Hei! Welcome to Finland. Your adventure begins in Helsinki with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe head out and pick up some local souvenirs at the lively Market Square or explore the Design District. Finnish architecture is revered around the world for its simplicity and deep connection with nature – just walk around Senate Square and see for yourself! After your welcome meeting, maybe get your group together to sample some traditional dishes, like karjalanpiirakka (Karelian pies) or ruisleipa (rye bread). It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

After breakfast, join your leader on an orientation walk around Finland’s capital city. Once you get your bearings, the rest of the day is free to explore Helsinki as you wish. Maybe check out the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, located just a ferry ride away on a group of islands off the coast of Helsinki. The fortress was originally built by the Swedish to protect against Russian expansion. You could also acquaint yourself with Finnish sauna culture by visiting a public sauna to unwind. This evening, board the famous 'Santa Claus Express', a comfortable overnight train to Rovaniemi, known to many as the hometown of Santa Claus. Your travel time on the overnight train will be approximately 12 hours. Overnight trains on this trip are usually comfortable double deckers, with two berths to a cabin. Please note that cabins are allocated on a mixed gender basis and, depending on the group size, some group members might share a cabin with passengers that are not part of our group. All cabins have heating and there are shared bathrooms at the end of each carriage. Breakfast is not included tomorrow, so we recommend either buying something in town beforehand or using the restaurant carriage on the train.

This morning, wake up in Rovaniemi – the capital of Finnish Lapland – and disembark from your train. Continue by private vehicle to a family-run guesthouse deep in the Finnish forest. This location will be your base for the next three nights, situated near Yllastunturi, a popular cross-country and downhill skiing destination. If the skies are clear tonight, take a stroll through the snow and look skywards for the dancing green lights of the aurora borealis. Far away from the city light pollution, the guesthouse is an ideal base to spot the Northern Lights. This natural display of coloured lights in the night sky is often visible in the high northern hemisphere – there's even an open-top shelter nearby from which to observe them. Grab a hot drink, wrap up and head out into the winter wonderland. Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. In Yllastunturi, the guesthouse is situated about 3 km from the town centre, in quiet forest surroundings. Breakfast is included and dinner is available for purchase at the guesthouse’s cafeteria (you can pre-order the day before, subject to minimum numbers). A variety of optional activities can also be booked through the accommodation. Alternatively, there are restaurants and supermarkets a short taxi ride or a 35-minute walk away. Don't forget to take your torch as it gets dark early at these latitudes. You’ll be provided with an additional rental package for extreme winter conditions in Yllastunturi. This will include boots, cold outwear, gloves, a pair of woollen socks and balaclavas. The streetlights of Yllastunturi are turned off at 10 pm from November to mid-February to enhance the visibility of the Northern Lights. While there’s a good chance of seeing the aurora this far north, it’s important to note that it’s a natural phenomenon, and weather conditions can affect visibility. You can download several apps that provide current and forecasted aurora activity worldwide. Some apps even offer a function to alert you when the aurora becomes visible in your location.

Make sure you wrap up for today’s adventures – you'll be racing across the landscape on the back of a dog sled! These incredible huskies are in their element, barking excitedly before darting along sprawling trails. With the wind in your hair, ride through the snow as your new four-legged friends pull you forward. After the ride, warm up by an open fire and try some pulla (sweet Finnish cardamom bread). If you’re lucky, you might even get to give the dogs a pet and a cuddle. Some years, snowfall arrives late in northern Finland. In these cases, snow-based activities can’t be offered – however we’ll work with our local operator to offer you suitable alternatives. The scheduling of the included activities may vary on each trip, so please consult your trip leader when planning your free time and optional activities.

Your next adventure in Yllastunturi takes you on a visit to a local family, who will guide you through their traditional lifestyle. Their reindeer farm has been operating since 1861, and you may have the opportunity to feed and watch these incredible animals go about their daily routine. You'll also get a look at their skills in reindeer herding with the option to get up close and personal with some of the animals on the farm. Then, why not experience a traditional Finnish bath on the farm? Finnish sauna culture has a millennia-old history and is integral to the Finnish national identity. Locals swear by the cleansing, healing and meditative properties of having a steam and a wash in the sauna. There is also an opportunity to try ice swimming afterwards!

After a leisurely breakfast, take a private transfer back to Rovaniemi, where your trip comes to an end. From here, you could either take a train to Helsinki or extend your stay to experience more of all that Rovaniemi has to offer – just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation. Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.