Road trip in Finnish Lapland

The official hometown of Santa Claus 

Before leaving the rental station, we suggest visiting the Santa Claus Village, located next to our station. The Santa Claus Village has been open and operating every day since 1992. Here, you can meet the real Santa Claus and his little helpers - elves. Visit Santa's post office to send letters to your relatives and friends stamped with special Arctic Circle stamp marks and even cross the Arctic circle. Don’t hesitate and explore this exciting area for a few hours before indulging in mouth-watering Finnish cuisine.  

Exploring the capital of Finnish Lapland  

Once you have received the keys to your premium motorhome, you will be ready to explore the incredible Finnish Lapland, a true Winter Wonderland. Your first pit stop should be Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. This charming city is located in the Arctic Circle area and is home to approximately 65,000 inhabitants who will warmly welcome you to enjoy Lappish culture and a wide range of activities throughout a year.  

While wondering through the cozy streets of Rovaniemi make sure to stop by Lordi's Square dedicated to the Finnish heavy metal band who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2006. Afterwards, you can stroll along the banks of the river Kemijoki and include a visit to the local science centre and museum - Arktikum that focuses on introducing its visitors to the Arctic nature and culture through the exhibitions and events. 

A Taste of Finland  

We recommend finishing the day by dining at a local restaurant which serves traditional Finnish food. Some dishes we advise trying would for example be a traditional Lappish dish which includes sauteed reindeer served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam or then salmon soup with barley flatbread 'rieska'. For dessert you might want to have lightly grilled cheese - leipäjuusto that is served with an endemic delicious berry - cloudberry. After enjoying a traditional Finnish dinner, set out to find a place to park your motorhome somewhere surrounded by the peaceful Finnish nature.

An off-radar treasure 

What could be the craziest activity to do on your motorhome holiday around Finland, you might ask. - The answer is taking a cruise on the Arctic Icebreaker Sampo vessel and swim in the freshly crushed icy water!  

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride aboard a ship which crushes the thick ice of the Gulf of Bothnia. This exotic activity can be started from the town of Kemi, which is 2-hour drive from Rovaniemi. During the cruise you will be guided to the engine and cockpit rooms, you can dine at the restaurant and see vessel crushing the ice in front of your eyes on your wintertime journey! 

However, the main activity of the cruise is to swim in the freshly crushed ice water near the vessel on your winter road trip. Sounds crazy, right? You will be equipped with specialised thermal clothes and get a safety guidance before going into the water for an incredible swim! So, do not hesitate to add this activity to your Finnish motorhome travel bucket list!

For more information on available dates, please, visit Ice Breaker Sampo.

The largest ski resort in Finland  

Set your navigator to Ylläs sport resort, which is 2-hour drive from Rovaniemi on the Ylläs fell. It can be an exciting opportunity to stretch your legs and enjoy a vibrant atmosphere after a short motorhome ride.  

In summertime this place transforms into the perfect holiday destination with possibilities to go hiking, paddling, downhill mountain biking and so much more! You can find specifically designed hiking and cycling trails depending on your skill level. If you don’t have sports equipment with you, you have a possibility to rent it from the nearby shop.  

During wintertime, the Ylläs sport resort transforms into a winter wonderland. At its highest point, it offers a majestic view over the fairy tale like scenery of Lapland. Experience true feelings of freedom whilst dashing down slopes with skis or a snowboard. If you are an unexperienced downhill skier, but still a winter sports enthusiast, the resort offers private lessons with professional instructors. Therefore, feel free to spend some hours at Ylläs practicing downhill and cross-country skiing as well as snowboarding and snowshoeing.

Note: Ylläs Sport Resort serves motorhome travellers all year round. You can park your private hotel room on wheels at their official camping area, located next to the centre and slopes of Ylläs allowing you to simply enjoy the premium services and activities. 

Traditional Finnish sauna  

After a thrilling day of sliding down the skiing slopes or Bike Park trails, it is time to experience an authentic relaxing and healing Finnish sauna!

There are several saunas at the Ylläs sport resort that you can visit. The most impressive are smoke saunas at Lake Äkäslompolo and Lake Luosujärvi.  

If you are searching for a unique sauna experience, then we recommend visiting a gondola sauna that takes a 20-minute round-trip up and down the hill, and can accomodate up to 4 people. It would be a mesmerising experience to warm up in sauna, while looking over the eye-catching Finnish nature.  

Additionally, you can experience swimming in the ice-hole in cold months of the year, and this can be done in the villages of Äkäslompolo at Ylläksen Yöpuu and Luosujärvi at Rönölä. 

After reaching the charming resort, you have a tough decision ahead of you to select an afternoon activity from the wide range of options Levi offers. During summer and autumn time the selection includes activities such as SUP paddling, berry picking, horseback riding and golf. For those chasing after an adventure, we recommend participating in guided river rafting. During winter and spring, skiing and snowboarding are the main activities. Additionally, many love to visit reindeer farms and go on husky sleigh rides. For an unforgettable experience, we recommend going on a snowmobile safari that will help you experience a winter wonderland at its best! Take a moment and enjoy panoramic views, while making several stops along the way to fully experience the beauty of this scenic place.  

What could be better than a cup of warm drink combined with a traditional Finnish baked pastry after an adventurous day outdoors? We suggest trying out Runebergintorttu– rum cake topped with raspberry jam and icing, joulutorttu – traditional star shaped pastry with plum jam or voisilmäpulla - a pastry with salted butter in its centre.

