Discover the highlights of Helsinki and the natural wonders of Finnish Lapland

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

Suggested places to visit

What's included

  • Full support from your travel designer and travel concierge before, during and after your trip
  • Privately guided tours
  • Luxury accommodation throughout
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

Race across a frozen lake in a snowmobile, wander down the cobbled streets of an old town, get up close to reindeer, take a cruise on an icebreaker and unwind at the end of each day in luxury Arctic lodges and hotels. The breathtaking beauty of Finland is waiting to be uncovered on this thrilling nine-day adventure.

You’ll begin with a privately guided tour of Helsinki, taking in many of the city’s highlights and important sites. Visit the Presidential Palace, Helsinki Cathedral and the monument to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. You will also take a cruise over to Tallinn Old Town in Estonia, where you’ll walk inside the walls of the old city. Wander along old stone streets to the iconic Kiek in de Kok tower and Toompea Hill.

The next part of your epic trip unfolds in Finnish Lapland where you’ll begin with a visit to Inari and the Siida Museum. Your private guide will introduce you to the culture, art, history and traditions of the Sami people. There will also be time to make the most of the wintery landscape as you take to the frozen Lake Inari on snowmobiles. Your next stop will be Muotka where a visit to a reindeer farm will let you spend time with the peaceful animals and learn all about the life of a reindeer herder. Enjoy some more snowmobiling and try your hand at ice fishing on a private lake.

At the right time of year, you may be fortunate enough to witness the Northern Lights dancing across the sky, and what better way to experience that than on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. In a similar vein, another highlight of this memorable trip is a husky safari. You will control your own team of four dogs as you go mushing along beautiful trails near Rovaniemi.

Finally, you will get to take a luxurious cruise aboard the Sampo Icebreaker which will be waiting for you on the Gulf of Bothnia off the coast of Kemi. Wrap up warm in a survival suit and take an invigorating dip in the icy waters, before heading back to shore on snowmobiles again.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1-4

Helsinki

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Meet and greet

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Helsinki

Accommodation in Helsinki

helsinki-finland
Three nights in Helsinki Three nights in Helsinki

A city of historic and modern architectural marvels, Helsinki a visually exciting place. Its position on the Gulf of Finland gives the city a relaxed, maritime feel and an abundance of green space and forests makes it wonderful for those that love the outdoors. After a fire in 1808, much of the city was rebuilt with wide avenues and neoclassical brick buildings the order of the day. You may have spotted some of its architecture doubling as Soviet Union locations in films from the 1970s and 80s.

Although in many ways Helsinki is a thoroughly modern city, there is an incredible sense of history that you can get to grips with that at its many museums. And of course, like any good Scandinavian city, the foodie scene is something to write home about. Dip in and out of its cafes and bars and set aside some time to simply sit and watch the world go by.

Helsinki highlights Helsinki highlights

Discover the highlights of Helsinki on this private tour. You will be driven through the city and will see places like Senate Square which was designed in the neoclassical style by Carl Ludvig Engel in the mid-1800s. It is surrounded by the Government Palace, the main building of the University; the enormous Helsinki Cathedral and Sederholm House, the oldest stone building in Helsinki. See the Presidential Palace, the Parliament building and the modern City Hall and Finlandia Hall. You will also visit the monument to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, and tour Temppeliaukio Church, which was quarried out of the natural bedrock with a design that gives it excellent acoustics.

Day trip to Tallinn, Estonia Day trip to Tallinn, Estonia

You will be transferred to West Harbour and then take a cruise across to Estonia to go on a privately guided walking tour inside the walls of Tallinn Old Town. Pass the central square of Raekoja Plats where The Tallinn Town Hall is located. The square hosts many concerts during the summer time. You will continue up the cobble stone streets of Old Town to the Kiek in de Kok tower. From the artillery tower, you can literally peep into the kitchens of surrounding houses. Carry on up to Toompea hill where you will have amazing views over Tallinn. At Toompea hill, you will see the Aleksander Nevski Orthodox Cathedral and Estonia's rose-coloured parliament building. At the end of the tour you will cruise back to Helsinki.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Helsinki airport

