If you’re looking for an adventurous winter holiday with dreamy snowy scenes, a feeling of remote wilderness, action packed activities and the chance to tick off a bucket list destination then look no further than the Finnish Lapland. With its huge choice of outdoor activities, such as husky sledding, snowshoeing, and skiing, Lapland provides an unforgettable experience in the heart of the Arctic wilderness and if you're lucky, you might get to witness the northern lights too. For this holiday, I booked a group trip with Sidetracked Adventures and this guide will show you exactly what a week in Lapland looks like with them. 

Lapland at a glance

Best time to visit: December to March for a winter wonderland 

Cost: Varies depending on your choice of location, accommodation and activities. Costs broken down within blog

Winter activities available: snowshoeing, skiing, snowmobiles, husky sledding, ice fishing, northern lights, fat biking and more! 

How to get there from the UK: Fly from multiple UK airports. Direct flights available.

Where is Lapland?

Often said to be the northernmost region of Finland, Lapland actually stretches across the Arctic Circle and into parts of Sweden, Norway and Russia too. Known for those vast and dreamy snowy scenes, the Finnish Lapland is the perfect destination for adventure lovers. It's also the official home of Santa Claus, making it a magical spot for families during the festive period. Lapland covers a huge area and there are actually more reindeer than people in the Finnish Lapland! Some of the best places to visit in Lapland in winter are Rovaniemi, Kiruna and Saariselkä, where this guide will focus on.

Where is Saariselkä?

Saariselkä is a small but charming resort village located in the far north of Finnish Lapland, within the Arctic Circle. Found nearby the pristine wilderness of Urho Kekkonen National Park, it offers the perfect setting for an adventurous winter holiday. Saariselkä is a haven for winter activities such as skiing, husky sledding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.  With limited light pollution and its northerly position, this is also the perfect place to experience the magic of the Northern Lights.

How to get to Saariselkä

Travelling from the UK is relatively straightforward but will probably require a couple of flights in most cases. 

The closest airport is Ivalo, a 20-30 minute bus journey from Saariselkä. Buses wait after each incoming flight and you get tickets on the bus making it incredibly easy to get to Saariselkä. 

There are direct flights to Ivalo from London Gatwick but if you’re flying from elsewhere in the UK, you’ll probably find your flight will pass through Helsinki, Frankfurt or elsewhere in Europe before heading to Ivalo.

Things to do in Saariselkä

Saariselkä is an ideal destination for those seeking both adventure and tranquility in a winter wonderland. On this group trip with Sidetracked Adventures, we were based in Saariselkä  and it felt like good value for money with everything that was included. Take a look at how we spent a week in Saariselkä here:

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing was our first activity on the group trip and we were joined by our guide Sirpa, who would accompany us on the activities for the week. The snowshoes were provided outside the accommodation (so you could use these on your free day if you wanted to) and we were given some quick instruction on how to use them before setting off on our snowy adventure. 

Trudging up the fell that sits behind Saariselkä, the snow shoes did a brilliant job at stopping us from sinking into the deep snow. It was waist deep in places and without the snow shoes, you sink straight into the deep powder. The sun was rising (just) above the hills in the distance and as we reached the edge of the forest, before our descent down, my jaw dropped. The scene in front of me felt truly magical. Snow covered trees, untouched routes, candy floss skies and the sun glistening on the white ice crystals. 

It felt like being transported straight into a postcard from Finland and the spirits of the group were so high as we laughed our way down through the forest, eventually reaching an off grid hut nestled within the trees. 

Sirpa signalled it was time to rest and as she rushed in to the hut to light a fire, we followed and settled down for some soup and cheesy crackers. The fire doesn’t do too much to warm our frozen fingers so it’s a quick pit stop before we head back up the way we came to the top of the fell, a beautiful sunset and a hearty meal once we arrived back to the accommodation. 

Electric Fat Biking

Throughout the woodland near Saariselkä there are multiple tracks that weave through the trees and criss-cross each other designed for different sport activities. The cycling tracks were mostly packed snow and equipped with the chunkiest tyres I’ve ever seen, the fat bikes made cycling on the snow a breeze (sort of). 

