Norway & Finland: The Ultimate Winter Adventure
Itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome to Tromso
Today you’ll reach the Arctic capital, the city where the sun never sets. Welcome to Tromso! Upon arrival you’ll be transferred to your hotel close to the waterfront and the pedestrian centre. With plenty of shops and countless restaurants and cafes, Tromso is a lively hub easy to explore. Enjoy your free time wandering around or take it easy and relax at your comfortable hotel and get ready for the adventures ahead.
Day 2 – Husky safari
This morning you’ll leave Tromso for a very special experience, a husky sled ride. You’ll be driven further inland to the husky kennels, where you’ll meet other travellers and of course the stars of today’s adventure – huskies. Upon arrival, you will be provided with warm winter clothes, gloves and snow boots – all the winter gear you’ll need for the tour. After a short briefing you’ll set off on your thrilling ride in pairs. One of you will be stirring the energetic dogs in the right direction, while the other can co-pilot (or enjoy the scenery – but remember, the tables will turn mid-way through the journey when you swap places!). After an exhilarating ride you’ll return back to the camp for some hot chocolate and biscuits, a much needed refuel. When you catch your breath and the excitement wears off a bit, you’ll hop in a car and be taken back to Tromso to enjoy the rest of your day.
Day 3 – From Norway to Finland & the northern lights tour
Today your journey continues to Finland. Early in the morning, around 7:00 am, you’ll make your way to the bus stop and hop on a bus to Kilpisjärvi. The journey takes about three hours and you’ll reach your destination around noon (Finland is 1 hour ahead of Norway). Here you will stay in a comfortable hotel with beautiful contemporary rooms and an incredible view of the fell through the floor to ceiling windows. There’s a good restaurant on site too so you’ll get to sample some local culinary delicacies.
Kilpisjärvi, the only Alpine village in Finland, is located in the far, north-western point of the country and is one of the snowiest places in Finland. It’s also a great location for spotting the elusive northern lights during the winter months. Statistically, night skies are clearer here than anywhere else in Finland, and the northern lights are a frequent event. This evening you’ll drive into the wilderness by car or minibus and admire the night sky in total silence and with minimal light pollution. With a bit of luck you will see the dancing Northern Lights, the highlight of the evening. You’ll then return to your comfortable hotel for the night.
Day 4 – To the Three-Country Cairn on a snowmobile
Today you’ll explore the winter landscape around Kilpisjärvi in the best way possible – on a snowmobile. After a short briefing, you’ll hop on your snowmobiles (in pairs) and begin your adventure. Your aim is a spot where the borders between Norway, Sweden and Finland meet marked with a yellow stone – the Three-Country Cairn monument. During the entire tour you will cover approx. 20 miles and drive through the snow-covered birch forests and across frozen lakes. A truly unforgettable experience. Halfway through you’ll be able to swap places, and if you prefer to enjoy this experience solo – let your Travel Specialist know. After you return to the hotel, the rest of the day is entirely yours to do as you please.
Day 5-6 – Free time & return to Tromso
The following day is free for you to explore the area and do whatever you prefer. Venture on a hike through the famous Finnish fell, visit the Sami village and a reindeer farm or enjoy a traditional Finnish sauna. A lot of the activities can be arranged on the spot, so if you don’t feel like taking it easy, you can pack in as many adventures as you like.
Then it’ll be time to leave Finland and head back to Tromso. Your bus leaves in the afternoon, so you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and one more walk in the snow-covered winter forest. In Tromso you’ll stay at the same hotel for the final night of your trip.
Day 7 – Farewell to Lapland
Today marks the end of your winter adventure. We will arrange your transfer back to the airport in time for your international flight. It’s time to head home, no doubt, with some amazing memories and a few stories to share at dinner parties!
Accommodation
