Finland Epic Winter Holiday - 14 Days

Day 2: Helsinki Walking Tour, Afternoon at Leisure

This morning you'll discover Helsinki on a two-hour walking tour through the city center. This is your chance to learn about Finnish culture, history, and lifestyle from a local guide, while you visit top attractions starting with the Helsinki Cathedral, with its iconic white exterior topped with emerald-green domes. Other stops on tour include Old Market Square, where you can pick up souvenirs; the Parliament House, where Finland's seat of government is located; and Temppeliaukion Church, a unique underground structure carved into the rocky landscape.

Now that you have the lay of the land, you'll have the afternoon and evening to explore Helsinki at your own pace. Perhaps you want to visit Suomenlinna, a UNESCO-listed 18th-century fortress complex. You'll take a 20-minute ferry from Old Market Square, opposite the Presidential Palace, where you'll get magnificent views of Helsinki from the sea. You can spend several hours discovering Suomenlinna's six museums, military architecture, parks, churches, libraries, cafés, and restaurants dotted around a small group of linked islands.

Day 3: Porvoo Day Trip, Transfer to Pyhä

It's your last day in Helsinki and a great opportunity to take a bus to Porvoo, located 31 miles (50 km) outside the city. Dating back to the 14th century, Finland's second-oldest city is a historical treasure reflected in its medieval streets and colorful wooden houses. Explore the charming shops and chocolatiers, have lunch, and wander up a cobbled hill to view the beautiful river scene below. You can also head to the Porvoo History Museum, which includes an entrance to Holmes House, a recreation of a wealthy Finnish merchant's home from the 18th century. 

Later in the evening, a driver will pick you up in Helsinki and take you to the train station for an overnight sleeper train to Lapland, the northernmost region in Finland. Besides being the most sustainable way of traveling, an overnight train also lets you spend the day exploring while saving money on accommodation.

Day 4: Ice Climbing Experience, Northern Lights Tour in a Reindeer Sleigh

Upon your train arrival the following day to the city of Rovaniemi, a driver will meet you at the train station and take you to your accommodation in Pyhä, about 1.5 hours away. Since you'll arrive early in the morning, check-in at the hotel won't be possible, but you can leave your bags at the hotel and start exploring the Lapland region.

This is an excellent opportunity to take an exciting 2.5-hour excursion near your hotel, including ice climbing. This is a safe, exciting, and rewarding experience for all abilities‚ including beginners, led by professional instructors. First, your guide will teach you all the basic ice climbing techniques; then, you'll have time to show off your adventurous spirit and determination. 

Later in the day, after the sky is dark, bundle up and get ready for a unique two-hour guided wilderness trip on a sleigh pulled by real-life reindeer. As these native animals trot through the powder, your local guide will tell stories of arctic life and how reindeer herding has been a part of the Finnish culture for centuries. The main goal is to spot the aurora borealis, a beautiful light phenomenon caused by solar storms interacting with the earth's magnetic field. 

Day 5: Snowshoeing to an Amethyst Mine

Besides skiing and sledding, Lapland's topography is also a great place to discover the pleasures of snowshoeing. This cold-climate activity was borne out of necessity. For centuries, it was the most practical and efficient way for residents to hike between places.

This morning, eat a hearty breakfast and then meet your guide, where you'll strap on snow shoes and embark on a four-hour cross-country trek through the snow. This scenic route passes through the wilderness of Pyhä-Luosto and ends at Lampivaara, where you can dig for prized purple stones at a hilltop amethyst mine. 

Day 6: Transfer to Ivalo, Northern Lights Tour in a Snow Tank

Today you'll be picked up by your driver and transferred north to Ivalo. Thanks to the two largest national parks in Finnish Lapland, the area known as Inari-Saariselkä offers impressive views of unspoiled wilderness. Upon arrival, you can spend the day relaxing and enjoying your accommodation.

After dinner, you'll embark on an exciting nighttime wilderness adventure in a different kind of sleigh. Your mode of transportation is a mobile cabin pulled by a snow tank, an off-road vehicle purpose-built to travel through snowy conditions. The sleigh is fully enclosed to keep passengers warm, and panoramic windows afford the best views to take pictures. This is a three-hour tour where you can enjoy refreshments as your local guide leads you on a hunt for the northern lights. 

Day 7: Day Trip to a Sámi Village

This morning, you'll head out on a full-day tour of the lakeside village of Inari, which is populated by the Sámi people, who are the only First Nations people in the European Union. They are self-governing and have maintained their language and customs for thousands of years. For example, fishing, hunting, reindeer herding, and craft-making remain the cornerstones of Sámi culture.

