Finnish Lapland in Winter

Meals
6 Breakfast(s), ,

Transport
Overnight train , Public bus , Private vehicle , Tram

Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), Guesthouse (4 nights), Overnight sleeper train (1 night)

• Helsinki to Rovaniemi - Santa Claus Express Overnight Train
• Helsinki – Helsinki Leader led orientation walk
• Yllästunturi - Dog Sledding
• Yllästunturi - Reindeer Farm Visit
• Yllästunturi - Traditional Finnish Smoke Sauna
• Rovaniemi – Rovaniemi Leader led orientation walk

• Be pulled across the snowy landscape at high speed on the back of a dogsled. The incredible huskies are doing what they love most – making a lot of noise before darting along the trails.
• Visit a traditional Sami family and let them guide you through their daily life and show you around a lavvu (a traditional tent).
• Snowshoe to a secluded spot to see the Aurora Borealis. The Northern Lights is the best lightshow on Earth and this trip is your ticket to watch it (subject to weather conditions).
• Travel on the famous 'Santa Claus Express' overnight train all the way from Helsinki through the frozen Northern wilderness to Rovaniemi.
• Enjoy lots of free time to explore northern Finland as you wish – this might include skiing, ice fishing or visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site Suomenlinna Sea Fortress – it's up to you!

• Lapland can be extremely cold at this time of year. Please bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions. Please see the Packing section in the Essential Trip Information document for more details. There may be the rare occasion where your leader has to alter the itinerary and activities due to the weather. In this case an alternative will be offered. Please also note that even though it will be cold, not always will there be snow cover, especially on the departures earlier in the winter season. In these cases snow dependent activities will be replaced with suitable alternatives. The Northern Lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis) are a natural display of coloured lights in the night sky of the northern hemisphere. While Northern Light displays can never be guaranteed, as they are a natural phenomenon, you have a higher chance of seeing them in locations at high latitudes, such as Northern Finland. Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies during your visit. As accommodation on this trip is twin share, single travellers will share a room with another traveller of the same sex. This trip is a great opportunity to get to know other like-minded people, so embrace it while you can. However, if you’d prefer not to share, a single room supplement is available at an additional charge. Please ask your travel consultant for more details. Also, hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Please also be aware that many guesthouses offer shared bathrooms rather than en-suite facilities. Rooms in Finland can be small, and at times you may be accommodated a short walk away from the main building. Finland can be an expensive destination in terms of eating out. Your leader will be able to advise on how to save money. In Yllastunturi the only option for dinner will be at the guesthouse we are staying at, or alternatively there are cafes and restaurants in the nearby town (approximately 35 minutes on foot, or a short taxi ride away). On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight Under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.