Kimkim Trip Reviews for Finland

Well worth it, but the van is pretty cramped, and it can be cold while you wait.

No oppty for Northern Lights, but Johanna took us on a great tour of the Snow Hotel, as well as on a walk. Tons of historic and cultural information. She was excellent

Really fun and learned a lot

This resort/hotel has made us want to return again and again. Looooved the cabin with the personal hottub, and really appreciated the though put into it (slippers, eyemask and bag, the provided headlamps for walking at night, heated floors, etc) We hope to be back!

What a beautiful location and amazing cabin! Great activities nearby but honestly the cabin itself and wonderful front desk staff really made us feel at home.

Kind employees and beautiful hotel.

Loved loved loved. Big thank you to Lucky Ranch for the private sauna and ice plunge experience.

Love how the guides will work with whatever your personal preferences are, nice custom experience.

Nice and quiet, quick walk to town, excellent breakfast

The rooms are fantastic! Sledding right outside the front door of the rooms (on the provided sleds) is fun. It would be nice to have a shuttle to town since there are functionally no ubers/taxis and bus is very infrequent & expensive.

Kids thought it was the greatest thing ever! One adult found it interesting but had some trouble sleeping. The other adult couldn't sleep at all and was fairly grumpy.

Quiet, friendly, great breakfast

Since we were in Lapland it's only proper to see some reindeer, and we saw some. This was a well-organized tour. Unfortunately, the other guests in our group tour were talking/translating over the tour guide and interrupting her constantly. She seemed really exasperated and I felt bad for her.

This was awesome! We saw the most amazing lights - it was otherworldly. Our tour guide (Niko who works with the company Johka) was a man on a mission to get us to see some lights. He drove so far to get away from the clouds, and we had brilliant success. While I know that we were lucky, I have to give some credit to Niko's very intense reading of his solar activity apps and knowledge of the area. He's also very chatty, funny, and pleasant.

It was very very cold and I am not sure that we are natural-born snowmobilers. The dinner afterwards was fantastic and cozy. There were some northern lights above the lake & the proprietor came and got us from dinner to look at the lights, letting us stay a bit late. Excellent hospitality

This was awesome! The dogs are very high energy. Strongly recommended.

The kids really liked this activity. The Pendolino was fun & the scenery was amazing.

Enjoyed the tour - it was a nice way to orient ourselves.

The city tour with Jonas with Estadventures was fantastic, we learned a lot! We enjoyed traveling on the giant ferry through the partially frozen sea - it was like traveling through a slurpee.

Great little boutique type hotel right in the center of Helsinki. This was a great location to walk to many local activities and our tours. The included breakfast was great!

We were lucky and had a private tour for this adventure which was great. It was nice to be active and outside! The coolest part of the excursion however was stopping in a local teepee type tent and our guide telling stories about his family and the local Sami people, and a bit about historic Finnish culture, while enjoying a warm drink. It was great!

We lucked out and ended up having just my husband and I on the tour, which was a pleasant surprise. This allowed great individualized time with the guide, who was so very friendly and fun. When I was a little hesitant about driving my own snowmobile, he was encouraging and his positivity convinced me-- I'm so glad I drove my own and had the BEST time doing it! While it was cloudy this night and we didn't see any northern lights, we had ample opportunity the remainder of the trip to make up for it.

This was the only tour that did not stand out as amazing for us on our trip. We drove around the local area and the guide pointed out Finnish homes and a small old village, as well as local natural landmarks--the lakes, etc. We took a quick trip to the top of the Pyha ski resort by lift, and stopped at the small visitor center just before closing. The guide was very friendly and nice, I just don't think this added too much to our experience of the area. (I may have mistakenly gone into this tour thinking we would get more about the Sami culture, history of the world wars in the area, etc., and it was more just a local drive). Pleasant and relaxing, just nothing remarkable.

Food was excellent, and the staff were very nice and helpful. However, of the accommodation needs upgrading. The mattresses on the beds were too soft and probably very old . They could use more shelf space. had for sure better beds. That said, anyone reading this review who does not know the island of Senja must realize how tall it is, and further understand, retaining the charm of the old buildings.

