finland
March 20-29, 2025
Detour with greg
Finland is Europe’s quintessential winter wonderland and has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the past six years. This forest country is one of the best places to experience unique activities such as dog sledding, ice fishing and Aurora Borealis hunting. Coincidentally, the sun is set to approach a solar maximum in 2025, making it one of the best years to chase the Northern Lights. I spent four years as a Northern Lights photography guide in this gem of a Nordic country and I can’t wait to share with you the sights and experiences that have left an impression in my mind and soul.
highlights include
Get focused at a Northern Lights photography workshop
Visit Santa Claus’ home on the Arctic Circle
Mush with (and crush on) Rovaniemi’s huskies
Cool off in Saariselkä snowmobiling & ice fishing
Soak up Finland’s sauna culture
Immerse in Sámi country in Inari
Dream under the dancing polar sky in an Aurora Cabin
itinerary
“Lapland has a stronger hold on my imagination than anything else. The moon has always been part of my soul, and Lapland is the only place on earth where the moon has felt like home.”
Finnish Lapland is Europe’s last wilderness. Home to Santa Claus, and part of the Sámi homeland, it is an ethereal expanse of raw nature where revontulet (firefox’s) flaming tail sets the polar skies on fire in hypnotic dance. It’s a place where indigenous tradition is intertwined with the land and its resources. Reindeer herding, dog sledding, ice fishing, and sauna soaking are a way of life in this untamed corner or Europe. We’ll bask in the evening glow of the aurora, chasing the magic light by snowshoe, sleigh, and sled. We’ll cuddle with huskies and rub noses with reindeer, dig for amethyst and unpack the ancient layers of the Sámi. Join us for this magical detour to 68.9° N!
Day 1: welcome to finland!
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Welcome to Helsinki! Finland’s cosmopolitan capital sits on the Baltic Sea, welcoming us with its stunning waterfront, picturesque islands and bustling harbors. Known for its progressive values and emphasis on sustainability, Helsinki consistently ranks high in global livability indexes and prides itself in its excellent education system, vibrant cultural scene, and high quality of life. We’ll get to know Helsinki, and each other, over a welcome reception in our hotel around 5 pm before savoring our first of many Finnish feasts together.
Hotel: Scandic Grand Central Helsinki | Activity Level: Light | Meals: D
day 2: hello, Helsinki
Friday, March 21, 2025
We start our morning with a guided tour of Helsinki’s historic center. We’ll visit Senate Square where we’ll marvel at the grand Helsinki Cathedral, wander through the vibrant Market Square, sampling local delicacies and soaking in the lively atmosphere, and we’ll visit the moving Uspenski Russian orthodox cathedral with its unique architecture and acoustics. We’ll stroll through Helsinki's Design District where we’ll gain insights into Finnish culture, design, and lifestyle. The afternoon and evening are yours to delight in Helsinki’s vibrant energy and photogenic squares.
Hotel: Scandic Grand Central Helsinki | Activity Level: Strenuous | Meals: B
day 3: santa Claus & the arctic circle
Saturday, March 22, 2025
This morning we fly north to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. Located just south of the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is known as the official hometown of Santa Claus, with year-round Christmas spirit. The Arctic Circle itself marks the southernmost point where the sun can stay continuously above or below the horizon for 24 hours, creating summer’s midnight sun and winter’s polar night. We’ll cross the Arctic Circle en route to Santa’s Village where we’ll sample its spirit and eateries. We’ll then head to Rovaniemi, our base for the next three nights where we’ll be welcomed to Lapland over a feast of traditional dishes followed by Aurora hunting (weather permitting).
Hotel: Arctic City Hotel | Activity Level: Light | Meals: B, D
day 4: husky sledding
Sunday, March 23, 2025
Husky sledding has a rich tradition in Finnish Lapland, dating back centuries when the Sámi people relied on these hardworking dogs for transportation and hunting in the harsh Arctic conditions. Today, husky sledding remains an integral part of Lapland's culture and heritage, offering us a unique way to experience the snowy wilderness. We’ll enjoy a late morning immersing in this Arctic tradition, learning the in’s and out’s of mastering mushing, including a mush of our own! The afternoon and evening are yours to explore Rovaniemi’s shops, restaurants, and Science Center with possible Aurora hunting after dinner (weather permitting).
Hotel: Arctic City Hotel | Activity Level: Strenuous | Meals: B
day 5: amethyst mining
Monday, March 24, 2025
Amethyst holds a special significance in Lapland, where it is mined in the remote wilderness of the Pyhä-Luosto National Park on ancient Sámi land. Formed over 2,000 million years ago in the bowels of the ancient mountains, the ancient amethyst today provides a model of sustainable mining and geology education. We’ll ride the purple Pendolino (snow cat) to the mountain top entrance where we’ll get our hands dirty digging for our own gemstone. Afterward, we’ll enjoy lunch together before returning to Rovaniemi. Conditions permitting tonight, we’ll head out after dinner for another dance with the Aurora.
Hotel: Arctic City Hotel | Activity Level: Moderate | Meals: B, L
day 6: lapland gold
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Today we bid Rovaniemi farewell and head north to the village of Saariselkä where we’ll tuck into our Aurora cabins for the next three nights. We’ll stop en route to learn about Lapland’s gold panning tradition at the Tankavaara Gold Village, known as the gateway of Lapland’s gold fields. We’ll even try our own luck panning for gold! Once at our hotel, we’ll get prepped for our Aurora activities with a Northern Lights photography workshop. After dinner together we’ll head out to the lake where we’ll cozy up by the campfire waiting to watch the firefox’s flaming tail light the sky in emerald flame.
