Beneath the Northern Lights

Your journey officially begins today in Stockholm, one of Europe’s most graceful and captivating capitals. After checking into Hotel Rival, you’ll find yourself in the heart of Södermalm — a neighbourhood full of creativity, warmth, and understated sophistication. The hotel’s ambience blends Scandinavian design with a touch of vintage glamour, creating an inviting space where soft lighting, textured fabrics, and curated art pieces set the tone for your adventure.

Take the afternoon as a soft landing into the Nordic pace of life. Step outside and wander tree-lined Mariatorget, where locals stroll their dogs, sip takeaway coffees, and chat quietly beneath the square’s tall birches. Independent booksellers, boutique homeware stores, and cosy cafés fill the nearby streets. There’s no set plan today, only the chance to stretch your legs, shake off travel fatigue and ease into a journey that grows richer with every passing day.

If you choose, join your tour leader for a relaxed orientation walk. It’s a lovely way to get to know your surroundings — and each other — while discovering Stockholm’s cool, creative pulse. As evening settles over the neighbourhood, warm lights glow from restaurant windows, inviting you to unwind before tomorrow’s full immersion into Sweden’s capital.

Today offers a captivating introduction to Stockholm’s most storied locations. Begin by stepping back into the city’s medieval heart, Gamla Stan, where ivy-wrapped buildings and lantern-lit laneways create an atmosphere both magical and deeply rooted in history. The Old Town feels like a living museum: narrow alleyways opening onto quaint squares, centuries-old merchants’ houses now home to artisans, and the Royal Palace towering above it all.

After exploring the Old Town’s charm, continue your discovery by visiting some of Stockholm’s most celebrated landmarks. The city’s waterfront boulevards and elegant bridges reveal why Stockholm is often described as a city woven from water. You’ll visit places such as the illustrious Stockholm City Hall, one of the most important buildings in Scandinavia and home to the Nobel Prize banquet — a symbol of global creativity, innovation and ambition.

The day’s highlight is your visit to the Vasa Museum, where a perfectly preserved 17th-century warship rises three storeys high, frozen in time and breathtaking in scale. Standing before the Vasa feels almost surreal — her intricate carvings and dark timber hull telling a powerful story of ambition, shipbuilding skill, and maritime tragedy.

After a free afternoon to explore Stockholm at your own rhythm, you’ll gather this evening for a warm and delicious Swedish welcome dinner at a historic tavern. It’s the perfect moment to bond with fellow travellers and savour the flavours of classic Nordic comfort food. Back at Hotel Rival, the cosy ambience invites a peaceful end to your day.

This morning, your Scandinavian story takes a dramatic turn northward as you leave the city behind and fly into the untouched wilderness of Swedish Lapland. As your plane descends toward Kiruna, you’ll see a vast landscape of snow-laden forests, frozen lakes and pale mountain silhouettes — a world shaped by silence, purity and winter light.

Your journey continues as you travel deeper into the wilderness toward Abisko, one of the most extraordinary regions in the Arctic. Surrounded by mountains and resting beneath a unique microclimate that produces some of the clearest skies in the northern hemisphere, Abisko is considered one of the best places on earth to witness the Northern Lights. The excitement builds with every kilometre as the world becomes quieter, softer and more remote.

Arrive at the Abisko Mountain Lodge, your rustic-chic base for the next three nights. The lodge is intentionally simple — warm timber interiors, comfortable rooms and Scandinavian touches — but this is part of its magic. Here, you’re not seeking luxury in marble floors or chandeliers; the luxury is in the silence, the snow, the mountains, the crisp air and the sky that glows with possibility. It is the perfect counterbalance to your stylish days in Stockholm.

As evening settles in, enjoy a peaceful dinner at the lodge and step outside for your first glimpse of Abisko’s vast night sky. With luck, the aurora may even surprise you on your very first night.

Today is your first full immersion into the pure, exhilarating wilderness of Lapland. After gearing up in warm Arctic clothing, experience the thrill of riding a snowmobile through Abisko’s sweeping valleys and over frozen lakes. The hum of the engine blends with the crisp air as you glide across landscapes that feel untouched by time — jagged mountain peaks, open white plains, and the quiet vastness that defines the north.