Great hotel! The location was perfect! Its literally in the middle of everything making it very easy to walk to different shops, restaurants and pick up locations. The staff were so nice and friendly and the rooms were so clean and comfortable. To be honest, having a private sauna was truly a special treat and 100% worth it, especially during those night when you re coming back late and want to unwind and warm up. The breakfast was amazing and as a must have coffee first thing in the morning person, I was so happy to see a cafe connected to the main hotel. I would 100% book this hotel again

The Hotel is beautiful! The staff were so friendly and nice, upon my arrival they had complementary upgraded my room which was an amazing surprise. They even provided breakfast the night before as I had a very early checkout and wouldn't be able to experience their breakfast in the morning. The room with glass windows and ceiling was an amazing experience, the surrounding views was so breath taking. It was so magical to just sit and relax with a hot drink and watch the outside scenery

I small bit disappointed that I wasn't able to witness the Northern Lights but I completely understand that viewing them is not 100% guaranteed. Unfortunately for me, the day of my tour the weather was very over cast and foggy. I truly appreciate the tour guide at Beyond Arctic for driving around and trying to find the lights despite the weather. While one spot did seem promising, it was close to -30 degrees outside. The photos taken may not be with the lights, they are still beautiful and memorable. I would still book with Beyond Arctic when I return in my second attempt in viewing the lights :)

So much fun and so cute! The dogs were so excited to run and did such an amazing job. The route was beautiful and so very cold but it was so much fun. the dogs worked so well as a team and are so strong! You can tell the staff truly cares for them, they are so well taken care. They are so so sweet, after the run we were allowed to pet them and I never wanted to leave them

SO much fun! At first I was nervous since I had never driven a snowmobile before but once my nerves settled in, it had so much fun! The guide was so attentive and a very skilled driver, he would stop and make sure we were all okay before proceeding. The only downside was how cold it was. Unfortunately, the weather did not permit us to witness the lights while driving. Instead during the driving it started lightly snowing! Despite the cold temperature and lack of lights, I would still 10/10 recommend

A very cute and adorable experience. The owners of the farm/ranch are very knowledge and truly do care and love these animals. They take such good care of them. The reindeer are so cute, it was a fun experience feeding them and petting them. The sleigh ride was so magical, it felt like you were Santa.

This was such an amazing experience, it felt like I was in a story book because the scenery around me didn't look real. it felt like I was in Narnia or the North in Games of Thrones as my friends and family commented on. The entire hike took my breath away, there was so much to look at and take in. While it was cold, it didn't feel cold because of the small inclines every here and there. The highlight was being able to feed to birds. they were so cute and gentle.

These chalets were a bit dated, but the selling point for us on this place was the fact that the ski hill was right there. Within minutes we could be on the slopes. The hotel reception was nicely maintained and the staff helpfull.The food at the restaurant was very tasty as well.

What a fun way to experience Lapland. The rooms, the amenities, the restaurant, and the staff were all amazing. The food was delicious, the rooms were clean and well maintained.

Absolutely stunning and well planned out. We had a three bedroom villa, it was spacious and had just about everything we could have imagined needing, including a washer and dryer. The villa was well taken care of and the views were absolutely breathtaking.

Had a great time trying out snowshoeing and tobagonning. The day was beautiful and it was all very close so we didn't have a long drive anywhere. We also enjoyed a nice lunch.

We had a great time looking for the lights and learning about some of the legends behind the lights. It was an enjoyable time. The only thing that would have been nice to know is a clearer idea of the time frame to which we would be gone. The info said about 3 hours. We were gone for 5.5 hours. Maybe it was due to the availability of finding good spots to see the lights, but the first stop was about 20 minutes away, then the next one was over an hour drive. It just made for an unexpected long night.

I was a little disappointed with this experience. There seemed to be a lot of lag time between activities and when its cold outside, no one wants to sit and be cold. The staff were very nice and lovely, but seemed to lack experience with interacting with tourists. They kept asking us what we wanted to know and a lot of their answers seemed like they didn't really know, which is fine, but they wouldn't share what they did know so it felt like we were at a stand still with gathering informatino about the culture behind the reindeer farming. The sleigh ride was fun and the lunch was delicious and very plentiful.

