A READY 2-WEEK ITINERARY plus practical details and important nuances of a winter journey beyond the Arctic Circle.
It was an absolutely incredible, magical, and breathtakingly beautiful trip!
Trees covered in sparkling frost, cautious reindeer, ice karting, Santa Claus, an icebreaker cruise, the Northern Lights, quiet fjords, soft snowfall, a campfire scented with burning wood, deep winter frost, hills, sleds, and a constant feeling of enchanting beauty all around.
This was an independent, self-planned journey.
This long-awaited trip almost didn’t happen,the first time I planned to visit Lapland in 2024, the flights were cancelled and the winter fairy tale never came true.
Slowly, I began researching, reading travel groups, and gathering information. What started as just a few planned days in Rovaniemi gradually grew into a full two-week adventure.
FLIGHTS
We flew from Israel via Milan (Malpensa). I booked the tickets at the end of September.
Tel Aviv – Milan (El Al)
Milan – Rovaniemi (Finland) – easyJet.
There are direct flights from Israel with Israir, but prices for January–February started at around $1,000 per person. Flying via Milan, including hotel stays on the way there and back for two people, ended up costing less than a single direct Israir ticket.
CAR RENTAL
We rented the car with full insurance, an additional driver, cross-border permission, and a zero-liability option. We were given a front-wheel-drive Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid.
It worked perfectly well, comfortable to drive, warm inside, and started without any issues. Fuel consumption was low (with heating, seat warmers, and a heated steering wheel it averaged about 5.6–6 liters per 100 km).
The car started reliably even in extreme cold! The lowest temperature we experienced was –30°C, and there were absolutely no problems.
The roads are excellent and constantly cleared of snow, and drivers are polite and careful.
All cars come equipped with studded winter tires by default, which makes driving very stable. This was my first experience driving in such conditions, both during daylight and in the dark, on snow, ice, and icy roads covered with snow and the car handled everything perfectly. You just need to be more careful when taking turns; otherwise, there’s nothing to be afraid of.
ACTIVITIES
This section is for everyone wondering, “But what is there to actually do there?”
We explored Santa Claus Village, visited Santa himself, crossed the Arctic Circle, and sent our daughter a letter from Santa’s Post Office (it will arrive next Christmas). We also went snowshoeing and took an icebreaker cruise.
You can also roast marshmallows or sausages over an open fire (there are ready-to-use fire pits in SCV, Santa Claus Village as well as near the karting area, and occasionally in other popular outdoor spots).
We didn’t go on reindeer or husky rides, I watched from the side and realized I prefer activities where I’m the one in control.
In general, everything here is very well adapted for tourists. It’s a highly popular destination, and winter trips to snowy Lapland and visits to Santa during the Christmas season are extremely востребованы.
That’s why there’s a huge variety of winter activities: reindeer and husky safaris, snow scooters, skiing, snowmobiling, ice karting, Northern Lights hunting tours, visits to the Arctic Wildlife Park (Ranua, about 100 km from Rovaniemi), icebreaker cruises (two options: in Finland and Sweden, both located on the Gulf of Bothnia about 70 km apart), sledding, and ice skating.
Plus cozy “at-home” experiences – a fireplace with a real fire and, of course, a sauna.
WEATHER
During the trip, temperatures ranged from 0°C down to –30°C.
We experienced sunshine, snow, blizzards, rain, and sleet, you can add any winter weather description you like.
Daylight hours are short, about five hours per day.
HAND AND FOOT WARMERS
I ordered warming patches from TEMU. You can place them inside your boots or mittens, and they stay warm for several hours. A very useful and convenient thing to have.
NORTHERN LIGHTS
We saw beautiful Northern Lights in Rovaniemi, in the Lofoten Islands, and even from the airplane window.
There are supposedly special locations where the chances of seeing the aurora are higher: Abisko (Sweden) and Kilpisjärvi (Finland). We stayed overnight in both places, and there were no Northern Lights at all.
Meanwhile, in Rovaniemi and Svolvær, despite significant city light pollution, we witnessed stunning colorful auroras clearly visible to the naked eye.
