Itinerary
- Day 1
Helsinki to Rovaniemi
Start your day walking through Helsinki with a guide who'll take you to the city's most important landmarks. You'll see Helsinki Cathedral with its white neoclassical design, then head to Uspenski Cathedral, the red brick Orthodox church that stands out on the skyline. After that, check out Kauppatori Market where locals shop and grab food. Temppeliaukio Church is next, built right into a rock, and then you'll walk through Sibelius Park. Your guide talks about Finnish culture and design throughout. That evening, board the Santa's Express night train heading north to Rovaniemi, traveling through Finland's forest and lake landscape as you sleep.
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Helsinki's significant sights including Senate Square, cathedrals, Government Palace, Temppeliaukio Church, and Helsinki Market Square
- Guided insights into Finnish history, customs, traditions, and design
- Train journey from Helsinki to Rovaniemi on Santa's Express night train
Landmarks/POIs Helsinki Cathedral Uspenski Cathedral Kauppatori Market Temppeliaukio Church Sibelius Park - Day 2
Rovaniemi
You'll arrive in Rovaniemi and transfer to Hotel Aakenus for breakfast. After settling in, head to Santa Claus Village where you actually meet Santa himself and get your Arctic Circle certificate proving you crossed that famous line. You'll also visit Santa's post office during the day. It's the kind of thing that feels touristy but people genuinely enjoy it, and the certificate makes a nice souvenir.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at Hotel Aakenus), Lunch (Lunch buffet in Santa Claus Village)
Included Activities
- Transfer from train station to hotel
- Visit Santa Claus Village
- Meet Santa Claus
- Cross the Arctic Circle
- Arctic Circle certificate
- Santa's post office visit
- Breakfast at hotel
Landmarks/POIs Santa Claus Village Arctic Circle - Day 3
Rovaniemi
Get fitted with professional winter gear early on. Then drive out to a farm where you'll meet huskies and reindeer, taking short sleigh rides and learning how these animals live in arctic conditions. You'll receive an Arctic Circle reindeer driving certificate after handling the reins yourself. In the afternoon, things shift to snowmobiles. You can ride solo on your own machine or go as a pair (twin riding), crossing frozen lakes and cutting through forests. The day combines both animal experiences and motorized adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Professional winter gear provision
- Husky sleigh ride
- Reindeer sleigh ride
- Arctic Circle reindeer driving certificate
- Snowmobile safari on frozen lake and forest
- Guide interpretation on reindeer herding and arctic animal lifestyle
Optional Activities
- Solo snowmobile driving option (for the whole ride)
- Day 4
Rovaniemi
Start at Ounasvaara hill, the highest point around Rovaniemi, where you get views across Finland's arctic landscape. After taking in that perspective, transfer to Ranua Wildlife Park to see polar bears and roughly 200 other arctic animals roaming there. Lunch is a traditional buffet served right at the zoo in the middle of the Arctic forest, so you're eating surrounded by the environment and wildlife.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional buffet lunch at Ranua Zoo in the Arctic forest)
Included Activities
- Ounasvaara hill visit with scenic views
- Ranua Wildlife Park tour
- Viewing of polar bears and 200 arctic animals
- Traditional buffet lunch at Ranua Zoo
Landmarks/POIs Ounasvaara Hill Ranua Wildlife Park - Day 5
Rovaniemi
This day is yours to plan. If you like nature, go see Korouma's frozen waterfalls. Want something different? Take an Ice Breaker cruise out onto the frozen water. Or skip the activity entirely and relax, maybe check out snow art around town and have dinner at an ice restaurant where everything from the walls to your plate is frozen solid.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Trip to Korouma frozen waterfalls
- Ice Breaker cruise
- Dinner at ice restaurant
- Day 6
Rovaniemi
Daytime is open for exploring on your own. If you're interested in culture, grab the optional museum pass that covers three places: Arktikum Science Centre and Museum, Korundi House of Culture, and Science Centre Pilke. You could also walk to the Church or Lumberjack's Candle Bridge if you prefer wandering without structured activities. Come evening, join a small group photography tour hunting for the Northern Lights with a professional guide who explains how auroras actually form and shares Sami-Lappish folklore about them.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Professional Photography Small Group Tour of the Northern Lights
- Northern Lights photography guidance
Optional Activities
- Museum Pass (Arktikum, Pilke, Korundi) - access to three museums
- Visit to Rovaniemi Church
- Visit to Lumberjack's Candle Bridge
- Personal photography of Northern Lights
Landmarks/POIs Arktikum Science Centre and Museum Korundi House of Culture Science Centre Pilke - Day 7
Rovaniemi to Helsinki
Have breakfast and check out from the hotel. Board a scenic train heading back toward Helsinki, watching Finland's heartland roll past with countless lakes and thick forests outside your window. You'll arrive in Helsinki where the tour wraps up.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Scenic train ride from Rovaniemi to Helsinki crossing Finland's heartland
