Hi, I’m Alise! I’m originally from Latvia, spent eight years in Estonia, and now call Finland my home. My ties to the Baltics and Nordics run deep, and I feel at home surrounded by its forests, lakes, rich history, and cultural traditions. I love helping travelers discover the charm of the region, from the magic of Lapland’s northern lights to the vibrant cultural cities of Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius, and Helsinki. Responsible travel is very important to me, and I believe in exploring with care while respecting nature, animals and local communities. For me, travel is about creating experiences that bring joy, connection and a fresh way of seeing the world.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"I specialize in Finland and the Baltic States. I enjoy creating trips that bring people closer to nature and culture in a thoughtful and responsible way. This can mean birdwatching in Finland’s national parks, exploring the rich history and architecture of the Baltic cities, or experiencing the quiet magic of Lapland under the northern lights. I focus on experiences that feel genuine, whether that is spending time in nature, learning from local communities, or enjoying cultural traditions. My goal is always to design journeys that are memorable, immersive, and full of personal discoveries."
How did you get involved in travel?
"My path into travel began when I worked in Finnish Lapland as a winter activities guide. I saw how much joy people found in experiencing something new, whether it was husky sledding, meeting Santa Claus or simply marveling at the northern lights. That time made me realize how much I enjoy helping others connect with a place and create special memories."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"One of my most memorable journeys was my very first solo trip. I flew to Oslo and took the scenic train ride to Bergen, which lasted almost seven hours. The changing landscapes from green valleys to snowy mountain peaks kept me fascinated throughout the journey. At some stops near ski resorts, passengers stepped off the train, put on their skis and glided straight down the mountain, a sight that made me laugh and enjoy the scenery even more. Arriving in Bergen felt like entering a postcard, with its vibrant harbor, rows of wooden houses, and hills climbing up on all sides. Hiking through the fjords, discovering hidden trails, and enjoying a picnic by a waterfall gave me a sense of freedom and adventure that has stayed with me ever since. That trip sparked my lifelong passion for travel and deepened my love for Nordic nature."
Alise's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Family itineraries
Recent trip reviews for Alise
Amazing Winter Wonderland Trip to Lapland Finland
Finland
|
Feb 9 - Feb 13, 2026
Raylene C.
Los Angeles, CA
| Reviewed on Feb 19, 2026
I had such an amazing time, Alise planned a wonderful, special trip for me as the trip was for my birthday . This was the first time I've used KimKim, Alise was so helpful during the planning process. We went through the itinerary step by step and she even went over my clothing as the weather in Lapland was in the negatives. The activities were so some fun and everyone was so nice and knowledge. The objective of my trip was to see the Northern Lights and while I was not able to see them due...
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I had such an amazing time, Alise planned a wonderful, special trip for me as the trip was for my birthday . This was the first time I've used KimKim, Alise was so helpful during the planning process. We went through the itinerary step by step and she even went over my clothing as the weather in Lapland was in the negatives. The activities were so some fun and everyone was so nice and knowledge. The objective of my trip was to see the Northern Lights and while I was not able to see them due to the weather, it did not diminish the amazing experience I had. I would definitely use KimKim again for any of my future travels and would love to work with Alise again when I return back Lapland to try and see the Northern Lights :)
Hotel Reviews
Northern Lights Ranch
Köngäs
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
Break Sokos Hotel Levi
Levi
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
Activity Reviews
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.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
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.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Auroras With Snowmobiles
Finland
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
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Husky Safari (5km)
Finland
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
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Northern Lights Photography Tour
Finland
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 :)
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Alise Permanicka
Alise Permanicka
Local specialist in Helsinki
| Replied on Feb 19, 2026
Thank you for your kind words, Raylene. I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed your birthday trip, even without the Northern Lights making an appearance. That just means you have a good reason to return. :)
It was a pleasure planning this with you, and I would be thrilled to help you plan another adventure in the future!
Warm regards,
Alise
Highly Recommend Alise for Finland and Estonia!
Finland
|
Dec 31 - Jan 11, 2026
Alison D.
Newark, NJ
| Reviewed on Jan 18, 2026
We recently traveled to Finland and Estonia during the winter from USA. We typically plan trips and travel on our own when we leave the states. Because the weather can be unpredictable in Northern Finland in January, I decided to use an agent to help us with this trip. After doing research, we decided to go with Alise from KimKim as her initial itinerary was more in line with what we were looking for. After three iterations, she got the itinerary to fulfill every one of our wishes and within...
