The Hairy giraffe… IN FINNISH LAPLAND
How long? We went for a week (9 days) in Finnish Lapland.
When? In early February, there’s snow everywhere, and the length of the days is quite sufficient (between 6 to 7 hours of sunlight) to engage in activities.
Ease of independent travel: 4 giraffes 
A car is essential for getting around in Lapland. While roads are usually well cleared, they can sometimes be covered with snow and patches of ice. Winter tires are mandatory, and some experience in driving in winter conditions is recommended to prevent accidents, especially during snowstorms.
Costs: 5 giraffes 
Accommodation, food, and activities tend to be expensive. Expect to pay a premium for activities such as sleigh rides, photos with Santa Claus, or expeditions to chase the Northern Lights.
Ease of communication: 4 giraffes You won’t have any trouble communicating in English.
Security: 5 giraffes At no point did we feel unsafe. Only basic precautions are necessary.
Health: 5 giraffes There are no particular hygiene issues or health risks to note in Finnish Lapland. However, be cautious of frostbite, especially on your extremities, when you’re out hunting the Northern Lights standing in the snow for several hours.
Gay friendly: 5 giraffes Finnish society is very open to LGBTQ+ individuals.
Travel ease: 4 giraffes Traversing Finnish Lapland is easy… provided you can withstand the cold. Some activities that require you to remain still, like reindeer or dog sledding, or observing the Northern Lights, might turn you into an ice cube if you’re not adequately dressed.
Highlights: Snow everywhere and a Christmas atmosphere, even in February.
Letdowns : 
The Artikum museum, which we found a bit empty, and the reindeer sleigh ride, which might be a bit too leisurely compared to a dogsled ride.
Check out our Travel Reflections articles on Finnish Lapland:
ONE-WEEK ITINERARY IN FINNISH LAPLAND
This itinerary took us to the other side of the Arctic Circle to meet Santa Claus and his reindeer while allowing us to delve into Sami culture and enjoy magnificent snowy landscapes.
Here’s the detailed itinerary of our week in Finnish Lapland:
Day 1: Daytime flight from Paris to Rovaniemi with a short layover in Helsinki. Arrived at the official Santa Claus airport in the early afternoon, picked up the car, and set out to explore the snow-covered roads… a bit lighter because our luggage (including our snow gear!) stayed in Helsinki.
After a little over 100 kilometers on the road, we arrived at the village of Luosto, where we rented a chalet (with a dry sauna included, as is customary in Finland) for the duration of our stay.
We did some shopping at the village supermarket while waiting for the airline company to deliver our luggage to the chalet door. As soon as we received them, we put them on to brave the cold and set out to hunt for the Northern Lights. They were shy but definitely there.
Day 2: We rented snowshoes for the week and went on a hike through the snowy trails up to the top of Luostonturi.
Fresh, pristine snow covered the trails in a spotless white. All around us were trees draped in a heavy white coat. We truly felt like we were the only ones in the world.
A cloudless sky and mild temperatures (we even ended up unbuttoning our coats) also greeted us. We returned to the chalet for lunch before heading out for a walk just behind the chalet to admire the sunset and its pink sky – it was barely 3:00 PM!
We returned to the chalet to warm up before heading out again to admire the Northern Lights.
Day 3: Just a few slices of Nordic bread spread with cloudberry jam (a tangy orange berry resembling a cloud) for breakfast, and we set off for a stroll around Lake Ahvenlampi. The cold was invigorating!
We ended up at the center of Luosto for lunch. In the afternoon, we headed towards the Pyhä ski resort.
Instead of skiing down the slopes, we preferred to put on our snowshoes and take a hike among the trees.
Despite the -24 degrees displayed on the thermometer, we climbed to get a better view and enjoyed a magnificent sunset.
The sky turned shades of blue, pink, and purple. It was simply beautiful.
That evening, we spent it indoors, warming up while watching a movie by the fireplace.
Day 4: We set off for the Lampivaara amethyst mine. We opted to hike the first part with snowshoes to make the most of nature, the snow, and the beautiful white landscapes.
However, the ascent was sometimes steep, and despite the snowshoes, we sank into the snow at times.
We took the time to warm up with some tea at the designated spot before completing the ascent using a snowmobile. Once again, we enjoyed the snowy scenery before entering the mine in search of stones. Eventually, we left with a handful of violet stones.
Day 5: We hit the road for Rovaniemi.
We have an appointment with Santa Claus… just after taking a photo directly on the Arctic Circle and getting our passports stamped as a keepsake.
So, wearing our Christmas sweaters, we posed alongside the “real” Santa Claus.
We then leave Santa Claus Village. Next stop: the Arktikum, a museum about the Arctic and Sami culture, before visiting downtown Rovaniemi as night falls.
Day 6: The morning is scheduled for a visit to a reindeer farm and a reindeer sleigh ride (much calmer than dog sledding).
Then we enjoy some time in the warmth inside a traditional tent, sipping on a warm berry juice, chatting with a Sami guide, and learning more about their culture. We wrap up the day with some sliding around and head back to our sauna. After the activities, time to relax!
Day 7: A short snowshoe walk behind the chalet to kick off the day before hitting the road for Sodankylä, a town about forty kilometers north of Luosto.
We saw a beautiful wooden church there, a sculpture erected in honor of the Sami people, and had a traditional meal consisting of salmon soup and reindeer stew.
Day 8: We leave Luosto for Rovaniemi, making a stop at Ranua Zoo, which houses numerous Arctic animals such as polar bears, lynxes, musk oxen, wolverines, and snowy owls.
Day 9: We return to Paris after a layover in Helsinki, where our plane needs de-icing before taking off again.
Find all our other articles about Finnish Lapland (detailed itinerary, focus on Finnish food, and Sámi culture…) here:
