Helsinki & the Northern Lights

(7 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Helsinki, Finnish Lapland

This private tour combines the cultural highlights of Helsinki and the natural beauty of the Arctic Circle. This tour includes private touring with your own guide and driver in the city and private outdoor activities in Lapland, including a husky safari in the winter or a midnight sun viewing in the summer. This tour is the ideal option for travelers wanting to see the aurora borealis (northern lights) during the winter months.

Begin in Helsinki and with your own private guide, experience the lively culture, interesting architecture and excellent museums of Finland's dynamic waterfront capital. Visit Temppeliaukio, the famed "Rock Church" hewn from solid stone. Tour outdoor markets, indoor food halls, historic squares and the Kamppi Chapel of Silence, and see landmark buildings such as Finlandia Hall, the Railway Station and the Olympic Stadium. Drive along the coast to see beautiful historic villas and the impressive Sibelius Monument, which is dedicated to Finland's most beloved composer. Artisans of Leisure will arrange for you to have a private tour of the Alvar Aalto House, the home of the most important Finnish architect of the 20th century. If desired, also visit the nearby Studio Aalto. There will also be time to visit renowned cafes and Finnish design shops along Esplanadi Park in central Helsinki. Other touring options include the Arabia porcelain factory, the Design District, art museums such as Kiasma and Ateneum, Kaivopuisto Park and Seurasaari Open-Air Museum.

Artisans of Leisure can also arrange reservations at top Helsinki restaurants, in-depth shopping for the best Finnish design, cooking classes, tickets to performances at Finlandia Hall or the Savonlinna Opera Festival and more.

Next, fly to Finnish Lapland, the sparsely-populated northernmost region of Finland, located in the Arctic Circle. Stay in a unique accommodation that offers the comforts of a rustic log chalet with the views of the aurora borealis (season and weather permitting) from a glass igloo. Experience the natural beauty of Lapland year-round through exciting private outdoor activities. During the winter, enjoy activities such as a tour by snowmobile of a local reindeer farm, a tour of a traditional Sami museum, snowboarding or Nordic skiing, a visit to Santa's home, horseback riding and more. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can also arrange an ice fishing excursion at Lake Inari, an excursion on an icebreaker cruise with the option to take a dip in an icy bay or an overnight husky safari. During the summer and fall, visit a husky farm to meet the adorable puppies, embark on a hiking trip through the Urho Kekkonen National Park or enjoy a boat ride on the Lemmenjoki River. Other activities include canoeing, river rafting, an ATV safari, berry picking or gold panning. Also experience a Finnish smoke sauna, an activity that is essential to the Finnish way of life.

One evening, embark on a hunt for the magical aurora borealis by snowmobile, husky-led sled, reindeer-led sled or horse sleigh. Alternatively, during the summer, enjoy a midnight sun viewing by horse carriage.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world