Hotel Fabian is a charming hotel in the center of the city within walking distance to the esplanade, lovely shops, the central train station, the art museum, and the library. In other words it is perfectly situated! The front desk staff are friendly and professional. Our room was comfortable with enough room to accommodate our over-sized luggage! Our room facing the courtyard was quiet and peaceful. This is a true boutique hotel.

This lovely hotel located in the heart of Rovaniemi is the perfect base to use to jump into activities. The room was incredibly spacious and beautifully decorated. Our bed was comfortable. The staff is wonderful and willing to answer all our questions. Breakfast is delicious with many choices available. They also have a lovely sauna for use for an additional fee. We went to the restaurant associated with the hotel for dinner and it was truly memorable. We had the tasting menu with wine pairings.

Norther Lights Ranch is the ideal place to stay when visiting Lapland. The cabins are spacious and very well appointed with a comfortable bed. Of course, what makes the cabins special is that there are 2 glass walls and a glass ceiling so that we were able to lie in bed, warm and cozy and watch the spectacular Norther Lights! The staff is very professional and helped us in every way possible. The ranch has numerous amenities including a sauna, outdoor fireplace, indoor fireplace (in its own charming hut) and an ice chapel which serves as a bar. The restaurant offerings are on a par with fine dining in any city in the world. We absolutely adored our stay and fantasize about returning

This must be one of the most beautiful hotels in Helsinki! We really appreciated the architectural details, but that was matched by the lovely, friendly and professional staff. Everyone we spoke to was helpful and went beyond expectations. The food was excellent and plentiful. Our room was spacious with comfortable beds. Would love to return to Helsinki and stay here again

Lauri, our guide, was fantastic! He shared so much information with us and took us to places that were perfect to see the night sky. We were lucky and had a fantastic light show that night and Lauri helped make it memorable by taking photos!

This is an amazing experience! The intro talk gave us such insight into how the hotel was built and all the artistry within it. It was fantastic to walk into the rooms and see all the wonderful carvings. The Ice Bar was such fun!! The highlight, of course, is dinner in the ice restaurant. What a fun experience! Who knew I could manage a knife and fork with my gloves on😁

The ferry is quite an experience as it offers duty free shopping, numerous places to eat and drink and lots of activities. Once in Tallinn we had a walking tour that covered the whole of Old Town. Our guide, Chris was incredibly knowledgable and share with us much of the history not only of the city but of the country as well. He was so flexible, helping us to find a shop our son wanted us to see. ALl in all a perfect day

Our guide, Ruslan, met us our first day in Helsinki and helped us to orient ourselves to the city, and its history. He was so informative! Everything for serious history to local hot spots and shopping. He was flexible in pacing the tour to our needs and was sure to be comprehensive giving me addresses of places to follow up on our own later. He was kind enough to share some of his personal history too, so it felt like we were walking with a friend. It was the perfect introduction to Helsinki! Thanks, Ruslan

What an incredible day!!! Bearhill Huskies is a fantastic place to visit! We did a 45 minute dog sled ride and my husband had the time of his life mushing the dogs. Our instructor was amazing, keeping an eye on everyone and later on explaining all about the dogs. The dogs themselves are fantastic! And are treated with loving care. We got to pet them and give them reward treats at the end of our ride. We are already dreaming of returning and doing a longer run or even a solo!

What a lovely day!! This reindeer farm is 400 years old! It is set in beautiful woods. We were treated to a delightful ride in a sled pulled by a reindeer named Arvo. Arvo is owned by a 9 year old boy! Reindeer herding is a community activity and represents a deep cultural heritage. Afterwards we were treated to a warm drink, tasty pastries as we sat around a fire and were told all about the farm and how reindeer are herded in Finland. These sweet creatures are treated with respect and clearly well cared for. We had the opportunity to feed the reindeer and one even allowed us to pet him. It was a magical morning!

Our guide Lauri was amazing!!! He knew all the right spots to give us the best viewing opportunities and he was able to take great photos to share with us!

Wish I could give Lauri and Lazy Safari 10 stars! We had the perfect experience snowmobiling and later looking out for the aurora borealis. First snowmobiling: Lazy Santa has all the equipment you might need. Lauri was a patient and thorough instructor. The machines were all in top notch condition. We went out on beautiful trails and had the time of our lives! Later that evening we met Lauri again for sky viewing. We were lucky and had a spectacular showing of the Norther Lights. Lauri helped make it memorable by knowing all the right places to see it well, and he helped us get some amazing photos! One of the best things about Last Santa is that there were no crowds, just the two of us. It made our experience incredible to have the personalized attention that Lauri was able to give us. We are already planning to return next year!

