guys hahhaha…so jealous!!! But on a serious note, thank you for sharing all this info!! Its a wonderfully written blog, and I can totally feel your excitement 🙂 Great stuff

Thanks a lot Pallavi 🙂

Your travel plan look really nice!! Can you please share me what is the destination from Kakslauttanen Artic resort stop name and Rovaniemi bus station (toward Santa Claus village) to take?

If you take the bus from Kakslauttanen towards Rovaniemi, it will stop at the Santa Claus Village. Just inform the driver that you wish to get off at the Santa Claus village 🙂

Awesome blog !!! I am from Norway,live in California.Go home to Norway quite often,and this trip is definitely on top of my bucket list. Thank you for great information…..and I have to tell you…..I love reindyr kjøtt og tyttebær syltetøy. Have a great day…?

Thanks for that. You should take a trip to this part of Scandinavia – I’m sure you’ll love it!

Hi guys, well written travel experience. quite inspiring. We are planning a trip this year in dec 15, we live in dubai and have children age 2 and 5, a little concerned to see if our kids can adjust to such severe weather conditions while living in a hot place like dubai. On your trip, did you see kids of similar ages? do you foresee any challenges that we may face?… any suggestions?

Given that its Santa’s hometown, we saw LOTS of kids in Rovaniemi and around. Just make sure that you wrap your kids warm (thermals are a must). I’m pretty sure your kids will love these experiences.

What an amazing read. I have been surfing for weeks but found everything I needed right here. I am staying at the Hotel Santa Claus with my daughter and widened how far the bus stop is from the Hotel to visit Santas Holiday Village. Also, I am going to book the 3km reindeer ride. The excursion states almost 2 hrs plus but only 40 mins ride, did you experience this? They only have 9am or pm and I wondered which would be the best time to ensure the most magical … I thought possibly the afternoon. I had so hope to arrange a private meeting with Santa but this isn’t possible unless staying much further North…. But maybe next time. :-). Could you tell me how expensive the meals are at the Hotel for the evening, the breakfast looks amazing. I am hoping we may sleep well there, but expect noise due to the location. Your trip looks truly perfect and I am glad you had such a wonderful experience. 🙂

Dear Debbie,

The stop from where you get the bus to the Santa Claus village is a straight 5 minute walk from the hotel. As for the excursion, not sure where you have booked but we were told the exact time of the ride – perhaps they have added the transfer times from Rovaniemi to the excursion time? Yes, afternoon will be amazing 🙂

We didn’t have evening meals at the hotel in Rovaniemi. We used to step out to try restaurants around the hotel. If you get a chance, have a meal at Restaurant Nili (not far from the hotel) – the food was really nice. Say hello to them from us 🙂

this is actually want I’m planning to do from years…just 2 questions – Is it doable in 7-8 days ? If yes, what can be shortened ? Is Dec a right time ?

Hello Upender,

December is a great month for this 🙂

You can certainly do it in 7-8 days – we’d cut out a day or two in Rovaniemi and a day and a half in Kakslauttanen!

Hope that helps

Ok so my husband and i are headed to the northern lights for 10 days max end of march. help us plan an itinerary. we will be staying here Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Dear Lauren,

You’ll have a great time 🙂 Not sure what exactly you need help with but you could drop us an email with any specific questions that you have and we’ll get back to you asap. Pretty much everything we did is documented in this article itself 🙂

Am looking at web page for sampo cruise and lowest rate is €385.00 for March 2016! With entrance to ice castle. We are Four and frankly I think it’ s too much! Could it be that rates went up since your blog? As you mention €270 per person – which is ” reasonable” can you help me with info where I can find costs you mention? Thank you

Thanks Toni- you’re right, €385.00 is extortionate for a family of 4 but we were told by another reader that prices have increased in the past year. Perhaps you could choose just the ice-breaker cruise and transfer package, which is for €339.00? I will update prices on our website now

I don’t seem to be able to search info about getting to Ivalo airport from Kakslauttanen Resort. On bus travel website it stop at the junction not at the airport. Any advice? And at the city of Rovaniemi where do I board the bus to Kakslauttanen? Lots of thanks!

In Rovaniemi, just go to the Rovaniemi coach station to board the bus to Kakslauttanen. It’s a short taxi ride from the centre.

As for Ivalo, you might have to change the bus i.e. take a bus from Kakslauttanen to Ivalo and from Ivalo take the airport bus to Ivalo Airport.

Which bus company have you checked?

This is really dreamy! If I plan a trip say in May/June, will I still have an opportunity for the husky safari, reindeer ride etc?

You might get to experience those activities in early May but June will be difficult. However, it’s best to drop an email to the activity provider to confirm 🙂

You guys have done a fantastic job of summarizing your entire itinerary and including all necessary details with the series of posts on your Lapland trip. Super exhaustive resource for planning my honeymoon. Quick questions for you – where can I find the following experiences in Lapland (we are staying in Rovaniemi for 3 nights, Kakslauttanen for 3 nights and Muotkan Wilderness Lodge for 6 nights)?

1. Spending a lazy evening in a Sami lavu/teepee making pancakes, BBQing sausages or just acquainting yourself with Sami Folklore. 2. Spending an evening in an outdoor hot tub while it’s -20°C outside. It’s a surreal experience to watch your drink freeze as you lounge comfortably in warm water and stare at Lappish sky, coloured green by the Northern Lights. Words can’t do justice to such an experience, can they?!

These sounds like lovely experiences and it’ll be great to know exactly what we should be looking for and where. Thanks a ton!

Hey there – you’ll love Lapland. It’s the perfect honeymoon destination 🙂 Here are the answers to your questions: 1) The perfect places for this is in Kakslauttanen – opt for the reindeer sleigh excursion to Penti’s farm and you will get an opportunity to make pancakes, BBQ sausages, and learn more about Sami folklore. We covered this excursion in our video on Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Just check it out on our Youtube channel 🙂 2) Most hotels and lodges in Lapland offer outdoor hot tubs, so this shouldn’t be tough to find. Arctic Snow Hotel, just outside Rovaniemi, has a magical outdoor hot tub. But just email the hotel you’re staying at in Rovaniemi and Muotkan Wilderness Lodge to confirm whether they have outdoor hot tubs too.

Awesome, thanks a lot! Can’t wait to experience the wilderness of Lapland. Hope you guys are enjoying Fiji.

Anytime 🙂 Do send us photos from Lapland

Dear Savi, It was lovely reading your post, as we were looking into finland and happend to step onto your blog.It just gave us a good itinerary of our trip. I have a couple of questions if you dont mind which can help us for our trip in march.

We will be visiting rovaniemi on march and we would like to do some excusrions but considering our 3 nights stay there iam a bit confused on this.

1. Firstly do we do the Reindeer and the snowbike in Rovaniemi or at the resort of Kakslautten ? as we are spending three nights there as well ? ( in terms of northern lights and experince )

2.I know you have suggested lapland safaris but what do you think of the tour company laplandwelcome ( the reason i ask is cz the snowmobile excursion in lapland safaris ends by 11, whereas the laplandwelcome starts at 11 and ends at 1 am.

3.can you explain the route for the bus as we are going to have suitcases with us ? is that okay to travel from rovaniemi to kakslautten ?

Great to know you found our posts helpful. You’ll have an amazing time in Lapland. Here are the answers to your questions: 1) You should go on the reindeer safari at Kakslauttan – you’ll be deeper in the countryside and the scenery is a lot prettier there 🙂 2) I can’t comment on Lapland Welcome because we don’t have personal experience with them – however you can read other reviews on Tripadvisor or another dependable forum and make a decision 🙂 Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful but I find it hard to recommend something unless we haven’t tried it out for ourselves 3)You can take the bus from Rovaniemi to Ivalo and get off at Kakslauttanen – just let the driver know you’re headed to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort as well 🙂

Thank you so so much for such a detailed info.. I am planning a trip for my fam n having difficulty figuring out until I stumbled upon your blog, so much helpful info. Will be following your itinerary and am pretty sure we gonna have as much fun as you both. Keep posting! Am definitely going to be your obsessive follower from now. 🙂

Thank you so much Vic 🙂 So happy to hear that. Have a great time in Lapland – it’s one of the most magical places we have been to.

Great article, thanks so much! We are planning to travel there in late Jan 2017 – just made the award ticket booking – and as our route is pretty much like yours i was wondering if you could answer 1-2 questions.

we only have short time 6 might 7 days invluding overnight trip back to our country, but due to award booking condition due to availability of award ticket, seems like we’ll only have 1 night each, 1 at helsinki, 1 at kakslauttanen, 1 rovaniemi, 1 kemi, and 1 at Oulu. If we cough up extra 450 euro or so for plane ticket for 2 of us, we can probably add 1 night in kakslauttanen instead of Helsiinki.

My question is:1) how high is out chance of catching aurora with our current achedule? Should we pay more to spend 1 more night in kakslauttanen? 2) what about ouliu? Is there any chance for catching aurora there? I’ve been trying to find info but there isn’t much…

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey Karen –

It’s hard to predict whether or not you’ll spot the Aurora, so it’s probably not worth paying so much jut for 1 extra night. Oulu isn’t particularly noteworthy for spotting the Northern Lights. Hope you have fun in Lapland 😀

Thank you very much for your wonderful post. It makes me more excited 😉 I would like to ask did you booked all the activities one by one or all from one tour operator? Coz i found one tour package it is for EUR 1600 and its for 5 days only. it includes ice breaker in kemi, santa clause village, 1 night stay at the ice hotel, safaris, accommodations and bus transfer you think the price is reasonable enough? or it will be better to booked it separately. This price doesn’t include the igloo arctic resort.

Thank you so much

Hey Vanessa – we booked all our activities with Lapland Safaris but booked the hotels and the Icebreaker Cruise individually. Hope this helps 🙂

Hi Savi, This is Manish from Mumbai, Read your experiences ,very refreshing.we r planning to go to Finland in the month of June ,is this the right time to go ,thnx.

Hey Manisha – June is summer season, so it isn’t the best time if you want to experience winter activities and the Northern Lights

Hi Savi, how long in advance should i book the train tickets from oulu to Kemi and from Kemi to Rovaniemi? I am planning to go next year march but when I try to search for the tickets it showed no result 🙁

Hey Daphne – the tickets usually go on sale 3 months before the travel period in question. You should check back around November/December 🙂

Hey Savi!!!

