Hey all readers, I am Stepney and we went on amazing Finland tour from Australia. Me, my husband and my 5 years old little one went on this amazing journey that started from Sydney to Helsinki and then finally to Lapland. We took land services in Finland through finlandtour.fi . It is a local Finnish tour company affiliated by visitfinlanddmc.fi. In this article i would be sharing our honest experience of visiting Finland, cost and some recommendations.
I would also like to thank lestacworld.com to provide me platform to write about my Finland’s experience.
Our Finland tour from Australia
We had been planning this trip for a long time, and finally, in Dec 2023, we made it happen. Our planning began in August 2023, when Mick and I started researching online about it. Initially, we thought about booking each individual tour on our own, but due to our busy job schedules, it kept getting delayed. However, we managed to research enough to be aware of the available tours and their approximate costs.
One day, while doing some research on the internet, we landed on the Finlandtour.fi website, where we found itineraries that matched our preferences. They were offering chat support, so Mick initiated the chat. The executive was welcoming and politely understood our requirements, which is not very common with Finnish people. They usually leave you on your own and talk only about the necessary points. Well, we then got in touch with them through email and finally started planning itinerary.
We booked our air tickets through Booking.com, which we found to be the cheapest option compared to other travel agencies.
Day 1:
We began our trip on the morning of December 20th with a flight from Toronto, Canada. We traveled with Finnair, which was quite a comfortable flight. The flight was comfortable and included a layover in Helsinki. The moment we stepped off the plane, a brisk chill greeted us; the temperature was a crisp -8 degrees Celsius.
Our igloo stay, the Appukka resort, was a 15-minute drive from the airport. I still remember the breathtaking sight of snow-covered trees and beautiful lights creating a magical atmosphere for the winter festive season. This vibrant city is not only the largest in the region but also has the exciting fact that one-third of Lapland’s population lives there. Our first night in the Igloo room went good, we were tired but more than that excited.
Day 2:
The next morning, we woke up early, and after breakfast, we headed to Santa’s Village. Santa Claus Village was just an 5-minute drive from our hotel.It was dark in the morning; we learned that in peak winter months, sunshine is typically limited to between 10 AM to 2 PM. However, due to the snowy landscape, the light reflected off the snow, making it appear less dark than it actually was.Santa Claus Village is free to visit, but it is quite commercial. In the village, you will not only find Santa and the elves in the Christmas house but also many exciting activities to enjoy. There are Santa’s workshops, a reindeer petting area, gift shops (where we bought our souvenirs), the chance to meet Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s official post office. The post office is an exciting place for kids as they get to see how Santa sorts his letters, which number in the millions. We took the official photo with Santa, which cost about 35 euros, but it’s worth it as a lifetime memory. Finlandtour.fi had arranged lunch at ice restaurant for us in Santa claus village and the entry ticket to Snow man world. My little boy just loved the experience.
Entry to Husky park and husky sledge was also included for us. Those little furry Huskies were adorable. Mick just love dogs and he never wanted to leave that place.We took beautiful pictures in the snow with the elves and reindeer. It was a beautiful day whose memories will last forever.
Day 3:
Change of hotel to Scandic Polar: This day, we went on a tour where we enjoyed the splendid mountain views of Ounasvaara Mountain. We then visited the only zoo in the Arctic, as my kids were excited to see Arctic animals, particularly polar bears and snowy owls. On the same day, we experienced reindeer sleigh rides. Although this activities was available at Santa Claus Village, but it was arranged for us in a different park .
The self-driven Reindeer sledding safari we booked was quite an adventure. My son and I shared the sledge and it was fun.We kept changing positions in the middle of the track. My husband shared it with other passenger. The musher guided us extensively, and my son enjoyed learning about Reindeers—how they are groomed, trained, and what they do all day long. At the end of the ride, they interacted with the animals, fed them, and took beautiful pictures with them. It was a bit tiring but an unforgettable and worthy adventure.
Day 4:
The next day, we started early. First, we visited Korouoma, which was a 1.5-hour drive, and then Riisitunturi National Park, which was an additional hour away. We booked our car from Discover Cars, which was very convenient. The frozen waterfalls at Korouoma Canyon National Park are stunning. We put on snowshoes and hiked through the snowy forest. As we went deeper into the canyon, we saw many frozen waterfalls, which were around 60 meters high. The sight of the water turned to ice was amazing.
After spending about four hours in Korouoma, we went to Riisitunturi National Park. The park’s unique snow-covered trees and landscapes made it feel like we were walking through a winter wonderland. It was a peaceful and refreshing experience, perfect for nature lovers. If you enjoy photography and trekking, you should definitely visit these places. We enjoyed snowshoeing here. It took us 2.5 hours to drive from Riisitunturi National Park to our hotel.
Day 5:
The next morning, we were booked a snow sauna, a unique and memorable experience where you get to enjoy the warmth of the sauna amidst the snowy surroundings. Then we went for a snowmobile safari tour, which was a half-day tour. We came back in the evening and relaxed for an hour as later we had to go out for a Northern Light tour. We were lucky to witness the spectacle of the Aurora Borealis, which was so amazing that I have no words to describe it. For about 20 minutes, the sky was clear enough for us to capture the Northern Lights, then we had to venture further as clouds formed again. It was a very fun trip that finished with a nice log fire where we sat, cooked sausages, and drank hot berry juice! Let me remind you, warm clothing and shoes are a must. You have to bundle up as the Arctic cold is intense.
Day 6:
The final day of our trip was a grand finale. We went on a long day tour to Kemi, where we boarded the Icebreaker Sampo. This unique experience included a tour of the vessel, entry tickets, and a buffet lunch. As the Bothnian Bay freezes over in winter, the icebreakers ensure the lanes remain open for Arctic port traffic. Sampo served the Finnish government for 25 years before becoming a tourist attraction. The cruise included a 4-hour journey from the Port of Kemi to the frozen sea, where we witnessed massive ice blocks floating by. The highlight was ice floating, done in small groups with comprehensive instructions from our guides.
- Igloo stay is enough for 1 or maximum 2 nights. There is a point when you seek comfort than northern lights
- Sauna Bath is must and it is amazing at Appukka resort, there is no need to visit any outside centre
- When visiting Finland from Australia, get a shortest flight. Long flight and then coping up with cold was too much for us
- We didn’t had time, but do consider visiting Kirkenes for Crab Safari if you like eating crab meals. Kirkenes is in Norway and around 3 hours drive from Ivalo
- Rent a car of you have experience driving in Snow
- Focus on Warm clothes more than anything before your trip
- Expect a meal costing Euro 30 per person
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