Day 01: ROVANIEMI

• Arrive in Rovaniemi, the gateway to Finnish Lapland, with free time to explore independently before the tour begins.

• Attend the important 06:00 p.m. welcome meeting to meet your leader and fellow travellers.

• If arriving early, you may independently visit Santa Claus Village or explore more of Rovaniemi.

• Highlight: Begin your Arctic journey in the official hometown of Santa Claus, surrounded by Finnish Lapland landscapes.

• After the meeting, you may choose to join your group for an optional welcome dinner.

• Accommodation: Hotel.

Day 02: ROVANIEMI

• Join your leader for an included orientation walk through Rovaniemi, learning more about this modern Arctic city.

• Travel by bus to the Arctic Snowhotel, rebuilt each year entirely from snow and ice and decorated with snow art and light installations.

• Explore the Snowhotel rooms and, if you wish, stop independently at the ice bar for a drink.

• Highlight: Step inside one of Finnish Lapland’s distinctive ice-built hotels before returning to Rovaniemi.

• Optional activities include the Ounasvaara Winter Walking Trail, fatbike rental or a Sampo Icebreaker excursion from Kemi.

• The Arctic Snowhotel normally opens around mid-December; earlier departures may receive an Ice Sculpture activity at the resort instead.

• Accommodation: Hotel | Meals: Breakfast | Travel: Approx. 1.5 hours.

Day 03: LULEA, GAMMELSTAD

• Drive across the border into Sweden and continue to Lulea, a coastal city in Swedish Lapland.

• Visit the UNESCO-listed Gammelstad Church Town, known for its historic wooden church cottages and Nederlulea Church.

• Join a local guide for a walk through Gammelstad and visit a traditional church cottage.

• Learn traditional Swedish kladda bread-making techniques and try baking the bread yourself while hearing local folklore.

• Highlight: Experience one of Sweden’s most distinctive UNESCO sites alongside a hands-on traditional baking workshop.

• The lantern-guided Gammelstad walk operates December to February; a regular guided walk is provided in other months.

• Accommodation: Hotel | Meals: Breakfast | Travel: Approx. 4.5 hours.

Day 04: ABISKO NATIONAL PARK

• Travel from Lulea by public bus or train, depending on availability, towards Abisko National Park in Swedish Lapland.

• Settle into your cabin accommodation before preparing for an evening in the national park.

• Highlight: Join a local guide for an included Northern Lights hunting experience in Abisko National Park.

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

• Warm overalls and heavy-duty Arctic boots can be rented locally for the Northern Lights excursion at additional cost.

• Cabins are shared by up to four travellers, with shared bathroom facilities between rooms.

• Accommodation: Cabin | Meals: Breakfast | Travel: Approx. 5 hours.

Day 05: ABISKO NATIONAL PARK, KIRUNA

• Set out on a day trip to a Sami village and meet local community members in their traditional homeland.

• Learn about Sami culture, traditional knowledge and the community’s close relationship with the surrounding landscape.

• Meet a local reindeer herder and hear how reindeer remain integral to Sami livelihoods.

• Sit down for an included traditional lunch with the local community.

• Highlight: Gain a meaningful introduction to Sami culture through local stories, traditions and reindeer herding.

• Certain departures complete the traditional bread-making workshop today at Sami Nutti Camp instead of Day 03.

• Accommodation: Cabin | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.

Day 06: NARVIK, TROMSO

• Travel by train to Narvik, an important ice-free port with a significant Second World War history.

• Enjoy free time in Narvik to stretch your legs, have lunch or independently visit the Narvik War Museum.

• Continue by public bus towards Tromso, surrounded by Arctic mountains, fjords and islands.

• Highlight: Cross from Swedish Lapland into Norway and finish the day amid the dramatic landscapes of Arctic Tromso.

• Today is one of the longer travel days of the itinerary.

• Accommodation: Hotel | Meals: Breakfast | Travel: Approx. 6 hours.

Day 07: TROMSO

• Join your leader for an included orientation walk through Tromso, passing colourful houses backed by snowy mountain scenery.

• Enjoy free time afterwards to explore the city independently or choose from locally available activities.

• In the afternoon, regroup and visit Mack Brewery for an included guided tour.

• Learn about the historic brewery, which was founded in Tromso in 1877.

• Highlight: Experience Arctic city life in Tromso before finishing the day with one of the city’s best-known local institutions.

• Enjoy your final evening independently in Tromso.

• Accommodation: Hotel | Meals: Breakfast.

Day 08: TROMSO

• Enjoy breakfast before the organised journey comes to an end, with no further scheduled activities.

• Highlight: Extend your stay independently if you would like more time to explore Tromso or increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

• Additional accommodation can be arranged separately before travel.

• 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.

• Luggage Handling: Travellers must carry their own bags, including over stairs, cobbled streets and uneven surfaces; public transport storage is limited.

• Cabin Accommodation: Days 04 and 05 use cabins for up to four guests, with a mixture of separate and bunk beds and shared bathroom facilities.

• Single Supplement: Available subject to limited availability; on Days 04 and 05 it provides a private room within a shared cabin, not exclusive use of the whole cabin.

• Accommodation Facilities: Rooms may be compact and private ensuite bathrooms cannot always be guaranteed; similar-standard accommodation may occasionally be substituted.

• Northern Lights: Sightings depend on natural conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

• Activity Changes: Snow-dependent activities or the itinerary order may be altered when local conditions affect safe operation.

• Arctic Snowhotel: The hotel generally opens around mid-December; some earlier departures may receive an Ice Sculpture activity at the resort instead.

• Gammelstad: Lantern-guided walks operate December to February; a regular guided walk is provided outside this period.

• Bread-Making Workshop: Certain departures complete the workshop on Day 05 at Sami Nutti Camp rather than Day 03 in Gammelstad.

• Cold-Weather Gear: Waterproof winter footwear, warm layers and weatherproof outerwear are important; warm overalls and heavy-duty Arctic boots for the Northern Lights tour can be rented locally at extra cost.

• Dietary Requirements: Food choices can be limited in smaller Nordic towns, particularly for vegan and gluten-free travellers, who may need to supplement meals independently.

• 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.