Northern Lights Odyssey

Fifteen Arctic nights across Finland and Norway, with glass igloos, huskies, reindeer, whales and many chances to see the aurora.

Your route

1. 1 Helsinki 3 nights
2. 2 Santa Claus Express 1 night
3. 3 Rovaniemi 4 nights
4. 4 Saariselkä 2 nights
5. 5 Glass igloo 2 nights
6. 6 Tromsø 3 nights

1. Day 1 Helsinki

   Arrive, check in.

   Welcome to Finland. Indian travellers need a Schengen visa, which we help you arrange. Our driver meets you at Helsinki-Vantaa airport for a private transfer to your hotel in the city centre. Check in and rest after your flight. Winter days are short, so evenings start early. Take a walk along the Esplanadi park and the Market Square by the harbour, and warm up with a hot drink in a cafe. Dress in layers, as temperatures are often below zero. Overnight in Helsinki.

2. Day 2 Helsinki

   City tour.

   A guided tour of Helsinki, the compact capital on the Baltic Sea. See Senate Square and the white Helsinki Cathedral, the red-brick Uspenski Cathedral, and the Temppeliaukio Church, carved straight into solid rock. Visit the Sibelius Monument, made of steel pipes in honour of Finland's great composer. In the afternoon, explore the design district or try a traditional Finnish sauna, a national ritual, at extra cost. Helsinki's market hall by the harbour is a good place to try salmon soup and Finnish pastries. Overnight in Helsinki.

3. Day 3 Helsinki

   Day cruise to Tallinn.

   Take a ferry across the Baltic Sea to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, about two hours away. Explore its medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with cobbled lanes, towers, merchant houses and the Town Hall Square. Climb Toompea Hill for views over the red rooftops. In winter, the Old Town is especially pretty with lights and markets. Return to Helsinki by ferry in the evening. Carry your passport, although Estonia is in the Schengen area like Finland. Overnight in Helsinki.

4. Day 4 Santa Claus Express

   Porvoo, then the overnight train north.

   Visit Porvoo, about 50 km east of Helsinki, Finland's second-oldest town, with its red wooden riverside storehouses, cobbled streets and old cathedral. Try a Runeberg tart from a local cafe. Return to Helsinki and, in the evening, board the Santa Claus Express, the overnight train to Lapland. Settle into your private cabin for the journey of about twelve hours through snowy forests to the Arctic Circle. Pack a small overnight bag for the train, as larger luggage goes in the cabin rack. Overnight on the train.

5. Day 5 Rovaniemi

   Arrive in Lapland, aurora chase.

   Arrive in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, right on the Arctic Circle. Check in to your hotel and rest. Winter temperatures can drop to minus 20 degrees or lower, so thermal layers, a warm hat and gloves are essential, and safari operators usually provide thermal overalls and boots. In the evening, set out on your first Northern Lights chase with an expert guide, who drives to dark spots away from city lights when the forecast is good. Overnight in Rovaniemi.

6. Day 6 Rovaniemi

   Ice-breaker cruise on the frozen sea.

   A unique Arctic experience on the Gulf of Bothnia. Travel to Kemi, about one and a half hours away, and board an ice-breaker ship that cuts through the frozen sea. Watch the huge sheets of ice crack apart, then put on a special survival suit and float in the icy water among the floes, an unforgettable experience. Enjoy a warm lunch on board the ship. Return to Rovaniemi in the evening. Ice-breaker departures depend on sea ice conditions. Overnight in Rovaniemi.

7. Day 7 Rovaniemi

   Santa Claus Village and reindeer safari.

   Visit Santa Claus Village, where you can meet Santa himself, cross the Arctic Circle line and send postcards from Santa's Main Post Office with a special Arctic Circle postmark. Then head into the forest for a reindeer safari, riding in a sleigh pulled by reindeer through the snow, and learn about the Sámi herders who have lived with these animals for centuries. Enjoy hot berry juice by a campfire. Children can write their wish lists and post them to Santa. Overnight in Rovaniemi.

8. Day 8 Rovaniemi

   Snowhotel and Northern Lights.

