Luxury Winter Wilderness Through Finland and Norway

Your winter adventure begins as you arrive in Helsinki, Finland’s stylish seaside capital where contemporary Nordic design blends effortlessly with centuries of history. After arriving at Helsinki Airport, your private driver will be waiting to transfer you into the heart of the city, allowing you to settle into your first luxury hotel without the need to navigate unfamiliar transport.

This evening you will stay at the beautiful Hotel St. George, one of Helsinki’s most celebrated boutique hotels. Occupying an elegant historic building close to Old Church Park, the hotel combines timeless architecture with modern Scandinavian interiors, impressive artwork and an atmosphere of understated luxury. It provides the perfect introduction to Nordic hospitality before your Arctic adventure begins.

Once checked in, take time to unwind after your journey. Perhaps enjoy a leisurely walk through Helsinki’s beautifully illuminated streets, browse the nearby designer boutiques or simply relax within the peaceful surroundings of your hotel. The city has a calm atmosphere during winter, with cosy cafés and welcoming restaurants providing an inviting place to spend your first evening.

Dinner is yours to enjoy at leisure, allowing you to choose from Helsinki’s outstanding dining scene, whether you prefer traditional Finnish cuisine or modern Nordic fine dining.

As darkness falls, anticipation begins to build for the days ahead. Tomorrow you leave the capital behind and journey deep into Finnish Lapland, where snow covered forests, frozen lakes and the possibility of witnessing the Northern Lights await. Tonight offers the perfect opportunity to relax, enjoy the comfort of your surroundings and prepare for an unforgettable adventure through the Arctic landscapes of Finland and Norway.

Following breakfast, your private transfer takes you back to Helsinki Airport for your onward flight north to Kittilä, the gateway to Finnish Lapland. As the landscapes below gradually transform into endless forests, frozen rivers and snow covered fells, you begin to appreciate just how remote your next destination will be.

On arrival, another private transfer brings you to Jänkä Resort, a peaceful retreat set beside the magnificent Ylläs Fell. Family owned and surrounded by untouched wilderness, the resort offers a wonderfully intimate atmosphere where reindeer, horses and huskies are as much a part of everyday life as the snow covered forests that surround them.

Your private villa is designed to provide complete comfort throughout your stay. Spacious contemporary interiors blend beautifully with traditional Lappish influences, creating a welcoming sanctuary after each day’s adventures. One of the highlights is your own private outdoor hot tub and traditional Finnish sauna, inviting you to soak beneath crisp Arctic skies while surrounded by complete tranquillity.

Spend the afternoon settling into your new surroundings. Enjoy the peaceful silence of Lapland, breathe in the fresh winter air and embrace the slower pace of life that defines this remarkable part of Finland. Whether you choose to relax beside the fire, enjoy your wellness facilities or simply admire the snowy landscape from your villa, this is your opportunity to disconnect from everyday routines.

As evening approaches, dinner is served in Jänkä’s welcoming restaurant, where local ingredients and Nordic flavours provide a fitting introduction to the cuisine of Lapland. Afterwards, step outside and look towards the sky. With little light pollution and vast open landscapes, this is already an excellent place to begin searching for the elusive Northern Lights.

Wake to the peaceful stillness of Finnish Lapland before enjoying breakfast at the resort. Today introduces you to one of the region’s most authentic winter traditions, ice fishing on a frozen lake surrounded by spectacular Arctic scenery.

Travelling by vehicle to the lakeside before continuing across the ice on snowshoes, your experienced guide explains the techniques that have sustained local communities throughout the long Arctic winters. After drilling through the thick ice, you’ll learn how to fish using traditional methods while surrounded by complete silence, interrupted only by the occasional call of wildlife or the gentle sound of snow beneath your boots. Warm berry juice and light refreshments provide welcome comfort as you embrace this timeless Arctic experience.

Returning to Jänkä Resort, lunch is included before the remainder of the afternoon is left entirely at your own pace. This is where the luxury of your private villa truly comes into its own. Ease into the warmth of your Finnish sauna before stepping outside to enjoy your private hot tub beneath crisp winter skies. Watching snow settle quietly on the surrounding trees while relaxing in warm water is one of Lapland’s simplest yet most memorable pleasures.

If you prefer to explore further, take a gentle walk around the resort where friendly reindeer, horses and huskies call this peaceful wilderness home. The remote setting offers outstanding opportunities for photography, particularly during the soft pastel light that often accompanies Arctic afternoons.