You'll witness the lifestyle firsthand when you meet residents and browse their markets for souvenirs and authentic handicrafts. The major highlight of the tour is a visit to Siida Museum, with exhibits that celebrate Sámi culture, art, and history, which are linked with nature, the surrounding landscapes, and conservation efforts. There are also exhibits of Sámi traditions in relation to climate history, from the last Ice Age to the challenges the modern world faces today.

Day 8: Transfer to Ylläs, Skiing in Ylläs

This morning, a private driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Ivalo and take you directly to Ylläs—a journey of about three hours. Once settled at your accommodation, you'll have the chance to hit the slopes in Finland! Ylläs is by far the largest ski resort in the country, and no other Finnish ski resort offers slopes that are as long or that differ in altitude as much as the slopes here. This makes it a great place to learn if you have never skied before (or need a refresh!)

Another feature that makes Ylläs unique is its location between two authentic villages in Lapland, which means that skiers can visit the slopes of two villages in one day. The village and slopes of Äkäslompolo are located on the northern side of Ylläs, and the village and slopes of Ylläsjärvi are on the southern side. When you have reached the top station of the lifts, you can freely choose which direction you want to take.

Day 9: Snowmobile Tour 

Today is another exciting excursion in the great outdoors, where you can take a wild snowmobile tour around Ylläs. Don't worry if you are a beginner, as this tour offers a complete introduction to snowmobiling with a professional guide.

After a safety briefing and driving lesson, you and your group will don helmets and head out on an easy track that weaves through magnificent scenery, including forests, wetlands, and hills. All you have to do is enjoy the power of the snowmobile and absorb the fabulous winter views. At the halfway mark, there will be a stop where you can enjoy hot drinks and snacks while snapping photos. 

Day 10: Transfer to Rovaniemi, Visit the Arctic SnowHotel

This morning, your driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Ylläs and take you directly to Rovaniemi. It's hard not to get into the Christmas spirit here as this is the official town of Santa Claus. There's even a physical line that you can cross on foot to get to and from the Arctic Circle. The small city of 63,000 residents is also the capital of the Lapland region, so there's plenty to look forward to in the coming days. 

For a special introduction to the area, head to the Arctic SnowHotel for a tour. This unique property is located outside the city, and each room has its own theme and is decorated with ice art and illuminated artwork. It's also possible to stay overnight in an igloo with a glass roof while you look for the northern lights or dine in their ice restaurant. At the very least, you can sip a frosty drink at the ice bar before departing!

Day 11: Visit Santa's Village on Your Own, Northern Lights Tour

One of the highlights of visiting Rovaniemi, especially around the holidays, is meeting Santa Claus on his home turf a few miles outside of town in Santa Claus Village. This is your chance to say hello to the big man himself and visit the Official Santa's Post Office on Elf Road, where you can write and send letters to friends and family. You can also receive your certificate for crossing the Arctic Circle and spend a few hours perusing the shopping and dining options. 

After dark, it's time to hunt for the northern lights again! This time you'll be picked up at your hotel by a professional guide for an excursion into the wilderness outside Rovaniemi. It's in these dark outskirts of Lapland, free of light pollution, where you'll have an excellent chance of seeing some colorful skies. Your friendly guide will also share stories and local knowledge of the area and snacks and hot drinks during the adventure. For an additional fee, you can upgrade to a tour that includes a professional photographer.

Day 12: Husky Sledding Safari

After breakfast, your driver will take you outside Rovaniemi to the Arctic Circle Husky Park for a half-day excursion. This family-run organization raises real Alaskan huskies and offers sledding safaris. These dogs were bred to be active and require at least a couple of hours of exercise daily. Besides that, they are good-natured and love people, which makes them the perfect sled dog.

When you arrive, you'll meet the dogs and board the sled. Then, after a safety briefing, head out on a 3 to 6-mile (6 to 10 km) ride through forest trails in the snow. After the safari, you can spend time with your new friends in the dedicated "husky hugging area." They love cuddles and photos!

Day 13: Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure

Today is a full-day tour to Korouoma Canyon, a protected nature reserve that becomes a frozen wonderland in winter, complete with ice waterfalls and snowy forests. As you walk through the ethereal landscape, sometimes the best way to tackle the trail is simply to slide down!

Along the way, your guide will teach you about arctic nature, share interesting survival tips, and share their passion for Lapland. At the end of the experience, they'll prepare an open fire and cook a traditional Finnish barbecue lunch for all to share.

Day 14: Depart Rovaniemi 

It's time to say goodbye to Finland! At the appointed time, a driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport in Rovaniemi for your departing flight. Safe travels!

More Great Finland Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Finland? Check out these other Finland itineraries, explore different ways to spend two weeks in Finland, or discover the best time to visit Finland.