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active 10 hours ago

Emerson Siimer

Hello, I'm Emerson, a travel specialist. Originally from Tartu, Estonia, I've had the privilege of calling Australia and New Zealand my home.

With a master's degree in nature-based tourism, I'm passionate about responsible travel. I've shared my love for nature through wild food workshops, guided hiking expeditions, and assisting fellow travelers.

My favorite part of the world is North Finland, where I've experienced the magic of snowboarding, hiking, husky sledding, reindeer encounters, and thrilling snowmobile adventures.

I'm here to craft unforgettable travel experiences that blend adventure, nature, food and culture. Let's embark on incredible journeys and create lasting memories together.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Baltic states and Finland. Food, adventure, nature and culture."

How did you get involved in travel?

"My travel journey began at the age of 17 with a thrilling hitchhiking adventure across Europe, setting the stage for a lifetime of exploration. I've since explored diverse destinations, from Europe to South Africa, Japan, Iran, and Southeast Asia, enriching my understanding of the world's cultures and landscapes.
"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"My trip to Iran turned into an incredible adventure filled with unique experiences. Initially, I went there for a snowboarding trip and, quite unexpectedly, crossed paths with two Iranian girls. To my surprise, it turned out that these girls were living and studying in Estonia, just like me, a rare and serendipitous encounter.

Our journey in Iran went far beyond the slopes. We explored the local culture by visiting the homes of the welcoming Iranians, indulged in the extraordinary experience of diving in the Persian Sea, and embarked on a one-of-a-kind desert adventure with the locals. We also trekked through stunning mountain landscapes, savored a variety of unconventional local dishes, and discovered places that I might not have ventured to otherwise.

As fate would have it, we managed to leave Iran just a day before the onset of the global COVID-19 lockdowns, making it a remarkable and fortunate experience, filled with luck and a touch of craziness that will stay with me forever."

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent trip reviews for Emerson

Wow so much to say......Excursions in Rovaniemi
Finland | Jan 1 - Jan 6, 2025

J
JAMES Z.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2025
Wow so much to say...........
I travel to Jerusalem, my tour guide is in Jerusalem. I will be traveling to Istanbul, my guide is in Istanbul. I vacation to Lapland and my guide is in Detroit/Estonia?? Emerson was too far away to be very helpful.
The hotel, Arctic Light Hotel, was very nice. The breakfast buffet wonderful. The front desk people very professional and nice. But was this hotel **** hell no! The room size was the size of my walk in closet in Texas. Amazing to say, there were no...
Read more

Wow so much to say...........
I travel to Jerusalem, my tour guide is in Jerusalem. I will be traveling to Istanbul, my guide is in Istanbul. I vacation to Lapland and my guide is in Detroit/Estonia?? Emerson was too far away to be very helpful.
The hotel, Arctic Light Hotel, was very nice. The breakfast buffet wonderful. The front desk people very professional and nice. But was this hotel **** hell no! The room size was the size of my walk in closet in Texas. Amazing to say, there were no dresser draws or night stand tables with draws. So there was no where to unpack your suite cases. So we had one suite case on the coffee table, one on the chair and two on the floor. I went to the front desk and stated you have no dressers!! The attendant said I "went on line and saw the photo of the room, yes you do!" Went on line........ ?? Later I complained to the 'manager', we have no dressers. He walked up to the room and explained that the shelves on top of the closet were the draws for the cloths. If we were from Finland, six foot six, that explanation would still be laughable. But being Italian/Hispanic at 5 feet and five feet six, we needed a chair to put anything on those shelves.

I learned with the tremendous influx of tourists, that these tourist locations needed to hire workers from other countries. So as stated, the front desk people were all class, but some of the workers had little knowledge of their location. So for an excursion to say meet at the 'wild about Lapland' office location, and the hotel front desk is Googling where the office is, and our guide chilling in Estonia has no clue either, it added to the stress. To be honest, my old age did not help. Siri and hard to pronounce street names did not help 'maps'. Plus the I-phone was under six layers of cloths. With the 8 year old and the -25 C weather conditions, the fear of wondering around the city was petrifying. As you know, all the tours stated best be on time or will happily leave without you. Since 99.9% of the travelers are taking excursions, the hotel staff needs to know blindly where ALL these meeting locations are. Don't give me an address. Tell me walk out of the hotel, first left, walk up the street with the Christmas trees, pass Burger King .........

More fun things.........the driver from the airport. was nice until he got to the hotel. Then he happily put all the suite cases in the snow outside the hotel and asked if we needed help. Nah, just leave the f-ing suite cases in the snow. So he brings a couple into the hotel ten feet from the van, and starts to 'sing and dance' for a tip. Not tip given and stormed back into the street. On the way home, the driver, without asking, brought the suite case into the airport and was tipped. He was thrilled!

The 'Snow Hotel' and dinner probably the best of the trip. Unfortunately, mental blunder by the tour guide in Estonia. We were all finished with dinner at 21:30, and the bus to bring us back to the hotel was not to come until 23:00. So while Emerson was keeping warm, we were trying to avoid frost bite waiting for one and half hours in the ice cold lounge with the -25C temp.

The snow mobile excursion was great. But please don't mention a class to teach you how to drive one. Press the button to start, press here to go is not a class to manage the vehicle. I'll mention this here. We dressed and had cold winter cloths. We did not have to wear those unsightly winter jump suites over all our cloths. I imagine it's a legal issue. "We recommend that you wear our cloths and boots over your cloths so that you look like meat balls" The last two trips I refused. I was dressed plenty warm. This was the worst part of the trip for the wife. She being short, these outfits made her look so bad. Dressing the eight year old was difficult, and then putting the jump suites on ourselves was not fun. Plus on all the tours, they were yelling HURRY UP the tour was getting ready to leave!! We should have gotten to all the tours 1/2 hour earlier. But your excursions companies wish to jam as many tours into the day to generate as much cash as possible.

Emerson from Estonia, you can't book tours on the weekends at 8 am when the dinning facilities at the hotel don't open until 8. Or tell me where to get something to eat for the grand-daughter in the snow? Or how to eat with two pairs of mittens on?

But I saved the best for last. Where did you get this clown from? JOHKA 358-40-544-53854
The first 'Northern Lights' tour was cancelled. I was the one who e-mailed you when at 12:30 two days later I had heard nothing about a new tour. I got an email from you and notification from the front dest to be ready in the hotel lobby at 19:00. This Johka arrives 15 minutes late and then yells at me because the lights were better hours ago and he was unable contact me. Then he states he is driving to Sweden! So I said yeah, but the 8 year old and I are going to pee again before leaving.
By the way the wife was vomiting; food poisoning, the last two days of the trip and did not go on any excursions. Yes I know no refunds, since your company is so cheap, but not one of your people even said "I'm sorry she is not well" or "I hope she feels better". Not one! Very sad. Back to this clown.......We get into the van with a 7 and 10 year old girl and a wealthy mother. We drive into a snow bank, and this guy says to you want to take a portrait? I am thinking a portrait? With the grand-daughter totally covered up and only her eyes showing, and me looking like a balloon? No. I am thinking he will take a picture, go on line, google images Northern Lights Finland and photo shop. The only thing we had seen was mist'. He never explained what he was doing. Or his plan. This is when I would tell any of your clients get female tour guides. Females have brains, and men are dumb as dirt.

This Johka was a perfect example, dumb as dirt. The tour description stated Northern Lights 7 PM. Lasting 4-6 Hours
Ladies, imagine going on a eight (8) hour excursion and the driving never saying does anyone have to pee? Or are any of you children 7,8 and 10 year old girls hungry? WTF (For Emerson in Estonia this means What The F--k) It was only the children's mother who told me she requested that he found a bath room. So dumb as dirt says there is a 7 Eleven and gas station one hour away...........What??

We were given a box of cookies and juice. The children ate close to two hundred cookies. They were starving.
After driving around half the arctic, I asked him when we were heading home. He told me we were still in Sweden. It was 01:30. He told me we were another one and 1/2 hours from the hotel. Losing it, I told him he was getting 7, 8 and 10 year old children home at 3:00 in the morning? The girls didn't enjoy anything concerning the Northern Lights. The best part of the trip was eating ice cream at 7 Eleven. When we got back to hotel I told my baby let's get you into bed......it was 3 am. Your driver, I hope he wasn't expecting a tip, yelled out next time make sure you review the excursion details......I did later, tour time 4-6 hours. Not 8 hours. He wasn't the one to wake up the baby in four hours to the Zoo tour scheduled for the next day.
If I wasn't with my grand-daughter, I would have kicked his Finnish Ass right out side the hotel. The zoo tour guide the next day, a woman sweet like sugar, said I hope. it wasn't her company. They have an 'family friendly' tour a 7-11 tour and a longer Northern Lights tour. Emerson, just had a mental error booking us on the wrong tour. But none of the tours was listed as eight hours. If my wife, remember who was back at the hotel vomiting that no one cared about, would have choked his ass right in the snow bank.

Hotel Review
Arctic Light Hotel
Rovaniemi

I forgot.......when you travel to Europe the hotel rooms are the sizes of walk in closets. Our room had no dresser draws. It had no night stands/tables. There was no where to unpack or put your cloths. The front desk was highly professional and helpful. The hotel lobby very pretty and classy. The breakfast buffet just great. The breakfast buffet can't open at eight, if people have excursions that start at eight. The hotel is too expensive to have breakfast included in the price, and opens too late to capitalize on it. The location is perfect but some of the seasonal workers were unfamiliar with their surroundings

Authenticity & Character
just nice
Location
Right near main street with all the Christmas trees.
Staff
All class!!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Snowmobile Safari to Santa Claus Village
Snowmobile Safari to Santa Claus Village
Finland

Nice Excursion Needed to spend more time teaching how to drive a snow mobile. No snow in south Texas. The above would have decreased some of the anxiety level.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
All people want to take photos of their trip. Bad enough the I-phone is hidden in 6 layers of clothing, don't yell at people for taking out their cell phones to take pictures.
Transport
Family Husky Safari
Family Husky Safari
Rovaniemi

very cool and lots of fun feeding the dogs great for kids with the price of the excursion, I think we had to pay for the food to feed the dogs. Kind of cheap

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I got yelled at for taking out my cell phone to take pictures.........I. understand the reasoning but kind of sad
Transport
SnowHotel & Ice Dinner Experience
SnowHotel & Ice Dinner Experience
Rovaniemi

very cool (cold) place. Grand-daughter enjoyed the hotel the best

Quality of Experience
Food
Dessert in ice dish very cool. It is just impossible to enjoy a hot meal when the temperature is -25C
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The experience and the dinner ended at 21:30. The return driver showed up at 23:00. What were we suppose to do for the other one and 1/2 hours??
Reindeer Safari in the Nature of Lapland
Reindeer Safari in the Nature of Lapland
Rovaniemi