After picking up our bikes from the rental shop, we realised, thankfully, that they were electric, with three different speed modes. “Don’t put it on turbo, or the battery will run out quickly” the shop owner laughed. This would come to be something a few of us realised to not be a joke later in the day. 

Ten minutes later, and in -35, we headed out of town to the forest and raced along the tracks, trying (and failing) to not fall off when we hit patches of soft snow. Laughing and whooping our way around the course, it was soon time to stop for lunch in another off grid woodland hut. This sun had barely risen but its orange glow flooded through the gaps between the trees, making for a magical scene. 

“Shall we do the long loop?” Sirpa wondered. Of course the answer was a resounding yes from the group and before we knew it, we were on top of the fell with panoramic views and all too quickly, making our way down again back to Saariselkä.

Backcountry skiing to an off grid hut

The highlight of the trip for most of the group, was the overnight ski. “It’s going to be fun”, Sirpa smiled the day before and as we woke up to fresh snow, wild wind and blizzard conditions, we questioned what part of this was going to be fun. As we clicked into our skis and set off into the white mist, pulling sledges with everything we’d need for the next two days we collectively groaned as we pulled our buffs high up our faces.

With the relentless, icy wind humbling us to a slow pace, the hut after just 3.5km was a welcome sight; because it also meant it was lunch time. 

With full bellies and warmed once again, we were soon back out into the relentless blizzard. Visibility was poor and it was a challenge to keep the person in front of you in sight at times but we pushed through as a team and navigated the deep snow up, over and down three hills until we finally saw our destination in the distance. 

Reaching the hut in the valley, we were suddenly plunged into complete calm. The wind was gone and the snowfall had eased. We all shared a smile and got to work with our jobs to get the cabin nice and cosy. We had fire starters, sledge unpackers, water collectors, tea makers and Sirpa got the hot chocolate ready for us. 

Full of pride at what we had all just achieved in such terrible conditions, we settled down for the night, played cards and ate a delicious homemade curry before snuggling into our sleeping bags for the night. 

“Guys, the northern lights are out if you want to see them.” Was I dreaming? NO! I’ve never pulled on so many layers so quickly as we all bundled outside, phones in hand and looked up to the clear skies to the most magnificent show of the northern lights. The lights danced across the sky, changing shape in an instant and then disappearing a short ten minutes later. 

And to think we could have missed them. 

The following day, it was time for breakfast and a clear up to leave the hut in perfect condition for its next lucky visitors. Sirpa decided she would take us back the same way we came because we had had no views the previous day and I’m so glad she did. 

The vast wilderness stretched out in front of us, with unobstructed views all the way to the Russian border, the high peaks in the distance, to reindeer herds and to the forest in the distance. Lunch was on the fell side in the glorious sunshine but we were soon travelling at lightning speed, gliding our way back to our start point. The adventure over too soon. 

That evening, we enjoyed the smoke sauna and ice dip, a must do experience if you’re in Lapland.

Husky sledding 

On our final day, we experienced husky sledding, organised by an external company but included in the trip. We were put in pairs and allocated a sledge with six excited huskies. With half an hour each of driving time, it was over with quickly and we were soon back at the centre, listening to stories of how they train the dogs and the experiences that they have. 

If you go to Lapland, I’ll let you make up your own mind about this experience. It was something I had done before in Norway and the experience there was intimate and personal. This experience in Lapland was completely different; I felt like I was part of a conveyor belt. One group of tourists in, get the activity done, and then get us out ready for the next group. 

But one thing is for sure, the dogs love it and the trainers clearly love the dogs dearly. It’s just probably not something I would do again, personally.

When is the best time to visit Lapland?

The best time to visit the Finnish Lapland depends on what kind of experience you're looking for.

December to March is the perfect time to enjoy winter activities with the cold temperatures, snowy landscapes, and plenty of activities like skiing, snowmobiling, and husky sledding. During winter, you will also have the best chance to see the Northern Lights. This is peak season so expect more crowds.

On the other hand, if you want to experience the midnight sun and explore during the summer months, June to August offers 24-hour daylight, meaning you can cram in lots of activities! However, there will be no snow, and many winter activities won’t be available. Plus, I’ve heard that the northern parts of Lapland are a haven for mosquitos during the summer months and similar to the midges of Scotland, they can really ruin outdoor fun during summer.