The Northern Lights are never guaranteed. In my opinion, there’s little point in chasing specific locations for them. Either they appear and you’ll see them for free or they don’t, and no amount of effort will change that.
CLOTHING
Two essential principles: layers + air.
Let me explain. Not just any layers, the base layer should be thermal underwear, preferably made of merino wool. Choose something not too thin and exactly your size. Thermal underwear should fit snugly against the body.
The second layer should be something like fleece. A soft, thick winter pajama set also works surprisingly well for this layer.
The third layer, if you have a ski suit, that’s perfect. A windproof outer layer combined with an insulating air layer such as down or wool works best.
Socks should contain a high percentage of natural wool, merino or alpaca are ideal.
A hat, neck warmer, or balaclava should be warm and woolen, not thin.
FOOTWEAR
Footwear should be slightly larger than your usual size so your feet don’t feel tight when wearing thick socks. Boots similar to insulated snow boots work very well, as their thickness creates an additional air layer for warmth. Leave Omni-Heat and other reflective technologies for milder European winters.
There are also special anti-slip spikes that can be attached to your shoes, very helpful for walking on ice. Look online for traction cleats or ice grips; they are worn over your footwear.
MITTENS
Mittens should be thick and have a windproof outer layer. I brought wind-permeable ones and nearly froze my fingers during ice karting.
Mittens should also be slightly oversized so you can wear thin touchscreen gloves underneath, allowing you to use your phone without exposing your hands to the cold.
This is important! I once took photos without gloves, and within a minute my hands were aching from the cold, it’s genuinely painful.
WINTER CLOTHING RENTAL
You can rent winter outerwear, ski suits and boots, directly on site. Just search online for “clothing rental Rovaniemi.” For the length of our stay, it turned out to be cheaper to buy the clothing instead, especially since I now get to keep it.
FACE AND HAND CARE
What should you apply to your skin? Choose something that is NOT water-based. If your face cream is moisturizing, apply it about an hour before going outside.
Regular petroleum jelly works perfectly, for hands, lips, and face to protect the skin from windburn.
Bepanthen is also a good option, helping both with dryness and protection against frostbite.
ACCOMMODATION
We moved almost every day, staying in apartments, small houses, a rorbu cabin in the Lofoten Islands, one hotel, and one hostel.
I booked everything through Booking.com and Airbnb. Payments were made online, check-in was contactless almost everywhere, and no one asked for passports.
Important! Carefully read reviews and conditions, I came across listings mentioning outdoor toilets, no bed linen or towels, cleaning not included in the price, no running water, or even no electricity during winter. Pay special attention to winter-season reviews.
IF YOU FORGOT TO BUY SOMETHING
If you don’t have much time to prepare for a trip like this and lack suitable clothing, warmers, or other essentials, Rovaniemi has an excellent shopping center where you can find clothing, footwear, warm socks, mittens, hats, and wool thermal underwear.
Disposable heat packs (small hand warmers) are sold individually in all supermarkets.
Ice traction cleats for shoes, sleds, and firewood for fireplaces, absolutely everything you might need can be easily purchased locally.
ITINERARY BY OVERNIGHT STOPS
Rovaniemi (Finland) – Seskarö (Sweden) – Gällivare (Sweden) – Abisko (Sweden) – Svolvær (Norway) – Leknes (Norway) – Reine (Norway) – Svolvær (Norway) – Gratangen (Norway)
Kilpisjärvi (Finland) – Kittilä (Finland) – Saariselkä (Finland) – Sodankylä (Finland) – Rovaniemi
The total distance was about 3,000 km. I planned the route to avoid long driving days, the maximum daily distance was around 280 km.
MONEY
Winter Lapland is NOT cheap. Everything (accommodation, car rental, activities, and clothing) comes at a noticeable cost.
Our average expense was about €190 per person per day.
This amount included flights, car rental, accommodation, fuel, activities and entertainment, food, and insurance.
We didn’t purchase separate extreme sports insurance, instead, we informed the insurer about the activities we planned to do, and they included them in our regular coverage.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO?
Walk, go sledding down snowy hills, warm up in a sauna, sit by the fireplace, admire the magical winter forest, and simply feel grateful to the world for creating such a miracle, our planet Earth.
