Day 01: HELSINKI

• Arrive in Helsinki and settle in before attending the welcome meeting at 06:00 p.m.

• Meet your leader and fellow travellers and receive important information about the journey ahead.

• If arriving early, explore Market Square, the Design District or Senate Square independently.

• Highlight: Begin your Finnish winter adventure amid Helsinki’s distinctive Nordic architecture and culture.

• After the meeting, you may choose to join the group for dinner at your own expense.

• Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 02: HELSINKI, OVERNIGHT TRAIN

• Join your leader for an included orientation walk through Helsinki, followed by free time to explore independently.

• You may choose to visit the UNESCO-listed Suomenlinna Sea Fortress or experience a local public sauna at your own expense.

• In the evening, board the famous Santa Claus Express for the overnight journey north to Rovaniemi.

• Highlight: Travel through Finland’s frozen northern landscapes aboard one of the country’s iconic overnight trains.

• The train journey takes approximately 12 hours, with shared bathroom facilities available on the carriage.

• Cabin allocation is mixed-gender and some travellers may share with passengers outside the group.

• Accommodation: Overnight Train | Meals: Breakfast.

Day 03: ROVANIEMI, YLLASTUNTURI

• Wake in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, before continuing approximately three hours by private vehicle to Yllastunturi.

• Settle into a family-run guesthouse in quiet forest surroundings, around 3 km from the town centre.

• Highlight: Head outside after dark for an included opportunity to search for the Northern Lights, away from city light pollution.

• An open-top shelter near the guesthouse provides another place from which to watch the Arctic night sky.

• An additional extreme-winter clothing package is provided during the stay, including boots, cold-weather outerwear, gloves, woollen socks and balaclavas.

• Dinner can be purchased at the guesthouse, subject to advance ordering and minimum numbers.

• Accommodation: Guesthouse | Meals: Breakfast | Travel: Approx. 3 hours.

Day 04: YLLASTUNTURI

• Set out on an included dog-sledding experience, travelling through Yllastunturi’s snowy Arctic landscape with a team of huskies.

• Warm up afterwards beside an open fire and try traditional pulla, a Finnish cardamom bread.

• There may also be an opportunity to meet and interact with the huskies after the ride.

• Highlight: Experience one of Lapland’s signature winter adventures as the huskies race along the snow-covered trails.

• Snow-based activities depend on sufficient snow cover and will be replaced with suitable alternatives when conditions prevent them from operating.

• The scheduling of included activities may vary, so optional plans should be coordinated with the trip leader.

• Accommodation: Guesthouse | Meals: Breakfast.

Day 05: YLLASTUNTURI

• Visit a local family whose reindeer farm has operated since 1861 and learn about their traditional way of life.

• See the family’s reindeer-herding skills and, when possible, feed or observe the animals at close range.

• Enjoy included campfire coffee and buns during the visit.

• Highlight: Experience an included traditional Finnish smoke sauna, an important part of Finland’s cultural heritage.

• There is also an opportunity to try ice swimming after the sauna.

• Spend your final night surrounded by the quiet forests of Finnish Lapland.

• Accommodation: Guesthouse | Meals: Breakfast.

Day 06: ROVANIEMI

• Enjoy breakfast before taking the included private transfer from Yllastunturi to Rovaniemi.

• The journey takes approximately three hours, arriving in Rovaniemi around midday.

• Highlight: Complete your Lapland experience in Rovaniemi, with the option to extend your stay independently.

• From Rovaniemi, continue independently to Helsinki or arrange additional accommodation to explore the city further.

• Meals: Breakfast.

IMPORTANT TRIP INFORMATION

• Group Size: 1 to 12 travellers.

• Minimum Age: 15 years.

• Fitness: Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.

• Luggage: Pack as lightly as possible; keeping luggage below 15 kg / 33 lb is strongly recommended, and travellers must be able to carry and handle their own bags.

• Public Transport: Storage space can be limited and luggage may need to be lifted onto racks and carried across cobbled streets, stairs and uneven surfaces.

• Overnight Train: Cabins are allocated on a mixed-gender basis and may occasionally be shared with passengers outside the group; bathroom facilities are shared.

• Room Sharing: Solo travellers are paired on a twin-share basis with another traveller of the same gender according to the gender marker on their passport.

• Single Supplement: Available subject to limited availability but does not apply to the Day 02 overnight train.

• Accommodation Facilities: Guesthouses may have shared rather than ensuite bathrooms; rooms can be small and may sometimes be located a short walk from the main building.

• Winter Clothing: Additional cold-weather equipment is provided during Days 03–05, including boots, outerwear, gloves, woollen socks and balaclavas, but travellers should still bring appropriate personal winter clothing.

• Snow Activities: Snow-dependent experiences may be replaced with suitable alternatives if there is insufficient snow cover.

• Northern Lights: Sightings are a natural phenomenon and cannot be guaranteed.

• Yllastunturi Dining: Dining choices are limited; the guesthouse offers meals for purchase, while restaurants and supermarkets in town are approximately a 35-minute walk or short taxi journey away.

• Dietary Requirements: Vegan and gluten-free travellers may find choices particularly limited and may need to supplement meals with their own supplies.

• Arrival Transfer: Not included as standard; a pre-booked private transfer from Helsinki Airport can be arranged separately.

• Departure Transfer: Not included as standard; a pre-booked transfer from Rovaniemi to the airport can be arranged separately.

• Travel Insurance: Compulsory for international travellers, with at least medical expenses and emergency repatriation cover required; specific waiver provisions apply to travellers residing in the EU, Switzerland or USA.

• Emergency Funds: Access to an additional USD 500 is recommended for emergencies or unavoidable itinerary changes.