Lapland / Finland in Winter January 2024

Note that this is a co-ed trip!

January 14 – 20, 2024

Secure your spot by registering with a deposit via PayPal by clicking on the Register Now button. You can sign in as a guest and do not need a PayPal account.

Note: Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering.

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Lapland (Finland) Winter Escape

The tour begins with your arrival into Kittilä Airport in Finland on January 14, 2024.

If you want to arrive early either into Helsinki or Kittilä, we can provide you with a list of best places to stay though we recommend you book these on your own.

Note that we will be staying in a large wilderness lodge that has private bathrooms and showers. Each room accommodates two people. Those traveling solo will be paired up with a roommate. The lodge has a shared kitchen and common area and a chef will be on-site to prepare breakfasts and at least one dinner (other dinners will be out at nearby restaurants).

PLEASE NOTE: While we will do our best to stick to this itinerary, it’s very possible that the order of daily activities will change based on the weather. This is something we won’t know until the week prior or, perhaps, the day of any activity. In short, we’ll be flexing with the weather on this adventure!

Day 1 – Kittilä – Nilivaara
Sunday, January 14, 2024
Meals: Dinner

Upon arrival into Kittilä, you’ll be picked up at the airport for the start of our winter escape!

Depending on your arrival time, you may be taken directly to our accommodations or stop in town for a bite to eat as lunch is not included on this day.

Once at the lodge, you can get settled in, unpack and/or hop in the sauna.

In the evening, we’ll have a lovely welcome dinner of local specialties prepared by our very own chef.

After dinner, you can take advantage of the sauna or, if the skies are clear, head out for some night sky viewing that might include the northern lights.

Overnight in Nilivaara at Villa Ahmola Äkäslompolo or similar.

Day 2 – Nilivaara (backcountry skiing)
Monday, January 15, 2024
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a wonderful homemade breakfast, we’ll set out for a day of backcountry skiing. (Backcountry skiing is more relaxed and less demanding than cross-country skiing and is very popular in Finland. It is NOT downhill.) We’ll be able to ski out directly from our lodge!

After a couple of hours in the snow, we’ll stop at a wilderness cafe for lunch before enjoying some more outdoor time on our skis to return to the lodge.

In the late afternoon/early evening, we’ll partake in a traditional Finnish wood burning sauna by Lake Äkäslompolo. You might even try an ice dip (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like!).

We’ll have drinks and snacks at a fire pit, enjoy some night sky viewing, and then return to the lodge to get ready for dinner out at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Nilivaara at Villa Ahmola Äkäslompolo or similar.

Day 3 – Nilivaara (dog sledding)
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After another wonderful homemade breakfast, today we’ll head out for a half day of dog sledding! In total, we’ll be mushing for about 12 miles.

You’ll learn how to manage the sled on your own and experience for yourself the solitude of the wilderness with only the sound of the dogs making their way through the snow. There will be two people to a sled and each person will get about an hour of mushing.

Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch and take a break to swap positions on the sled.

We’ll have the afternoon free for some relaxation.

In the evening, we’ll head out for a 2 – 3km wilderness hike to a fire pit where we’ll cook some traditional food (sausages and cheese) and not so traditional foods for the vegetarians.

After dinner, you can take advantage of the sauna or, if the skies are clear, head out for some night sky viewing that might include the northern lights.

Overnight in Nilivaara at Villa Ahmola Äkäslompolo or similar.

Day 4 – Nilivaara (snowshoeing)
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today after breakfast, we’ll head out for a day of snowshoeing near Kesänki Fell. We’ll be out for about a half day and will stop along the way at a local hut where we can enjoy our packed lunch.

When we return to the lodge in the afternoon, you’ll have a chance to relax in the sauna or warm up with a happy hour drink.

We’ll head into the village of Äkäslompolo for dinner at a local restaurant.

After dinner, you can take advantage of the sauna or, if the skies are clear, head out for some night sky viewing that might include the northern lights.

Overnight in Nilivaara at Villa Ahmola Äkäslompolo or similar.