Great for kids Should have been given two sleds Two adults and an eight year old too tight and squished in one sled.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The owner of the Reindeer farm really did not have command of the English language. Hard to understand
Transport
Ranua Wildlife Park Visit
Ranua Wildlife Park Visit
Finland

In Texas at the zoo the animals look half dead it is so hot. Here the animals were half hibernating or under ground due to the cold. The eight year old still had a blast

Quality of Experience
Food
Is the only food in Finland mashed potatoes and meat balls?
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide....sorry for forgetting her name (tall skinny white girl) was sweet like sugar and my grand-daughter just loved her,
Transport
Flexible Northern Lights Hunting
Flexible Northern Lights Hunting
Rovaniemi

I guess I should have known that with the naked eye you see nothing special in the Northern Lights. Only with a special camera and filters or computer enhancement do you appreciate the bright colors that you see on postcards or mugs. Oddly enough, taking photos of white haze and mist with my cell phone actually some color showed up. Our guide Johka avoid. He was an absolute jerk. He forgot he had three young girls on our tour. He never asked them if they had to pee or if they were hungry. He seemed to be more interested in their mother when she said that her husband was vacationing in Florida alone. They talked for hours while I was totally ignored. The trip should have lasted 4-6 hours. Our tour returned at 3 am, eight hours later, with all the children having non-refundable excursions in the morning. How pathetic. Then this ass outside the hotel when I tell my grand-daughter let's get you in bed, his response, "Next time read the excursion description". This clown had no common sense. He had no idea whom his passengers would be. He made no adjustments now knowing the ages of the children. I just hope this rich American womana from CA tipped him well.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Get a female tour guide who has some. motherly instincts and common sense.
Transport
Don't put young children in a van for eight hours
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Jan 09, 2025
Hello James Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I’m truly sorry to hear that certain parts of your trip didn’t meet your expectations, and I appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. As your travel agent, my role is to design a detailed trip plan, coordinate all arrangements, and provide support remotely throughout your travels. While I am not physically present, I have traveled extensively in the region and am very familiar with these destinations. My... Read more

Hello James

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I’m truly sorry to hear that certain parts of your trip didn’t meet your expectations, and I appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

As your travel agent, my role is to design a detailed trip plan, coordinate all arrangements, and provide support remotely throughout your travels. While I am not physically present, I have traveled extensively in the region and am very familiar with these destinations. My expertise allows me to craft a well-thought-out itinerary and ensure you have all the information needed to enjoy your trip. Although I do not accompany clients, I provide clear instructions and guidance to help navigate the itinerary smoothly and address any potential concerns. Following the provided plan is key to making the most of the experience.

Regarding the Northern Lights tour, I explained in detail back in May how the tour operates, including its flexible nature and the potential for longer durations depending on conditions. I also mentioned that the tour may involve long drives, even crossing into Sweden, to maximize the chances of seeing the aurora. This flexibility is what sets the tour apart and helps travelers have the best possible experience. I wish you had shared your concerns with me at that time, as it would have allowed us to address any misunderstandings or make adjustments in advance.

For navigation, I recommended having a functional phone and a local SIM card to ensure smooth communication and navigation. Without a working phone, I understand that finding your way in unfamiliar locations, especially in challenging weather conditions, was stressful. While I provided detailed instructions for all meeting points, I regret that this became a source of frustration for you.

Regarding winter clothing, I understand that the overalls provided during activities were not ideal in terms of aesthetics or comfort. However, these garments are standard for Arctic tours, as they are essential for protecting travelers from the extreme cold. While I understand your concerns, the priority is always your safety and comfort in such harsh conditions.

For the Arctic Light Hotel, I understand that the room size and storage options did not meet your expectations. European boutique hotels, including this one, often have smaller rooms compared to accommodations in other parts of the world. While this is standard, I regret that it wasn’t what you were accustomed to.

I was unaware of your wife’s illness during the trip, as it was not communicated to me. Had I known, I would have done everything possible to assist and ensure her comfort.

I want to emphasize that I made every effort to support you during your trip. I was in contact with you almost every day or tried to be whenever possible. For example, when I received your message about the Northern Lights tour, I responded immediately, contacted the hotel, and ensured the information was passed on to you. While I deeply regret any miscommunication or challenges you faced, my goal was to ensure your trip went as smoothly as possible.

Thank you again for your feedback. I value it greatly and will use it to improve my services. While there were difficulties, I hope there were moments of joy and wonder during your journey. If you’d like to discuss this further or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Best regards,
Emerson

All of Our Wishes Came True!
Finland | Nov 30 - Dec 6, 2024

Christina
Christina R.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Dec 16, 2024
Wow, Emerson did a great job and nailed our trip for us! We got to do everything we wanted to do and Emerson was essentially in my back pocket the whole time! He stayed in touch with us throughout the trip and gave us ideas on places to eat as well. He did a magnificent job and we will use him again in the future! Read more

Wow, Emerson did a great job and nailed our trip for us! We got to do everything we wanted to do and Emerson was essentially in my back pocket the whole time! He stayed in touch with us throughout the trip and gave us ideas on places to eat as well. He did a magnificent job and we will use him again in the future!