Flight

Flight from Helsinki to Inari, Finnish Lapland

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Finnish Lapland

Days 4-5

Lake Inari

Visit Inari and Siida Museum Visit Inari and Siida Museum

Travel by private transfer to Inari - the heart of the Sami area in Finland. There you'll discover the unique wild nature and rich culture that make the area and its people so special. A local guide will show you around the Siida Museum which is dedicated to the Samu people, their history and traditions. The interactive exhibitions that introduce guests to culture, art and nature change regularly. The museum will also give a valuable insight into what you need to survive in the extreme Arctic weather and conditions.

Lake Inari snowmobile adventure Lake Inari snowmobile adventure

Today is all about winter fun as you go snowmobiling on the frozen Lake Inari. Your private guide will teach you how to handle the powerful machines, and after a full safety briefing and driving lesson, you will head out to explore the frozen lake and its surroundings. Snowmobiling through the white winter scenery is bound to be memorable. During the day there will be a spot of ice fishing, and lunch beside an open fire.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel near Muotka

Days 5-7

Muotka

A reindeer eating from a ladies hand on a Reindeer farm in Finland.
Reindeer farm experience Reindeer farm experience

You will be driven to a local reindeer farm where you'll meet with a local reindeer herder and his charges. You'll get to learn all about the peaceful animals and the life of a reindeer herder.

Ice fishing and snowmobile safari Ice fishing and snowmobile safari

Embark on a snowmobile safari with a break for an ice fishing experience. Before the adventure begins, your guide will give you a safety briefing and driving instructions. Then you will head out on snowmobiles through the beautiful fells and wilderness. At a private lake, you'll be given all of the equipment you need for ice fishing, and with some helpful advice and pointers you can test out your new skills. After a lunch prepared by your guide you will either carry on fishing for a while, if there's time, or start to head back to Saariselkä on your snowmobiles.

finnish-lapland-northern-light
Aurora hunting by reindeer Aurora hunting by reindeer

Head out into a wintery forest on a sleigh pulled by reindeers. This is a traditional and peaceful way of moving through snowscapes where the only sound you will hear is the light ringing of reindeer bells. The starry northern sky is already a magical experience and hopefully you will be lucky enough to see the northern lights. Tuck into a special open-fire Lappish dinner in a kota (log hut) at a reindeer farm. Your guide will tell you about Sámi culture and reindeer herding, and a Sámi woman will sing traditional Sámi songs, “Joiku”.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel near Rovaniemi

Days 7-8

Rovaniemi

husky-sleigh-ride-lapland-1
Husky safari Husky safari

Mush along beautiful forest trails and enjoy lunch around a campfire on this husky safari. Each participant will have their own team of four dogs to handle. The distance driven will depend on the weather conditions and the skill of guests. However, no prior experience is needed and beginners are welcome. You will need to be able to run short distances with ease, and it's not recommended for people with back, hip or knee problems.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel near Kemi

Days 8-9

Kemi

Sampo Icebreaker cruise Sampo Icebreaker cruise

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the safari house where you will change into appropriate safari gear. Then your journey to the Sampo, waiting for you in the middle of the frozen Gulf of Bothnia, will begin. The Icebreaker Sampo operates on the Gulf of Bothnia outside the city of Kemi. Once you reach the spectacular vessel, you will leave your snowmobile on the ice, and climb on board the Icebreaker, to enjoy the full cruise with lunch, a tour of the vessel and swimming in survival suits. While the huge vessel breaks through the surrounding ice, you can admire the beauty of vast open ice fields all around, and the ever-changing sky above. After the swimming event, you will get off the vessel and drive the snowmobiles back to the safari house.

The Luxurious Cruise Package offers a uniquely indulgent experience. In addition to a private guide, you will have either the Captain Saloon or the Jaala Cabinet for your private use. In the Captain Saloon you may enjoy Champagne, Lappish cocktail snacks and local berry juices and sweets. In Jaala Cabinet a special menu is offered.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Kemi airport

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Every trip helps support Conservation.

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