Highlights
- Meet Santa Claus and send letters from Santa's Post Office
- Chase the northern lights on a Lapland wilderness snowshoe tour
- Experience Lapland's winter wonderland via a husky dogsled ride & reindeer safari
- Ride eSleds to a private fire-warmed cabin for a Finnish-style barbecue
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Rovaniemi, Northern Lights Tour | Rovaniemi |
| Day 2 | Santa Claus Village, Night Snowshoeing & Aurora Spotting | Rovaniemi |
| Day 3 | Husky Sledding Safari, Aurora Hunt by Reindeer Sleigh | Rovaniemi |
| Day 4 | Arktikum Museum, Northern Lights Safari by Electric Snowmobiles | Rovaniemi |
| Day 5 | Depart Rovaniemi |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Rovaniemi, Northern Lights Tour
Welcome to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. Upon arrival, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Located in Finland's far north, most of Lapland lies within the Arctic Circle, and it's known as the home of the Sámi people (the only Indigenous tribe in the European Union), as well as one of the best places on earth to glimpse the northern lights. Tonight you'll bundle up and set out after dark as an expert guide picks you up at your hotel for a 4.5-hour excursion into the wilderness outside Rovaniemi. In these dark outskirts, free of light pollution, you'll have a good chance of seeing the northern lights.
Your friendly guide will know how to observe the weather and will seek out the best spots to stop and watch the phenomenon of dancing green illuminations across the sky. They'll share snacks and hot drinks during the adventure, as well as stories and local knowledge. For an additional fee, you can upgrade to a tour that includes a professional photographer to help you with those camera settings.Day 2: Santa Claus Village, Night Snowshoeing & Aurora Spotting
It wouldn't be a trip to Lapland without dropping in on Santa Claus, so today, you'll have free time to meet the man himself at Santa Claus Village. Here, you can also visit the official Santa Claus Main Post Office to send letters to friends and family with that famous North Pole postage stamp. Don't forget to collect your certificate of crossing into the Arctic Circle before hitting the gift and souvenir shops. As visiting Santa's Village is free and can get crowded, you'll visit independently, so you can spend unlimited time on whichever parts you enjoy the most.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Husky Sledding Safari, Aurora Hunt by Reindeer Sleigh
Today your driver will take you just outside of Rovaniemi to a family-run husky park that raises real Alaskan huskies and offers sledding safaris. After the safari, you can spend time with your new friends in the dedicated "husky hugging area." They love cuddles and photos!
In the evening, you'll get to meet another of Finland's famous creatures on a reindeer safari. It starts at an authentic reindeer farm, where you'll meet the reindeer and set off on a peaceful two-hour sleigh ride into an area where Arctic nature reveals its silent beauty. If you're lucky, you might just spot the northern lights dancing overhead. After the ride, there'll be time to enjoy hot drinks and snacks by the fire as the herders describe the traditional Sámi way of life and their work in reindeer husbandry.Day 4: Arktikum Museum, Northern Lights Safari by Electric Snowmobiles
Enter the giant modern structure of Arktikum today, a science center and museum that provides a deeper understanding of the Arctic and its culture. Housing the University of Lapland's Arctic Center and the Regional Museum of Lapland, the centerpiece of the complex is a 236-foot (72 m) glass corridor designed to mimic a wildlife burrow in the wintertime. Permanent exhibitions include Northern Ways, which tells the history of the Sámi people, Polar Opposites (about North and South Poles), and the Cold Room, where if you're brave enough, you can feel what the temperature is like in the coldest parts of the Arctic.
In the evening, you get to ride eSleds (electric snowmobiles) to the top of a hill, far from the city lights. You'll stop to observe and admire the night sky and stars and get another chance to see the northern lights. The guide will be happy to help you with camera settings if you want to capture the scene in all its wintry glory. During the stop, you can warm yourself by the fire in a private hunting cabin and enjoy a Finnish-style barbecue.Day 5: Depart Rovaniemi
As your Lapland adventure comes to an end, your driver will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the airport for your departing flight. Safe travels!
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