Located in the heart of Rovaniemi the hotel had everything. With well stocked refrigerator and hygiene necessities to unique design of each room. The hotel has very private touch. Highly efficient high tech .

It was the most beautiful resort located in the magical forest. Amenities were amazing from the private hot tub to sauna to the dinner and breakfast.

Very unique and authentic. We got to see aurora at the lake as the bonus

So much fun The dogs were so happy and well kept

Lots of fun

We didn't see aurora but it was our guide fault. He was very helpful and knowledgeable

Ruslan, tour guide, is very knowledgeable and passionate about the city. Tour was very well planned

We really enjoyed our stay at the Aurora Village. The igloo was roomy and comfortable. The staff were all incredibly nice and helpful. They provide you with a set of thick, warm overalls for any activity you might do. The restaurant and bar had great food and service. There is a little lounge area that was perfect for playing games during our down time. The hotel has lots of activities that they are happy to arrange for you. If you want to into town, the hotel has a shuttle available for a small charge or they will call you a taxi. When we were done in town, I called the front desk and they contacted a taxi to pick us up. We will definitely be returning!

This hotel was incredible! It had a ton of charm and was so nice and cozy. It is conveniently located in the old town and within walking distance to many tourist areas and restaurants. The staff was great, especially Patrick who made us smile every time we saw him. The room was one of the nicest rooms we have ever stayed in, perfectly combined old world charm with modern conveniences. We only ate breakfast at the hotel, but it was very good with lots of options and great service.

This is easily one of the coolest things I have ever done! We loved dog sledding! This location actually raises and trains dogs for actual competition sledding so the dogs are very well taken care of and looked after. We received thorough instructions on how to control the sled prior to heading out. The trails go through some really spectacular scenery and it’s actually pretty quiet and smooth on the sled. The tour stopped at a cozy hut where our guide prepared soup and hot beverages. During the excursion, she gave plenty of guidance on difficult areas of the trail, downhills, uphills, sharp turns, etc. the dogs are also really friendly and you have an opportunity to pet them. This is definitely a must-do activity if you go to the Ivalo area.

This was such a fun experience! Emmi was our guide and we had a blast with her. We were fortunate in that the schedule worked out so that it was just my wife and I on the adventure. Emmi tailored the whole experience to us and it couldn’t have been more fun. The scenery was stunningly beautiful and the stop at the cafe was a nice, cozy break. Emmi even talked to other guides about the conditions of the trails for the return and picked what she felt would be the safest and most picturesque way back. Thank you Emmi for a great snowmobile adventure.

Fantastic staff! They got is checked in and informed us our breakfast bags will be ready in the morning. Never had to ask. We were there for just an overnight stay and the room was unbelievable. Quaint and quiet to get a great night sleep before our early morning departure to catch our flight. Definitely would enjoy staying there again!

Nice and comfortable. Great touch with a private sauna in the room. Was a little cold being outside of the hotel proper. We had a few bags and was difficult to get to room on checkin and bags to lobby on checkout. Food was FANTASTIC! We were totally excited and were tastefully surprised. Dining room as awesome but very cold by the glass. Heat was a little light and definitely needed the provided blankets to be near the glass for the amazing night views.

Both ladies (forget their names correctly) were exceptionally accommodating with our group. Talked about the history behind the Finnish Horses and our horse that was pulling the sleigh. Nice stories. We were lucky and the 2nd night in a row, we saw Northern Lights. Activity was too fast and in the middle of snowing -- no good pictures.

Super time to see the animals that were available to be seen. We were there during extreme cold weather so picture we made were great!

AMAZING! Early in the tour seemed it might be a little disappointing with slight cloud cover. We got lucky! Very pretty lights of many colors.

Our hosts and tour guide were amazing! Lots of info and stories. Examples and samples were great. Perfect timing to warm up on a very cold morning!