What a great article!!! It almost inspires one to book tickets immediately and travel to Finland! My husband and I are planning on travelling in January 2017 and i was looking at the Kakslauttanen Resort booking website and its already sold out!!!! However i managed to reserve two nights (only!) at the cottage. that is not the same as the igloo right? Any idea if the igloo will become available later maybe due to any cancellation? How can i book the same?

Thanks and cheers! 🙂

Thats a great post and a very detailed account of your travels! Thanks for inspiring us to book our tickets for Finland! 🙂 Had a quick question- I was looking at the Kakslauttanen Resort booking website and most of it is akready booked!!! However i managed to reserve two nights (only!) in January 2017 in a cottage.. that is not the same as the igloo right? Any chance the igloo might become available due to any cancellations? ca How can i ensure atleast one night stay in the igloo?

Hey Munira – the cottage isn’t the same as the igloo. It’s best to ask the hotel about availability of igloos in case of cancellation. Unfortunately advance booking is the only way of ensuring a night in the igloo. PS Do send us photos from Finland. We’d love to share them with our readers and tag you.

Hey! Sounds like an amazing place and trip. I just have one question – would you recommend this for a couple and their 10month old? Thanks in advance!

Hey Pieta – we did see a lot of people with young kids but I’d wait for your baby to be a bit older – it can be TOO cold for a 10 month old 🙂

Thanks for the very nice input. We’re a family of 5 – 4 adults and a 4 year old – and we do hope to spend Xmas in Lapland. We tried checking the Sta. Claus Village but it is not available anymore during our intended trip in December. What other hotel is best recommended that is very near the Village? Do we have to provide our snow shoes before embarking on the journey?

Hey Angie – unfortunately we don’t know of any other hotel nearby. Snow shoes are available for rent everywhere in Lapland, so you needn’t invest in them if you don’t already own some 🙂

I love your itinerary. I’ planning a family trip this December and would like to follow your itinerary. Do you know of any travel agents that can arrange this trip for us?

We planned this trip on our own so don’t really know any travel agents 🙁

Have a great time in Lapland 🙂

This is amazingly awesmmmm…I wish I cud find u guys earlier before visiting Finland…for more experiences…

Hey Ina – now you have a reason to go back to Finland, which is never a bad idea 😉

Hi Savi and Vid,

I have always wanted to go to this place and this is very helpful information. May I ask how much was the total cost of the trip including the glass resort stay and all activities(excluding flights since that would be different for me , I will fly from US) ? Also I believe, to see the northern lights winter is the time to go. so is christmas – new year time a good time? when did you guys go?

Hey Ananya – yep, the total cost depends on where you fly from and how many days you stay for. The glass igloos cost $450/night and good mid-range hotels in Finnish Lapland cost about $120/night 🙂 Winter is the only time to go for Northern Lights – December and January are perfect

Amazingly informative post. I am planning a trip for this December and would be obliged if you can help me with a few questions.

1. Can I copy paste this itinerary and avoid Tromso and Ice Hotel? 2. Any recommended agencies that dont overcharge and have experience of booking these? 3. Iceland or This trip? Which would be your recommendation.

Thanks, Govind

Hey Govind,

-Sure you can definitely avoid Tromso and Ice Hotel -Lapland Safaris are great to book day trips and other such in the area -If you’re keen on watching the Northern Lights, then Lapland is great. If you enjoy roadtrips, go for Iceland

Hi! I am planning a 10 day trip to Finland end of November. Given the temperatures and snow, did you guys use backpacks or a suitcase for your luggage? Any suggestions?

Thanks Shree – We took a suitcase but we’d strongly recommend taking a backpack because it’s so much easier to carry a backpack than drag a suitcase on snow laden roads and alleyways 🙂

Thanks for the amazing video and article! We are staying at Kakslauttanen in a few weeks and I wanted to ask what camera settings you used to capture the Northern Lights? I have a Samsung digital camera that I love but am debating also packing my DSLR so I have lens options. Any advice would be great! Could you see the Northern Lights with your GoPro? Your video was a great reminder to pack a tripod!

We are only staying 2 nights at the resort. With limited time, which safaris do you think are the best? Thank you so much!!

Apologies for the late reply. Definitely take your DSLR, your widest lens, and your tripod if you want to get great shots of the Northern Lights. I normally did a 10-15 sec exposure (depending on how intense the lights were) at f2.8 / f3.5 with the widest focal length possible. We could not see the lights with our GoPro but not sure if the newer GoPros have a better low-light performance.

As for the safaris, you should definitely go for the Reindeer safari at Penti’s farm (you can book through the resort) – he is quite a character and you’ll have a great time 🙂

Hey guys, big fans!!

Inspired by your blog, we have booked tickets for a 11 day trip in Feb’17 (arriving in Helsinki on the morning of day 1 and leaving from Helsinki the night of day 11). But now feels like a bit too long? Is there enough stuff to do for 11 days?

We are planning for 2 nights in Kemi, 3 in Rovaniemi, 1 in Arctic Snow hotel and 4 in Saariselka. Does it make sense? Considering the Sampo ice breaker is 4 hour cruise, what else can we do in Kemi on day 2/3? Also, whats a good place to stay in Kemi?

Much appreciate your inputs. Thanks a lot !!

Happy to hear that our blog has been helpful for you to plan your trip. Everything else looks great except for 2 nights in Kemi – you’d be better off making that 1 night and spending an extra night in Rovaniemi. Other than the ice-breaker cruise you can spend a few hours in the Kemi snow castle.

Have a great trip 🙂

Hi Your blog is amazing !! Thank you so much. I am planning a trip based on your itinerary . We live in Australia so would love a white Christmas. I was just wondering what your budget was for the entire 10 days. I’m looking at trying to do it for $10,000 Australian dollars. Thanks again for your tips!

Happy to hear about your upcoming trip to Finland and Lapland. If $10,000 includes flight to and back from Finland, then it might be short. However, if it’s just for the expenditure while you are in Lapland, it should suffice (on an average for 2 people).

Hii Guys, Thats an amazing trip. We are planning out Finnish getaway from 26th March to 31st March this year. Helsinki is just to get in and out and exploring the city. Not staying over. Then heading to Rovaniemi for 4-5 nights. Planning igloo for one nights and log cabins for remaining nights. Ice breaker cruise and arctic snow hotel from Rovaniemi. Husky, reindeer safari,snowmobiling as well as santa claus village and how can we forget one night is for Aurora hunting. All are morning activities except the Aurora hunting which is one night. Should we do more night tours for aurora hunting? So basically our base is only Rovaniemi. Also, we do not have snow shoes/boots – do we need to buy the same or renting is good enough. Then back to Helsinki. Do you suggest any changes? Also, we are based in Mumbai, need to buy good warm hats and scarves for me as well as my husband, can you suggest some places. Hope we have a good holiday, considering I feel very very cold gemerally – any tips for that?

Hey Priya – renting snow shoes works perfectly. You needn’t buy them 🙂 Also more than one aurora hunting trip shouldn’t be needed – if you’re lucky you’ll see Northern Lights at the Ice Hotel or Rovaniemi itself 🙂

Thats one beautiful trip. We are planning Finland from 25th March to 31st March. In and out from Helsinki. Helsinki to Rovaniemi and back in overnight train. We have 5 nights in Rovaniemi, which we have made our base. We are planning to do husky safari, reindeer sleigh ride, santa village, snow mobiling, arctic snow hotel, ice breaker cruise, northern lights hunting and a night in the igloo, all in Rovaniemi. Would you suggest anything on the same. Also, I am based in Mumbai and looking to buy some good warm caps and scarves, can you suggest where i can find one.

Hey Priya – that sounds like a great itinerary. We would suggest picking up woollens from a reputed brand like North Face or Jack Wolfskin online 🙂

Hi. your blog on finland trip is very nice. i wanted to ask you what month of the year did you go to finland. i am planning a trip in january and was thinking of tromso in norway and rovaniemi in finland. could you suggest me if january would be good and also how best to travel about from norway to finland in your opinion. thank you

We went in Feb. January is a great time to visit especially if you are interested in seeing the Northern Lights. The best way to get from Norway to Rovaniemi will be to fly – Norwegian has regular and reasonably priced flights 🙂

What are your thoughts on visiting Finland in December to see the northern lights? Do you suggest Feb to be a better time?

Yes Feb will be better because there’ll be more daylight as compared to December so that you can do other things too ☺️

Just back from our trip !!! What a amazing one n truly once in a lifetime trip. I was searching for an itinerary for Finnish Lapland when I came across your blog and I had to look no further. We visited Santa, did husky safari , slept in an ice hotel , saw the northern lights in d forest while on a reindeer sledge etc etc…everything was so surreal….!!! A big thank you for penning down such a detailed itinerary…was truly helpful.

Keep travelling…keep inspiring!!!

Love Vanessa

Hey Vanessa we’re well and truly grateful that you stopped by to leave a comment AFTER your trip – it means the world. Do send us some photos from your trip – would love to share them with our readers 🙂 So happy you enjoyed Lapland as much as we did

Hey! Thanks for sharing. Is like an amazing place and trip. Planning to bring my dad and mum to Lapland this December as they loved to see snow and northern light. My concern is it may be too cold for them. Would you recommend this for a couple and their parents at the age of beginning 60? Thanks in advance!

Dear Lilian,

Apologies for not replying sooner.

It does get really cold up there, but if you’re wearing the right clothes, we don’t see why it’ll be a problem for your parents. We met plenty of elder people and they all seemed to be having the time of their lives 😀

Hope you have a great trip.

Hi, can I know how much you spent on this trip throughout Finland excluding international flight?

We spent around 2000 GBP per person including the hotels, meals, activities (which end up being expensive), and internal transport.

Hope that helps 🙂

v r planning during late october for 1 week only. what do you suggest? primary interest is northern lights and snow. any suggestions for self drive in the lapland.

Self-drive is always an option, but we chose to use the public transport when we went. You could spend 4 days in Rovaniemi and 3 in Kakslauttanen/Saariselka

Have a great trip!

Hi Guys, great trip and pics/description. Thank you !!!

I am taking the family in Novemeber for 8 days to Rovaniemi and Saariselka. What activities do you recommend in Rovaniemi and what do you receommend in Saariselka? I dont want to do the husky ride, reindeer farm etc at both locations and I am trying to determine what activities in what area. Thank you!!