Hotel Reviews
Glass resort
Rovaniemi

This place is amazing, I actually wish we could have stayed here longer than one night. They have a hot tub and provide you with robes and head scarfs so when you are in the hot tub your head is warm too! Really a great place and you can just walk right over to Santa's Village. The food was really good too. We had a great dinner!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Overnight Train

Wow what a great way to travel when you need to move about a country....you don't lose any time seeing the sights. We hopped on the train in Helsinki at 11:00 pm and arrived in Rovaniemi at 11:00 am the next day with a good rest, shower and a decent breakfast. The sleeper bunks were comfortable, the rattle of the train helped you sleep and the bathroom was quite a unique item. I have never seen a door that opens into the toilet and provides you with a shower! Very talented person who invented that for tight spaces.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
GLO Hotel Art
Helsinki

This hotel is in a good location and had an amazing breakfast and such wonderful character with the building. We stayed here for a couple of nights and could easily walk to any restaurant, site or whatever we wanted to do. The only bummer was the elevator was broken while we were there and my poor husband had to carry both LARGE suitcases up the winding staircase for two flights! What a champ!

Authenticity & Character
Great character here!
Location
Staff
We left all our cash and passport in the safe AFTER we checked out for over 11 hours and the nicely held onto all of it until we could return late that night.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Villa Happy Fox
Rovaniemi

This B&B type place was way off the beaten path, but the folks who own it are very nice. We had in our 2 night stay and it included a sauna and Finnish dinner. We didn't see much of the property because we were touring day and night, but on the last night for the sauna and dinner, well it was amazing! The sauna is high end with his and her bathrooms and the sauna is situated at the end so you can both walk in from your bathroom. Very nicely built and then we sat down for a great dinner consisting of salmon and roasted vegetables. It was really very, very good. The B&B part of the place was very nice with each room having it's own kitchenette, bathroom and bed area. They provided breakfast in your suite and you just had to whip it up!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Helsinki City Walking Tour
Helsinki City Walking Tour
Helsinki

We had a great walking tour of the city with lots of information. We enjoyed dinner at Seahorse that night, really, really good food!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tallinn Day Trip
Tallinn Day Trip
Helsinki

We took the ferry (this is a cruise ship) over to Tallinn for the day and had a tour guide who enthusiastically took us all around the city. It was absolutely freezing this day! Anyway, we visited the Christmas market and then had a great dinner at Rataskaevu 16. Then headed back to the ferry to Helsinki. The ferry is easy, and they have duty free on board. It takes about 2 hours to get over there and then 2 hours back, but the seats are comfortable. They provide food to buy, but we didn't do that.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit
Group Reindeer Safari and Farm Visit
Rovaniemi

Andrei was our guide here. Unfortunately there was no snow (December 3) and they made a small track for the reindeer to take us around at least for photo ops. They also provided us with hot juice and cookies in the small fireside house and talked a lot about the reindeer and traditions so that was nice. There are 180,000 reindeer and 200,000 people! The reindeer are free to leave but always come back because they have food. Another interesting fact is every reindeer is owned by someone and it's rude to ask how many reindeer they have or what they cost....it's like asking how much money do you make.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure
Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure
Finland

We had the best guide here. Rosana is from Italy and goes all over the world being a tour guide for different countries at different times of the year and she knew so much about Finland. We went hiking to the frozen waterfalls and saw folks literally scaling up the ice! We stopped and she provided lunch she had carried in her backpack for us which was really good too. We had fun seeing nature and experiencing nature's amusement park by sliding down your back on certain parts of the trail. Beautiful!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Adults Only Husky Adventure
Adults Only Husky Adventure
Rovaniemi

Again no snow here either for our trip (December 4). They were really nice in getting us all geared out in warm jumpsuits and we did a short trail with a sleigh on wheels instead so they were very accommodating. They served us gogli juice and cookies too. Seems to be a tradition in Finland.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Luxury Log Sauna and Finnish Dinner Experience
Luxury Log Sauna and Finnish Dinner Experience
Rovaniemi

The sauna is really, really nice. You have a his and her bathrooms where you can change and then walk into the sauna at the end of the bathrooms. The quality of build here is amazing. We really enjoyed it and then showered up for an amazing meal prepared by the owners. They made us salmon and roasted potatoes. We actually brought our own wine from the US and they allowed us to enjoy it with our dinner. A really nice experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Northern Lights Tour
Northern Lights Tour
Rovaniemi

Oh my gosh! What a small world we live in. Our guide was from Australia and so were our friends and they actually went to the same school together, but were about 3 years apart so they didn't know each other. Alexi was our guide and he just kept chasing the Northern Lights until we found an amazing spot and got to actually watch them materialize before our very eyes! We were situated near a lake and he made a campfire and took pictures. The pictures attached are just from my iPhone which are great too.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Dec 17, 2024

Thank you so much for your amazing feedback! It’s always a pleasure working with great people like you—it makes my job so rewarding. I’m thrilled that you had the trip you dreamed of, and considering the snow conditions, you truly made the most of it. I can’t wait to help you plan your next adventure! Here’s to more unforgettable memories! 😊

Thank you Emerson!
Finland | Nov 28 - Dec 6, 2024

Nikki
Nikki S.
Australia | Reviewed on Dec 11, 2024
We planned our dream trip to the Nordic countries, mainly to see the Northern Lights, which was a huge deal for us. We knew it was all up to nature, but we wanted to give ourselves the best chance of witnessing them.
We can’t thank Emerson enough for all his help from the start—he suggested the best places to go and connected us with top-notch tour providers. And we were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights on almost every tour we booked.
On our second day in Norway, our husky sledding...
Read more

