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Dog sledding, a visit to Santa Claus Village and a chance to see the Northern Lights? That's exactly what our five-day itinerary in Finnish Lapland offers. Get ready for a proper winter adventure.
Unlock Learn moreMost of our itineraries on TRVL.cz focus mainly on tips for places to visit, but in the case of Finnish Lapland, it’s all about adventure activities and lots of practical tips. For example, you can look forward to an adrenaline-fuelled snowmobiling trip or a ride with dogs – specifically the husky breed – which you can then cuddle. In addition, we will visit the village where Santa Claus lives all year round, and you can even take a photo with him.
But most importantly, the itinerary will give you lots of tips on how to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. However, we would like to point out that it is never a foregone conclusion that you will see the Northern Lights when you visit Lapland – forecasts are made for a few days in advance and even then it is never certain where and when they will appear (depending on several factors). In general, however, Lapland is one of the best destinations to expect to see the phenomenon between late August and about mid-April.
Before we get into the itinerary itself, it is worth adding that Lapland is not a cheap destination. Neither the flights, accommodation or the attractions we recommend are among the cheapest. Especially in winter, when it’s high season, budget somewhere between 60 – 85 000 CZK for two people for around 5 days. However, it’s in winter that this place is so magical that you won’t regret it.
This itinerary includes a flight to Kittilä, a tiny airport near the ski resort of Levi. An alternative is the slightly better known town and also Rovaniemi airport, which we will visit on the second day of this itinerary. So if you fly to Rovaniemi, skip straight to the second day.
Praha
Finnair is one of the so-called go-to airlines in Lapland. It offers many one-stop flights from Prague, both across the Arctic Circle to Kittilä and to the airport near Rovaniemi. Return tickets are priced at around CZK 5 – 8,000 per person.
While driving on snow or ice may not be for everyone, you'll appreciate the freedom of a rental car in Lapland. We would like to add, however, that there is nothing to be afraid of, just drive carefully and don't push your abilities. Not only will you get to places easily, but the car will especially serve as an ideal companion for hunting the Northern Lights, when you'll appreciate the opportunity to warm up at least a little.
Green Motion is a very good choice for car rental in Lapland. Prices for smaller vehicles start at around €40 per day, but with full insurance, which we definitely recommend, expect to pay almost double that.
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If you're based on our March 2023 itinerary and fly into Kittilä International Airport, you'll probably have one stopover in Helsinki. Just from Helsinki, it's roughly another 1.5 hour flight when you land well inside the Arctic Circle.
Don’t expect a big airport in Kittilä. It’s basically one main building, which isn’t very big and doesn’t offer much. We’ll be mainly interested in baggage collection on arrival, as well as a branch of one of the car rental companies. Both are just a few metres apart.
Another interesting fact is that since Kittilä is deep inside the Arctic Circle and under snow almost all winter, the runway where the planes are parked is also under snow cover. However, the runway itself is for the most part “clear”.
TIP: If you are not flying to Kittilä but to Rovaniemi, please skip to day number 2.
Kittilä Airport is just a few minutes’ drive from the ski resort of Levi, which is a popular centre for locals. This makes the airport quite busy, especially in winter.
After arriving and picking up the car at the local rental shop, we’ll head to Sirkka, a town about 20 minutes away, which is near the slightly better-known Levi ski resort. It is this area that will become our retreat for the first day and night.
16.5 km (22 mins)
Levi is the largest ski resort in Finland, specifically in Lapland. It is a lively mountain resort that is ideal for winter sports enthusiasts in particular. There are slopes of all abilities, countless kilometres of cross-country skiing trails and downhill runs for snowboarders. Levi is just a few kilometres from Kittilä Airport, which is mainly served by flights from Helsinki.
However, Levi has much more to offer and is a significant centre for active holidays in winter. You can take a snowmobile ride, try dog sledding or go on a nature hike. And don’t forget the Northern Lights – there are several places around the ski area, including at the very top, where you can see this phenomenon in winter.
During our visit, we toured the city center, took a cable car ride and explored the area around the 531-meter-high peak of the same name. Just 531 meters, you say? Yes, we didn’t miss the one or two at the top. Still, there is plenty of snow in the area during the winter months and temperatures here reach well below freezing.
Even in summer, Levi is a lively area – especially in terms of hiking, cycling or fishing.
As for accommodation, we recommend the Hotel Levi Panorama, which is located right next to the slopes and offers affordable and modern rooms.
Levi • $$
Hotel Levi Panorama se nachází ve svahu, těsně nad lyžařským střediskem Levi. Hotel tak nabízí nejen skvělý výhled na blízké sjezdovky, ale i dobrý výchozí bod pro cesty do okolí – ať už na lyžích, pěšky či autem. Přímo u hotelu se navíc nachází Express Gondola, která právě cestu do městečka výrazně usnadňuje.
Due to the arrival and transfer, and especially the shorter days in winter, we don’t expect you to get more done on the first day in daylight. In January, for example, the sunrise and sunset are separated by only a little around 1 hour, in the case of October or March it is much better.
But before we go to dreamland, let’s try to make a real dream come true on the first day. And yes, we’re talking about the Northern Lights! The area around Levi is absolutely ideal for viewing this natural phenomenon. And the first thing we’ll do is head to the nearby lake.
TIP: What to pack in your suitcase so you won’t be so cold at night, or what to look out for when photographing the Northern Lights, you can find out in the practical information in the itinerary below.
4.0 km (8 mins)
The lake just a few minutes from the centre of Sirkka offers sufficient darkness after dark and a good setting for watching the glow. There is also a shelter where you can build a fire both inside and outside and warm up a bit in the cooler temperatures.
This lake is one of two tips for very accessible places where you can see the Northern Lights. In general, the aurora is only visible where it is completely dark and there are no clouds in the sky. We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the aurora at this spot, first over the horizon and then on the way back to the car.
5.9 km (10 mins)
The second, and perhaps even better place to watch the glow, is the path and summit of the several times mentioned Mount Levi. You can park just below the summit, where you have a great view in all directions. We spent about 1 hour here and saw an incredible show in the sky.
One thing is for sure – when you see the glow dancing in the sky, you will be surprised by the speed of the lights and maybe even by the fact that the glow itself is not as bright as in most of the photos you see on the internet and actually in this itinerary. Cameras, and phones, simply record the glow more clearly, which is why we recommend looking at the sky through your phone’s screen when “looking” for the glow – because if it’s in the sky, you’ll see it sooner on your phone.
TIP: In case you don’t see the glow at one or the other place immediately, don’t immediately throw in the towel and move on to other places. If there is a glow somewhere in the area or under the clouds, be patient. It can be stronger at times and weaker at others.
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Detailed plan for each day with a map
Tips for accommodation and places to eat
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Petr ŽdárskýExperience Helsinki in all its glory in three days. Combine modern architecture with natural beauty and enjoy the best the Finnish capital has to offer.
3 days
On foot
Medium pace
Year-round
Chasing the Northern Lights in winter Lapland (Finland) je jedním z itinerářů, které Retkee nabízí. Každý itinerář nabízí přehledný popis jednotlivých dní, včetně interaktivní mapy či praktických informací. Kromě itinerářů Retkee nabízí i blog , podrobné průvodce destinacemi , například Island , Norsko či Madeira .
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