Aurora hunting 

Share an unforgettable experience with your loved ones, whether that is your family or significant other, seeking out for Northern Lights! Aurora Borealis are usually thought of as being a winter phenomenon in the Nordics. However, this notion is false as the lights can be spotted already in September and October all the way to March and April in the most northern parts of Europe.

To spot those natural lights, you should head out to the countryside, away from city lights. Once darkness falls on a slightly chilly day, the Aurora can be visible at any time of day, but the best times often seem to be between 9 pm and 2 am. However, clouds and snowfall can sometimes prevent you from seeing this colourful phenomenon. 

Note: You might want to check the Aurora forecast before planning this activity to maximize your experience! Make sure you pack enough warm clothes and bring a thermos with warm drink before taking off to such an incredible and exotic hike!  

Do not miss an opportunity to visit Lemmenjoki National Park in autumntime. You will hear a thousand of golden leaves rustling with every step you make, whilst seeking out for the perfect spot to grill some sausages and marshmallows by a campfire on your afternoon hike. Additionally, you can stroll or travel by boat on a boat tour through the Lemmenjoki River which spans the national park and opens up views over the breathtaking fells and old pine forests.

Try your luck at gold digging  

When visiting the Lemmenjoki national park consider taking your chance at gold digging! This area of the national park became an epicentre for gold mining in the 19^th century, having a huge amount of gold findings at the time. Since then, the area has become protected, and visitors now have the opportunity to experience the thrill of panning for gold when partaking in guided tours.  If you are searching for a unique experience, then we recommend trying out this activity on your adventurous trip to the Lemmenjoki National Park!  

After a morning started with a refreshing swim and time spent listening to the peaceful sounds of nature, we suggest heading into the forest to pick some nutritious and antioxidant endemic berries such as cloudberries, lingonberries and blueberries to have as an addition to your breakfast. Finnish forests are also packed with mushrooms. However, we recommend carefully looking into the varieties of them before enjoying them.

After mindful morning activities with superfood delights, set your navigator to Inari – a city located 40 minutes from the Lemmenjoki national park.

The capital of Sami culture  

Today you will be exploring Inari - the capital of Sami culture. Let us remind you that Sami people are the indigenous Finno-Ugric group that mainly resides in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. There are approximately 80,000 representatives of the Sami culture around the world with half of its population living in Norway.  

Inari is a charming little town which can easily be explored. During your town excursion, we recommend visiting the museum of Sami culture and nature centre - Siida. Afterwards, consider spending the rest of your afternoon enjoying the views over the third largest lake in Finlad,  Inarijärvi, either from the surrounding land or aboard a boat. Additionally, certain cruise companies offer midnight sun cruises during summertime. For a romantic getaway, this is definitely a must-do activity, whilst visiting this area.

Did you know... the northernmost ATM machine is located in Inari? 

Annual events  

With luck, you will be able to attend one or more of the annual events which are held in the Inari municipality. These events range from Skábmgovat, a film festival of the indigenous people held in January to an annual reindeer racing championship held from mid-February to the beginning of April. Spend an extra day attending one of the annual events held in this area, to receive the ultimate Finnish experience.

An off-radar treasure  

One of the cultural cornerstones of Sami people in northern Finland is reindeer herding. If you are looking for an exotic authentic experience, we recommend planning a few extra days to experience Sami culture by yourself and try out an activity of reindeer herding in Utsjoki. Utsjoki is a Finnish municipality that borders Norway and has the highest population density of Sami people in Finland amounting to 50% out of total inhabitants there!

For more information, please visit Lapland.fi.

Make sure your camera and phone batteries are fully charged and that you are wearing comfortable walking shoes as you are about to head towards the adventures offered by a national park which offers spectacular views year-round!

Your next stop will be the Urho Kekkonen national park, located southeast from Inari. Make sure to plan well in advance, which area of the national park interests you the most as there are many spots to choose from. However, whichever area you decide to begin exploring the park from, the drive there from Inari will take approximately 1-2 hours.

Feel the sunshine gently touch your skin whilst you are amidst Finnish nature in one of the most gorgeous places in Finland. It is no wonder that this location receives many local visitors during autumn time when trees turn into beautiful colors of golden, red and orange. The Urho Kekkonen national park offers a variety of activities for its visitors including hiking, trekking, horseback riding and berry picking during autumntime. Furthermore, in wintertime cross-country skiing, winter biking and snowshoeing are part of the offering. In the springtime canoeing, mountain biking and birdwatching are the most popular activities.

Did you know... Urho Kekkonen national park is one of Finland's largest protected areas and approximately 300,000 outdoor enthusiasts visit this area annually to get closer to the pure and fresh nature?

We recommend paying a visit to this place whilst exploring Lapland at any time of year, as the park offers a plenitude of activities to partake in during both the warmer and colder months of the year.

End your day by sharing an open fire with local tourists to prepare food and have a nice chat with them to get closer to the Finnish culture. What could be better than creating a memorable acquaintance with local Finnish people, who could give you an insight into how to be as happy as a Finn?  

Afterwards, park your campervan close to nature, spend a nice evening with your loved ones and fall asleep listening to the surrounding nature do the same. 

Upon your arrival to the rental station, our company representative will greet you at the scheduled drop-off time. We will check the vehicle's condition and after finalising your rental, we will provide you with a VIP transfer directly to the Rovaniemi Airport, from which you will take a flight back home.  

During your flight, you might be going through the earlier taken pictures of your motorhome holiday in Finland and start dreaming of your next motorhome holiday adventure with us somewhere in Europe or in exotic Russia!