๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ฆฐ! My name is Maria and I have planned and successfully guided multiples trips on Joinmytrip in the past 1.5 years. You can learn more about me and my previous trips on my JMT page: https://www.joinmytrip.com/en/t/tripleader/mariaschoenfeld The days in the north are getting longer and by the beginning of February we can experience about 8 hours of day light! On this trip, I would love to share with you the experience of traveling through the remote Taiga of the Arctic one more time ๐ฒ. This is a trip "Above the Arctic Circle" ๐ซ. Travel with me as a "soon-to-be-local" on an unforgettable journey to the last wilderness of Europe: Lapland๐ฆ. Lapland is located in the northernmost part of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia and is the coldest region of the European continent. According to "IQAir World Air Quality Reports" Finland ranks amongst the countries with the cleanest air worldwide. For us it means "take a deep breath in and get ready for the outdoors"๐ฅฐ! Now time to travel Finland on a budget!
๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐? During our time in Lapland, we will have very good chances of witnessing the aurora boreales - also known as northern lights - since the winter/spring time is best to experience those in Lapland. I have a full itinerary planned out for us with enough time for additional activities such as dog sledding, reindeer safaris, icebreaker cruise and ice floating experiences and more ๐ต. Additionally, we will have our own car and will be super flexible. It means that more remote and more untouched locations can be explored compared to other trips. The trip is meant to stay on the low-budget so we will try to cook as such as possible in our home-own cozy kitchens and share the costs via the app "Splitwise" among the trip mates. This proofed to be the best and most cost-efficient way during past trips - especially since eating out in Finland is really REALLY expensive. โ๏ธ A dream coming true to be able to travel Lapland during the winter season!
๐๏ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ We spend our first nights in a wooden comfortable chalet outside of the loud and noisy cities with dark skies at night in order to have the best chances to experience the northern lights๐ฅฐ. Two trip mates will share one room. Breakfast and dinner costs will be shared by the group, so we can keep the costs as low as possible for everyone. A big bonus is that the chalet comes with a private sauna in the house, where we can warm up and relax after a long day out. The overnight train from Kemi to Helsinki is a sleeper train and I arrange the comfortable and more luxurious version of train traveling in a 2-berth carriage for us, so we can have a good sleep before arriving in Helsinki the next morning. The train departs in the early evening and arrives the next morning at around 6:30 am in Helsinki. On board, there is a restaurant to enjoy dinner and breakfast as well as shower and toilet facilities. A small face towel and bedding are provided for the polar night ride. The cottage and the train cabin are shared with other trip mates from our group only. Please let me know if you would like to request a single room and I will see what can be arranged and how much you might have to pay for a single supplement. Also the order of the activities might vary depending on changes beyond my control and adverse road and weather conditions. I will notify you before the trip in case of any changes. ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐. โ ๐๐ก๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ: 3-4/๐ โ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ: ๐ - ๐ โ ๐๐จ๐ง-๐ฌ๐ฆ๐จ๐ค๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ Because spots are limited (in the car and the house), it's quick and easy to reserve your spot: ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ค ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ญ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ข๐ง ๐ฆ๐! What are you waiting for?! Grab your winter clothes and let`s travel together ๐ฉ๏ธ!
What's included?
๐ Stay in Wooden Cottage (twin bed room)
๐Car + full insurance + winter tyres
โฐ๏ธ Snowmobiling to Finlands highest Peak
๐Overnight sleeper cabin on train
๐ Transfer Levi - Rovaniemi - Kemi
๐ Rovaniemi Santa Village
๐ฟ Travel far Above the Arctic Circle
๐ Arctic Circle Certificate + Ceremony
๐ฆRaw GoPro video material
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๐๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ฆฐGlobetrotter living in Finland. Spent most of my life in Germany. My third home in Siberia always warms my adventure heart ๐๐บ๏ธ
You can chat with Maria once you reserve your spot.