This evening, return once more to Jänkä’s restaurant for dinner before enjoying another peaceful night surrounded by Lapland’s beautiful winter landscapes. Keep an eye on the sky after dark, as another opportunity to witness the Northern Lights may appear above the forests.

Begin another memorable day in Finnish Lapland with breakfast before setting out to experience one of the Arctic’s most enduring symbols, the reindeer. These gentle animals have played a vital role in life across northern Scandinavia for centuries, and today offers an opportunity to discover their importance while enjoying the peaceful surroundings of the snowy wilderness.

Your experience begins close to Jänkä Resort, where you will climb aboard a traditional reindeer sleigh and glide quietly through forests and open marshland blanketed in fresh snow. The pace is wonderfully unhurried, allowing you to appreciate the silence of the landscape and the beauty of the surrounding wilderness. Each ride is unique, depending on the personalities of the reindeer leading the journey.

After your sleigh ride, spend time meeting the animals up close, feeding them lichen and learning more about reindeer husbandry and life in Lapland. Gather around a crackling fire inside a cosy hut to enjoy warm drinks and light refreshments while hearing stories about local traditions and Arctic culture. It is an authentic experience that provides a deeper understanding of the region beyond its spectacular scenery.

Returning to your villa, lunch is served before another relaxing afternoon. Whether you choose to enjoy your private sauna, soak in your outdoor hot tub or simply admire the winter landscape through the villa’s panoramic windows, this quiet time allows you to fully embrace the slower rhythm of Arctic life.

After dinner at Jänkä Restaurant, the adventure continues. As darkness settles across the forests, you head into the wilderness by snowmobile in search of the Northern Lights. Travelling along snow covered trails beneath an expansive Arctic sky is an unforgettable experience in itself. Your guide will stop at carefully chosen locations, lighting a warming fire while sharing stories about the Aurora and the surrounding landscape. Whether the sky comes alive with shimmering green ribbons or remains peacefully star filled, the atmosphere of the Arctic night is every bit as magical.

After breakfast it is time to leave Finland behind and continue your journey west into Arctic Norway. Your private transfer takes you through ever changing winter landscapes on one of the most scenic road journeys in northern Scandinavia. Snow covered forests gradually give way to dramatic mountain peaks, frozen fjords and spectacular coastal scenery as you travel towards the Lyngen Peninsula.

The drive itself is an experience, offering countless opportunities to admire the changing landscapes and appreciate just how wild and remote this part of the world remains. Crossing international borders in the Arctic feels remarkably seamless, with nature providing the only constant as mountains rise dramatically from the sea.

On arrival at Lyngen Experience, you are welcomed to one of Norway’s most impressive wilderness lodges. Surrounded by towering mountains and overlooking the fjord, the lodge has been designed to immerse you in the natural beauty of the Lyngen Alps. Contemporary Scandinavian interiors create a warm and inviting atmosphere, while large windows ensure the remarkable scenery is never far from view.

Spend time settling into your sea view room before exploring the lodge’s facilities. Relax beside the fire with a warming drink, enjoy the peaceful surroundings or make use of the sauna while looking out across the spectacular winter landscape. The combination of mountain peaks and calm Arctic waters creates a setting that feels wonderfully secluded.

This evening you are welcomed with dinner at the lodge, where locally inspired cuisine celebrates the flavours of northern Norway. Afterwards, step outside into the crisp evening air. The Lyngen Peninsula is one of Norway’s finest locations for witnessing the Northern Lights, with minimal light pollution and expansive skies offering excellent opportunities should conditions be favourable.

The peaceful atmosphere and dramatic surroundings make this a memorable introduction to Arctic Norway.

Following breakfast, prepare for one of the highlights of your Arctic adventure as you experience the thrill of driving your own team of enthusiastic Alaskan huskies through the spectacular Lyngen Alps.

After meeting the dogs and learning how to control your sled, you set off across pristine snowfields, frozen trails and beautiful mountain landscapes. The huskies are eager to run, their excitement infectious as they guide you through scenery that feels almost untouched. Along the journey there is time to pause beside a warming fire for hot drinks and snacks while taking in panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness. The close connection between musher, dogs and nature creates an unforgettable experience that perfectly captures the spirit of Arctic travel.

Returning to the lodge, lunch is served before the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Relax in the sauna, unwind in the comfortable lounge or simply admire the spectacular views across the fjord as changing winter light transforms the surrounding mountains throughout the day.

