Every trip that you take has the potential to be the trip of a lifetime, but some destinations are for reason marked as once in a lifetime experience. I visited Lapland when I was 20, with bunch of friends, but that makes a reason to want to return, with your significant other or family or with your long term friends. Lapland can be done on a lower budget if you decide to share a cottage with a group of friends, but we are all aware of the Igloo or glass hut accommodations that are always booked years in advance.
To visit Finish Lapland you can either fly to Rovaniemi or take sleeper or a regular train from Helsinki. When I did the trip, we were young and elastic, so bus was our budget solution, We started our journey from Turku, western part of Finland on around 8 hour bus journey. The good thing is that the itinerary is universal no matter your accomodation
DAY 1: Arktikum – Santa Clause Village – Arctic Circle
The first stop in Rovaniemi was the Arktikum Museum, where we had a glimpse of the life in the Lapland region. The architecture was amazing and the exposed photography as well. But far more interesting was the second stop, the official Arctic Circle and Santa Claus’s Main post office and the village. Even if all of us were 20+ years we were head over hills about this place. You could write your own letter to Santa or to your loved ones. All the post that actually arrive, are sorted per country by Santa’s little helpers. There is magical store and so many things to do.
Our home for these days were cottages in Saariselka. They were so cozy. Our group split in two cottages girls vs. boys, but we spent the most of the time together. Ate home cooked meal and played games.
DAY 2: SAUNA AND LAKE SWIM NORWEGIAN BORDER
Our first activity was supposed to be sauna and then ice cold plunge. The bus took us to one of the many lakes in the area, unfortunately the sauna was out of order, so only the bravest decided for jumping in. I was not one of them, but nevertheless it was such a wholesome experience to watch the friends going in and wait for them once. they come out. The second part was lunch at the Finland – Norway border. In a red barn there was open fish salad sandwich and tea. In the night as we are back to our cottage we start with sauna session and rolling in the snow, to compensate for the missed iced plunge. For dinner we had weird mixed of home cooked rice eggs and tomatoes, according to the spanish friends in our group this was a proper meal. Crepes were there too.
DAY 3: HUSKY SLEDDING – BONFIRE SAUSSAGES AND MARSHMALLOWS
We were split in pairs of two one driver one chiller and every pair got 4 Husky. The switch would happen on halfway, and it was truly experience of a life time. This so called Husky safari was around 30 minutes and 2.5km long. It is the definitive bucket list experience. This activity ended with open fire sausage grilling.
After this there was an option for spa or just walking around the town of Saariselka, we chose the later one and did some window shopping.
The home atmosphere was out of this world thanks to the spanish tortilla de patatas, prepared by the one that has 100% success rate in preparing it. The dessert was fire baked stuffed apples with nuts.
DAY 4: SAAMI VILLAGE – REINDEER SLEDGE – HAMMASTUNTURI
Day four was about culture. We visited Saami village, place where the people of Lapland live. They explained about their life and we had an opportunity to hear them singing. A reindeer was waiting outside. We could hop on the sledge and have a short ride with them. This all happened in the Hammastunturi Wilderness Area. Here you can also ride snowmobile if you want.
Finally we arrived in Saariselka in daylight, and could see the most beautiful pink sky, therainbow fence and all the nice barns around town.
The adrenaline rush hit the most as we reached the Aurora Tobogganing run in the Kaunispää fell. This is the longest sledding slope in Finland, of around 2 KMs. We exited unrecognizable, and covered in snow head to toe. I really wish to repeat this experience.
Today the boys were in charge of cooking and they prepared some reindeer meat along baked tomatoes. Then while preparing ourselves we were having in house karaoke, and finished the night in the club.
DAY 5: NORDIC SKIINNG – ICE KARTING – ROVANIEMI
It was so hard to wake up after yesterdays night, but it was so worth it. We got nordic skis and were shown the route where we should move. One wrong turn and then we ended up 2 extra kilometres skiing. At the end of the skiing there was hot soup in the Husky bar, I know I’ve said it already, but so cozy. At this time of the year, December, there is hardly any day in Lapland, so as soon as we were done with skiing it was night and we were off to our next activity, which was ice karting. For the adrenaline junkies it was cool activity, let’s say that I’drather stick to skiing and sleding. And within the blink of an eye 5 days are over and it is time to take the bus back.
We had one more stop in Santa Claus’ village, and continued towards Turku.
I recommend to everyone to visit Lapland, any part of it. Just because I’ve been here I am biased towards the Finish side, but the culture is similar in all the parts. But wishes never end and I am really hopping to explore the region when the sun never sets.
CONCRETE COLLAGE 