Location is good - definitely in the heart of Helsinki and you can walk to all the highlights. The room was big, good for a family of four which was a bonus. The reason for the 3 star review - it's a little outdated, rooms weren't as clean as our other hotels, and the breakfast was subpar. Staff was super friendly and helpful...the hotel could just use a bit of a refresh.

We had a premium family igloo - it was amazing. Super fun to be together as a family for this experience. The igloo was CLEAN, the main lobby/restaurant area was cozy, and location to Santa Village perfect. And we got to see the Northern Lights while there that night!!! What an amazing sight, and definitely the highlight of our trip to Lapland.

The hotel is very well maintained and the staff were super helpful and nice. The reason for 3 stars...location. It is about 18min walk to town, which was too far in the -20 degree weather so we had to Uber to town. The lobby/bar/restaurant in the hotel closes at 10pm, so if you come home after an evening excursion, there is nowhere to get a snack or drink. Also, one of the nights we were there, the fire alarm went off around 12am. There is NO staff at the hotel after 10pm, so all of us guests were scurrying to figure out what to do and how to handle contacting the fire department. The hotel is clean, rooms were spacious, but would have preferred something a bit closer to the center of Rovaniemi.

The overnight train was certainly an experience we won't forget. The cabins are TINY. If you have larger luggage, this might not be the trip for you. We had a private bathroom, which I would recommend. Although you wouldn't want to shower, it was key having a private toilet. Another note - if you are elderly, or plan to have a lot and/or heavy luggage, you might consider another way to get up north. If you stay on the second story, you have lug your bags up a few sets of very tight stairs.

The hotel is in a 500 year old building but is immaculately maintained. Rooms were charming and comfortable and clean. The only negative is that there are lots of stairs and no elevator - so if you are elderly or have a lot of heavy luggage, I would not recommend this hotel. Otherwise it is a perfect location, full of character and charm, centrally located in old town - a very memorable stay.

Loved this hotel. Very modern and clean. Location is fantastic - and Fazer is right across the way (good and bad if you know what I mean). The family room was plenty big for the four of us. And it comes with day tickets to Allas Pools and Sauna. Great place to stay in the center of Helsinki.

Our guide was super friendly, energetic, and truly wanted to enrich our understanding of the finnish culture. We really enjoyed spending time with him. The food tour was a bit lacking - we started at the market and had a sample of traditional Finnish food (raw salmon, smoked reindeer, and shrimp salad). But that was it - he showed us stuff around the market and explained the food but we never got to try any of it which was disappointing. He then took us to a restaurant where we ordered from the menu, then we went to Fazer and got a bag of chocolates. I wish we had done more tasting, particularly in the market - and especially at Fazer. But - the guide was amazingly smart and personable. Loved spending the time with him and hearing his perspective as he was not a native finnish person. We ended the tour with a wine tasting - that saved this experience. He took us to a local wine shop and the owner introduced us to three european wines from very small wineries. Overall, it would have better to do a true tasting (small bits here and there of all things Finland, rather than stop in a restaurant to order a meal).

We loved going to the farm to learn about Reindeer and reindeer farming. This experience was very different for us as we come from the states and do not have reindeer here. The guide was smart and caring - although we wished we had done some faster sledding, it was super peaceful going through the forest on a reindeer driven sled. The landscape was breathtaking, the sounds of the reindeer walking was relaxing, it was definitely very calm and peaceful. And of course the day we did this, it was like -35 degrees - so it was COLD. Layer up, and when you think you have enough layers, add one more - because man oh man it was COLD.

Of all the experiences we had in Lapland, this was our family's favorite. It was fast and fun, cold, breathtaking, and stunning. The dogs were so friendly - the landscape was crazy memorable. The guides and staff were so knowledgeable. We loved everything about this trip. But it is COLD - like bitingly cold, so bundle up - and when you think you are done, add another layer! We did an earlier excursion and got to see the sun rise above the frozen lake - highly recommend trying to catch that.

Super unique and surreal experience. The suit feels like you are walking on the moon, and then when you are floating, you feel like a marshmallow on a water bed. Fun, different, memorable - so worth the trip if you have the time.

We did this trip since our kids have never been to a snow hotel before. It was a fun day trip but not anything you would regret missing if you don't have the time. The hotel is fun to explore - and if you have little ones (we don't) they would have a lot of fun running around this place.

