Experience Overview
Make the most of the cold season and take a trip to Lapland in winter – this is Northern Scandinavia blanketed in white! Over eight days, you’ll travel through Finland, Sweden and Norway to see a hotel carved from ice, bake bread the traditional Swedish way, visit the UNESCO-listed church town of Gammelstad and search for the Northern Lights. Take a tour at night with a local expert in Abysko National Park and give yourself the best opportunity to see the sky light up, then meet the local Sami people and soak up their history, way of life and resident reindeer. Wander around beautiful cities and small towns, like Rovaniemi (Santa's official hometown), Lulea, Narvik and Tromso – all with a local leader by your side to give you all the insights.
Highlights
- Journey through Lapland – the home of Santa Claus – in winter. During this harsh but incredibly beautiful season, there are far less tourists and you’ll be treated to a new perspective of Northern Scandinavia.
- Learn the traditional break-baking techniques and surrounding folklore during a fun workshop in Lulea. Then, walk through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Gammelstad Church Town by lantern light with a local guide.
- Discover the fascinating culture and traditions of the Sami people – Europe's only Indigenous people – and meet a local reindeer herder in the village.
- Take a Northern Lights tour as nightfall descends in the scenic Abysko National Park – this is one of the best places in the world to spot the colourful displays of the Aurora Borealis!
- Travel to new cities you’ve never seen blanketed in snow – like Narvik, where you can visit the war museum, and Tromso, where you can walk along the picturesque streets packed with colourful houses.
Trip Details
Product Code: 20579
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Train,Public bus,Private vehicle
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator: Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: BMSL
Starts: Rovaniemi, Finland
Finishes: Tromso, Finland
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating: Average
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (7), Lunch (1),Accommodation: Hotel (5 nights),Cabins (2 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5,550 ($694 /day)
Itinerary
Tervetuloa! Welcome to Finland. Your adventure begins in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. This city is an urban oasis in the Arctic wilderness, full of culture and scenic hiking opportunities. If you arrive early, maybe explore the city at your own pace, visit Santa’s workshop, or go hiking among the rapids and aapa mires. After the meeting tonight, consider heading out with your leader and fellow travellers for an optional welcome dinner.
Included Activities:
- Rovaniemi - Welcome meeting
Optional Activities:
- Rovaniemi - Arktikum (20 EUR)
- Rovaniemi - Santa Claus Village - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Head out on a leader-led orientation walk of Rovaniemi this morning. Almost totally destroyed during World War II, this modern city is known for being the ‘official’ hometown of Santa Claus, as well as a popular spot to see the Northern Lights. After your walk, you’ll take the bus to the Arctic Snowhotel – carved differently every year and with a temperature of 0 to -5 °C, the walls and furniture inside are all completely made from snow and ice! Explore the rooms, adorned with snow art and light installations and maybe stop at the ice bar for a drink. After, return to Rovaniemi and maybe visit Arktikum – a museum and science centre that explores the Arctic region and the history of Finnish Lapland. You might like to spend the afternoon pedalling through the city on a bike, or on the Ounasvaara walking trail – here, you can wander through the forest, past a ski area to a wooden observation tower for views over the white expanse.
Included Activities:
- Rovaniemi – Rovaniemi Leader led orientation walk
- Rovaniemi - Snow Hotel Entrance
Optional Activities:
- Kemi - Sampo Icebreaker from (300 EUR)
- Rovaniemi - Fatbike rentals (50 EUR)
- Rovaniemi - Ounasvaara Winter Walking Trail and Observation Tower - Free
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Drive to Lulea – a coastal city in Swedish Lapland known for its cluster of well-preserved wooden houses and the stone Nederlulea Church, built in the 1400s. When you arrive, head to UNESCO World Heritage site of Gammelstadt Church Town. Learn about the history of the largest and most well preserved church in the glow of lanterns town in the world with your local guide and get to visit a church cottage. Afterwards, learn about the Swedish baking traditions of kladda bread, try the techniques out for ourself and hear about Swedish folklore beliefs (it's said that the number of folds on your bread will reveal how many suitors you’ll have!).