Day 5 – Nilivaara (fat tire biking)
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll head out to the Pallas-Ylläs National Park and go fat tire biking! Yes! Biking in the snow. (Check out this video to get an idea of what we’ll experience.)

We’ll be out for part of the day and either enjoy a packed lunch or a meal at a cafe before returning to the lodge for an afternoon of relaxing after so many days of outdoor activities.

Tonight, we’ll have a fantastic dinner out at a traditional wilderness cabin where we’ll get to enjoy homemade food prepared by locals.

After dinner, you can take advantage of the sauna or, if the skies are clear, head out for some night sky viewing that might include the northern lights.

Overnight in remote Nilivaara at Villa Ahmola Äkäslompolo or similar.

Day 6 – Nilivaara
Friday, January 19, 2024
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On our final full day above the Arctic Circle, you’ll have the chance to choose your own adventure (or just relax in the…you guessed it…sauna!). Options (additional charge) include:

• a half day snowmobile ride
• a visit to a reindeer farm
• cross country skiing (remember, different than backcountry skiing)
• any of the activities we’ve already done

Lunch will be flexible on this day depending on the activities we choose.

In the evening, we’ll have a final special dinner together out a local restaurant.

After dinner, you can take advantage of the sauna or, if the skies are clear, head out for some night sky viewing that might include the northern lights.

Overnight in Nilivaara at Villa Ahmola Äkäslompolo or similar.

Day 7 – Nilivaara – Home or onward journey
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll make our way back to Kittilä, where you can take your flight to Helsinki and then home or to your next destination.

PLEASE NOTE: While we will do our best to stick to this itinerary, it’s very possible that the order of daily activities will change based on the weather. This is something we won’t know until the week prior or, perhaps, the day of any activity. In short, we’ll be flexing with the weather on this adventure!

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Secure your spot by registering with a deposit via PayPal by clicking on the Register Now button. You can sign in as a guest and do not need a PayPal account.

Note: Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering.

Land costs: $4,250

Due to the limited number of rooms at our private lodge, all participants will share a room with one other person. If you are traveling with someone, please note on your registration form your preference with whom you’d like to share. If you’re traveling on your own, we will match you with a same sex participant.

Booking and Payment Details

Tour price includes: 6 nights accommodation, sightseeing entrance fees, activities as outlined in itinerary, 17 meals in addition to snacks and non-alcoholic drinks at cabin, transportation to/from Kittilä airport and during all activities, an excellent English-speaking (female) guide.

Tour price does not include: International flights, visa (if required), travel insurance, Covid-19 testing (if required), souvenirs, personal purchases and alcoholic beverages.

This trip is limited to 14 people (note this is a co-ed trip!) and requires an $800 deposit to secure your spot.

Minimum bookings required: 8 people (minimum not yet reached)

Final payment is due no later than November 25, 2023.

As a boutique tour company, we really appreciate checks as it helps cut down tremendously on pesky bank fees. We ask that if you’re able, please pay the deposit or full amount by check, Venmo or wire transfer.

Here’s our mailing address:

WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116

Note: Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering.

The fine print

Lapland (Finland) January 2024 Winter Escape Registration Form (online)

Lapland (Finland) January 2024 Winter Escape Itinerary (coming soon)

We have partnered with Travel Insured International so that you have ability to purchase “cancel for any reason” insurance. We HIGHLY recommend travel insurance (no matter who your provider is) to protect your travel investment from any future issues.

For questions, contact Beth at:
beth (at) wandertours (dot) com
206-317-1860

Trip Leader: Beth Whitman
Beth can’t wait to escort this group to Lapland for this inaugural journey. After visiting the Arctic during New Year’s of 2019/2020, she’s been pining to get back to this winter wonderland.

She ranks winter in the Arctic as one of just a handful of the most stunning sights on the planet. (It’s in good company with the Taj Mahal in India and Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan.)

Beth is the author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick guides including The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo and For Women Traveling to India. She is the publisher and founder of Wanderlust and Lipstick and WanderTours and hosted the She’s Bold podcast, which can be found through your favorite podcast provider.