It was nice to walk around Helsinki and hear some insight into the architecture, culture, food, etc. Although our guide was a bit dry, it was a good way to spend New Years Day since lots of stuff was closed.

We used Wild About Lapland for this excursion and I am sooooo glad we did. They offer small group experiences - our tour went out with just 4 snowmobiles (unlike others we passed with like 20 or more). Because it was a small group, we could go faster and longer. When we stopped to grill sausages and have cocoa, we could spend time chatting and telling stories with the guide and other travelers. Very fun - but layer up because it's coooollllddd out there!

Our guide was amazing...so knowledgeable, personable, funny - loved this tour. And Tallinn is so enchanting - a must do if you can.

The Northern Lights Ranch was a spectacular location. The room with the window on the ceiling made the experience even more special. Watching the Northern Lights from this room was an unforgettable experience. The location was beautiful and it truly added to the magic of seeing such a natural wonder.

The Adults Only Husky Adventure was incredibly touching and fascinating. The symbiosis between the animals and humans was remarkable, and it was an amazing experience to witness the dogs thriving on the icy tracks. The organizers did a fantastic job ensuring everything was well-coordinated, and the warm clothing provided kept us comfortable even in the extreme cold.

The Wilderness Resort was truly fantastic. The glass roof igloos were a standout feature, allowing us to gaze at the stars in comfort. It was an unforgettable experience, and my kids absolutely loved it.

The Husky Tour was amazing. Our guide was fantastic and made the experience really special. The highlight was when we emerged from the forest onto a frozen lake — it felt magical and my daughter thought it was the coolest part of the entire ride.

The SantaPark VEP Experience was a highlight of our trip. Being indoors meant we didn't have to bundle up as much, which was a relief. My kids loved the shows, and they were so entertaining we ended up watching them twice. The craft activities and cookie-making were also a big hit!

Loved this hotel / glass cabin. We loved the whole trip but if forced to pick we all liked Northern Lights Ranch / Levi the best - quiet, snow, stars, etc.

I am glad we did it & I would take the overnight train to Lapland again. It was easy and an interesting travel experience for my kids. They never took an overnight train before!

I would stay here again.

Everyone thought this was a fun, interesting activity. In the end, my 11 year old daughter didn’t want to put the suit on and go in, and I didn’t force her to & it was no problem for her to stay in the kota while we did it.

My 13 year old son caught one fish and the guide caught one fish but ice fishing was up there on my husband and 13 year old son’s top activities of the trip. They really liked being out on the ice with the guides and my 13 year old really liked grilling sausages on the fire out there.

It turns out my family is not really in New Year’s parties. If your family wants to attend a party, I think this would be fun.

I’m really rating a different experience to be 4 stars and I would probably rate the kennel experience listed here as 5 stars if I had gone. Due to weather, our originally booked experience was changed and we were given the option to go with the change or cancel for a refund. Due to weather and being tired from New Year’s the night before, we opted to cancel our trip to the kennel since given the option and then at the last minute, Lilla helped us organize a shorter husky ride at Santa’s Husky Rides - the kennel’s satellite location in Santa Claus Village (at this moment I loved Lilla - they wouldn’t let me book a guaranteed time slot myself but said I could walk in, but I thought to ask Lilla if she could get them to give me a time slot and she did and arranged our transportation to / from!). I think we would have liked to go out to the kennel (and you should do it if you can!) but if you can’t - I was very thankful for Lilla’s last minute help to book the shorter ride so we could still get a taste of it.

We all enjoyed this - great food and fun sauna experience and interesting to be in a Finnish family’s home . My 16 year old son rated this as his favorite activity of the trip!

I always ask everyone in my family to tell me their favorite thing we did on the trip. My 11 year old daughter and I picked the snowmobile trip! None of us had ever been snowmobiling before and it was a fun and beautiful adventure. The latest my 13 year old son has said is that he liked so much he can’t pick a favorite thing, but he had listed the snowmobile trip up there as a possibility when asked earlier :)

If you really want to try your best to see the Northern Lights, I recommend that you do this tour in Levi.

Nice large room and bathroom and great breakfast buffet.

Being able to feed the Reindeer and walk among them was super cool. The sleigh rides was nice but super short.