To be honest, you can pick either place for the tours and they’ll be equally gorgeous. We did the reindeer ride and husky ride near Rovaniemi and really enjoyed both. Perhaps you could do these 2 just like us and do a Northern Light chasing snowmobile tour in Saariselka?

Yes ! Thank you. Saw pictures of you guys in ALberta. We were in Switzerland this summer – it was amazing up in the Oberland/Jungfrau region. I think you will love it. Thanks again for the blog, I always wanted to travel to the area but had a hard time with an itinerary, no I have one. THANK YOU !!!

That’s great 🙂 We’re sure Jungfrau is amazing – can’t wait to go there 🙂

Happy to hear you enjoyed our article on Alberta!

This is gorgeous!! Thanks for all the great info. I’ve been sharing this post with so many friends and family. Definitely on my wish-list! 🙂

Thank you so much for all the love Shruti 🙂

Hey I needed some suggestions regarding this trip. I am going to Finland in November and we are staying at kakslauttanen but we don’t know how to go to roveneimi from kakslauttanen? Also, I would like to know a few brands where to shop from for the thermal inners, jackets, hats and gloves and all the other things that we would require. Waiting for a reply soon. Thanks.

Hey there – we took a bus from Rovaniemi to Kakslauttanen. Inform the driver and he will drop you at the door of the hotel. Please look at our guides for packing for Finland and Iceland. Brands don’t matter as much – just choose 100% merino wool thermals, skiing gloves, and good quality down jackets. If you live in a hot place and don’t want to invest in those things, you can get them for rent in Rovaniemi. https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wears/packing-for-lapland-finland-staying-warm-in-the-arctic https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wears/packing-for-iceland-road-trip

Hey Guys, great information. In which month you traveled there because we are planning to go there in Feb so wanted to know if it is good time to go.

Hey February is a great month to visit (we visited at the same time too!)- All the best for the Northern Lights 🙂

hey guys…. i have been planning to go to the kakslauttanen resort for almost an year.i just love the place !!! was looking at some videos and came across yours ,you guys are so cute .i loved the video and i cant wait to go there and explore it myself.any clue how late October or november will be??(any snow?? and northern lights?)

Hey there – thanks for the kind words. The place gets snowed under only by late November 🙂 Northern Lights are unpredictable of course but there’s a good change of you catching them in November

Hey savi and vid. Your itineraries are to die for. I mean how can anyone not get tempted to travel to such mind blowing locations. Reading your Finland itinerary my husband was more than convinced to travel to the Lapland. Now the confusion is here we wanna do iceland Finland and norway together with in 15 days. I am really confuse where should I start from. We plan to go in mid of november. We are keen for northern lights ofcourse. Can you please help me just to plan where should I start from and where should I end. Rest details your itinerary has already done it for me. Thanks. Much love from India. Keep travelling and keep making memories. You inspire world to travel. Best wishes.

Hey Khevna – just choose whichever destination offers better connectivity from your hometown as the first stop followed by the next one. You can do Tromso and Lapland for a combination of winter activities and Northern Lights

Hello, your blog post is awesome. We are planning a trip to Finland this December and your list looks like the absolute bucket list for it!

Can I ask what is the difference between Rovaneimi and Saariselka? Rovaneimi seems to be the more popular and major place to go – are there things to do in Saariselka that are not available in Rovaneimi? And would u recommend an equal length of stay in both places?

Hi Rovaniemi is a bit more crowded and touristy wherease Saarisielka is more peaceful. You can visit Reindeer farms etc in Saarisielka and experience the Finnish countryside in its full glory

Such an amazing post summing up your experiences. I already feel like I am in the Lapland. Few quick suggestions needed.

I have booked a 8 nights trip to and from Oslo for me and my wife in Jan, 2018. Main moto is to enjoy the northern lights and the chilly northern winters. Our itinerary is sumdn like 1 night in Oslo… 2 in Kakslauttanen.. 2 in tromso and 2 in bergen and last night in Oslo again. do u think we should tweak it a bit in terms of your experience and change Tromso or Bergen with any Finnish place? Also, how is d internal road transport from Finland to Norway as we could not see much direct flights from Kakslauttanen to Tromso. Do u suggest self drive in snow considering that we have never really driven in snow. Also, reading that you have been in both Artic snow hotel and Kakslauttanen, which is a better place to stay? Thanks

You could look at replacing one of those places with Rovaniemi if you like. Not so sure about road routes between Norway and Finland. If you have never driven in snow then it might be a better idea to take public transport.

My, my wife and my daughter are planning a trip to the paradise land of Finland between Jan 11-18. I have been reading reviews about Lapland and yours stand out as the best one written. A hearty congratulations!

Now the question: You are advising to set aside 12 days or so for this experience but unfortunately we don’t have that many days. Could we still enjoy the trip with say 6 – 7 days if we “cut corners”? (Sadly 🙁

Any tips you could offer will be greatly appreciated.

Hey Omer – thank you for the kind worlds. 6-7 days are great for Lapland. We’d suggest spending 3 days in Rovaniemi and 3 in Saarisielka/surroundings and you’ll be good 🙂

Hey Guys! thank you so much for sharing such an informative itinerary. Much helpful 🙂 Could you please advise how you traveled from one place to another? car or bus? We were planning to rent a car and travel from Rovaniemi to Akaslompolo and the to Saariselka.. But car is not being possible now coz of license issues. Could you advise if you are aware of any bus services that could assist us with such itinerary? Thank you so much. – Niharika

Hey Niharika – we flew to Rovaniemi and took a convenient bus (specified in the article) to Saariselka 🙂

Hey what months were these?? Dates ? I am planning Finland this year December and your itinerary is just perfecto !

February 🙂 Hope you had a great time in Finland

Guys please tell me what is the total cost for spending 4 nights in kakslatunnen artic resort approximately…

Hey Ranjani,

As prices keep changing, it’s best to check the Kakslauttanen website for latest prices and availability 🙂

Hi…. I really love all of your posts and I am a travel freak myself …. I just wanted to know if I can have vegetarian meals there?? Because I am die hard vegetarian and I have no idea if pure veg meals will be available there…

Hey Manika – most resorts do have a vegetarian meal option but there isn’t much variety. would suggest carrying some instant food along 🙂

I love Lapand. I’ll be there next week. I think I’m lucky to be there

Hi, thanks for the itinerary, it’s very helpful. I wanted to know if you have any accommodation recommendations for Saariselka, as Kakslauttanen is booked out for the dates I am planning around Christmas :/ Any other good resorts/hotels which you would recommend?

Thanks Sonali

Hey Sonali,

We haven’t stayed in Saariselka so won’t be able to recommend. You could consult our latest article on a winter road trip in Finland: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/wheres/lapland-finland-winter-road-trip-guide for some alternatives to Kakslauttanen 🙂

What time of the year did you guys visit? I plan to tea so with my daughter’s 5 &7. Too cold?

We visited in Feb. Yes it is quite cold but if you’re dressed properly and good woolens, not such a big issue 🙂

What an amazing and a fascinating place to visit. I really didn’t know much about this but after reading this post I will surely visit one day. Thanks for sharing such an amazing post.

I think you mentioned before that you went during February. Do you mind me asking what time of the month? We’re kind of wide open with dates and have been back and forth between a week in February or March. We would love to see the northern lights and take in all the winter activities, but we’re not exactly sure about timing. I read February is the coldest month, but you get more snowy days, with the snowy trees you see in pictures of husky safaris and reindeers. In March, it sounds like you still have the snow beneath your feet to do the winter activities, it starts to warm up a bit, you have more daylight, but you miss out on the snow covered trees. I also read that you have a greater chance of seeing the northern lights near the equinox which is March 20. Any suggestions on deciding between February and March as I continue to overthink the decision 🙂

Hey unfortunately natural phenomenons are hard to predict. You could do the best research and still end up with no northern lights. So it’s best not to overthink and go at a time that suits you best. The beginning of February is a better time as the scenery is prettier! 🙂

Hey! This looks magical. We are planning our honeymoon in Lapland from 1 Jan until 6 Jan. We have 6 days in Lapland. How do you suggest we plan our trip? Do you think 4 days in Rovaneimi and 2 days in Saariselka is ok? Or should we do 3 days each? We are planning to do a day tour to Kemi from Rovaneimi for the ice breaking cruise. Thank you!

Hey Ravina – the first option is great. 4 days in Rovaniemi and 2 in Saariselka 🙂

I wonna go like now. Oh my God. Your story telling is so great.

Hey we are planning a trip to Finland in early feb for our 19th anniversary. You have mentioned a visit to the Santa Claus village while in rovaniemi, which is very much in our plans.. would it be open for visit in Feb or is this only a pre Christmas destination?

Will deeply appreciate your input on this please.

Thanks Sohini

It should be open in Feb – in fact that is the month we visited too so you shouldn’t have any problems 🙂

Hi Savi , I stumbled across your wonderful itinerary, I’m staring to plan my trip for March 2019 , I only have 9 days , how would you suggest spend my time wisely ? Do you also know anything about skiing in Sally ? Thanks so much for your help !!! Chantay

No we don’t know much about skiing in Salla 🙂 We’d suggest spending a few days in Rovaniemi, a few in Saariselka/Kakslauttanen, and then perhaps Levi.

Hey guys, I wanted to search for a Lapland Itinerary post your pictures on Insat for the past few days. And guess what? Yours was the one i ended up reading eventually. And now I am day dreaming about it already. Gosh ! So beautiful. I have to start saving for it right now man. Its gorgeous. And beautiful. Also just so detailed and helpful Savi. Thankeeeee.

Love to you guys.

Enjoy your trip to Lapland Asmita and share photos with us 🙂

Hey savi, was great to read your post, we are 2 families 4 adults and 4 children planning to go in april 3rd week, we plan 1 day for kemi 3 days for rovaniemi and 2 for saariselka, please advice about transport, should we rent a vehicle or should we use bus or train services.

thanks vishal

If you’re travelling to Kemi, Rovaniemi, and Saariselka I’d suggest renting a car 🙂

Hi, would driving in December be possible and travelling in end December feasible? Since we read up that sunlight is rather sparse at this time of the year and was wondering whether it would be a limiting factor during our trip! Thank you!! Awesome itinerary

Yes, daylight is only for a few hours so that would restrict your sightseeing but will also give you more time to hunt for Northern Lights. That said, we always recommend Feb to visit Lapland as it offers the best balance in terms of daylight hours, chances of viewing Northern Lights, and the snow cover 🙂

Hi Savi,, thanks for writing this amazing trip details.. we are planning a trip in dec 2019 and this itinerary is just so amazing that i will be following it like a copy paste 🙃🙂 Just one question there is a direct flight to kemi from helsinki – is there any particular reason that you have suggested to go to oulu and stay for night there.. kindly let me know.. m traveling with my family with 2 kids Thankssss

Hey not really – we were flying from London so got a good connection to Oulu that’s it 🙂 You can fly to Kemi if there is a flight from Helsinki

Hi , could you let me know when was it that you’ll visited? Sunlight time frame when you’ll visited

It would be great help 🙂

We visited in Feb 🙂

This piece is indeed helpful…I and my husband are planning for Finland next year and we were very curious to know if we will get activities like husky rides, reindeer rides and northern lights in probably a summer month in Finland, we were considering October to travel. Can you kindly give some details. We are quite skeptical to travel in their winter months, thereby planning for summer months. Thanks.

