A dream experience in Lapland… test and opinion !

Lapland occupies the far north of the European continent and extends across four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland and part of Russia. A sudden desire for a change of scenery made us want to take off for Finnish Lapland during the February 2020 holidays. We packed our bags and flew to Ivalo for a week. It’s a small town located beyond the Arctic Circle, and it took us about 7 hours of flight from Geneva to get there.

Before departure, we booked the accommodation in advance to organize our activities around it. There are some classic hotels to choose from, and some more original ones.

The first few nights we stayed at the Ivalo Hotel, a large classic hotel with all the necessary facilities for comfort such as a sauna, a restaurant and a swimming pool.

We tested individual cabins in the middle of a forest. Even though the cabin was quite small, it was very comfortable and very well designed! An experience that we recommend 1000 times for unusual nights!

A question that may seem benign, but is of great importance in this region! Indeed, in February, temperatures can go down to – 40°C! Even if we were informed, we did not have enough equipment when we left. So we had to invest in XXL down jackets to face the cold. Mittens and ankle boots were also essential to enjoy the landscape without losing a finger! Necessary purchases but not very practical when you have to fit them in your suitcase!

What to do in Lapland?

As soon as we arrived, we didn’t know what to do! There are so many activities on offer, that it was very difficult to choose.

One of the first activities we experienced was the famous Finnish Sauna! In the middle of snowy landscapes, we were able to relax while enjoying the benefits of this Nordic treatment. We even tried the hot/cold experience, which consists of diving into a lake of ice water before going into the sauna. A frosty experience but so invigorating! Good thing: most of the accommodations have this service!

Being particularly fond of strong sensations, we let ourselves be tempted by a 2-hour snowmobile tour! The region being unknown to us, we went through the agency Le Club Nord. The route followed forest paths, which were ideal for observing the local wildlife.

On the same principle but in a quieter way, the agency proposed a dog sledding trip. Accompanied by a guide and a very welcoming team, we crossed sumptuous landscapes, passing through forests and large expanses of snow. The calm and serenity of the place made one think that time was suspended…

But the most magical activity of this stay was the observation of the aurora borealis! Walking in the dark night in search of this phenomenon was a unique moment to share! Thanks to the guide, we were able to observe the Northern Lights in open areas. Big bonus: finishing this excursion around a campfire and grilled marshmallows make this activity a memory that remains engraved in our minds!

Visiting Santa’s village, meeting the reindeer, quad biking in the snow or ice fishing… are all possible activities to do, but we didn’t have the opportunity. We invite you to read our detailed article on this subject!

What is the budget for this?

These incredible landscapes must be earned… Indeed, you have to count on a budget of about 5000€ for 2 people, staying 1 week .

This includes the return flight, car rental, accommodation, activities and extras. For example, our dog sledding excursion cost 290€ for 2 hours. The most expensive activity was the aurora borealis. Indeed, in total it came to 350€, including marshmallows!

Opinion: Laplanders

• High budget
• Temperature extremes
• Difficulty of movement