We planned our dream trip to the Nordic countries, mainly to see the Northern Lights, which was a huge deal for us. We knew it was all up to nature, but we wanted to give ourselves the best chance of witnessing them.
We can’t thank Emerson enough for all his help from the start—he suggested the best places to go and connected us with top-notch tour providers. And we were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights on almost every tour we booked.
On our second day in Norway, our husky sledding ride was cancelled due to wild weather but Emerson sorted it out by rescheduling it. If it wasn’t for Emerson, we wouldn’t have been able to reschedule it, and the next day we were back on track for the ride. It was peak season, so we saw plenty of disappointed travellers whose tours were cancelled due to weather, but Emerson stayed in constant contact with all the providers, and everything went smoothly for us. Some of the places we initially wanted to visit didn’t live up to the hype, but the alternatives Emerson suggested were way better.

It was our first wedding anniversary during the trip, and since we were travelling, we didn’t think we’d be able to do anything special. But Emerson went above and beyond to make sure our anniversary day was one to remember.

The accommodation and transport he organised were perfect—everything ran like clockwork. There’s no way our trip would have been anywhere near as amazing without his help.

We honestly can’t thank Emerson enough for everything he did for us. Out trip was perfect only because of Emerson.

Hotel Reviews
Thon Hotel Tromsø
Tromsø
Authenticity & Character
O
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cahkal Hotel
Kilpisjärvi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Levin Iglut Glass Igloos
Kitilä
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arctic Light Hotel
Rovaniemi
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Husky Safari
Husky Safari
Tromsø
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Northern Lights Hunting Tour
Northern Lights Hunting Tour
Tromsø
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sámi Culture and Reindeer Herding Tour
Sámi Culture and Reindeer Herding Tour
Kilpisjärvi
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Chasing the Northern Lights
Chasing the Northern Lights
Kilpisjärvi
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Finnish Sauna Experience
Finnish Sauna Experience
Rovaniemi
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Aurora Ice Floating
Aurora Ice Floating
Finland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Dec 14, 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words! It was such a joy to work with you both and help plan a trip as meaningful as this one. You were wonderful travelers—flexible, enthusiastic, and a dream to collaborate with. I’m thrilled that you got to witness the Northern Lights so often and that your anniversary turned into a truly memorable day. Wishing you many more adventures together!

Outstanding Arctic Aurora Adventure
Finland | Sep 18 - Sep 26, 2024

Ishita
Ishita B.
Singapore | Reviewed on Oct 20, 2024

We recently took a tour with Emerson and had an exceptional experience! The itinerary was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to explore both popular sights and hidden gems.

The accommodations were comfortable and well-located, making our stay enjoyable. I also appreciated the seamless transportation arrangements, which made getting around stress-free.

I highly recommend Emerson to anyone looking for a memorable travel experience!

Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Oct 21, 2024

Thank you so much for your kind review! I’m really happy to hear you enjoyed the trip and the places we visited. It’s great to know the accommodations and transportation worked well for you too. I always try to make things easy and fun for my travelers. I hope to plan another adventure with you someday!

“Active Autumn” Finland and Estonia trip
Finland | Sep 8 - Sep 16, 2024

Lois
Lois M.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Sep 23, 2024
Our “Active Autumn” Finland and Estonia trip was perfectly planned by Emerson. It was just the eight amount of “active “ for us ( active seniors) with guided - hikes , city explorations and a bogshoe hike ! The knowledgeable guides were the best part of our adventure - Kieto from Green Cap tours gave us several hours of detailed Finnish history and culture while exploring the city center and ferry to Suomenlinna Island. We also had a food tour with him later in the week and... Read more

Our “Active Autumn” Finland and Estonia trip was perfectly planned by Emerson. It was just the eight amount of “active “ for us ( active seniors) with guided - hikes , city explorations and a bogshoe hike ! The knowledgeable guides were the best part of our adventure - Kieto from Green Cap tours gave us several hours of detailed Finnish history and culture while exploring the city center and ferry to Suomenlinna Island. We also had a food tour with him later in the week and discovered my favorite delicious Salmon soup ( Lohikeitto) . Christopher from Est Adventures provided an amazing amount of fascinating history and current lives of Estonians pre and post Soviet Union occupation. Berit was our naturalist and guide on perhaps our favorite adventure hiking in a beautiful bog an hour outside of Tallinn. Another highlight was our small group Archipelago Excursion with Jeff from Taiga Times . We hiked in yet another gorgeous setting through woods and along the granite shoreline and enjoyed our tasty lunch prepared on site by Jeff.
The hotels chosen by Emerson were charming and well located and the arranged drivers were always exactly on time and also so helpful with local suggestions. One of which was to visit Helsinki’s new Odi library which was amazing - filled with people of all ages and they let out tools, guitars for use in their studios and trailers!
All in all a well planned, wonderful nine days in Finland and Estonia.

Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Sep 24, 2024

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review!

I'm thrilled to hear that your "Active Autumn" trip to Finland and Estonia was such a memorable experience. It was my pleasure to help plan the perfect balance of activity and relaxation for you both. I'm especially glad to hear that the knowledgeable guides and unique experiences, like the bogshoe hike and food tour, stood out for you. Your feedback means a lot, and I'm delighted that everything from the excursions to the hotel choices contributed to your wonderful adventure!

