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A timber cabin among snow-laden spruces by a frozen lake in Oulanka National Park, northern Finland

Sample journey · 6–8 days

A snowy week in Lapland for the whole family

Helsinki, huskies, reindeer and a cabin in the forest

Photo: Himmel S / Unsplash

Illustrative journey ideas — not bookable packages. No prices, dates or accommodation are implied.

Lapland is close to Lithuania, yet in winter it feels like another world. The snow is dry and creaks underfoot, spruces bow beneath its weight, and short days turn blue and pink. For children it's a real adventure, with sleds, dogs, reindeer and a campfire in the forest; for adults there's also a quiet that's rare at home.

This sample journey is shaped so the family never has to move around: after a night in Helsinki you fly north and spend every remaining night in one place, a forest cabin or a small country lodge. Activities are matched to the children's ages and the weather, with time in between for the sauna, playing in the snow and late breakfasts.

The route

The journey

  1. Helsinki
  2. Rovaniemi or Kittilä
  3. Forest cabin in Lapland
  1. A snow-covered shore and frozen sea in Helsinki at winter dusk

    01Day 1 · Helsinki

    A gentle start by the frozen sea

    A short flight to Helsinki and one evening in the city: a walk along the frozen shore, hot chocolate in the market hall and, if energy allows, a public sauna by the sea. Sometimes it's easier to connect straight through to the north, so this night can also be skipped.

  2. Snow-covered spruces in the pink winter twilight of Riisitunturi National Park, Lapland

    02Days 2–3 · Lapland

    A cabin in the forest and the first snow

    A flight of around an hour and a half to Rovaniemi or Kittilä and a short transfer to a cabin in the forest. First come warm clothes: many lodges lend thermal overalls and boots. The first days are easy: sledging down a slope, building a snow house, a walk to the frozen lake and sausages over the fire. In the evening, the sauna and, if the sky is clear, a look at the stars.

  3. A husky team on a forest trail in Finnish Lapland, seen from the sled

    03Day 4 · A husky farm

    By sled through the forest

    A morning at a husky farm begins with noise, as the dogs can't wait to run. After a short briefing, adults can often drive their own team, while younger children ride in the sled with a parent or guide. Outings usually last from an hour to half a day, leaving time to meet the puppies and warm up by the fire.

  4. A harnessed reindeer beside a fur-lined sled on a snowy farm in Finnish Lapland

    04Day 5 · A reindeer farm

    Reindeer, sleds and Sámi stories

    At a family-run reindeer farm you can feed the reindeer, take a slow sled ride through the forest and hear how life in the north is lived alongside reindeer all year. At some farms, Sámi hosts share their culture and traditions themselves, which is well worth choosing with care.

  5. A log hut with a snow-laden roof in Urho Kekkonen National Park, ski poles by the door

    05Days 6–8 · Forest and fells

    On snowshoes to the hut

    The final days are looser. A guided snowshoe walk to a log hut in the forest where tea boils over the fire, cross-country skiing for older children, or a first try at ice fishing. In the evenings, the sauna, and a roll in the snow for the brave. If the night sky clears, the northern lights may appear, but they're a gift, not a promise. On the last morning, the flight home via Helsinki.

Experience highlights

  1. 01

    A husky team

    A sled through snow-covered forest, adults at the handlebar and children alongside.

  2. 02

    A reindeer farm

    Feeding reindeer, a slow sled ride and stories of life in the north.

  3. 03

    One base for the whole week

    No packing and unpacking: a cabin or lodge in the forest where children soon feel at home.

  4. 04

    Sauna and snow

    A Finnish evening ritual that children often love even more than their parents.

First, we listen. Then, we explore what's possible.

Make it your own

  • With young children

    Shorter outings, more time around the cabin and, if you like, half a day at Rovaniemi's Christmas attractions.

  • More active

    A multi-day husky trip with a night in a wilderness hut, or a snowmobile outing with older children as passengers.

  • A different base

    Instead of Rovaniemi or Kittilä, the Kuusamo area and the forests of Oulanka National Park.

  • Late winter

    In March the days are already long and bright, snow is usually deep and the cold generally milder, a comfortable time for small children.

Practical considerations

  • Snow usually lies from December to March, but depth and temperatures vary each year; the cold can drop well below –20 °C.
  • In December and early January the days are very short, a few hours of blue twilight, while by March there's plenty of light.
  • Each activity has its own age and height rules (for driving a husky team or a snowmobile, for example), so we'd match them to your children's ages.
  • The northern lights are never guaranteed; they depend on solar activity and clear skies.

General guidance only. Seasons, weather and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

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