Doubt you’ll get those experiences in summer months. (definitely not the northern lights) We’d say go in October / November.

Thank you, it was really informative, your post ended my search for perfect itineary!!! Thanks

Happy to hear that Keshav 🙂

Hey, is it a good idea to do this is November?

Yes November is just the right time to visit Lapland 🙂

Absolutely – better towards the end of November as in the beginning there might not be enough snow 🙂

Planning to travel between 2nd december to 15th december. Will we able to see northern lights or is it better in Feb?

Hey December is a good time to see Northern Lights in Lapland 🙂 That said, in the end it all depends on the weather 🙂

Greetings Vid & Savi, Firstly, thank you so much for providing such a detailed itinerary of Finland. Looks like ya’ll had time of your lives. 🙂

I have been a fan of you both for the longest of times now 🙂 Loved your Finland itinerary and has inspired me and my fiance to plan our Honeymoon trip in the Month of March to Finland.It might be 11N 12D trip covering Helsinki (2N) Vuokatti (7N) (Since we have an option of RCI booking) and Saariselka (2N).

1) We are working on a tight budget hence we have restricted ourselves only to the Eastern and Central part of Finland apart from Helsinki.

2) How is the public transport service at Finland ? I mean, would you advise a Train or a Bus for inter-city travel (since internal flights are quite heavy on the pocket) ? Is RailEurope a good option to consider ?

3) Would you recommend a rent-a-car and do some of part of the inter-city travel by road ?

4) Open to all kinds of other suggestions as well.

Thanks once again in advance.

Thanks for all the love and support 🙂 Hope you have a great honeymoon in Finland 🙂

Public transport is decent in Finland – both train and bus. However, we’d suggest renting a car for inter-city travel! Otherwise buses are most convenient

You’ll find all our suggestions in our Finland guides and articles on this website!

Have a great trip to Finland

Dear Savi and Vid, absolutely love your work guys. I am planning a trip for 12 days after 15th December . I had a few questions if you can help me out.

1) choose Lapland or Iceland as both look magical (the purpose to visit is to gaze the mother lights and do winter activities) 2) I was very attracted to the Kakslauttanen artic resort , but have seen a lot of negative reviews about the service off lately hence in 2 minds. I cam across The Artic Fox Igloos through your post, is that a better place to stay ? in terms of price and view of northern lights. read about this another property ‘Golden Crown- Levin Iglut’ which have glass rooms. can you please suggest me.

Thank you! Here are our thoughts on your questions:

1) Either will be amazing. Iceland is better if you love rugged landscapes. Finland is better if you prefer doing lots of winter activities like reindeer sleigh, husky safaris etc. You can’t really go wrong choosing either 🙂

2) Yes Arctic Fox Igloos were nice and better priced than Kakslauttanen- the igloos are great to see the Northern Lights (if they appear) and we also loved the kitchenette in there. Not sure about the Golden Crown – Levin Iglut as we haven’t stayed there and so we can’t personally recommend them 🙂

We are planning between January 15 and january 26. Can you let us know if this time is good ? How will be the snowfall during this time ?

That’s a great time to go Abhishek. Most probably you’ll get snowfall in Lapland in January – however since it’s a natural phenomenon it can’t be predicted to the tee

Can you let us know which app can we download to track northern lights? We are 3 nights in Saariselka and 4 nights in Rovaniemi. 1) Can we hire a car from Ivalo airport and park / leave it in Saariselka itself before leaving for Rovaneimi from Saariselka ? 2) Do we need international license for hiring a car ?

Hi Abhishek,

Most of the towns have their own local apps/messaging services for notifications about Northern Light sightings. I also used an app called “Northern Lights” (and there are many similar ones that will tell you the KP number and probability of seeing the lights in your area. I’m not sure what you mean by “leave the car in Saariselka” – you can talk to to the hotel staff or find a parking garage for long term parking perhaps?

We did not need to show International license for hiring a car, only our Indian driving licenses.

This is a great blog. We have booked tickets based on the blog. You have mentioned – there is nothing quite like sitting in a hot tub in the middle of an Arctic forest and feeling warm when it’s -20°C out. Where can we find this hot tub? Do we need to book it? How does it work?

Hey Abhishek – no bookings required. Most hotels & apartments have open-air hot tubs in Finland 🙂

Hey guys, how did you travel from rovaniemi to Arctic snow hotel ? Is there a direct bus ?

We had rented a car. However I do believe that there is a shuttle arranged by Arctic Snow Hotel – best to drop them an email and confirm

This is incredibly helpful!! Thank you for sharing!!

Glad you liked it 🙂 Lapland is such an amazing place to plan a trip to!

A wonderful life in Finland! I hope that I can visit there with my family in the future.

Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you had a great time!

we are planning a 5 days trip to Rovaniemi from Germany. Would you suggest following: 1. Renting a car? 2. Is it (especially The safari’s which you mentioned) safe for kid of 1.8 years old?

Yes renting a car is a great idea. The safaris are safe for kids no problem 🙂

Loved your Lapland post! My husband and I traveled to Levi in Lapland via Helsinki and Kittilä and spent 5 nights at The Northern Lights House, which we absolutely recommend. We really enjoyed our dining experiences, a midnight pony ride through the forest, some skiing, and sightseeing. Lapland is magical!

That’s exactly what I was looking for, saving me a few hours of research, Thanks for sharing this for travelers.

Great post thanks buddy.

Hello Finland is straight out of fantasy world. I am planning a 8 day trip in jan first week. Can u help me with couple of things 1. Which month u traveled? 2. I have read many articles that march is best time to see northern lights. But many places its written nov to march is good time so I am bit confused here

Hi Savi I read that you have been to Finland in Feb, and recently I am also planning my trip for feb only.

1. However I am bit skeptical about jan or feb as many articles have mentioned that it snows a lot during these months and spotting Northern lights could be a problem. 2. Also I included Ivalo and Inari in my itinerary since these are away from the city crowd and spotting lights could be easier here. What you suggest Ivalo, Inari or Saariselka? 3. This is my itinerary as of now

1 day Helsinki tour[ Can skip this and directly head to Rovaniemi? ] 3-4 days Rovaniemi -[ Santa village, Reindeer safari, snowshoeing, Sami Farm visit, Northern light tour, snowshoeing arctic forest] 1-night Kakslauttanen igloo 1 day Kemi [ Ice breaker] 1 or 2 days Inari —- Should I replace this with Saariselka?

Hey your itinerary looks great. February is actually a great time to visit 🙂

Thats pretty insanely beautiful blog about Lapland, which has let our wanderlust craving for this Finnish adventure more than ever before!! Would be great it you could give us the details of northern light hunting…is there some dedicated package we can book !!

Great blog post.Helpful and informative tips. I like it thanks for sharing this information with us

your post is amazing and awsome. i really like your post. Thanks for all the great info. I’ve sharing this post with my friends family and relatives. thanks for sharing this awsome and amazing blog.

Hi can we plan the same Itinerary in this November 2022

Yes you can as Finland is open without any restrictions from 1 July 🙂

Do they ask and check for driving license for snowmobile riding during safari? I only have two wheeler license Indian license.

They often ask for licences, yes 🙂

Hey, How is Finland in first week of November? how much of daylight is there?

It’s great for seeing the Northern Lights. But day light hours are very limited 🙂

Hello Savi and Vid, looking forward to travel to this beautiful country during this Christmas. I would like to know, where you guys stayed at, during your trip in KEMI.

Looking forwards to hearing from you!

Cheers from a fellow traveller!

Hey there – we did a day trip to Kemi and didn’t end up staying overnight 🙂

This is a very awesome and cool trip. I would like to visit these places.. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful trip plan.

This is a wonderful Place to visit. I like it.

Hi! Can we do this in 7 days? Basically 5 coz the 1st and last are flight days.

Hi Savi/Vid,

Can you please advise if the below itinerary looks ok to visit Finland in feb ? Is ice breaking cruise experience available in any other countries ?

2 Night Helsinki 2 Night kemi 2 Night Salla 2 Night Roveniami 2 Night Saariselka 2 Night Inari

This looks lovely. We haven’t seen the ice breaker day trip in another country

We have been looking for information on how to organize a trip to Lapland, so thank you for the wonderful and informative article. It was a pleasure to peruse this article! For individuals like me who are attempting to learn more about it, it can be really beneficial. This site is excellent.

Hi Vid/Savi I would like to experience the northern lights and staying in an igloo – is august end a good time for these? Are igloo stays operative then?

Hey Pooja – for both those experiences the time b/w September end and March beginning is the best

Thanks for sharing informative article.

1.u had suggested to stay overnight in pulp or kemi -for icebreaker cruise So on reaching Helsinki-would u suggest to stay overnight which of these places for next day cruise -and wgich hotel The snowcastke hotel do not have ice hotel rooms -so do u suggest stay there or anywhere else in kemi or do u suggest to base in rovaniemi and do sampro cruise from there ??- 2. and in December how many hours daylight available?- 3. and do u suggest morning or afternoon icebreaker cruise — 4. secondly how many days u suggest igloo and log cabins each -is the igloo cramped ?there r diff varieties in igloo and which do u suggest – dr mythily

Hello – you can base yourself in Rovaniemi and explore from there! Afternoon Ice breaker cruise is great as there are only a few hours of daylight in December (5-6, sometimes even less depending on the time of the month)

Hello, we are planning to travel here in Feb. Is it safe to rent a car, given no experience in driving on snow roads? (have driven in other countries during summer though). Or using public transport a better bet? Planning to do Helsinki – Kemi – Rovaniemi – Saariselka. Thanks

Hey Pratik,

You should be fine. Roads are cleared of snow regularly so that’s not an issue. Just take it slow in the first few days – you’ll see that you’ll find it quite easy to drive in Finland even in snow. Not much traffic – be careful of reindeer appearing on the roads though 🙂

thank you for the information

Hi Savi and Vid, this looks fantastic. I am planning a trip with my two daughters – 23 and 16 – thinking of Dec-Jan 2024-25. I am disabled as in I can’t walk very well – can manage/get around with help. How hard is it to get to the igloos and cabins? Can I rent something to get around? I plan to book activities for my kids and stay back reading. Mainly want to see the Northern Lights before I am fully non-functional 🙂 Thanks in advance 🙂

Dear Apuroopa,

It can be a bit challenging to get to the igloos and cabins, as there is quite a lot of snow around at that time.