Taste of Finland
Finland | Aug 10 - Aug 18, 2024

J
Jennifer M.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 24, 2024
Emerson was easy to work with while planning vacation. We had flexibility to do things on our own and meet with friends, yet also have tours and activities. Everything was perfectly planned. Hotels were beautiful and in perfect locations in he cities we visited. Pick up and drop offs were seamless. Tours were fun and informational with local tour guides. Read more

Emerson was easy to work with while planning vacation. We had flexibility to do things on our own and meet with friends, yet also have tours and activities. Everything was perfectly planned. Hotels were beautiful and in perfect locations in he cities we visited. Pick up and drop offs were seamless. Tours were fun and informational with local tour guides.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Lilla Roberts
Helsinki

Wonderful breakfast, great location, clean with great character.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Short walk to many attractions.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable.
Solo Sokos Hotel Torni Tampere
Tampere

Cool hotel, clean, nice staff. Close to train station. Amazing bar on top floor to see sunset.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arctic Light Hotel
Rovaniemi

Great location. Clean hotel with character. Wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Taste of Helsinki & Tour of Suomenlinna
Taste of Helsinki & Tour of Suomenlinna
Helsinki

Great guides. Learned a lot about Finland.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea
Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea
Helsinki

Great guide. Porkkalanniemi was beautiful area to hike. Traditional food was very good.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sauna Tour
Sauna Tour
Tampere

Guides were so knowledgeable about saunas. Interesting to try the different saunas. The Yurt was our favorite.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Short Arctic Wilderness Hike (Summer/Autumn)
Short Arctic Wilderness Hike (Summer/Autumn)
Rovaniemi

Great guide. Beautiful hiking area. Learned a lot about the plants and trees in Finland.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Luxury Log Sauna and Finnish Dinner Experience
Luxury Log Sauna and Finnish Dinner Experience
Rovaniemi

Beautiful sauna and dining area. Food was amazing. Best salmon we had in Finland.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cultural e-fatbike Tour
Cultural e-fatbike Tour
Rovaniemi

Great guide. Bikes were easy to ride and a great way to see Rovaniemi. Ride up to Santa Claus Village was smooth and easy to get to with stops along the way to learn about Rovaniemi and Finland.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
River Cruise on an Eco Rubber Boat
River Cruise on an Eco Rubber Boat
Rovaniemi

Tour guide was so nice and kind. Nice relaxing ride along the river to a sand bar swimming area. Great traditional Finnish snack.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Northern Lights Tour
Northern Lights Tour
Rovaniemi

Great guide. It was like storm chasing to find the northern lights. We were so excited that we found them! Pictures taken and sent to us very quickly are amazing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Sep 26, 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your vacation and that everything went smoothly. It was a pleasure working with you to plan the perfect balance of relaxation, activities, and time with friends. I’m glad the hotels and tours met your expectations. I hope to assist you again in the future! Safe travels!

Incredible Trip 🤩
Finland | Aug 13 - Aug 20, 2024

Mohammed
Mohammed A.
Singapore | Reviewed on Aug 22, 2024

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to your amazing and trustworthy company, especially to the specialist who arranged our wonderful trip to Finland (Emerson). He was very kind, cooperative and patient with us, and made a great effort to arrange the most wonderful trip. We were there in great luxury and comfort, and lived beautiful moments that will not be forgotten. We will definitely organize all our upcoming trips in cooperation with you. 😍♥️

Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Aug 23, 2024

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! I'm really glad to hear that your trip to Finland was such a special experience. It was a pleasure working with you to make sure everything was just right. Looking forward to helping you plan more amazing journeys in the future!

Fantastic Finland for Family of Five
Finland | Aug 3 - Aug 17, 2024

Carol
Carol S.
France | Reviewed on Aug 19, 2024
We had an amazing holiday in Finland, thanks to careful planning and organising by our rep Emerson. He was attentive and responsive to our requests and created a tailor-made itinerary for us. He was also very helpful and attentive during our trip too. His choices meant that we enjoyed a wide variety of activities, locations and experiences which is just what we wanted from the holiday. We even made a day trip to Tallinn, Estonia, only a couple of hours away by ferry from Helsinki. We loved... Read more

We had an amazing holiday in Finland, thanks to careful planning and organising by our rep Emerson. He was attentive and responsive to our requests and created a tailor-made itinerary for us. He was also very helpful and attentive during our trip too. His choices meant that we enjoyed a wide variety of activities, locations and experiences which is just what we wanted from the holiday. We even made a day trip to Tallinn, Estonia, only a couple of hours away by ferry from Helsinki. We loved the vibrant cities of Helsinki and Turku, balanced with the opportunities to be surrounded by the nature and wildlife in Rovaniemi, Pyhä and Äkäslompolo. We enjoyed the overnight sleeper train to Kolari and found all our transfers to be very smooth and easy. We enjoyed our time with all the guides, who were friendly, knowledgeable and kind. This was especially so in Äkäslompolo, Rovaniemi and Pyhä and they added to our whole positive experience. Our accommodation was always first rate and there we enjoyed the wonderful Finnish breakfast selections plus access to the saunas, another great Finnish ritual. The weather was pretty good throughout our trip and we enjoyed perfect temperatures for us to sightsee and do the planned activities. We are very happy with the holiday we had in Finland and thank Emerson and KimKim for a great experience.

