Finland & Sweden: Adventure Across Lapland

Arrive in Helsinki, where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel. This evening, gather with your fellow guests for a welcome dinner.

This morning, explore the sights of Helsinki. Enter the famous Temppeliaukio Church; built directly into solid rock, it is fittingly known as Rock Church. Experience the Helsinki Food Market, before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, and then spend the afternoon at leisure, free to relax or explore the city at your own pace.

Fly to northern Kittila, landing far above the Arctic Circle, to begin your immersive Lapland experience. Start with a thrilling snowmobile safari that reveals the true spirit of this remote natural region as you venture forth, basking in stunning views over the vast Lappish wilderness. Stop for a light barbecue snack served up fresh from the fire before completing your rousing ride to your hotel in Levi. Upon arrival, settle into a specially designed aurora cabin, its glass dome allowing you to search the skies for the northern lights as you drift asleep from the reclined vantage point of your bed.

Visit a local reindeer farm to meet the family living there and hear stories of the seven generations that have worked this land. Then, ride a reindeer sled through the forest and enjoy lunch with the family. Afterward, continue to a nearby husky farm owned by a couple who sustainably raise top sled dogs. Receive an introduction to sled-driving before setting out on a husky safari into the Lappish wilderness, pulled by an eager dog team. Return to the farm to sip hot berry juice by an open fire while listening to fascinating stories about these lovable canines. This evening, join a privately guided snowshoe trek into the darkness surrounding your resort as you scan the sky for a possible appearance of the northern lights.

Journey overland to Rovaniemi, nestled on the Arctic Circle and renowned as the “home of Santa Claus.” En route, stop at a private cabin, set in the woods beside a secluded lake, to enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Try Your Hand at Ice Fishing, learning tricks from the locals about catching fish through a hole in the frozen lake. Snowshoe Through the Surrounding Woods, immersed in the quiet beauty of the untouched wilderness. Experience Ice Floating, donning a survival suit for a surreally relaxing float in the lake’s icy Arctic waters. Reenergize with a lunch of salmon cooked over a fire before continuing to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure, free to relax or perhaps join your Resident Tour Director for a fun, all-ages visit to “Santa’s” house.

Experience traditional life in Lapland up close when you visit Palovaara Farm, situated on 500 acres of private forest. Meet the family who lives there and learn how they provide for themselves by hunting moose. Then, for a Chef’s Table moment, savor a homemade lunch prepared by your hosts, featuring fish caught from their own lake and meat from the moose they’ve hunted. Follow this A&K-exclusive experience with another as you proceed to Villa Vinkkeli, studio of renowned photographer Kaisa Sirén, to view an exhibition of her works and hear her share her passion for the Arctic, an insider-access opportunity arranged exclusively for A&K guests. This evening, stop for dinner at the magical Snowland’s igloo restaurant, an ice structure freshly rebuilt every year to incorporate new layouts and decor. Savor a Scenic Sundowner cocktail in the ice bar, and then dine in this unique setting before embarking on a hunt for the aurora borealis, accompanied by a professional photographer who helps you get the best shot should you happen to spot this rare, awe-inspiring phenomenon.

Cross a far-north frontier this morning as you pass from Finnish Lapland into Swedish Lapland. Join your Resident Tour Director to explore Gammelstad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, walking through its labyrinth of narrow streets among hundreds of charming 400-year-old cottages to the impressive Gammelstad Church. Later, pause for lunch at nearby Brandon Lodge, nestled on the edge of the Gulf of Bothnia and overlooking the islands of the Lulea Archipelago. Continue to Arctic Bath, your home for the next two nights, where rooms rest suspended over a frozen wilderness river.

Travel today to Jokkmokk, a village that is a center for the Sami people and culture in Sweden, which houses an office of the Sami Parliament. Meet a young Sami couple who introduce you to the modern realities of life for this traditionally nomadic people whose main activity is reindeer herding and who range throughout the Arctic region of Europe. Gather around the fire with them to listen to joik, the ancient Sami practice of storytelling through music. Learn about the Sami language and traditional cuisine, and then meet the couple’s reindeer up close and enjoy the opportunity to hand-feed them. Return to Arctic Bath with time to relax and enjoy the saunas and spa, or just bask in the tranquility of the pristine natural surroundings.

After a leisurely morning, transfer to nearby Lulea for a short flight to Stockholm, a colorful capital city built on a 14-island archipelago and graced with charming architecture. Upon arrival, set off on a guided stroll through Gamla Stan — the most historic area of the city, contained on its own island — walking its cobblestone streets past shops, museums and galleries as well as the Royal Palace.

This morning, join a local expert who reveals authentic Stockholm to you. Visit the Vasa Museum and City Hall, where the annual Nobel Prize ceremony takes place. Enjoy time at leisure in the city, then gather with your fellow guests for a special farewell dinner as you recall the adventures of your Lapland journey.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departing flight.