Hi Savi & Vid,

You guys are absolute superstars. Such detailed itinerary, I plan on copy pasting this for my trip this November. One quick question – I am travelling solo, is it safe and any particular recommendation for a solo traveler following this itinerary?

Thanks a tonne!

Hi Manisha,

Thank you 🙂 Copy and paste away 🙂

It’s absolutely safe for a solo traveller

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Tailor-Made Finland Adventure to Lapland

Tailor-made private finland tour to fairy tale lapland, levi lapland explorer - 6 days, rovaniemi winter experience, aurora & glass igloo explorer - 5 days, lapland winter adventure, swedish lapland: the northern lights, finland - northern light adventure - 7 days, finnish lapland in winter, northern lights & wildlife in swedish lapland, 7 nights.

• Ski, Snowboard & Snow
• Christmas & New Year
• Cruise on the Sampo Icebreaker in Kemi
• Go on a thrilling snowmobile safari
• Drive a husky sled through snowy landscapes

• Explore Helsinki on a panoramic bus tour
• Chase the Northern Lights in Lapland
• Ride a snowmobile to a reindeer farm

“I enjoyed my trip greatly! Can't wait to come back.” Lauren Wilson, traveled in November 2018

• Cross the Arctic Circle and meet Santa Claus and his elves
• Spend your days in Finland's most popular ski resort - Levi in Lapland
• Go husky or reindeer sledging, snowmobiling and cross country skiing

“Nice tour, I recommend.” Mariana Islas Navarro, traveled in March 2023

• Northern Lights
• Explore the Arktikum Museum and learn Sami culture
• Drive a snowmobile across the Lappish wilderness
• Search for the Northern Lights on a guided tour

“The tours and hotel stay were excelent. All the tours and transfers were timed to perfection.” Gershon Rosenblum, traveled in February 2023

• Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of the spectacular lights that dance in the sky
• Embark on a reindeer ride through frozen forests and encounter hard working huskies
• Enjoy a cosy night in a glass igloo with uninterrupted views of the night sky above

“Awesome, everything was on scheduled and on time.” Jacqueline Vancheri, traveled in November 2019

• Meet Santa Claus at the Arctic Circle
• Chase the Northern Lights on a night safari
• Break ice on a Polar Explorer cruise

“The experience was perfect. We had a wonderful time.” babbogol, traveled in January 2024

• Hunt for the northern lights after dinner
• Meet new friends and yes-trips staff in Stockholm
• Experience dog sledding in classic Lapland

• Explore Lapland on a 2-hour reindeer safari
• Chase the Northern Lights on a snowmobile
• Enjoy hot berry juice in the Arctic chill

“It was a fantastic trip, well organised and good pace with wonderful people.” Caitlin M, traveled in January 2019

• Experience the Santa Claus Express to Rovaniemi
• Search for the Northern Lights from a forest guesthouse
• Explore Helsinki's historical and culinary delights

“The stunning North will stay with me as fantastic memories. Seeing the bright Northern Lights in clear view was the icing on the cake.” Jonathon Corbitt, traveled in January 2024

• Dine under the Northern Lights
• Experience dog sledding in Swedish Lapland
• Explore Storforsen's mighty rapids

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11 of the best things to do in Lapland

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The modern-day home of Santa Claus, a popular skiing destination and one of the best places to see the Northern Lights , Lapland is at the top of plenty of travellers’ wishlists for a reason.

Many who visit will stop by in the Finnish Lapland capital, Rovaniemi, take to the pistes in Levi or Yllas and save some time for classic activities like husky sledding or snowmobiling.

But this region, which extends through parts of Finland , Norway and Sweden , has a host of other wonders to explore, from vast hiking trails to cultural centres and unique accommodation options.

And although the winter wonders are well-documented here, the sometimes overlooked summer months provide amazing opportunities to see incredible scenery and enjoy outdoor activities, all while basking in the never-ending light of the midnight sun.

Whether you visit for Christmas or in the middle of summer, Lapland will provide an excellent variety of things to do. Below, we’ve collated a list of some of the best.

See the Northern Lights

This area of the Artic Circle is the best place in the world to see the Northern Lights , with towns and cities in all three countries providing a great chance of seeing the aurora if you stay for long enough.

In Norway, the city of Tromso and the more remote Lofoten Islands are the best place to go, while in Finland Saariselka is perhaps the most popular light-spotting destination (though they can be seen throughout, including in Levi, Inari and Rovaniemi).

The top bucket-list destination for seeing the Northern Lights would probably be Abisko, a small village in the north of Sweden. It is home to the Aurora Sky Station, sat at an impressive 900m above sea level, which is self-styled as the ‘best place in the world to see the Northern Lights ’ due to low precipitation rates and its location within the so-called ‘aurora oval’.

This area, surrounded by snow-capped hills and placid lakes, sees the aurora so often that the tourist board website confidently states that anyone staying for four or more nights between September and April is “almost certain” to see the Lights.

Read more on Europe travel :

• Best European holiday destinations to visit by train from London
• The best winter holiday destinations
• Europe’s best road trips to try in your lifetime

Visit Santa Claus

Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland – a city of around 60,000 people that is worth visiting for the excellent Arktikum Museum, which explores Lapland’s culture and history, and the plethora of classic Lapland-related activities such as Northern Lights excursions. One particular draw of Rovaniemi is the Santa Claus Village, the official home of the man himself.

If you’ve brought the kids along (and even if you haven’t), you’ll enjoy the magical setting of wooden, Alpine-style buildings adorned with twinkling lights and surrounded by deep snow. Kids can meet Santa Claus, visit his work stations and meet a range of Lappish wildlife, including reindeer and alpacas.

Unsurprisingly for a territory covered in snow, Lapland is home to a handful of popular ski resorts . The main ones are found in Finland , and include Yllas, Levi and Saariselka (most of which are offered as destinations by UK-based ski tour operators such as Crystal Ski and Inghams).

Skiing here is on fells rather than mountains, and overall is more low-key – and far more quiet – than the rest of Europe, with fewer pistes and parties than the Alps or the Dolomites. However, the near-guarantee of a blanket of deep snow, the incredible scenery and a range of activities away from the slopes make Lapland a popular skiing destination. It caters to different abilities too, being a great place for learners, while the presence of floodlit slopes and World Cup runs means more advanced skiers should still be happy enough.

Discover Sami culture in Inari

Inari is a large, remote region that lies around 40 miles from Saariselka, in the north of Finland. While renowned for its magnificent natural beauty, the beautiful Lake inari and a high likelihood of witnessing the Northern Lights (the town lies further north than aforementioned Abisko), it is mainly known as the capital of the indigenous culture of the Sami people.

In the village, Sajos is the people’s cultural and administrative centre, housing the Sami Parliament and promoting and preserving Sami culture, history and tradition. Though primarily for use by Sami people, visitors can attend guided tours that give a respectful introduction to Sami culture.

Husky or reindeer sledding

Husky sledding, reindeer sledding and visits to reindeer farms are all activities that can be done in the majority of Lappish destinations, and are often included in holiday packages if visiting at the right time (usually between November and March).

For reindeer visits and sledding, the obvious destination is Rovaniemi, home to plenty of Santa’s favourite animals and providing the perfect flat, snow-covered plains for an extended, fast-paced journey through the Lappish wilderness. For dog lovers, the town of Kiruna, around one hour south of Abisko, is the centre of husky sledding, where a vast frozen tundra and sections of pine forest provide the ideal terrain for a multi-day trip or a couple-of-hours excursion.

Stay in the Icehotel

Igloos, as well as other unique accommodation such as glass-ceilinged pods, are prevalent throughout Lapland, offering chances to see the Northern Lights and experience a once-in-a-lifetime overnight stay. But the most remarkable Lapland accommodation is Sweden’s Icehotel, located in Jukkasjarvi (around 20 minutes from husky sledding capital Kiruna).

Operating for just over three decades, this unique hotel is built anew every winter with ice blocks from the nearby Torne River, with each part providing captivating, fleeting beauty before melting in spring. The rooms, all individual and elaborately designed and carved by ice artists, provide a truly memorable stay in the Arctic wilderness.

Snowshoeing or snowmobiling

Snowshoeing and snowmobiling are another set of activities that are common in most popular Lappish destinations. Many places offer trips combined with Northern Lights tours for the ultimate evening snowmobile or snowshoe experience, but there are plenty of other ways to try out two of Lapland’s most sought-after activities.

Snowshoeing, essentially hiking using special boots to make walking in the snow easier, is popular around the fells and canyons of areas such as Inari and Kainuu, and in national parks like Urho Kekkonen and Salla. The same is true for snowmobiling – as any area of open plains, and many forest areas, are suitable, these excursions are popular from Rovaniemi and Inari to Pyha and Luosto.

Visit Norwegian Lapland

The Norwegian part of Lapland may be less thought of than its Finnish and Swedish counterparts, but this part of the country offers some of the most striking landscapes in all of Norway.

Tromso is the main city in the region, itself a popular Northern Lights spotting destination and a thriving destination that showcases Norwegian culture, history and tradition alongside dramatic fjord scenery and snow-capped mountains. The Lofoten Islands are the other oft-visited location, providing some of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe, with their rugged mountains, steep cliffs and serpentine fjords, as well as opportunities to see the aurora and the midnight sun while visiting the many charming fishing villages throughout the archipelago.

Explore a national park

There are a host of national parks in Lapland, but a few stand out for their raw natural beauty, extensive wilderness areas and opportunities for much-loved activities like hiking, ice fishing and snowmobiling.