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We recently traveled to Finland and Estonia during the winter from USA. We typically plan trips and travel on our own when we leave the states. Because the weather can be unpredictable in Northern Finland in January, I decided to use an agent to help us with this trip. After doing research, we decided to go with Alise from KimKim as her initial itinerary was more in line with what we were looking for. After three iterations, she got the itinerary to fulfill every one of our wishes and within budget. She made the entire process very easy, communication was timely and clear, and she worked with me to plan an itinerary that was exactly what my family and I wanted to do. She seemlessly booked hotels, tranfers, private walking tours, and excursions. Every transport she arranged was punctual and friendly. The day trips were coordinated through small group companies - we always felt as if we were traveling in style - it matched what we paid for, and we were never disappointed. If you plan to do Snowmobiles, make sure you are a small group tour. We went out with 4 snowmobiles only. We passed some trips that had endless lines of snowmobiles, which I assume would have been far less fun and personable. If you do Huskies or Reindeer, be sure to go to a farm (don't do it at Santa Village, for ex.). The experience is much more personal, you will be supporting local farmers/kennels, and get a more one on one experience. We also did the ice floating which was surreal - like being a marshmallow on a water bed! Be sure to follow up if anything is included with your hotel. For ex., we stayed at the Hobo Hotel in Helsinki and it included tickets to Allas Sauna and Pools. The igloo hotel we stayed in included dinner and breakfast. Tell Alise what you are looking for (hotel in center of town, hotel with family suite, hotel in forest, whatever) and she will find options for you. It was fun to meet her when we arrived in Helsinki - definitely appreciate all she did to create a seemless and memorable trip to the Arctic.
Hotel Reviews
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.
Authenticity & Character
modern and clean - hipster type hotel
Location
Perfect spot in the heart of it all (but not noisy)
Staff
super attentive, friendly, and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
clean clean clean!
CRU Boutique Hotel Tallinn
Tallinn
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.
Authenticity & Character
Super unique and charming location
Location
In the old town - centrally located
Staff
Friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean
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.
Santa's Igloos Arctic Circle
Rovaniemi
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.
Authenticity & Character
super unique experience
Location
If you want to be able to walk to Santa Village, this is the place. Lovely igloos, remote enough to see the lights - restaurant delicious as well.
Staff
helpful, friendly, patient
Cleanliness & Comfort
clean clean clean
Posti Boutique Hotel Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi
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.
Authenticity & Character
Clean and comfortable
Location
too far from main center of town (when cold)
Staff
nice and friendly, helpful (but not there after 10pm)
Cleanliness & Comfort
clean
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.
Authenticity & Character
a bit outdated and in need of some upgrades
Location
centrally located
Cleanliness & Comfort
just meh on cleanliness factor
Activity Reviews
Tallinn Old Town Walking Tour
Tallinn
Our guide was amazing...so knowledgeable, personable, funny - loved this tour. And Tallinn is so enchanting - a must do if you can.
Quality of Experience
Our tour guide brought Tallinn to life in a very special way
Guides, Drivers and Staff
so nice and helpful
Transport
the ferry was super prompt - easy trip.
Chasing the Northern Lights by Snowmobile (Adults)
Rovaniemi
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!
Quality of Experience
small group made it so much better
Guides, Drivers and Staff
super fun guide
Transport
timely, efficient
Helsinki City Walking Tour (2h)
Helsinki
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.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Arctic SnowHotel Visit
Rovaniemi
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.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Aurora Ice Floating
Finland
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.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit
Rovaniemi
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.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Family Husky Safari
Finland
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.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
smart, kind
Food & Beer Tasting Tour
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).
Food
wish we had tasted more unusual things, with more a variety
Guides, Drivers and Staff
guide was awesome
Transport
we walked but city is super walkable
Local specialist: Alise Permanicka
Alise Permanicka
Local specialist in Helsinki
| Replied on Jan 20, 2026
Hi Alison,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughtful and honest feedback. I truly appreciate you highlighting what you enjoyed as well as where things could have been a bit better, as this really helps us continue to improve.
I’m very happy to hear that the trip plan matched your wishes and budget and that the planning process went smoothly overall. I’m especially thrilled that you were able to see the Northern Lights during your stay, what a special experience! :)...
Read more
Hi Alison,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughtful and honest feedback. I truly appreciate you highlighting what you enjoyed as well as where things could have been a bit better, as this really helps us continue to improve.
I’m very happy to hear that the trip plan matched your wishes and budget and that the planning process went smoothly overall. I’m especially thrilled that you were able to see the Northern Lights during your stay, what a special experience! :)
Thank you again for trusting me with your trip, and I would be delighted to help you plan another adventure in the future.
Warm greetings,
Alise