Trip Itinerary
1
Rovaniemi Airport
Day 1
๐ฟ๐๐ฎ 1: Arrival / meet & greet the group As you arrive at Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) the crisp Arctic air greets you, signaling the beginning of an enchanting winter adventure โ๏ธ! There are direct flights from Helsinki and from all around Europe to Rovaniemi and take a bus up north (bus ticket included in this trip). This takes about 2-2.5 hours. If you decide to book a flight to Rovaniemi, please make sure to land no later than noon in order to make it to Kittilรค in time for our meet up. But it is also possible to book a flight to Kittilรค Airport directly (see the description below). ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ โ Bus ticket Rovaniemi Rautatieasema (City Centre) to Levi (Sirkka City)
2
Kittilรค International Airport
Day 1-3
Alternatively you can also book a flight to Kittilรค Airport (KTT) directly. In 2025 there were direct seasonal flights from Airports such as Dusseldorf and others. I will most likely land at Kittilรค directly in the evening and pick up our rental car. If you arrive at the airport around the same time, I can meet you there for pick-up. If you arrive earlier, please make your way from the airport to Levi / Sirkka City centre, which is only a 15-20 minutes bus ride. There, you can warm up in a cafe and explore the city before meeting with the group. I can recommend making a visit to "Arcandia", an arctic park, or - if you have a full day - go on your first guided day tour such as dog sledding or reindeer safari. Once I receive our car, I will pick you up from a designated location. As a group, we gather in a rustic Finnish restaurant for a meal and get to know each other before we make our way to our chalet in the middle of a beautiful wonderland winter forest. ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ 2: Levi & Lainio Snow Village This day is a mix of cultural immersion and snowy land(e)scapes. We begin the morning with a visit to The Samiland Exhibition, which is part of the UNESCO Observatory Cultural Village programme and spans both indoor and outdoor spaces. One of the special experiences there is, in my opinion, the opportunity to meet (and feed) the reindeer. After a lunch break, we will have time to explore a reindeer farm and go on a reindeer sleigh ride in the reindeer park, if we decide on that activity in the group (extra fees may apply). On my last trip to Lapland, we met really cute reindeer there and we just didn`t want to leave! In the early afternoon we drive to Lainio Snow Village which is fully made of ice and snow and completely rebuilt from scratch every year with a changing theme and stunning ice art. 2025 year`s theme was "underwater world", but the themes change every year with surprising new art. After walking around the ice rooms and exhibition halls, we can enjoy a drink at the ice bar. ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ โ 2 nights in shared twin bed room in our house with sauna ๐ฅฐ with possibility to see northern lights (groceries will be shared and costs split via Splitwise) โ Rental car and me as your personal driver โ Learn about Sami people at Samiland Exhibition โ Lainio Snow and Ice Village entry fee ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐ / ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ โOther additional activities and tours such as Arcandia Park (~20โฌ), Icefloating (~130โฌ) or Reindeer rides and meals
3
Kilpisjรคrvi
Day 3-6
๐ฟ๐๐ฎ 3: Levi -> Kilpisjรคrvi Wilderness We dapart from our cottage on a scenic 3-4 hours drive further north to Kรคsivarsi Wilderness Area. It is located in the northernmost point in the Lapland region along the countryโs border with Norway and Sweden. The main feature of Kรคsivarsi is that it is the most mountainous area of Finland where the most high mountains can be found and where it is usually the coldest throughout the year. The evening will be free to enjoy a sauna and just relax. ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ 4: Mount Halti Peak 1,328 m / 4,478 ft After breakfast, we embark on an unforgettable guided day tour to Finland`s Halti Mountain, Finland`s highest mountain peak. In a small group led by an experienced guide we make our way up on snowmobiles with panoramic views surrounding us. There will be two people each sharing a snowmobile and you and your partner can change as drivers during the breaks. The drive to the peak is considered rigorous and demanding, with about 3-4 hours drive altogether. So if you do not want to drive up yourself and just enjoy being a passenger and take photos during the tour, then let me know and I will arrange the snowmobile sledge transfer for your accordingly, which means that an experiences guide will drive you up the mountain and you can relax in the sledge attached. ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ 5: Kilpisjรคrvi Wilderness Today we have a full day for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing alternatively. Equipment can be rented on site and together we will make our way along a designated skiing path into the nature. We can prepare some picnic for the today's activity beforehand, too, in order to make the most of the time outdoors and fully emerge into the winter landscape. Alternatively, you can go on an adventurous dog sledding tour though the wild north of Finland, where you surely will have an unforgettable experience with your sledge dogs :-). ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ โ Snowmobile tour and hike to Halti Peak incl. guide and clothing equipment ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐ โMeals โ Cross-country skis rental (~50โฌ)
4
Rovaniemi
Day 6-7
๐ฟ๐๐ฎ 6: Rovaniemi & Santa Claus Village After breakfast we drive around 4 hours back to Kittilรค airport where we will return the rental car and take a bus to Rovaniemi. The ride is somewhere between 2 and 3 hours and we can relax while glancing out the window into the sleepy winter landscape we pass along our way. Upon arrival in Rovaniemi we check into our accomodation and make our way to the most famous home of Santa. The Village is nestled right on the Arctic Circle, making it a must-visit for all Lapland enthusiasts and travelers. The symbolic act of crossing the Arctic Circle (although we will have been far above that point at the beginning of our trip ;-)) will be granted with a certificate to remember. We will also visit the Santa Claus Office, where you can meet Santa himself and leave a letter with wishes in the Santa Clausโ Main Post Office. If anyone wishes to experience more theu have some time in the afternoon for a stop at the Arktikum Museum, an iconic underground museum & science center on the Arctic region & the history of Finnish Lapland. ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ โ Bus transfer Levi - Rovaniemi (~ 2-3 hours) โ 1 night in Rovaniemi โ Visit to the Santa Claus Village โ Arctic Circle Crossing Certificate ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐ โLocal bus and taxi fees โAdditional guided experiences in the Santa Claus Village and Arktikum Museum
5
Kemi
Day 7
๐ฟ๐๐ฎ 7: Kemi Today after a relaxed morning and breakfast, we pack our bags and depart by train from Rovaniemi to Kemi, the city known for it`s iconic ice breaker experience. Many tour operators in the area offer other guided tours as well such as dog sledding, snowmobile tours and more! I leave this day free at your expense, so you can enjoy some extra activities that you are interested in and make the most of your time here in Finland :)! Rest assured, our luggage will be securely stored during the day activities in a locker. In the late evening we board our polar express train - the so-called Santa Claus Express- and make ourselves comfortable in the sleeper cabins for the journey southward to Helsinki. ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ โ Train ticket Rovaniemi - Kemi (seats) โ Luggage storage in Kemi ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐ โPublic bus transfer / shuttle in Kemi โ3-hour Icebreaker experience and arctic suit floating ~ 395โฌ per person โHusky sledding (~150-200โฌ each) and other activities
6
Helsinki
Day 7-8
๐ฟ๐๐ฎ 8: Departure from Helsinki It`s time to say farewell. The train will reach Helsinki Train Station in the morning around 6:30AM. It means you have enough time to catch a flight back home or stay a little bit longer to explore the capital of Finland. I am sure this week will pass in no time and it soon be time to say farewell to our newly found travel buddies and friends. I really hope to meet you very soon on this Finnish Lapland adventure ๐๐! ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ โ 1 night on the overnight train in 2-berth sleeper cabin (arrival in Helsinki the early morning hours sometime around 6:30/7:00)
Trip Summary
Accommodation
Apartments
8 days trip
Rovaniemi Airport, Kittilรค International Airport & 4 more
Transportation
Car, Train
What's excluded?
โ๏ธFlights
๐ฅคMeals & fuel (we use Splitwise)
๐ณPersonal expenses (souvenirs...)
๐ซAdditional tours (see itinerary)
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