Some 95 per cent of Sweden’s national park area is found in Swedish Lapland. The Abisko park is most renowned due to its Northern Lights activity, though Unesco-listed Laponia boasts high mountains, primeval forests, vast marshes, beautiful lakes and well-preserved river systems that showcase ongoing geological processes and the ancestral Sami way of life.

Lapland’s most-visited national parks are concentrated in Finland. Urho Kekkonen, Pyha-Luosto and Pallas-Yllastunturi are three of the most popular, replete with snowy hiking trails, dense areas of forest, towering fells and a palpable sense of remoteness.

Discover the region in summer

While the default choice for many coming to Lapland would be to visit for the snowy conditions, the warmer months hold many highlights that are hidden in the winter weather. The midnight sun is perhaps the most striking phenomenon during the summer, with parts of Lapland seeing 24 hours of sunlight from May to August.

Archipelagos like Lulea and Lofoten offer vast spaces for kayaking alongside otters and even whales, while beaches like that at Lake Livojarvi become the epicentre of Lappish leisure in summer.

There are hundreds of miles of hiking trails to explore too, with one of the most famed being the 270-mile Kungsleden trail that runs through the highlights of the Swedish wilderness, taking walkers across rivers, valleys, lakes and the highest peak in the country. In Finland, the Karhunkierros is a legendary 50-mile route through the Oulanka national park, while there are dozens of shorter hikes too, such as the popular five mile route up and down Saana fell.

Drive Sweden’s Wilderness Road

Known in Swedish as the Vildmarksvagen, the 230-mile Wilderness Road is one of Lapland’s longest and loneliest stretches. It runs between the towns of Stromsund and Vilhelmina, and is best driven between June and October, before the snow begins to cover the majority (and leave you even more at the mercy of the elements).

This route contains some of the most striking scenery in Lapland, from the peaks of the Marsfjallen mountains and waterfalls like Hallingsafallet, to sections of undisturbed birch forest and even Sweden’s longest canyon. The area is sparsely populated and home to few accommodation options or petrol stations, so be sure to plan ahead. And look out for Sweden’s largest bear population, who call this region their home.

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• Best of Lapland Complete - Rovaniemi

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Winter thrills in the Arctic wilderness

Imagine colourful streets lit up in the dark, where cosy shops and restaurants beckon you. Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland is a winter paradise where you can experience adventures like no other. Mush a dog sled or ride a snowmobile through snowy forests then spend the night under the stars in a glass igloo. The northern lights might even pass by overhead! Here, you can learn about Sámi culture and try traditional ice fishing in the Arctic wilderness.

Please note that this package is subject to availability. Please wait to book your flights until after we have confirmed your reservation.

6 days / 5 nights

Price p.p. from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 2472 EUR

— why book with nordic visitor.

• Seamless travel experience
• Handpicked hotels, services & routes designed by Lapland travel experts
• Comprehensive itinerary & travel guide
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Tour Highlights

• Enjoy a memorable time in the true Arctic north
• Discover the beauty, history and culture of Lapland
• Spend the night in a glass igloo at the Arctic SnowHotel
• Feel the wind on your cheeks on a sleigh pulled by huskies
• Meet the “man in red” at the Santa Claus Village
• Learn about Sámi culture and meet local reindeer
• Take in the snowy scenery of the Finnish valleys and woodlands
• Walk through the magical streets of Rovaniemi
• Experience the thrill of Arctic excursions and add optional activities
• Have a chance to glimpse the colourful northern lights in the night sky

Travel style

Partially guided i, arctic circle i , dog sled i , glass igloos i , ice/snow hotel i , northern lights i , reindeers and sami culture i , santa claus i , snowmobiling i, attractions.

Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.

Arctic SnowHotel

Santa claus village, dog sledding, ice fishing, the arctic circle, snowmobiling, reindeer farm, northern lights.

A day-by-day plan to guide your northern adventure.

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN ROVANIEMI

Welcome to magical Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland! When you arrive at Rovaniemi Airport a private driver will meet you to take you to your accommodation in town. Then head out to explore the snowy city centre. It is small but charming, with children ice skating and sledging on the main streets. You’ll also find a shopping centre and lots of restaurants to try the local cuisine.

Tonight, you have the option to join a wintry adventure to maximise your chances of seeing the northern lights. Tours range from a family-friendly snow train to a thrilling snowmobile ride in the frosty forest.

Spend the night in Rovaniemi.

Day 2: DOG SLEDDING & AN ARCTIC STAY

This morning, you’ll join a 10-kilometre (6-mile) guided dog sledding excursion. When you arrive at the husky farm you’ll hear the excited huskies waiting for their chance to run through the snow-covered forest trail. Following a brief lesson at the kennel, you’ll drive your own sleigh, pulled by a team of energetic huskies, through the woods and over the snowy plains. There will be 2 people sharing each sleigh, taking turns mushing.

In the afternoon you will head to the Arctic SnowHotel. This complex is built entirely of snow and ice each year. Here you’ll enjoy a guided tour* to see the beautiful ice rooms as well the ice restaurant and ice bar.

After the tour, tuck into a 3-course dinner based on local specialties at the rustic Kota. It is modelled after a traditional Sámi structure for a cosy atmosphere. Before staying the night under the stars in a glass igloo, you could end the evening with a traditional Finnish sauna session.

*Guided tours of the Arctic SnowHotel are dependent on opening times. The hotel usually opens its ice-carved doors around 15 December each year.

Day 3: SÁMI CULTURE & THE SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE

Start the morning early with a hearty breakfast at the Arctic SnowHotel resort before returning to Rovaniemi. Later that morning you will be joining a tour to a reindeer farm before continuing on to the Santa Claus Village*.

At the reindeer farm, you’ll learn about the Sámi people and their culture. Their way of life includes reindeer herding, so you’ll enjoy a short reindeer sleigh ride. You’ll also join your hosts in a special ceremony of crossing the Arctic Circle.

Next up you’ll travel to the Santa Claus Village. Here you’ll have some time to do some souvenir shopping, send postcards from Santa’s main post office, and of course meet Santa Claus himself! Afterwards you’ll return to Rovaniemi, where you can spend the evening at your leisure.

*For arrivals in December until 6 January the transfer will be by bus. On other dates, you’ll travel via snowmobile to the reindeer farm.

Day 4: SNOWMOBILING & ICE FISHING IN THE ARCTIC WILDERNESS

Today you ride through the white wilderness and enjoy ice fishing on a frozen lake in Lapland like a true local!

The tour heads north on a snowmobile trail that takes you along the frozen Ounasjoki river and through snowy forests up into the hills. Admire the surrounding vast woodlands and wild landscape of Lapland and follow the trail through snow-covered fields until you arrive at a small frozen lake. The guide will prepare you to fish in an ice hole, while the silence envelops you in the peaceful darkness. Enjoy this traditional practice and then fry your fresh catch over a campfire. Afterwards, you’ll return to town for a well-earned rest.

Day 5: DAY TO EXPLORE ROVANIEMI

You have the whole day to explore Rovaniemi as you wish. To learn more about the local history, nature and culture, including the Sámi nation, you can pay a visit to the Arktikum museum. Here you can browse interesting exhibits about the Arctic region. If you love wildlife, you might want to tour the Ranua Wildlife Park located about 1 hour south.

If you’d like to take full advantage of your time in the Arctic, you can add more fun winter activities to your itinerary. We highly recommend ending your last night with a thrilling winter activity under the dark night sky.

To keep in the festive mood, you can also head back to the Santa Claus Village. Hop on a reindeer ride, dine at the charming Santamus restaurant or visit the Snowman World. For families travelling with children in December, we recommend a visit to the magical Santa Park, the home cavern of Santa Claus.

Day 6: DEPARTURE FROM LAPLAND

Today is your last day in Finnish Lapland. After an adventurous winter getaway, a driver will take you back to Rovaniemi Airport in time for your departure flight.

Optional extras

Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Northern Light Hunt on the Arctic Snow Train

Reindeer sledding in the arctic night, snowmobiling in the arctic night, aurora borealis safari by snowmobiles, upgrade: private arctic sauna & jacuzzi at arctic snowhotel, upgrade: private arctic & snow sauna experience with jacuzzi at arctic snowhotel, 2-hour snowmobiling excursion, upgrade: solo ride on snowmobile, entrance to santa park, fishing experience by snowmobile, reindeer & husky experience.

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

What's included

Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.

• One private transfer from Rovaniemi Airport to accommodation
• Accommodation (Comfort Plus/Superior) for 4 nights
• Accommodation in a glass igloo for 1 night
• Daily Breakfast
• Dog sledding excursion in Rovaniemi, includes refreshments
• Guided tour of the Arctic SnowHotel
• 3-course dinner at the Kota Restaurant (drinks not included)
• Transfers to/from Arctic SnowHotel
• Visit to a reindeer farm & Santa Claus Village, includes lunch
• Snowmobiling & ice fishing excursion
• One private transfer to Rovaniemi Airport on departure
• Taxes & service fees
• Loan of additional outerwear & safety gear
• Carbon offsetting of your tour
• Detailed personal itinerary
• Nordic Visitor’s Lapland Travel Guide
• 24/7 helpline

Not included

• Flights to/from Finland & Rovaniemi
• Personal travel insurance
• Drinks during dinner at Arctic SnowHotel
• Meals & drinks (unless otherwise stated)
• Any services not listed above as “Included”

Optional Extras

Photographic evidence of just how stunning Lapland is.

Reindeer Safari in Lapland©lapland hotels

Northern lights above the Glass Igloos ©Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

Snowmobiling in Lapland ©Lapland Hotels

The Arctic SnowHotel ©Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

Santa Claus and his Reindeer - ©Visitrovaniemi.fi

Rovaniemi in Lapland - ©Visitrovaniemi.fi

+4 more from this tour

Reindeer Safari in Lapland ©Lapland Hotels

Santa Claus's Village - ©Visitrovaniemi.fi

Husky Tour in Rovaniemi - ©Visitrovaniemi.fi

Arctic SnowHotel ©Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

Everything booked through Lapland Safaris was amazing. Well organised, well communicated and great tour guides. We unfortunately were not able to see the northern lights.

Carey, Australia

Best of lapland complete - rovaniemi, january 2024.

We had a magical time. It felt at time too busy, having 2 activities in one day etc. If we do it again we would like to spread them more over the 5 days.

Temenuzhka, United Kingdom

Best of lapland complete - rovaniemi, december 2023, super organised.

