Our winter expedition to Finland and Iceland was nothing short of a fairy tale. From cozy boutique hotels and night trains to heated sleighs under the Northern Lights and thermal lagoons, here is our day-by-day scrapbook diary of this unforgettable Arctic road trip.
Part 1: Frozen Helsinki (Days 1-3)
Our adventure started with an overnight flight to Helsinki, landing in the afternoon of the next day. We checked into Hotel U14, a gorgeous boutique hotel located steps from the Esplanade Park. We spent our first days relaxing, adjusting to the timezone, and exploring the design district. On Sunday, we had a wonderful time meeting up with local friends, strolling around the historic Senate Square, and enjoying cozy cafes.
Part 2: Sleigh Rides & Aurora Collection (Days 4-7)
On Monday evening, we boarded the legendary VR Night Train (Santa Claus Express) from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Sleeping on the train was a cozy, nostalgic experience. The next morning, we woke up in Lapland, picked up our rental car, and drove straight to Saariselkä.
We stayed at the stunning Aurora Collection suites, which offered panoramic glass walls overlooking the snow-covered pine forests.
The Heated Sleigh: On Wednesday, we bundled up for a magical ride in a heated sleigh pulled by a snowmobile, searching for the green glow of the Auroras.
Kaunispään Huippu: On Thursday, we drove up to the top of Kaunispää fell to witness the spectacular Arctic sunset and panoramic winter landscapes.
Accommodation: Aurora Collection, Saariselkä
<!-- PHOTO: You can insert your Saariselkä/Aurora Collection photo here -->
Part 3: Igloos, Shamans, and Lapland Feast in Levi (Days 8-10)
From Saariselkä, we drove further west to the ski resort town of Levi, checking into the Levi Sensu Sky Igloos. Sleeping under a glass dome while watching the starry Arctic sky was magical.
Arcandia Shaman Dinner: On our first night, we visited Arcandia, an action and fantasy park, where we enjoyed a mystical dinner inside a shaman hut.
Saamen Kammi: On Sunday, we experienced a traditional Lappish dinner at Saamen Kammi, a restaurant built underground like a traditional turf hut, serving reindeer and salmon around an open fire accompanied by joik singing.
Accommodation: Levi Sensu Sky Igloo, Levi
<!-- PHOTO: You can insert your Levi/Igloo/Arcandia photo here -->
Part 4: Journey Back South via Oulu (Days 11-12)
We began our drive back south, stopping overnight in Oulu at the Lapland Hotels Oulu, enjoying their private in-room sauna. The next day, we drove the final stretch back to Helsinki and treated ourselves to a night at the elegant Hotel St George, known for its indoor spa and artistic interiors.
Accommodation: Hotel St George, Helsinki / Lapland Hotels Oulu
Part 5: Iceland Stopover & Geothermal Lagoons (Days 13-15)
Instead of flying straight back, we broke up our journey with a stopover in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Sky Lagoon & The Edition: We stayed at The Reykjavik Edition right next to the Harpa Concert Hall. Thursday was spent exploring the capital and relaxing at the Sky Lagoon, completing the 7-step ritual overlooking the ocean.
Blue Lagoon: On Friday, we drove to the world-famous Blue Lagoon for a morning soak in its milky blue waters before catching our afternoon flight back to Seattle.
<!-- PHOTO: You can insert your Iceland/Lagoon photo here -->
