Short (up to 8 days)
Icebreaker for two
Finland · Lapland
Protected by VZR Garant
winter • package trip
Relaxing under the stars
Sleeping under a glass roof, a sauna at midnight and a mimosa in the morning. Five days in the snowy Finnish Lakeland, with the stars as your ceiling.
Trip overview
Destination
Finland
Duration
5 days
Period
January - March
Transport
Fly & don't drive
Price
From € 1,550 pp
Highlights
The trip at a glance
Five days of having absolutely nothing you need to do, in the heart of the Finnish Lakeland. You sleep in an All Sky Aurora Igloo on Lake Iso-Virmas: an igloo with a glass roof, so you can gaze straight up at the starry sky from your bed. And with a bit of luck, the northern lights will dance above your head.
By day you discover the silent winter world around you: by horse-drawn sleigh, behind a team of huskies and on a hike through Etelä-Konnevesi National Park. In the evening you head out into the dark on snowshoes, in search of the northern lights.
And then, of course, there are the saunas. Revontuli has a whole sauna world by the lake, including a smoke sauna, a panoramic sauna and a glass igloo sauna. You’ll take a sauna at midnight and in the morning, with a mimosa. It doesn’t get much more Finnish than that.
Suitable for
“Gazing at the stars from your bed and then heading into the sauna with a mimosa… Relaxing doesn’t get much easier than this.”
Michelle ● Lost in Norvana
The itinerary
Day 1
Travelling from Amsterdam to Hankasalmi
Today you travel to the Finnish Lakeland. You fly from Amsterdam to Helsinki and board the train to Hankasalmi there, a ride of about four hours straight through the snowy forests. You’re picked up at the station and taken to Revontuli.
Once you arrive, there’s plenty of time to settle in, check out your igloo and take a first stroll along the lake.
Accommodation
You stay four nights in an All Sky Aurora Igloo at Revontuli. The igloo has a glass roof and panoramic windows, so you can gaze straight up at the starry sky from your bed. It’s a stone’s throw from the lake and the sauna world. Inside you have a private bathroom, a kitchenette and a seating area. Want to sleep in the dark after all? Just close the curtains or put on a sleep mask.
Day 2 to 4
Relaxing under the stars
Midnight sauna in the igloo sauna
Taking a sauna at midnight, under the stars: it doesn’t get more Finnish than that. Revontuli’s igloo sauna has glass walls and is wood-fired, so from the sauna bench you look out over the frozen lake. Feeling brave? Then take a dip in a hole in the ice in between.
- Sauna experience in the glass igloo sauna
- Cooling off in the lake or in the snow
Morning sauna with mimosas
Start one of your days the way only the Finns can: with a morning sauna by the lake. Once you’re nicely warmed up and cooled off again, raise a mimosa to your holiday.
- Morning sauna in the lakeside sauna world
- Mimosas
A horse-drawn sleigh ride
Let an old-fashioned sleigh pull you through the winter landscape. A Finnish horse and a local farmer take you along snowy paths for an hour, with nothing but the sound of hooves in the snow. Afterwards you warm up with a hot drink and a biscuit.
- An hour by horse and sleigh through the landscape
- Hot drink and biscuits afterwards
Husky safari
At a husky farm nearby, you first get to know the dogs: plenty of time for cuddles and photos. Then the real work begins. The huskies can’t wait to set off, and as soon as the sled starts moving, all you hear is the sound of the snow.
- Meeting the huskies
- Dog-sled ride through the forest
Northern lights hunting on snowshoes
When it’s dark, you head into the forest on snowshoes with a guide. Revontuli lies in one of the darkest areas around Jyväskylä, far from the city lights. Halfway you warm up by a campfire, while the guide tells you about the northern lights and keeps an eye on the sky.
- Evening tour with a guide
- Snowshoes
- Break by the campfire
Day trip to Etelä-Konnevesi National Park
About half an hour’s drive from Revontuli lies Etelä-Konnevesi National Park, an area full of lakes, rocky islands and steep cliffs, shaped by the ice of the last ice age. With a guide you hike through snowy forests and climb to viewpoints high above the frozen lakes. Along the way you stop for a well-filled snack box.
- Guided hike
- Snack box along the way
Accommodation
Day 5
Travelling from Hankasalmi to Amsterdam
Today your time in the Finnish Lakeland comes to an end. After breakfast there’s still a little time to look out over the lake one last time and pack at your leisure. Then you’re taken to the station for the train to Helsinki and the flight home.
Optional extras
E-fatbike tour
Pedal through the snowy forest on an electric fat bike. Thanks to the extra-wide tyres, you ride effortlessly over snow and frozen trails.
Ice fishing with a Finn
Together with a Finn, you head out onto the ice of Lake Iso-Virmas. You drill your own hole and try to catch a perch. Got a bite? Then the chef can prepare it for you at dinner.
Pampering sauna at Laguna Beach
Two hours of relaxation in the Laguna sauna, the glass igloo sauna and an outdoor hot tub. Towels and drinking water are included. Do bring your swimwear, as you share the igloo sauna and the jacuzzi with other guests.
Sauna hopping
During this open sauna evening, every sauna in the sauna world is fired up, from the smoke sauna to the igloo sauna. For two hours you hop from sauna to sauna, cooling off in between in the clear water of the lake.
What's included?
Included
Not included
Frequently asked questions
Anything else you’d like to know about this trip? Just ask me. I’m happy to help.
When is the best time to take this trip?
This trip is at its most beautiful from January to March. That’s when there’s usually enough snow for the huskies and the horse-drawn sleigh, and the nights are long and dark.
Am I guaranteed to see the northern lights?
No. I can never guarantee the northern lights, and Hankasalmi is further south than Lapland, so the chances are a little lower here. Revontuli is, however, in one of the darkest areas of the region, and on a clear night you might just see them from your igloo. The northern lights tour increases your chances.
Do I travel in my own car?
No. You fly to Helsinki and continue by train to Hankasalmi. There you’re picked up and taken to your accommodation. So there’s no need to drive on snowy roads yourself.
I have food allergies. Can they be taken into account?
Of course I’ll pass these on to your accommodation in advance, so the chefs there can take them into account. The same goes for any other dietary requirements.
How demanding are the excursions?
Most activities are very accessible. The northern lights tour on snowshoes and the hike in the national park take a bit more effort, as the trails in the park can be steep and rocky.
What can I expect from my accommodation?
A double bed or two single beds under a glass roof, panoramic windows overlooking the lake, a private bathroom with towels, hairdryer and toiletries, a kitchenette with hob, microwave, kettle and coffee and tea facilities, air conditioning, TV, Wi-Fi and a seating area. If you want to sleep in the dark, there are curtains and sleep masks.
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