You probably knew, that the best place to spot the Aurora Borealis in Finland is in the Northernmost Lapland! The ultimate one-week road trip will take you to the legendary youth center Vasatokka, 300 km beyond the Arctic Circle and up to the shores of the Arctic Ocean! 

Highlights of the tour:

• Visit the world’s biggest Snow Castle in Kemi

• Meet the real Santa Claus in Rovaniemi

• Stay 4 nights in Vasatokka, Inari - 300 km beyond the Arctic Circle

• Make a road trip to Norway and swim in the Arctic Ocean!

• Enjoy lakeside sauna and arctic swimming every day

• Feel the speed of huskies and snowmobiles

• Orienteer with snowshoes in the forest and learn to make a campfire without matches

• Build your own snow quinzee, try cross country skiing and ice-fishing

• Learn about Saami culture and get a reindeer driver’s license

• Experience the world’s longest sledding hill in ski resort Saariselkä

• Enjoy downhill skiing at cheap student prices!

• Round Trip to Lapland by bus from chosen point of departure
• 4 nights in chosen accommodation (Dorm or Cabin)
• Day Trip by bus to the Arctic Ocean in Norway
• Visit of the Arktikum museum in Rovaniemi
• Visit of the Santa Claus Village
• Visit of the Saariselkä ski resort
• Services of Timetravels Tour Leader in Vasatokka

Package price does not include

• Catering, meals, breakfasts (Half Board can be booked for €55)
• Bed linen (can be rented in Vasatokka for €15/trip)
• Extra activities as described in the itinerary (can be booked online up to 7 days before departure)

Q: ARE THERE ANY MEALS INCLUDED?

A: In order to get the trip price as low as possible, we stay in cottages with self-catering. Lunches or breakfasts are not inclusive. You can order a half-board in the Vasatokka cantina, which includes 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners.

For self-catering here are basic kitchen facilities in the living room of the cottages and dorms. Kitchens are equipped with plates, glasses, mugs, knives, stove, and fridge.

We recommend doing all the grocery shopping on the way to Lapland. You can for instance decide with your cabin group what you are going to cook together and share the groceries and costs. There is no oven in the cottages though, so don’t buy any groceries such as frozen pizzas, chickens etc. In Kemi or Rovaniemi groceries can be way cheaper than in the Southern Finland. In Inari there is also a SIWA and K-market but no ALKO. If you would like to purchase beverages, please do it in Rovaniemi.

There is lunch included in the Arctic Ocean trip.

Q: IS IT POSSIBLE TO TRAVEL BY TRAIN OR PLANE?

A: The night train option is convenient only if you can afford to book a sleeping compartment, which is quite expensive. Travelling in a seat on the train is less comfortable and less convenient than travelling by overnight bus, because lights are on all the time and every station is called in the loudspeakers. If you want to travel by train or plane individually, our bus can pick you up (according to the itinerary) from Oulu, Rovaniemi and Ivalo airports.

Q: WE ARE A GROUP OF 8 PEOPLE. CAN WE STAY IN THE SAME APARTMENT/COTTAGE? SHOULD WE BOOK THE TRIP TOGETHER?

A: We understand perfectly, that it is important to stay with your friends and all rooming preferences will be taken into consideration. It is not necessary to book a trip together, but you need to book the same accommodation category in order to stay in the same apartment or cottage. About a week before departure, everyone who has signed up for the trip will receive an email containing a cabin sign-up document where you can choose the cabin / apartment and the room mates. If you don’t receive this email, please check your spam folder, ask your friends to share it with you or contact our Customer Service Team.

Q: DO I NEED TO BRING ANYTHING WITH ME?

A: You should bring the following at least:

Warm clothes (clothes can also be rented: overall at 7€/trip, jacket and trouser eachone at 3€/day or 6€/trip, warm boots at 6€/trip, gloves and hat 2€/day)
Bed linen or sleeping bag (bed linen is not included, but it can be rented from the reception at €8/trip)
Swim suit and towel (unless you want to do it the Finnish way)
Anything else you may need during the trip: cash, credit card, medicine, etc.
Student card for discounts
A small pillow or a special neck cushion for the bus trip
Flip flops for Arctic swimming and jumping in the snow after sauna
Q: What if there is no snow?