Everything was super organised and detailed, there is nothing to complain well done Nordic Visitor. We enjoyed all tours that were organised for us.

Valerie, Malta

Accommodation.

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

Rooms with private shower or bath and WC. These are in three-star hotels and are all centrally located within towns. Daily breakfa..

Rooms with private shower or bath and WC. These are in four-star hotels and are all centrally located within towns. All hotels pro..

Price per person from

Tour Information

We recommend that you read carefully through the following section about travelling to Rovaniemi, Lapland. It includes some important information about what the tour includes, accommodation, and more about your thrilling activities.

Please note that this package is subject to availability. Please wait to book your flights until after we have confirmed your reservation. If the accommodation in Rovaniemi or at the glass igloo is fully booked on your preferred travel dates, your travel consultant will be in touch with information about the next available dates.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MULTI-DAY TOURS On a multi-day tour, Nordic Visitor books your accommodation and excursions for a self-guided travel experience. That means you’ll enjoy some free time to explore on your own as well as planned, guided day tours.

Each activity is run by a different tour operator, so you’ll get to meet a few local guides throughout your trip.

You can rest assured that Nordic Visitor only works with a small number of handpicked suppliers that meet our high standards. The activities you’ll participate in are all extremely well rated so you’re sure to have a memorable time.

During your tour, we’re with you every step of the way. Plus, you’ll always be able to reach us on your trip by calling our 24/7 helpline.

ACCOMMODATION On your multi-day tour, you’ll stay in accommodation that’s been hand-picked by our Lapland travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses in Rovaniemi based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.

During the booking process, you can choose from single, double or triple rooms. Please note that in Lapland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

Included in this package is a 1-night stay in a glass igloo at the Arctic SnowHotel complex. If these are fully booked during your travel dates, we have wonderful glass igloo options in the nearby Apukka Resort or Santa Claus Village area.

FITNESS LEVEL AND ADVENTURE PACKAGES You should have moderate to good physical fitness to take part comfortably in this tour. This is because packages set in the Arctic are considered adventure travel due to the specific conditions you’ll experience. Arctic travel can sometimes involve extreme weather conditions as well as vigorous activity and animals (like huskies and reindeer) on many excursions.

TRANSFERS TO/FROM ACTIVITIES Please note that transfers between your hotel and tour meeting locations are not included. You will need to check your vouchers and itinerary information carefully. It is your responsibility to be on time to meet tour guides at meeting locations. Thankfully, Rovaniemi is a charming, small, and very walkable city.

ARCTIC SNOWHOTEL Included in your package is a stay in a glass igloo at the Arctic SnowHotel, use of the traditional Finnish sauna, a 3-course dinner and breakfast. The SnowHotel offers a northern lights wake-up call service at your glass igloo if you want.

Between 20 November – 20 December, there is ongoing construction work to finalise the building of the Arctic SnowHotel (as it is rebuilt every year). Please note that the Arctic SnowHotel does not open until 15 December.

Entrance ticket to the Snowman World at the Santa Claus Village is included with your stay at the Arctic SnowHotel. The Snowman World usually opens around 6 December each year.

DOGSLEDDING TOUR The dog sledding tour on this package is a 10-kilometre (6-mile) husky safari.

Each sleigh is shared by 2 people, meaning you’ll take turn sitting and mushing. When controlling the sleigh, you’ll need to stand, kick and sometimes run to assist the dogs, depending on the terrain.

Children will be travelling safely with the tour guide on a large sleigh.

SNOWMOBILING IN LAPLAND If you travel between 1 December and 6 January, you'll hop on a bus transfer to the reindeer farm. If you arrive between 7 January and 31 March, you'll enjoy a snowmobile transfer to the farm instead.

Please note for all snowmobile tours, each snowmobile is shared by 2 guests taking turns driving. The driver of the snowmobile has to be at least 18 years old and hold a driving licence valid in Finland on the tour. You should be able to present your driving licence at the excursion as there may be checks during the snowmobile safari. Under Finnish law, you cannot drive a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol.

There is a height restriction for children. Children measuring under 140 centimetres (4.5 feet) will usually be seated in a sleigh pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. Children over 140 cm are allowed to sit on the snowmobile behind an adult.

SAFETY AND WEATHER CONDITIONS Please note that sightseeing and tours are dependent on weather and road conditions and might need to be altered if they are not favourable. If something unexpected occurs, you can call our 24-hour helpline to speak directly with Nordic Visitor staff.

As you’re visiting Lapland in winter, there will be snow and ice on the ground. This can sometimes make it difficult to walk. Please note that there are no luggage handling services available in Lapland. You must be able and prepared to carry your own luggage in snowy conditions.

NORTHERN LIGHTS & DAYLIGHT HOURS The northern lights are a natural phenomenon, which means that sightings cannot be guaranteed. Evening excursions will operate according to the tour schedule, even in unfavourable viewing conditions. Your guide will do their utmost to determine the best possible location for sightings and make this an enjoyable experience for you.

Please be advised that because of its northerly location close to and inside the Arctic Circle, Lapland has limited daylight in winter. Usually you can expect daylight between 10 AM and 2 PM. The advantage of the snowy surroundings is that the light reflects off the snow making the days seem brighter.

TRAVELLING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN As it is a top family travel destination, generally our Lapland packages are child friendly. That said, many activities (e.g., snowmobile and dog sled tours) have an age limit of 4 years old.

On snowmobile excursions, height restrictions also apply. Children measuring under 140 centimetres (4.5 feet) will usually be seated in a sleigh pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. Children over 140 cm are allowed to sit on the snowmobile behind an adult, when paying the adult price.

TRAVELLING WHILE PREGNANT If you are pregnant we do not recommend taking part in dog sledding and snowmobiling excursions due to safety concerns. Please let us know in advance and we can offer alternative options.

DEPOSIT PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION CHARGES This tour requires a non-refundable deposit payment of 50% of the total price at the time of booking. You can view more about the deposit and cancellation fees here.

ADD-ONS & OPTIONAL UPGRADES You can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. You are also welcome to combine this tour with any of our Scandinavian packages.

If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.

AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip.

We aim to complete bookings within a few weeks. During this time we take care of booking your accommodation, activities, and transport, confirming all parts of your journey. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip.

CARBON OFFSETTING YOUR TOUR Nordic Visitor is working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours. Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.

OTHER SUGGESTED TOURS

Best of rovaniemi - classic, santa claus village & dog sledding, best of lapland complete - rovaniemi / attractions.

Best of Lapland Complete - Rovaniemi / Included

Best of lapland complete - rovaniemi / guided small groups, send request, send to inbox.

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• Winter Vacations

Trip review to the fairy tale Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi, Lapland – Finland

Another Christmas season is coming, children all over the world wish to receive gifts from Santa Claus. At Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, Lapland in Finland – which is considered the hometown of Santa Claus, all wishes can come true! Finland is also one of the coldest yet beautiful countries in Northern Europe. Through this blog, I would like to share photos of my family during last Christmas with some useful tips. So, what to do and how to plan a perfect budget trip to Santa Claus Village rovaniemi (Santa Claus Village Lapland, Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi, Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi Finland) for the first-time? Let’s check out our detailed Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi review from how to get there, where to stay, top things to do to as well as traveling costs to find out the answer!

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• Lapland Finland hotels review — 10 best place to stay in Lapland Finland
• Lapland travel blog — The ultimate Lapland travel guide: How to travel & what to do in Lapland Finland

Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi review: How long shouldyou stay in Rovaniemi?

It is recommended to stay in Rovaniemi for at least 2 to 4 nights to be able to experience all the services here comfortably. The best time to go to Rovaniemi is in the winter months (November to March), when the snow has covered all branches and roads, creating a very magical scene.

How to get to Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi Finland and getting around the city

Getting there: In Rovaniemi, you can’t search for buses by using Gmaps like in other cities. If you have to travel by bus, use this website to searching for bus routes. Bus to the airport is No. 8 bus(3.5 Euros/way) or Bus Santa Express (6.6 Euros/way). Traveling from Rovaniemi airport to the city center, you can take a shuttle bus (price is about 10 Euros/person depending on how far your hotel is).

Rovaniemi is a small city, so most people only travel by bus. Taking a taxi here is quite difficult. There are 2 buses from Rovaniemi center to Santa Claus Village which are bus number 8 and Santa Express Bus. These are 2 different transportation companies, so tickets cannot be shared. Bus fare in the city is 3.5 euros/person/way and Santa Express is 6.6 euros/person/2-way. The bus runs very punctually on its schedule, so you can easily control your schedule.

Where to stay when coming to Santa Claus Village – Rovaniemi?

There are many places to stay options in Rovaniemi. If you want to stay in luxury hotels, closest to Santa village, you can book hotels right in Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi. Some super beautiful and luxurious resorts that you must have seen in pictures on the Internet you can refer to such as Arctic TreeHouse Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) built in a high hill area, panoramic windows with beautiful Aurora view. Or Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort – Igloos and Chalets ( Agoda.com or Booking.com ) is as enchanting as the shelters in the snowy white forest.

We can’t afford to stay in a such luxury, so we book an Airbnb apartment in Rovaniemi. An apartment a bit far from the center but located in the forest, so the experience is also great and the price is cheaper! Honestly, this is the most beautiful Airbnb apartment I’ve ever stayed in! The house is spacious, clean, fully equipped and feels like home. I think this is a pretty good choice because it’s expensive in Santa’s village but there are no activities at night because there’s nothing to do after 7PM.

I rented a house for my whole family on Airbnb. The owner is very nice, the 2-bedroom house is clean, there is floor heating in the rooms, kitchen appliances, washing machine and dryer all are equipped. Near the house there is a bus stop to go to Rovaniemi center to change another bus to Santa Claus Village. The house is suitable for families or groups of 4-5 people. However, when I just checked, this house changed owners because the old owner just moved back to Helsinki. Probably okay, no matter who is owner, as long as the house is beautiful and convenient as well as cheap. We stayed from Jan 3 – Jan 7 for 387 euros.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Santa Claus Holiday Village ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Scandic Rovaniemi City ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Arctic City Hotel ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )
• Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Rovaniemi ( Agoda.com or Booking.com )

Check out more top and best hotels in Rovaniemi on Agoda.com or Booking.com .

Things to do in Santa Claus Village and Lapland

Many of you inbox me asking if Lapland is bored because many visitors after visiting Lapland, go home and say it’s boring, cold, nothing to play. My opinion is to be happy or not is up to each person. My family, from adult and young, all have had a lot of fun, interesting and impressive experiences. Even this year, my family still wants to come back for other experiences.