Hotel: Northern Lights Village | Activity Level: Light | Meals: B, L
day 7: Sámi country
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Today marks our northermost point as we travel to Inari to learn about Sámi culture and heritage, stopping along the way to take photos at Lake Inari. A guided tour of the museum provides a foundation of the history and way of life of the Sámi, the indigenous people of Lapland. After the tour, we’ll visit a handicraft shop with beautiful local souvenirs and enjoy lunch at their cozy restaurant. A post-lunch walk takes us to the snowy Juutuanjoki River, where the openly flowing rapids carve ornamental patterns into the surrounding ice. Back at our hotel, we’ll enjoy dinner together and chase the Aurora tonight via heated sleigh ride.
Hotel: Northern Lights Village | Activity Level: Moderate | Meals: B, D
day 8: snow mobiling & ice fishing
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Today is all about play. We’ll indulge in some of Lapland’s favorite forms of Nordic entertainment on a snow mobile and ice fishing adventure. For anyone who’d prefer the silent reflection of snowshoeing or the cardio burst of cross country skiing, those options are available as well. And if you haven’t already done so, this afternoon is a perfect time to soak up the soft warmth of the sauna tradition at our hotel’s excellent offerings. After dinner tonight we strap on our dancing (snow) shoes for one last tango with the Aurora Borealis.
Hotel: Northern Lights Village | Activity Level: Your Choice | Meals: B, D
day 9: Hyvästi (goodbye) lapland
Friday, March 28, 2025
This morning we head to to Ivalo airport after our final breakfast in Lapland. Once back in our Helsinki hotel, the afternoon is yours to seek out any final sights you missed or catch up on last minute shopping. We’ll meet this evening for a farewell dinner where we’ll share our highlights of our time together and plot our next escapes.
Hotel: Scandic Grand Central Helsinki | Activity Level: Light | Meals: B, D
day 10: Farewell, finland!
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Our Nordic detour ends after breakfast. We’ll help arrange taxis to the Helsinki airport, ferry port, or anywhere else you’re planning to visit next. If you still haven’t had enough of the northern latitudes, a boat trip to Talinn, Estonia is an easy excursion from Helsinki. We are happy to help with any post-travel plans. If you’re homeward bound, we’ll say jäähyväiset (farewell!), and look forward to our next detour together.
$6,695 per person (double/triple occupancy)
$8,295 per person (singe occupancy)
10% deposit
FAQs
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Each detour includes the price of all admissions to sights seen as a group; tours by local guides, meals as listed in the trip itinerary; accommodations each night of the detour including breakfasts; all transportation required for group activities from the first hotel to the last hotel of the detour, domestic flights, (transportation for optional group activities and independent travel during the detour is not included), travel consultations and advice from our staff, guides, and vendors including suggestions, tips, and directions, and all trip leader, local guide, driver, and hotel tips. Prices do not include airfare to and from the detour, nor ground transportation to/from airports.
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Detour prices do not include international airfare or ground transportation to/from the airport.
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Each detour includes all breakfasts and about half of your lunches and dinners as indicated in the meal guide included in each itinerary: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner.
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Yes! Our detours are the perfect way for children (and adults) to learn in action. We welcome and celebrate multi-generational travel. History class was never so fun!
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Each detour begins the evening of Day 1 at our first hotel, where we will meet for a welcome reception. Meeting times vary by detour and are indicated on each itinerary.
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While this varies by detour, we generally plan to meet between 5-6 pm at our hotel on Day 1. If you plan to arrive a day early and want to stay in our trip hotel, please make arrangements with the hotel directly, indicating that you are part of our group.
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Please plan to fly into and out of the Helsinki international airport.
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Each trip page has a “book now” button that links to our online registration and payment system. There you can pay the 10% per person deposit and choose to pay in installments or to pay the full amount.
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Deposits are refundable for 30 days from receipt. After 30 days they are nonrefundable.
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Final payment is due 90 days prior to detour commencement but you may pau in full any time prior to this.
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Cancellations are allowed without penalty (excepting deposit) until the final payment deadline. After the final payment deadline 100% of funds paid are nonrefundable.
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Each trip page has a “book now” button that links to our online registration and payment system. There you can pay the 10% per person deposit and choose to pay in installments or to pay the full amount.
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Yes, all published prices are per person, based on double occupancy, or when available, single occupancy. Please contact us for triple occupancy pricing.
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During the registration process you will have the opportunity to request single occupancy, if it is offered. Due to the boutique nature of our hotels, we are not always able to offer single accommodations, but are happy to pair you with another single traveler.
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Yes. You must be able to carry your own luggage up at least three flights of stairs and on uneven ground for up to a quarter mile.
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Dressler Detours are physically demanding. To enjoy the experience, you must be in good walking shape. The most active days may average 5 miles of walking (often over uneven surfaces and including lots of climbing/steps), lots of standing while listening to your guide during group sightseeing, and possibly stair-climbing while carrying your own bag up to your hotel room. We’ve included an activity guide for each day of our itinerary: light=mostly sedentary, moderate=walking 1-3 miles on mostly even ground, strenuous=walking 3+ miles on hills/uneven ground.