Overview
Lapland is a wonderland in winter—and just the place for frosty fun, WT style! In Finland’s north, we’ll bring you unique outdoor experiences as we take an icebreaker into the pack ice (try an optional polar plunge, dry suit provided!), snowshoe through ancient pine forests, ride a sleigh pulled by reindeer, and race across snowscapes in a dogsled pulled by huskies. We also get an insider’s look into Lappish culture with Sámi reindeer herders, taste local specialties, spend a night in glass-ceiling “igloo” cabins, and with luck, see the surreal northern lights dance across the night sky. Our hotels keep us warm and comfy, and we can unwind in toasty Finnish saunas.
We had perfect weather throughout, pristine snow, untracked forests, a compatible group that hung together, and a great trip leader who took very good care of us. How can you improve on the perfect alignment of the stars?
— Abby N W., Woodbury, CT
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-2
Rovaniemi / SnowCastle / Icebreaker Expedition
Getting right into the spirit of Lapland in winter, we head to the spectacular SnowCastle, built from fresh snow and ice each winter in a new style. After a sip of hot cocoa or a cocktail at the castle’s Ice Bar, we take an icebreaker through the pack ice that separates Finland and Sweden. We can walk right out on the ice, or for the adventurous, take a dip (with dry suits) in the bracing waters.
Days 3-4
Pyhä-Luosto / Snowshoeing / Reindeer Sleigh
By snowshoe (or hiking, depending on conditions), we explore the rugged hills of Pyhä-Luosto National Park, then enjoy this Arctic landscape an age-old way—on sleighs pulled by reindeer, the iconic animal that holds such a special place in Lappish life.
Days 5-7
Cooking Class / Ice Fishing / Nordic Skiing
The days ahead are for enjoying some classic Lapland traditions: ice fishing, a cooking demonstration (and tasting!) of Finnish specialties cooked by a chef over a wood fire, Nordic skiing, panning for gold, snowshoeing up Iisakkipää Mountain for great views, and relaxing in the Finnish way, soaking in a wood-fired sauna.
Days 8-12
Sámi Culture / Husky Sledding / Glass Igloo
The indigenous Sámi of Finland embrace their traditional way of life and we’ll be welcomed at a Sámi village. We’ll learn to mush a dogsled, take a ride by reindeer-drawn sled, and in hopes of seeing the northern lights, spend an overnight in “glass igloos” that give us a planetarium feeling right from our cozy beds. Depart on Day 12 via Rovaniemi.
Lapland Adventures