There are many tours to explore Rovaniemi such as: Hunting the Northern Lights, visiting reindeer farm, husky sledding (this is different from Santa Claus village), skiing, snowmobiling, hiking or even climbing. You can learn more at this link . A little note is that my family only experience reindeer riding and husky sledding in Santa Claus village, but did not have time to participate in private tours at the farms outside.

Activities in Santa Claus Village

In addition to the main purpose of meeting the legendary Santa Claus (taking photos, receiving gifts, sending postcards stamped with Santa’s post ..), there are also many other interesting activities:

• Reindeer riding: Although the speed is very “turtle”, this is an interesting experience not to be missed. You will see slowly the snowy pine forest and your reindeer’s squirming butts :))
• Husky sledding: Although the price is quite expensive compared to reindeer riding tour, the feeling is very sasisfied. Just like what is seen in the movies hehe. At the end of the trip you can even take pictures with these lovely and strong husky dogs.
• Join the snow games at the recreational area: Ride a snow motorcycle through the forest in the cold -15 degrees Celsius.
• Visit Santa park.

Hunting the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

From my experience suggests that you should hire a local tour guide to lead you to explore, and also have to regularly check the radar app to see what day it is clear and most likely to see the Northern Lights. Prepared to hunt but I was worried because I read 50 reviews, 50 of them said not see the Northern Lights. Sitting in the car and went out of the city 20km, then walking through the forest for 30 minutes under the temperature of (-22) degrees Celsius, but in the end the results were not bad.

In addition to the shuttle service to the aurora hunting spots, the tour also provides grilled sausages on the spot, coffee and tea to fight the cold in the mountains and forests. Being able to celebrate Christmas once in a lifetime in Santa’s hometown must be a memorable experience, right?

This is the information about the Northern Lights tour that I participated in or simply book a tour via Klook , the tour operator will take it all for you. Host Antti is a very nice and pleasant person! You will be guided all when booking the tour and will be picked up + dropped off at your accommodation. However, remember to dress warmly. Tour price is 69 euros/person. There are also many other tourguides that you can explore on Airbnb, maybe even better.

Cost for Rovaniemi trip

I do not save the total cost for the trip, but in general, in Rovaniemi, the tour fee and experience are expensive, but eating and drinking, my family buy everything in advance to cook, so it doesn’t cost much.

Some more information about service packages for you refer to:

• Reindeer ride service (29 Euros/adult; 23 Euros/child) Snowmobile (198 Euros for my whole family)
• Husky sledding (135 Euros for my family)
• Take and print photos with Santa Claus (65 Euros)
• Shuttle bus service from the airport to accommodation (20 Euros)

The cost that my family (3 people) spent on accommodation and participating in activities is about 863 Euros.

Happy traveling!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Lapland you can refer to

• Lapland 2 Day Tour from Rovaniemi
• Highlights of Rovaniemi Day Tour
• The Frozen Waterfalls of Korouoma Day Tour from Rovaniemi
• [DISCONTINUED] Lapland Wellness and Relaxation Tour
• Aurora Borealis Small Group Tour with Free Photos from Rovaniemi

Read more Lapland travel blog — The ultimate Lapland travel guide: How to travel & what to do in Lapland Finland and Finland travel guide here .

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Lapland Travel: de ultieme Lapland ervaring in één week

Waarom hebben wij gekozen voor lapland travel, het concept van lapland travel, onze lapland ervaring, wanneer kan je naar lapland en wat kost het.

Als je het aan ons vraagt, behoort Lapland tot één van de meest sprookjesachtige plekken op aarde. Dit noordelijke deel van Scandinavië is een waanzinnig mooie winterbestemming wanneer het ongerepte landschap is bedekt met een dik pak sneeuw. Wij gingen met Lapland Travel naar Fins Lapland om daar in één week de meest gave activiteiten te ondernemen zoals een huskytocht, sneeuwscooter rijden, op noorderlicht expeditie en nog veel meer. Het was een onvergetelijke reis en hier delen we onze ervaring met Lapland en de reisorganisatie Lapland Travel zodat je weet wat je kan verwachten.

Je kan ons het beste beschrijven als de doe-het-zelf reiziger en we stippelen dan ook vrijwel altijd al onze reizen zelf uit. We houden van die vrijheid en vinden het leuk om zelf op zoek te gaan naar mooie plekken en activiteiten. In het geval van Lapland is het alleen net even anders. Wanneer je in de winter naar Lapland gaat, dan ga je meestal niet rondreizen maar bezoek je slechts een bestemming vanwaar je activiteiten gaat ondernemen. Ook wil vrijwel iedereen ongeveer dezelfde activiteiten ondernemen. Een reis naar Lapland is dus minder uitzoekwerk en meer een kwestie van alles regelen en goed plannen. Dat stukje neemt Lapland Travel uit handen en zij plannen het zo dat je in één week de ultieme Lapland ervaring zal beleven. Daarom vonden wij het concept van Lapland Travel ideaal. De vlucht, de accommodatie, activiteiten en transfers, alles is geregeld. Zo kan je de hele Lapland bucketlist afvinken en optimaal genieten zonder gedoe.

Bij de reizen van Lapland Travel zijn de accommodatie en vijf gave activiteiten inbegrepen. Er zijn verschillende accommodaties om uit te kiezen zoals een blokhut, een glazen huisje, een bed in een hostel of een appartement. De prijzen zijn afhankelijk van de accommodatie die je kiest. Wij kozen voor de blokhut en één nacht in een glazen huisje. De blokhut was eenvoudig maar heel erg gezellig en het glazen huisje was waanzinnig mooi. Hier  lees je meer over de verschillende soorten accommodaties waaruit je kan kiezen en de bijbehorende prijzen.

De activiteiten die altijd zijn inbegrepen:

• Sneeuwscooter rijden
• Noorderlicht expeditie
• Sneeuwschoen hike

Vervolgens zijn er nog veel meer activiteiten die optioneel bij te boeken zijn zoals fatbiken, rendierboerderij, skiën en paardrijden. De vlucht naar Lapland kan je erbij boeken maar ook zelf regelen als je dat liever doet. Eenmaal in Lapland verdelen ze de reizigers in groepen van ongeveer 12 mensen. De vijf inbegrepen activiteiten doe je samen met jouw groep. Wij vonden dit erg leuk omdat je zo telkens dezelfde mensen ontmoet. De bijgeboekte activiteiten zijn vaak een mix van verschillende groepen. Je kan kiezen tussen twee verschillende bestemmingen; Äkäslompolo en Rovaniemi. Wij kozen voor Äkäslompolo omdat dit een wat kleiner dorpje is maar Rovaniemi blijkt zeker net zo mooi te zijn.

De eerste week van februari was het zover en vertrokken we naar Lapland. We vlogen vanuit Amsterdam rond zonsopkomst en de hele vlucht konden we daarvan genieten. De zon komt namelijk maar een klein stukje boven de horizon uit rond deze tijd in Lapland. Op een heldere dag kan je in februari genieten van wel 6 uur lang zonsopkomst. Dat alleen is al magisch toch? Dat constante lage licht maakt het winterse landschap extra mooi.

Na aankomst in Lapland stond de bus van Lapland Travel al klaar en reden we in een klein uurtje naar Äkäslompolo. Dit is een heel klein dorpje, omringd door 7 heuvels en het Pallas-Yllästunturi Nationaal Park. Het dorp heeft alles in huis voor een fijne week. Er is een grote supermarkt, een bar en verschillende restaurants. Niet dat wij die getest hebben want wij vonden het heerlijk om na een dag vol activiteiten even snel zelf wat klaar te maken in de blokhut. De blokhut was een hele fijne plek om te ontspannen. Je hebt een eigen sauna, een goede keuken en een knusse zithoek. Allemaal goed geregeld dus!

De weersvoorspelling gaf aan dat het de hele week ongeveer -18° zou worden. Eenmaal in Lapland bleek daar weinig van te kloppen. Er was een dag dat het -2° was maar ook een dag dat het -35° was! Zorg dus dat je voorbereidt bent op alle soorten weer en check onze paklijst voor Lapland voordat je gaat. -35° was zo koud dat de condens van onze adem direct vast vroor op ons gezicht. Na een uurtje langlaufen vroren onze tenen eraf en hebben we gelijk dikkere wollen sokken en hand- en voetwarmers  gekocht. De rest van de week was het daarmee heerlijk warm in de schoenen en handschoenen.

De activiteiten waren stuk voor stuk een fantastische beleving met voor ons als hoogtepunt de huskytocht. Wat een beleving was dat! Elke dag stonden er één of twee activiteiten op de planning en er was genoeg vrije tijd om zelf ook nog iets te ondernemen. In de omgeving kan je mooi wandelen in het nationale park, skiën of een sauna bezoeken. Wij huurde deze schattige sauna aan het meer van Äkäslompolo waar je ook kon zwemmen in een wak. Een hele toffe ervaring en heerlijk in combinatie met de sauna!

De communicatie vanuit Lapland Travel was heel fijn. Een week van te voren kregen we onze planning waarop we konden lezen hoe de week eruit ging zien. Vervolgens kregen we een uitnodiging voor de groepsapp waar iedereen van jouw groep en iemand van Lapland Travel in zit. Elke dag kregen we daarin een appje met alle info voor de volgende dag. Alles was tot in de puntjes geregeld zodat we zelf nergens meer over hoefde te denken en we kregen leuke tips voor de omgeving.

Er zijn verschillende data beschikbaar van eind december t/m maart. De prijzen verschillen en zijn afhankelijk van het type accommodatie dat je kiest. Het start vanaf €1175 per persoon. Vijf activiteiten, de accommodatie en de vlucht zijn bij deze prijs inbegrepen. Ben je helemaal enthousiast geworden over deze te gekke trip? Neem dan een kijkje op  www.laplandtravel.com  voor meer informatie of om je in te schrijven.

Meer weten over finland ?

Bekijk hier al onze artikelen met tips, reisroutes en to do’s in finland.

Over de auteur

Hi! Wij zijn Greg & Irene Twee doorgewinterde reizigers die gek zijn op avontuurlijke reizen. Gewapend met een camera verzamelen we sinds 2014 de beste tips voor reisbestemmingen van over de hele wereld en bundelen deze in handige artikelen. Zo wordt het plannen van jouw reis een stukje makkelijker en leuker.

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