Included Activities:
- Lulea - Gammelstadt Lantern Tour and Bread baking
Optional Activities:
- Lulea - Norrbottens museum - Free
- Lulea - Dog sledding (1600 SEK)
- Lulea - Northern lights tour (990 SEK)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Travel like the locals this morning and hop on a public bus (or train, depending on (vailability) from Lulea to Abisko National Park located in the heart of Swedish Lapland and known for it's majestic beauty and year around activities. Take a needed rest before, pack the most warm clothing and head out in the darkness to the incredibly scenic Abysko National Park to go hunting for the magic of the Northern Lights with a local guide. If you’re lucky, you might see the natural displays of colours – green, red and purple – light up the sky. Did you know that the Vikings believed the Northern Lights were Valkyries taking fallen soldiers to Valhalla?
Included Activities:
- Kiruna - Orientation Walk
- Abysko NP - Northern Light Hunting Trip
Optional Activities:
- Kiruna - LKAB’s Visitor Center (525 SEK)
- Kiruna - Aurora Spa Visit - Free
- Kiruna - Husky Northern Light tou (2250 SEK)
Accommodation:
- Cabins (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, you’ll head out on a daytrip to the Sami Village – the Sami are Europe’s only recognised Indigenous people. When you arrive in their homeland, you’ll meet with some of the locals and learn about traditional Sami culture, traditional knowledge and their relationship with nature. Meet with a local reindeer herder and hear stories about how reindeer are integral to their livelihoods. You’ll then sit down to enjoy a traditional lunch with the locals. After, head back to Abisko National Park for the night, where you’re free to find a good dinner spot or rug up and sit outside, in search of a sky lit up by colour.
Included Activities:
- Lapland - Trip to Sami village with lunch
Accommodation:
- Cabins (Number of Nights: 1)
Today will be a bit of a long travel day as you head to Tromso. You’ll first take the train to Narvik, where you’ll have a couple of hours to stretch your legs and find some lunch. Narvik is an ice-free port, originally built to ship iron ore from the mines in Kiruna – Nazi Germany tried to gain control of this vital supply during World War II and the Allies tried to stop them. If you like, you can visit the war museum here and learn more about the town’s history. Then, take the bus to Tromso, a vibrant city in the Arctic nestled among beautiful mountains, fjords and islands.
Optional Activities:
- Narvik - War Museum (150 NOK)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning after breakfast, head out on an orientation walk through Tromso’s colourful houses, backdropped by snowy peaks. With your leader, you’ll explore some of the sights of this gorgeous city, then you’re free to choose your own adventure. Maybe go on a show-shoeing mission to help the local Arctic owls, join whale watching or just soak in the sauna! In the afternoon, regroup with your fellow travellers and head over to MACK Brewery for guided visit. This is the most northernmost brewery in the world and was founded back in 1877. After the tour, enjoy a final evening in Tromso.
Included Activities:
- Tromso - Orientation Walk
- Tromso - MACK Brewery Guided Visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
With no further activities planned after breakfast, your trip comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay in Tromso and increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time and organise additional accommodation.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Kristina - Traveled, August 2024
It was a lovely trip with a fun group and an excellent leader in Dushan. The itinerary was well planned and the accommodation was ok and I suspect being on the classic. Level what was to be expected. The only negative was the walk to the Oslo hotel which had us walking past people shooting no up and some
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/22/2024
LOUISE - Traveled, August 2024
The itinerary was great and we thought well paced we got to see lots of things. Our guide was terrific, a fun and easy to get along with guy. He fitted in so well with the other travellers and we all had a fun trip. He was organised and very accommodating for all.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/18/2024
Charlotte - Traveled, October 2023
Nikolai was FANTASTIC!!!! He was a great tour leader. The tour took us to many places and he educated us well. However, just a few negative comments. The hotels were not satisfactory ....I am used to better hotels when I travel. Carrying my luggage throughout the tour was very burdensome. I am an older person, and although I am in great shape, I did not want to be responsible for carrying my luggage everywhere. There was an 89 year old man on our trip. He had a real hard time catching up. I usually go on escorted tours where my luggage, and everything else, is handled by the guides, not by me. I loved the places that wer went to and overall I would suggest people take Tourradar and Intrepid if they don't mind doing some of the labor involved.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/16/2023
Download a personalized trip brochure!