Finland: The happiest place on earth
Finland
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Sep 13 - Sep 22, 2025
Our ten day trip to Finland was amazing. We had several discussions with Emerson, He took our goals, budget, interests, and physical abilities into consideration as he selected activities for us to complete on this trip. He did a terrific job! The attention to detail and personal service made this trip very special. We will give you feedback about the highlights in Helsinki’s, Levi, and Rovaniemi in terms of our transfers, hotels, and activities.
We spent four nights in Helsinki at the beginning of our trip. The transfers throughout Helsinki were outstanding. The vehicles were beautiful and comfortable and the drivers combined professionalism and friendliness. Hotel Kamp was also outstanding. The room was spacious, comfortable, and quiet. The staff were helpful and friendly, and the included breakfasts were delicious. While we enjoyed all of our city tours, our favorites were in Tallin (Christopher) and Porvoo. When talking to friends, we might suggest they skip the Soumenlinna trip. The trip to the Archipelago Sea (Alex) was a great way to get out of the city and see the beauty of nature close by.
The overnight train to Kolari was interesting. As described, we had our own cabin with two berths and a private bathroom. The cabin was quite small, with a very small window and little stool. We struggled getting into the top berth, but once we were each in our berths, we slept fine. Since we didn’t have seats in the regular compartment and there was no observation car, we spent a lot of time in the dining car when we were not sleeping.
Our transfer to Levi was great and the accommodations there were fantastic - probably our favorite of the entire trip. The Levin Iglut glass igloo was beautifully appointed and had a breathtaking view. The restaurant had a great breakfast, and we enjoyed delicious meals both nights at the hotel. The staff were friendly and helpful. It was a joy to be there. While the conditions were not ideal to see the Nothern Lights, our guide, Jukka, was knowledgeable and worked very hard to find a place where we could experience them through photography.
Our transfer to Rovaniemi was great and our suite at the Arctic Treehouse was beautiful. The restaurant at the hotel was good and the staff were all very helpful. All of our Lapland hikes were outstanding. The guides (Heli, Juno, Suka, and Ustav) were knowledgeable, interesting, and flexible while adjusting to our hiking needs and speeds. The sauna experience was one we will always remember, because we got to authentically experience a Finnish tradition in nature.
The advice to fly back to Helsinki was great. We enjoyed staying at the Hotel Haven. It was not as lavish as Hotel Kamp, but did the trick for our one night stay before heading home. Again, our transfer was on time and incredibly professional.
Our kimkim contact in Finland, Lilla Patricia, did a great job monitoring things while we were there. She checked in with us to see how things were going, served to reschedule a hike, and managed the situation when a tour was cancelled. We would definitely recommend kimkim to friends and will use you in the future. Thank you for a great trip.
Hotel Reviews
Activity Reviews
It was so fun to see this part of Finland. The hike had a few places that were a little steep, but most of those spots had a rope or something to hold on to. We had a dry, beautiful day. If it was wet or snowy, this could have been slippery, but it was perfect for us. Our guide took many pictures of us along the hike.
Our Helsinki city tour was great. Our guide, Jolantha, gave us a great overview of the city and good suggestions of places to see on our own. The library was a great place to see on our own. The Suomenlinna part of the tour was just OK. We walked through the island but didn’t see anything up close. The cobblestones were hard to walk on.
We enjoyed the ferry ride. Our guide, Christopher, gave us great insight into the history and current state of Estonia.
Our guide gave us great information both on the ride to Porvoo and during our walking tour. He pointed out historic places and suggested places to shop. The town was charming.
The hike was a comfortable speed, and our guide, Alex, taught us about the biology and geology of the location. The view was outstanding. We had our first sea buckthorn juice on this hike. So fun making a fire and having sausages, potato salad, and a pastry .
It was our first time foraging, which was delightful. We learned a lot about mushrooms, blueberries, and lingonberries. Cooking the mushrooms on fire by a beautiful river was amazing. The meal our guide prepared was delicious. Definitely one of our favorite experiences.
Our driver did a great job finding a place where we could see the Northing Lights on a night with low activity and clouds. He found a spot with a break in the clouds where we could photograph the Northern Lights and enjoy seeing amazing stars.
The hike gave us an opportunity to get above the tree line and enjoy a gorgeous view. The guides took great pictures of us.
This was worth the drive. We got to experience a Finnish cabin and wood fired sauna on a lake. The blueberry juice and snacks were appreciated.
