Rovaniemi and Lapland: snowshoeing and magic under the Northern Lights

First day

Helsinki, the heart of Finland
Welcome to Helsinki, the Finnish capital where modernity and tradition coexist harmoniously. Let's start the day with a visit to the old covered market, the ideal place to refresh ourselves and savor traditional Finnish cuisine, which is both hearty and delicious. Then we will visit the wonderful Helsinki Central Library: Oodi. Forget everything you've ever thought about boring libraries! Here we are faced with a jewel of Finnish design that combines wood and glass, fluid lines, and bright and welcoming interiors. With 2.5 million visitors a year, Oodi is Finland's calling card. The center of Helsinki is a triumph of design and a union of elements, such as Alva Aalto's Finlandia Hall, built, believe it or not, with Italian marble! Dinner in one of the downtown bistros and then we're ready?
In the coming days, we will move towards the heart of Lapland: and thenorthern lights could appear in the Arctic sky, making this vacation an unforgettable experience. Fingers crossed!
Hotel accommodation.

Second day

In the heart of Lapland
After breakfast, we head to the airport for a quick domestic flight to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. Located exactly on the Arctic Circle, it is surrounded by immense forests. Once settled in our apartment, theArktikum, the largest museum dedicated to polar life. This fascinating interactive space offers a preview of the culture, nature, and challenges of the Far North. Here we will begin to understand how humans have adapted to this seemingly inhospitable life. We end the day with a sauna, typical Finnish ritual, and a shared dinner in the apartment.

Third day

Towards Inari, between lakes and forests
we pick up the minivan at the airport and leave from Rovaniemi for a trip north to the 68th parallel, crossing the boundless landscapes of Finnish Lapland. Frozen lakes, snow-covered forests, and deep silence accompany us along the highway connecting Rovaniemi to Inari, an itinerary that seems to have been drawn by ice and wind. Inari is the capital of the Sami: an indigenous European people still closely linked to the reindeer tradition. There will be a break for a hot coffee, and if we are lucky, the chance to spot a large Lapland owl perched on top of a birch tree. After settling in, we will take an easy walk along a beaten path... with an atmosphere reminiscent of Frozen - the ice kingdom! Accommodation in cottages and self-catered dinner. We will end the day under the Arctic starry sky, the dance of theNorthern Lights could appear at any moment.

Fourth day

Snowshoes and Arctic magic
The day begins with our first snowshoe trek, surrounded by Nordic silence. Animal tracks are everywhere, reminding us that nature is still the undisputed protagonist here. We can only contemplate its grandeur. We arrive at the Wild Church, an evocative Sami church church built entirely of wood, immersed in the forest. Along the way, we stop at a hut to light a fire and warm ourselves with hot tea, a perfect moment to listen to the unique silence of Lapland. The return journey runs alongside Lake Inari, offering fairytale views. Accommodation in a lodge. After dinner, we prepare for another adventure: our second hunt for the Northern Lights, which could light up the sky above us. Will we be lucky?

Fifth day

Sami traditions and reindeer
The day is dedicated to Sami culture, Europe's last indigenous people, and reindeer. What kind of animal is it? Why does it inspire such affection? We will find out by visiting an eco-sustainable Sami farm. Through hands-on activities and discussions with the two owners, we will discover how much effort it takes to run a reindeer farm. In the afternoon, we will visit the Siida Sami Museum, a modern interactive space that tells the story, traditions, and resilience of this people who have learned to live in harmony with the extreme climate of Lapland. The Siida Museumwas voted European Museum of the Year.

Sixth day

The silence of Lemmenjoki National Park
We enter the Lemmenjoki National Park, Finland's largest, for an excursion immersed in the heart of the wilderness. We snowshoe across frozen lakes and snow-covered forests, in a landscape that seems suspended in time. We stop for lunch in a self-managed hut, where a warm fire keeps us toasty as we enjoy the surrounding tranquility. On our return, hot tea awaits us in a tiny Sami village. Last night in Inari: eyes on the sky! This journey into the unspoiled nature of Lapland could treat us to (another) northern lights display.

Seventh day

It's time to say goodbye Inari and begin our return journey from Rovaniemi to Helsinki. Along the way, we stop at Pokka, a small village known for being the coldest place in Europe, with a record low of -51°C reached in 1999! Here, the friendly manager of the only bar in town welcomes us with local stories and a touch of humor: he claims that it's not that cold anymore... should we believe him? We then arrive in Kemi, where we can have a coffee in the snowcastle bistro, rebuilt every year with a different theme: it's our chance to enter an ice kingdom. In Rovaniemi, we take the flight to Helsinki, where we spend our last evening. Perhaps we'll treat ourselves to a hot tea in one of the cafés in the center, to end the day with a touch of Finnish atmosphere. Hotel accommodation.

Eighth day

It's time to say goodbye to Lapland, taking with us the memory of aunique experience beyond the Arctic Circle. The unspoiled nature welcomed us with the silence of its forests, the purity of the air, and perhaps even the magical dance of the Northern Lights. We shared snowshoeing on the , the rejuvenating warmth of Finnish saunas and moments of authentic connection with nature and with the group. This trip taught us to slow down, listen and respect the grandeur of the Far North. It is not just a farewell, but a goodbye to this extraordinary land.