How to stay warm in winter in Lapland

In winter, the Finnish Lapland experiences a truly Arctic climate, with temperatures typically ranging from -14°C to -30°C in the heart of the season, although it can drop even lower during cold spells. We had one unusually warm day where the temperature dramatically increased to 3°C but this isn’t the norm and one day when it dropped to -35°C. The weather is dry and cold with powdery snow and sometimes a biting wind chill so it’s important to layer correctly to stay warm.

A guide to layering in Lapland

Here’s a quick guide to layering for Lapland to keep warm. 

Baselayer

• These are against your skin and trap the heat in

• Look for materials like merino or polyester that keep you dry by drawing moisture away from the skin

• Ensure you’re wearing thermal layers on top and bottom like the My Urban Trail thermal leggings paired with the long sleeved thermal top

• Baselayers are SO important for keeping you warm and dry by preventing heat loss and reducing moisture from sweat

Mid layers

• A mid layer provides additional heat and depending on how cold it is, you may want a couple of mid layers on

• You could wear a lightweight long sleeved jumper or pullover

• A fleece like the My Urban Trail Rambler fleece is perfect for adding some warmth

• A down jacket provides extra insulation depending on how cold it is or you could keep this in your bag and just put it on when you stop and are likely to get colder

Outer layer

• Your outer layer is to protect you from the weather - wind, snow or rain (if you’re really unlucky) 

• For the top, you want a waterproof and windproof jacket - I used my ski jacket all week 

• For trousers you want insulted, shower resistant trousers or ski salopettes

Accessories

• Parts of your body exposed to the weather, will quickly become cold and the last thing you want is frozen fingers or a frozen face 

• Wear a warm hat like the My Urban Trail bobble hat

• A buff to pull up over your face is a must but I actually prefer to use a snood like this one from Amazon instead. They are often warmer and the hood provides even more warmth

• Gloves - mittens are best to keep your fingers and hands warmer. Check out the My Urban Trail mittens or use a pair of warm, silk glove liners within ski gloves. I recommend taking a few options and for  exceptionally cold days I really recommend these Black Diamond gloves. I wore them when it was -35 and my hands were sweating but you wont need these unless the temperature drops to that extreme low

• Socks - a pair of merino wool socks will keep your feet warm and on colder days I wore the My Urban Trail socks on top

• Boots - ideally, buy a pair of snow boots. Everyone wears them there and they are fleece lined meaning they can keep your feet warm in extremely low temperatures

Despite the freezing temperatures, the dry air in Lapland often makes it feel less harsh than you might expect and I honestly felt colder coming back to the wet UK in 4°C than I did at -35°C because of all the layers. 

How much does it cost to visit Lapland?

The cost of a trip to Lapland varies wildly depending on the type of accommodation you want, the activities you want to do, whether you hire guides or do it all yourself so to answer this question is impossible. 

However, we found that booking a group trip with Sidetracked was good value for money on the whole when we saw the cost of some of the activities separately. 

For example, husky sledding alone is over £200 per person so costs can quickly add up. Accommodation can range from £60 per night to in excess of £500 per night and eating out can start from around £20 per person for a one course meal. 

Here’s the breakdown of our trip, correct for February 2025:

Sidetracked group trip on the Lapland adventure: £1800 per person for 7 days. 

• This included accommodation for 7 nights, all breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 evening meals

• It also included transfers from Saariselka to the accommodation on the first day, activities including snowshoeing with a guide, fat biking hire with a guide, ski hire and a two day/one night overnight backcountry ski trip, husky sledding and a visit to a smoke sauna. 

• Return bus transfers from airport to Saariselka - £14 per person

• Additional extras on 3 lunches and 2 evening meals - £100 per person 

• Flights: £500 return per person (we didn't seem to get a great deal on these and I've seen them for cheaper)

Total cost per person: £2414

A trip to Lapland is never going to be a budget destination but I promise you, it’s worth every penny for a trip you’ll never forget.

For additional outdoor adventures, wild swimming, hiking routes and more, check my other blog posts here on MY URBAN TRAIL and follow me @Wild_0utdoors on Instagram.

Happy adventuring! 

Izzy