WONDERFUL TIME IN LAPLAND FINLAND
Finland
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Jan 5 - Jan 20, 2024
We recently completed a trip to Lapland Finland with the assistance of our travel agent, Moonika Apart. In our communication I explained what I was interested in doing and accommodations we wished to reserve. She put together a wonderful itinerary for us and in addition she did so, around a photo workshop that I was attending. She planned accommodations, activities and drivers for us before and after my workshop. She truly listened to what we were hoping to do on this trip and gave her professional opinions and suggestions for excursions and accommodations. Everything she recommended and booked for us was excellent. She truly has a good knowledge of Lapland in Finland and what it has to offer. In fact, she traveled from her home town to our accommodation in Rovanemi to meet us and give us an opportunity to ask more questions in person.
Her communication was OUTSTANDING. She ensured our itinerary and accommodations were excatly what we hoped for. While we were in Lapland, she continued to keep open the lines of communication and inquired on how everything was going and if we needed anything just to contact her. I wanted to stop at a gift shop on our way to one of our longer stays and she coordinated this with our driver. There never was anything we requested that she did not provide and she was always on top of everything.
She knew I was interested in photography and 2 of the drivers she scheduled were also amateur photographers who understood my passion for it and gave me several opportunities on our drive to take photos.
I cannot say enough about the service Moonika provided and highly recommend her for any trip you would wish her to plan. I would utilize her service again in a heartbdeat. Thank you Moonika for everything you did to make our Lapland adventure fun, exciting, comfortable, easy and safe. Your are the BEST!
The Berrys
Hotel Reviews
Activity Reviews
![Finnish Legends and Stories Around the Fire](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/5978edd0973e5575de81dcdf6eb6253572154083/medium-9f3572946e0a2313c24920fe6f768efe.jpg)
Our guide was very informative and presented many interested stories about Finland and the Sami Culture. The time in the teepee in the wilderness was very unique and we loved it. He served us hot berry juice and made pancakes served with fresh jam - delicious. Highly recommend.
![Private Ranua Wildlife Park Visit](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/4199e72fff05d488c8bdce57fa9449dbb082a314/original-142519bb1db1fa809c055b1a8209bd4f.jpg)
Our guide and driver, Krista Kuu, was so pleasant and accommodating. She not only was an excellent guide, but we enjoyed her company - she is a very nice person. We had fun!
![Snowshoeing Tour](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/0cbfc953598ea113d3aa1e0f90663147f195101f/original-aba5f56d5554d3cd240d9016fb1560a9.jpg)
Awesome guides! Helpful and considerate. They took us on a beautiful snowshoeing adventure through a snowy wintery woodland and onto a lake/swamp where we enjoyed cookies and hot berry juice. A great 3 hour experience. Highly recommend.
![Sauna Experience at Arctic Skylight Lodge](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/e5a07a3e8fe3b1abfee2daef19680bc3ce9e2e4a/original-6274d70a6f5211080277c204a96474b7.jpg)
![Aurora Camp by Sleigh Ride](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/a94a35dab66aa8259c623629d5bdbac9f179c800/medium-a90ae5a2e3b23243b744fa8c13f01d80.jpg)
![Husky Safari](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/1e71cf0c7c7ea1aa8c3ef7d1ae525abe0bc52725/original-cdc02b075b9433e543cd8101944ad5e1.jpg)
Absolutely a fabulous experience. Highly recommend. The husky mushing was fun and so beautiful through the winter wonderland. After the ride we had an opportunity to take photos of the dogs and pet them. We also had hot berry juice and cookies in the warming hut. Would definietly do this again!
![Aurora Hunt by Car](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/68955a30a1cf3133b8c304720c81161c2ebd0505/original-fdcef3f72e4485bdbe34323b6337f9e8.jpg)
Our guide did his best to drive us to clearer skies and we were able to see the aurora. It wasn't real dramatic but that is not the fault of the excursion or the driver - it is what Mother Nature provides or doesn't provide at any given time. The vehicle was clean, warm, comfortable and easy to get in and out of when we stopped to take photos of the Aurora. The guide was very conscientious in providing us the best experience possible.
![Ice Fishing by Snowmobile Sleigh](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/9623e85a563d129a9c2f3bd7cfa389ec1f4f2959/original-a9d5df5aa98acfefdfbfea0875e58140.jpg)
Our Guide Anita was very knowledgeable and skilled at ice fishing and she made good conversation. We didn't catch any fish, but the experience was still worth the time. On the way to the fishing location, we saw a few reindeer roaming the frozen lake. In the warming hut we had delicious reindeer soup, grilled sandwiches, cookies, hot berry drink. We enjoyed the excursion.
![Dinner at Ice Restaurant](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/9384f082438ea207174a06320eceb683a9f3275a/medium-c855ca13202eb7eca443af556b5888f6.jpg)
The Ice Restaurant is unique and truly an experience to have. The food was very good, but we were just too cold to enjoy it. We both couldn't wait for the next course to come quickly so we could finish eating and leave. We also stayed overnight in the Snow Hotel and would definetly recommend it - we were warm in the snuggly sleeping bags they provided and we loved the experience.
![Evening Snowmobile Tour to Wilderness Hut](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/9d44ea6b3b8245acddb02eff41ea4e2dc4a55125/original-80f4487d41a4e3a61b7fb8766a605595.jpg)
Our two guides, Jana and Annina, were excellent. They outfitted us in snowmobile gear and gave us information on what the excursion entailed. I was apprehensive in driving the snowmobile since I hadn't done so in over 25 years. They had me drive the loop of the parking lot to get comfortable with the machine and assured me if I didn't want to drive after trying it we would switch drivers. Driving was easy and enjoyable. Throughout the 45 minute ride to the Wilderness hut, they had us stop a few times so the guides could check on our comfort and how did I feel about driving. They also stopped and pointed out the Aurora in the sky. Once at the Wilderness hut we enjoyed tasty reindeer soup, hot berry juice and a melted cheese and brown sugar dessert. Overall this was an excellent excursion; truly enjoyable and we always felt safe as there were two guides and two snowmobiles. Highly recommend.
![Aurora Camp](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/17cf84df502c70111eb066ddc7977ccdc228cca2/medium-f09d74220b490be793ca6174a407bed3.jpg)
![Traditional Reindeer Ride](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/images/f94edec480a86a6f2bb05e7458d16fb4b2c6c962/original-6a09df46b362417913c95fdf9bd583b0.jpg)
The reindeer ride was really enjoyable. So relaxing through the winter wonderland. Truly a ride in an absolutely beautiful landscape. Afterwards, we enjoyed stories from the Sami reindeer herder in a traditional Sami teepee, along with hot berry juice and cookies. Great experience.
![Moonika](https://cdn.kimkim.com/files/a/users/profile_photos/e6d799c28f34429bbfeade651a96a9a9c6bf120b/original-2357d25267a66a058eb6783b288b8271.jpg)
Hello Ann and Greg,
Thank you for all the feedback. I will share this with the guides as well. I'm happy to hear you had a good time in Lapland and it was very nice meeting you both here in Rovaniemi. The photos look really amazing.
Few days ago I also visited the shop you stopped on the way to Inari and I think I ended up buying all the earrings they had there:) I hope you found the hat the guide suggested buying.
All the best and I hope to have you as our guests again in the future!
Moonika