Finland's Lapland

On arrival, you’ll be greeted and escorted to the Hotel Lilla Roberts, a stylish and contemporary hotel set in a 1908 landmark in the heart of the capital. A+R Guests enjoy spacious Style Guestrooms that offer more than 320 square feet of space including a sitting area with sofa, armchair and plush area rug.

Join your private guide for a walking tour of Helsinki, beginning with the handsome neoclassical landmarks that grace Senate Square. The four most important structures here were designed by Carl Ludvig Engel in the middle of the 19th century and include the Government Palace and the National Library of Finland. With its impressive green dome, the Helsinki Cathedral is visible from many areas of the capital and is perhaps the Square’s most iconic landmark. You will join Helsinki natives in the bustling shops and markets of the city. With our resident expert guiding the way, you’ll experience a genuine slice of city life and culture during your tour on which you will see many of Helsinki’s wonders . For lunch, we’ll take you to a local restaurant  – known for its authentic regional dishes, all prepared with fresh Finnish-sourced ingredients, and a unique ambience that evokes the forests, lakes and logging traditions of the country.  After lunch, the balance of the day is free to enjoy as you wish. To make it easy, we’ve included a transport pass for complimentary use of the city’s tram, bus and metro network! Meals B+L

After breakfast, you’ll be chauffeured to the airport for your included flight to Ivalo deep inside the Arctic Circle. On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to the one-and-only Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Here on the edge of the unbroken wilderness of Finland’s largest national park, you’ll enjoy private accommodations in your own Kelo-Glass Igloo. This spacious log cabin has been meticulously constructed of rough-hewn Kelo pinewood with a private fireplace, cozy seating, your own Finnish sauna and an inviting bed. Attached to your cabin is a unique glass-domed igloo with additional bedding so you can fall asleep under the night sky - and maybe even under the shimmering glow of the Northern Lights. The rest of this day is yours to delight in the inviting ambience of your private cabin – You might try out the sauna, sit by a roaring fire, or take in the views from your glass igloo. Of course, you can also explore the forested grounds of our resort. This evening, you’ll join fellow guests for dinner at the restaurant.  Meals B+D

Surrounded by wilderness, our Arctic resort offers a wide variety of activities to immerse you in the life and beauty of Lapland. To begin, we have included these three adventures; others are available:   Husky Safari: This unforgettable adventure begins at our resort where you’ll meet a local Husky expert. At his nearby farm, you’ll meet the friendly dogs who are already waiting eagerly in front of their sleds. After expert instruction on how to drive, steer and stop your sled, you’ll set out. These are 2-person sleds so you can drive while your companion enjoys the ride and the thrilling sight of the lively Husky dogs pulling your sled. The pristine beauty of the winter forest is breathtaking and the experience is exhilarating. About halfway through the journey, you’ll stop at a traditional Lappish hut where a light lunch of steaming soup will be served. There will be time to warm yourself by the fire as your expert guide shares colorful stories of life in the Arctic. For the return journey, you can switch positions and enjoy the thrilling ride as your companion drives the sled. Back at the farm, you might have a chance to meet some frisky Husky puppies. This 4-hour excursion includes pick-up and return transportation from our resort, Arctic wear for the guided sledding adventure, and a light lunch. The total time out with the sled and your Husky team is about 2.5 hours.   Aurora Hunting by Snowmobile: Depart the resort and travel into the nighttime silence of the northern woods to begin this experience. After expert instruction, you’ll board a 2-person snowmobile and set out for this thrilling adventure. As conditions allow, you’ll stop for a warming cup of traditional Finnish berry juice and a chance to observe the Aurora Borealis. If the Northern Lights are visible, additional stops for photography and observation will be made. Along the way, you can also switch snowmobile drivers. Drivers must be at least 18 years of age; passengers can be of any age. This 3-hour excursion includes pick-up and return transportation from our resort, thermal Arctic wear for the guided snowmobiling adventure, and a warming mid-ride juice break. The total time out with snowmobiles will be about 1.5 hours with breaks depending upon the visibility of the Aurora Borealis.   Aurora Reindeer Safari: A local reindeer farmer will meet you and rest of your small group at the resort and take you to his farm for this shared adventure. After a quick briefing, climb into a comfortable sleigh and snuggle under warm blankets as a team of reindeer transports you into the silent, wintry northern woods. With clear weather and the right conditions, you can gaze up to see the shimmering lights of the Aurora Borealis. About mid-way through this adventure, you’ll stop for a warming cup of traditional berry juice. Enjoy the glow and warmth of our camp fire as our guide shares colorful stories of winter life in Lapland. This 2-hour expedition includes pick-up and return transportation from our resort, thermal Arctic wear for the sleigh ride, and refreshment. The total time out with our reindeers and sleigh is about 1 hour.   Meals B+D