   Visit the Arctic Snowhotel, rebuilt every winter from snow and ice, with ice sculptures, an ice bar and rooms carved from snow. Enjoy a drink served in a glass made of ice. In the evening, head out on another Northern Lights excursion, perhaps with a campfire and sausages under the sky. The aurora is a natural event and never guaranteed, but multiple nights out give you a good chance of seeing it. Keep camera batteries warm in an inner pocket. Overnight in Rovaniemi.

9. Day 9 Saariselkä

   Journey north through Lapland.

   Travel north through the snowy wilderness of Lapland to Saariselkä, about four hours away, passing frozen lakes, forests and reindeer by the roadside. Saariselkä is a small resort village in the fells, far from city lights, and one of the best places in Finland to see the aurora. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the quiet of the Arctic. In the evening, take a short walk in the snow and look up at the stars. Snow tyres keep the road safe. Overnight in Saariselkä.

10. Day 10 Saariselkä

    Husky farm.

    Visit a husky farm and meet the friendly sled dogs. After a safety briefing, set off on a husky safari, gliding through the silent forest on a sled pulled by a team of excited dogs. Learn about how the dogs are raised and trained, and warm up afterwards with a hot drink in a traditional Lapland hut. The afternoon is free to try cross-country skiing or simply relax. Children can ride in the sled with an adult while a guide drives. Overnight in Saariselkä.

11. Day 11 Glass igloo

    Snowmobile safari, igloo night.

    Check in to your glass igloo, a heated cabin with a glass roof where you can watch the sky from your bed. In the afternoon, join a snowmobile safari, riding across frozen lakes and through snowy forests with a guide. A driving licence is needed to drive the snowmobile. At night, lie back and watch for the Northern Lights through the glass ceiling, a dream for many travellers. Set an alarm or ask the resort for an aurora alert. Overnight in a glass igloo.

12. Day 12 Glass igloo

    Resort day and aurora tour.

    A relaxed day at the resort. Enjoy a sauna, walk in the snow, or try snowshoeing at extra cost. In the evening, join a guided Northern Lights tour, heading to open spaces with the best chance of clear skies. Your guide shares stories of the aurora and takes photos of you under the lights. Return to your glass igloo for another night under the Arctic sky. Clear, cold nights with little moonlight usually give the best aurora shows. Overnight in a glass igloo.

13. Day 13 Tromsø

    Into Norway, Northern Lights cruise.

    Today is a long transfer into Norway to Tromsø, a lively city on an island inside the Arctic Circle, surrounded by mountains and fjords. Check in to your hotel and freshen up. In the evening, board a Northern Lights cruise into the fjords, away from city lights, with hot drinks on board. From late November to mid January, Tromsø has the polar night, when the sun does not rise above the horizon. The flight or road transfer is arranged in advance. Overnight in Tromsø.

14. Day 14 Tromsø

    Whale watching cruise.

    Join a whale watching cruise into the fjords near Tromsø. From late autumn to winter, humpback whales and orcas follow the herring into these waters, and sightings can be spectacular. The cruise offers warm indoor seating and outdoor decks for photos. Dress very warmly. Return to Tromsø in the afternoon and visit the Arctic Cathedral, or ride the Fjellheisen cable car for views over the city. Seasickness tablets can help, as the open water beyond the fjords can be rough in winter. Overnight in Tromsø.

15. Day 15 Tromsø

    Arctic dog sledding.

    Enjoy a final Arctic adventure with dog sledding in the snowy valleys near Tromsø. Glide through the white landscape behind a team of huskies, then warm up in a traditional Sámi tent with a hot meal by the fire. Return to the city and spend your last evening exploring the harbour, the colourful wooden houses and the cosy cafes and restaurants. Tromsø's harbour is lined with restaurants serving Arctic char, king crab and reindeer, with vegetarian options on request. Overnight in Tromsø.

16. Day 16 Tromsø

    Departure.

    After breakfast, check out of your hotel. Our driver transfers you to Tromsø airport for your flight home, which usually connects through Oslo or another European hub. Please allow plenty of time, as winter weather can affect flights. Claim VAT refunds on eligible purchases before leaving the Schengen area. Pack Finnish and Norwegian chocolates or Sámi crafts carefully, and keep warm clothes handy for the connecting airports. Your Arctic journey ends here, with memories of glass igloos, huskies, reindeer, whales and, with luck, the dancing Northern Lights.

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