After dinner, another memorable adventure awaits. Accompanied by an experienced guide, you venture into the surrounding woodland in search of the Northern Lights. A campfire provides warmth as you wait beneath some of Europe’s darkest skies, listening to stories about the Aurora and local life in Arctic Norway. With little light pollution and dramatic mountain surroundings, the setting is every bit as remarkable as the celestial display itself.

Should the Aurora appear, ribbons of green and purple light dance across the sky above the mountains, creating an unforgettable finale to another extraordinary day. Even if nature chooses not to perform, the peaceful silence, crisp Arctic air and glowing fire make for an experience that remains deeply memorable.

Return to the lodge for a restful evening, reflecting on another exceptional day in the Norwegian Arctic.

Today offers another unforgettable Arctic experience as you head out onto the fjords in search of one of Norway’s most magnificent wildlife encounters.

After breakfast, travel to the nearby harbour where your high speed boat awaits. Your experienced captain uses the latest wildlife sightings to guide the vessel towards the areas where whales have recently been feeding. Throughout the journey the scenery is every bit as captivating as the wildlife itself, with towering snow covered mountains rising directly from the sea and dramatic fjords stretching into the distance.

If whales are located, your captain carefully approaches to provide exceptional viewing opportunities while always respecting these remarkable animals in their natural environment. Watching these magnificent giants surface beside the boat is an experience few people ever forget. Even if nature has other plans, the journey across the Arctic waters remains a spectacular excursion through one of Norway’s most beautiful coastal landscapes.

Returning to Lyngen Experience, enjoy a relaxed afternoon making the most of the lodge’s facilities. Unwind in the sauna, take in the mountain views or simply enjoy the peaceful atmosphere before another memorable evening begins.

Tonight is particularly special as you spend the night in a private Aurora Hut located close to the water’s edge. Designed to bring you closer to nature without compromising comfort, the hut offers a wonderfully intimate setting with panoramic views across the fjord and towards the surrounding mountains. As darkness settles across the landscape, settle into bed and keep watch for the Northern Lights through the large windows above. Few experiences rival the magic of witnessing the Aurora from the warmth and comfort of your own private retreat.

It is a truly unforgettable finale to your time in Arctic Norway.

Enjoy breakfast while taking in your final views across the Lyngen Alps before your private transfer takes you to Tromsø Airport for your onward flight to Oslo. Leaving the Arctic behind, you return to Norway’s vibrant capital where a different side of Scandinavian life awaits.

On arrival, a private transfer brings you to the elegant Hotel Continental, perfectly located in the heart of Oslo. Renowned for its timeless style, outstanding service and carefully curated interiors, it provides a sophisticated conclusion to your Nordic adventure. Your spacious room offers every comfort, allowing you to relax after your journey from the Arctic wilderness.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy at leisure. Take a stroll through Oslo’s beautifully decorated streets, browse designer boutiques, visit nearby landmarks or simply enjoy one final Nordic dining experience in one of the city’s excellent restaurants.

Although your Arctic adventures are complete, this final evening provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on the incredible experiences of the past week. From frozen lakes and reindeer sleighs to whale watching, husky sledding and nights beneath the Northern Lights, you have travelled through some of the most remarkable landscapes in northern Europe.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your private transfer takes you to Oslo Airport for your onward journey home.

Although your holiday comes to an end today, the memories you take home will remain with you long after your return. Few journeys combine such a remarkable variety of Arctic experiences with this level of comfort and luxury. Over the past nine days you have explored two of Scandinavia’s most spectacular countries, travelled through vast snow covered wilderness, crossed international borders beneath winter skies and experienced authentic moments that few travellers ever enjoy.

You have relaxed in your own private villa in Finnish Lapland, warmed yourself in traditional saunas and a private hot tub, discovered centuries old reindeer traditions, stood on frozen lakes while ice fishing and explored Arctic forests by snowmobile beneath the stars.

In Norway you have driven your own team of huskies across spectacular mountain landscapes, searched for whales among dramatic fjords and spent a magical night in a secluded Aurora Hut beside the water, where the Northern Lights may have danced overhead as you drifted off to sleep.

Your final evening in elegant Oslo has provided the perfect contrast to the wilderness, showcasing another side of Scandinavian life before returning home.

Whether your favourite memory is the peaceful silence of Lapland, the excitement of Arctic adventures or simply watching the changing winter light across the mountains, this journey offers an extraordinary collection of experiences that will stay with you forever. It is a holiday that captures the very essence of winter in the Nordic Arctic.

We hope to welcome you back to the North again soon.