Today you can enjoy another one of the three adventures which we’ve included with our compliments – and described above in Day 4. The rest of this day is yours to enjoy your cabin and its attached glass-domed igloo. You can also explore the surrounding forests on your own, and join fellow guests in the comfortable lodge.   If you wish to book an additional excursion today, here are some of the other guided adventures offered at our Arctic resort:   Aurora Hunting with Huskies: This guided 2-hour excursion feaures about 60 minutes out in the nighttime forest with your 2-person sled and team of Huskies. Includes transfers to and from our resort and a warming beverage break. Thermal clothing, winter boots and gloves are provided.   Snowmobile Safari: This guided adventure combines the thrill of snowmobiling with a chance to revel in the pristine natural beauty of Lapland. Tour includes transfers, thermal Arctic wear and a warming beverage break. Total duration is about 2 hours with at least 45 minutes of riding. We also offer a 4-hour excursion with at least 2.5 hours of snowmobiling.   Meet the Reindeer by Snowmobile: An exciting 90-minute snowmobile ride takes you to the Reindeer Farm to meet and feed these amazing creatures. Transfers, thermal wear and complete instructions for your 2-person snowmobile are included. Total duration is about 4 hours.   Reindeer Safari: This 2-hour excursion takes you into the Arctic wilderness in a reindeer-pulled sleigh, a wonderful way to experience the pristine beauty of Lapland and to connect with Sámi villagers. Transfers, thermal wear, winter boots, gloves and about one hour of sleigh riding are included.   This evening, you’ll enjoy another congenial dinner here at our resort.  Meals B+D

Today you might enjoy your final included adventure – described above in Day 4. Or if you chose to do two of them on one of the preceding days, then you might join one of the full-day excursions offered by our resort:   Snowmobile Adventure + Ice Fishing: A full day adventure takes you out onto the white expanse of Lake Inari, the second largest lake in Finland with nearly 400 islands. After instructions and donning the thermal Arctic wear which we provide, you’ll set out in a 2-person snowmobile – traveling through forests and across the frozen lake to our fishing spot. Whether or not the fish are biting, this is a great way to appreciate the beauty and silence of Lapland. After a warming lunch, return to the lake shore and visit the Sámi Museum where you’ll learn about the culture of this indigenous people. This guided 9-hour tour includes transfers from our resort, thermal Arctic wear, 2-person snowmobile with complete instructions, light lunch, and fishing equipment.   Icebreaker Adventure: After breakfast, you’ll embark on a scenic morning drive from our resort to Kemi, a colorful little port on the Gulf of Bothnia. Board the Icebreaker Sampo for an exciting 4-hour afternoon cruise through the icy waters. After lunch in the ship’s restaurant, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and the camaraderie of your fellow cruise passengers. This excursion starts from our resort at 9:00 AM and returns around 11:00 PM.   Of course, you can also take this day to just enjoy the extraordinary setting of our Arctic resort and your private cabin and glass-domed igloo. In addition to the three complimentary adventures which we’ve included – and the additional excursions noted above – our Arctic resort offers a wide variety of other guided activities including Nordic skiing with instruction, horseback riding, and other expeditions by snowmobile, husky sled and reindeer sleigh. You can even visit Santa’s Resort!   Tonight, you’ll join your fellow resort guests for dinner in the restaurant.  Meals B+D

After breakfast, we’ll take you back to the airport in Ivalo for your included return flight to Helsinki where you’ll spend the night at the conveniently-located Hilton Airport Hotel.  Meals B

Return to the terminal via the covered walkway for your departure flight.  Meals B