A: The reason we use North Lapland as the location of our main destinations is that plenty of snow is virtually guaranteed from the beginning of November. However, we cannot control the weather. So, in the unlikely event that the snow is not deep enough for certain activities, we will offer an alternative or a full refund for the cancelled activities.

Q: WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAND IN OUR CREDIT CARDS AT THE START OF THE SNOW MOBILE SAFARI?

A: The company that organises the snowmobile safaris now requires participants to leave their credit card as a deposit. They kindly remind you that crashing a snowmobile into a tree is not only dangerous but also expensive and can result in the organisers having to pay a minimum of 900 €. If you follow your guide’s instructions and stick with the group, these accidents are easily avoided. The safari organiser will collect credit cards at the start of the activity and return them as soon as the tour is over.

Q: SHOULD I GO TO LAPLAND IN FALL OR SPRING SEMESTER?

A: Spring semester is of course more fun because there is more snow and more sunlight. Due to its popularity, the spring semester is slightly more expensive. If you have the choice, we recommend you travel in February, March or early April. During the fall semester there may be less snow. Additionally, the shorter periods of daylight impose certain restrictions on the schedule such as having to get up early in the morning.

Q: IS THERE A WIFI IN THE COTTAGES?

A: There is a Wi-Fi connection and one free client computer in the Vasatokka main building. Please note, however, that although there is no Wi-Fi or Internet in the cottages, some of the closer dorm rooms may catch the Wi-Fi signal from the main building.

Q: Can I rent warm clothing, skis and other equipment in Vasatokka?

A: Sure you can! Please find the price list below – fees payable to Vasatokka reception.

GEAR RENTAL IN VASATOKKA

GPS: 7 euros /set / day 
Snowshoes & poles: 10 euros / set / day 
Cross-country skiing gear: 10 euros / set / day 
Ice fishing set including rod, shovel, lure and bait: 5 euros / day, drill: 4 euros / day 
Forehead flash light: 3 euros / night 
Overall: 10 euros / day 
Jacket 3 euros/ day, 6 euros/stay
Boots: 6 euros / day 
Bed linen: 8 euros / set / stay

OTHER INFORMATION

1. All mobile phones work normally in Lapland
2. There is all kitchen equipment, forks, knives etc. in the cabins as well as toilet paper, soap, dishing liquids etc.
3. Buy ONLY groceries, salt, sugar, spices, but not frozen pizzas or anything which requires an oven!
4. Best place to do shopping is in Rovaniemi or Kemi (on outward journey) - There will be City Market and Alko. In Vasatokka there are no shops around, the closest shop is in Inari about 10km away from the Vasatokka youth center.
5. Prepaid activities are considered as tour package so there are no partial refunds, if you have changed your mind! You can still sell your place for some of the activities to someone else.
6. If something goes wrong, immediately contact the Timetravels Tour Leader(s). They will do all their best to solve your matter!
7. The bus trip will be overnight from Helsinki to Lapland, so we recommend taking a sleeping pillow with you.

Thanks to its northerly location on high ground, Saariselkä is the most snow-secure of all Finnish ski resorts. The snow often starts falling here as early as October. Despite this, local snowfall and global climate change are beyond our control, which is why we cannot give a 100% snow guarantee. A complete lack of snow is highly unlikely (it hasn’t happened in recorded history), but on rare occasions the snow may not be deep enough for certain activities to take place. In such cases, you will have the option of an alternative activity or a full refunded for the one that is cancelled. Whatever the snow situation, Lapland is always well-worth the trip!

Timetravels reserve the right to changes. The itinerary is provisional. The final itinerary will be sent to you a few days before departure, as some activities dependent on prevailing weather conditions.