Hotel Reviews
Ylläs-Ukko
Äkäslompolo

Loved this private house surrounded by nature. It was spacious, tranquil and modern with all the amenities you could want. An added bonus was the private sauna there which we all enjoyed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
GLO Hotel Art
Helsinki

Characterful hotel in a great location. It had spacious, modern rooms but also unique communal areas with architectural features. Loved the amazing breakfasts!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kurula's Resort
Pyhätunturi

Beautiful location surrounded by nature. Particularly enjoyed the private sauna in the apartment and possibility to cook own meals.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Couple of kms walk to town, so not quite so easy without a car for meals/shopping.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Double room was a longer hot during our stay but comfortable enough.
Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone
Turku

Great location and modern hotel

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arctic Light Hotel
Rovaniemi

Wonderful hotel in great location . Friendly and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Overnight Train

Fantastic first experience on a sleeper train. Surprisingly quiet and comfortable with pre booked breakfast. It was a punctual and smooth journey.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Taste of Helsinki & Tour of Suomenlinna
Taste of Helsinki & Tour of Suomenlinna
Helsinki

Great guided tour with Janica in Helsinki, who was friendly, informative and kind.

Quality of Experience
Informative tour of main Helsinki sights
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Janica was kind and personable not just informative.
Transport
Ferry ride to island was smooth and easy.
Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea
Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea
Helsinki

Loved our visit to the archipelago and to see what is beyond Helsinki city.

Quality of Experience
Really nice tour but could have been made even better for us with longer hike.
Food
Enjoyed eating the local Finnish food.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Christian very good guide
Transport
Tallinn Day Trip
Tallinn Day Trip
Helsinki

Very positive addition to our Finland trip. Easy to get there and so much to see.

Quality of Experience
Easy ferry ride and great guided tour of city.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Enjoyed our private tour with our very knowledgeable and friendly guide.
Transport
Ferry is super comfortable and easy and full of amenities
Turku City Walking Tour
Turku City Walking Tour
Turku

Interesting tour of main sights in Turku and added to our understanding of Turku’s position in Finland’s history.

Quality of Experience
Overall very interesting
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sanna was a good guide for us and gave a full and comprehensive private tour.
Transport
On foot but totally walkable
Full Day Hike in the National Park
Full Day Hike in the National Park
Äkäslompolo

One of our best experiences during the whole holiday.

Quality of Experience
Fantastic tour to experience the nature of Finland at its best.
Food
Enjoyed our grill experience in one of the hiking huts
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Both guides were extremely kind, helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. They added to the whole experience and made it very positive and enjoyable for us all.
Transport
Very good door to door pick up and drop off and transfer to hiking area.
Bird & Wildlife Watching Tour
Bird & Wildlife Watching Tour
Pyhä

Great hiking tour in a beautiful gorge with knowledgeable guide.

Quality of Experience
Enjoyed being immersed in nature and having a great guide too.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Super knowledgeable and friendly guide.
Transport
Great transport in mini van
Canoeing Experience on Pyhäjoki River
Canoeing Experience on Pyhäjoki River
Pyhä

Fantastic experience to canoe/kayak on the river and lake in the national park.

Quality of Experience
Enjoyed physical activity of canoeing and kayaking but also the immersive experience of being in the beautiful natural environment.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great guide again , same as our previous trip in the area which helped build our rapport and ease with each other.
Transport
Minivan pick up and drop off
Amethyst Mine Photographing Tour
Amethyst Mine Photographing Tour
Pyhä

A great unique experience which we all loved.

Quality of Experience
Really great to learn about this wonderful unique place and then to get the opportunity to actually mine for ourselves! We all left with some self-mined amethysts, very special souvenirs of our trip.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very informative and friendly guide at the mine.
Transport
Minivan pick up, transfer and drop off by our same private tour guide. All went very smoothly.
Northern Lights Tour
Northern Lights Tour
Rovaniemi

Enjoyable experience even though we didn’t get to see much activity in the sky. Enjoyed the campfire and photo opportunities at the lake at sunset.

Quality of Experience
Enjoyed the trip and liked the photography tips. Good picture opportunities at the lake at sunset too.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ryan and Aurelian were both friendly and knowledgeable.
Transport
Minivan ride smooth and easy.
Meet Arctic Animals (Summer)
Meet Arctic Animals (Summer)
Rovaniemi

Great opportunity to meet Arctic animals up close and learn more about them from the farm owners.

Quality of Experience
Great experience at both husky and reindeer farms. Owners were welcoming and enthusiastically shared their knowledge with us. The animals are obviously well cared for too.
Food
Lunch was lovely at the reindeer farm and we enjoyed the local dishes made with local Finnish ingredients. The big hut and campfire were a great place to eat in too.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was friendly and personable and we really appreciated learning from the farm owners too.
Transport
Smooth minivan transfer from tour guide office.
River Cruise on an Eco Rubber Boat
River Cruise on an Eco Rubber Boat
Rovaniemi

Great experience to see the sights from the river.

Quality of Experience
Enjoyed the whole trip even though we had a rainy day.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sakke was particularly kind and friendly. As it was so rainy, he offered a sauna experience for us instead of river swimming. This was one in his own garden and was of the traditional design. He kindly offered us sandwiches, drinks and cookies too. This kind hospitality added to our overall enjoyment despite the wet weather.
Transport
Good fun being collected and dropped by boat!
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Aug 21, 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that your holiday in Finland was such a success and that the itinerary we planned together met your expectations. It’s great to know that you enjoyed the perfect mix of vibrant cities, stunning nature, and unique experiences like the day trip to Tallinn. I’m especially glad that the guides and accommodations added to your positive experience. It was a pleasure to help make your trip memorable, and I look forward to assisting you with future adventures!

Beautiful Finland
Finland | Aug 5 - Aug 15, 2024

Katie
Katie C.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Aug 17, 2024
We had an incredible trip to Finland - with a bonus day trip to Tallinn, Estonia - thanks to Emerson’s expert planning and advice. He made it super easy to plan and prepare for our trip. All accommodations, experiences and transportation were taken care of leaving us to simply enjoy! Our guides in each city were wonderful and the experiences in Rovaniemi were particularly memorable. Thank you Emerson!! Read more

We had an incredible trip to Finland - with a bonus day trip to Tallinn, Estonia - thanks to Emerson’s expert planning and advice. He made it super easy to plan and prepare for our trip. All accommodations, experiences and transportation were taken care of leaving us to simply enjoy! Our guides in each city were wonderful and the experiences in Rovaniemi were particularly memorable. Thank you Emerson!!

Hotel Reviews
GLO Hotel Art
Helsinki

Beautiful hotel and rooms, great location, delicious breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Central
Staff
Super friendly and helpfull
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Kakola
Turku

Nice rooms, unique building/history, and food was great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Overnight Train

Convenient way to travel. Nice to be able to stretch out.

Cleanliness & Comfort
Original Sokos Hotel Arina
Oulu

Convenient location, beautiful private sauna.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Arctic Light Hotel
Rovaniemi

Gorgeous room and building, comfortable beds, beautiful private sauna, and good location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Comfort Hotel® Xpress Helsinki Airport Terminal
Vantaa

Tiny rooms, could use some deep cleaning. Convenient and served its purpose as a quick place to shower and sleep before a super early flight.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tallinn Day Trip
Tallinn Day Trip
Helsinki

What an awesome city! Our guide Dominic was wonderful - enthusiastic, incredibly knowledgeable, and patient with all our kiddos’ questions.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Canoe Tour
Canoe Tour
Rovaniemi

Chris was an excellent teacher and guide. We had an amazing time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Short Arctic Wilderness Hike (Summer/Autumn)
Short Arctic Wilderness Hike (Summer/Autumn)
Rovaniemi

Leo and Pierre were very friendly and knowledgeable. They matched our pace, shared great information, and made the experience fun and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Finnish Sauna Experience
Finnish Sauna Experience
Rovaniemi

Leo was wonderful, setting up the sauna as well as paddle boards for us. We were given plenty of time and privacy to enjoy the sauna and lake as a family. It was beautiful and relaxing. The homemade lunch of salmon soup and blueberry pie was above and beyond!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on Aug 19, 2024

Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you had an incredible trip to Finland and enjoyed the day trip to Tallinn as well. It was my pleasure to assist in planning and preparing everything for your adventure, and I'm glad that you found the process easy and stress-free. Knowing that the experiences, especially in Rovaniemi, were memorable for you makes me very happy. I’ll be sure to pass along your compliments to the guides as well. Thank you again for your trust, and I look forward to helping you with your next adventure! Safe travels!

Emerson was great to work with
Finland | May 20 - May 27, 2024

Jane
Jane G.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on May 27, 2024
It was a pleasure working with Emerson. He gave us a framework from which we planned our trip, made suggestions of things we wouldn’t have done, especially our day trip to Tallinn,
Estonia. The guides he found for us were all very good. Logistics were easy. The whole trip went smoothly and was great fun.
Read more

It was a pleasure working with Emerson. He gave us a framework from which we planned our trip, made suggestions of things we wouldn’t have done, especially our day trip to Tallinn,
Estonia. The guides he found for us were all very good. Logistics were easy. The whole trip went smoothly and was great fun.

Hotel Review
Hotel F6
Helsinki

Hotel F6 was wonderful. The room was great, service was excellent, and the people were nice. The breakfast was fantastic, and the hotel's location was very convenient. We stayed there for four nights and had no complaints.

Location
Activity Reviews
Canoe Tour on Lake Näsijärvi
Canoe Tour on Lake Näsijärvi
Tampere

Initially apprehensive about the canoe tour, it turned out to be a great experience. We were all in one canoe with our guide, who was fascinating and knowledgeable about his business, which included plowing a skating route on the lake in winter. The lake was beautiful, and the weather was perfect.

Tallinn Day Trip
Tallinn Day Trip
Helsinki

The Tallinn day trip was a big plus and not something we had originally planned. The ferry ride was fine, and our guide was knowledgeable and proud of his country. We learned a lot about the old city of Tallinn and Estonia. It was a fun and unexpected addition to our trip.

Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea
Guided Hike in the Archipelago Sea
Helsinki

The guided hike was in a beautiful location, although it was a beginner-level hike. Since we are pretty big hikers, we probably would have enjoyed a more challenging route. The people we went with were very nice, and the guide was excellent. It was a good experience overall.

Sauna Tour
Sauna Tour
Tampere

You can’t go to Finland without going to sauna. Our guide, Matti, is a sauna expert. He took us to a beautiful place, taught us how to “do” sauna, and made the afternoon very special.

Local specialist: Emerson Siimer
Emerson
Emerson Siimer
Local specialist in Estonia | Replied on May 28, 2024

Thank you for your kind words! It was a pleasure organizing your trip. I'm glad the framework and suggestions, especially the day trip to Tallinn, enhanced your experience. Hopefully, I see you in Tartu as well one day :) I'm delighted to hear the guides and logistics worked well and that you had a smooth and enjoyable journey. Looking forward to planning your next adventure!