There is something deeply freeing about moving so quickly through such silence. You’ll stop along the way to soak in the scenery, breathe in the impossibly fresh air, and snap photographs of views that few travellers ever witness. Your expert guides ensure safety is paramount, allowing you to fully enjoy the adventure.

This afternoon offers time to relax — perhaps warm up in the lodge’s sauna, sip hot chocolate in the lounge, or take a peaceful walk beside snow-covered trees. The stillness of Abisko is part of its charm, inviting you to slow down and savour the rare privilege of being so far from the rest of the world.

Tonight brings another unforgettable moment: a private Northern Lights hunt led by Abisko’s most experienced aurora specialists. They guide you to the region’s best viewing points using 4×4 vehicles, wilderness sleighs or gentle walks depending on conditions. Whether the lights swirl gracefully across the sky or pulse gently behind the mountains, witnessing them in Abisko — one of the planet’s most aurora-rich regions — is pure magic.

Today slows the pace, allowing you to experience the calm, contemplative side of life above the Arctic Circle. Head out onto a frozen lake for a traditional ice-fishing experience, where you’ll learn to drill through thick ice, drop a lure into crystal-clear water and wait patiently for a prized Arctic char. It’s a surprisingly peaceful activity — the sound of the wind, the crunch of snow beneath your boots, and the simple rhythm of being outdoors in winter.

Warming fires and hot drinks create a cosy break, offering time to chat with your guide and hear stories of life in the far north. The sense of stillness out on the ice is unforgettable — a reminder of how beautifully remote Lapland truly is.

The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Wander the snowy trails around the lodge, photograph the iced-over wilderness, or simply curl up inside with a warm drink. Dinner this evening again features hearty, traditional northern flavours — perfect for recharging after a day in the cold.

With the dark Arctic night stretching overhead, you may even spot the aurora again from right outside your cabin.

Your journey continues south today through the scenic expanse of Swedish Lapland. Your first stop is the fascinating Arctic mining town of Kiruna, an engineering marvel in motion. Due to shifting ground beneath the old town centre, Kiruna is being relocated building by building, street by street — a once-in-a-lifetime urban transformation. Your guided visit offers intimate insight into the town’s history, the expansion of the world’s largest underground iron mine, and the incredible cultural considerations required to preserve community life in the process.

After exploring Kiruna’s moving story, travel to the iconic Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi — one of the world’s most unique places to stay. Each winter, artists from around the globe arrive to carve this ephemeral masterpiece from blocks of crystal-clear ice drawn from the Torne River. Walking through its frozen corridors feels like entering a dreamscape: shimmering sculptures, intricately carved walls, and brilliant ice lanterns glowing softly beneath white archways.

Settle into your warm accommodation and wander freely through the Icehotel’s exhibition hall, year-round ice suites and seasonal snow rooms. This is more than a hotel — it’s a tribute to creativity, craftsmanship and the beauty of the Arctic environment. Tonight, after dinner, head out for another Northern Lights experience, travelling deeper into the wilderness by snowmobile. It’s an extraordinary way to witness the aurora illuminate the icy landscape.

Today is dedicated to the indigenous culture of Sápmi, the traditional homeland of the Sami people. Begin with a walk to Jukkasjärvi’s Sami camp, where your local guide welcomes you into a world shaped by deep connection to land, reindeer and centuries-old traditions. Learn about seasonal movements, craftsmanship, ceremonial clothing and daily life in the Arctic long before modern conveniences arrived.

You’ll have the chance to feed reindeer and hear the melodic cadence of stories passed down through generations. Step inside a traditional lavvu tent, lined with reindeer hides and warmed by a crackling fire, where your host prepares a delicious smoked-reindeer lunch over open flames. The flavours are earthy, delicate and truly representative of Lapland’s culinary heritage.

In the evening, return for a special three-course Sami dinner featuring local fish, reindeer and cloudberries. Every dish carries a story — of the land, the culture, the seasons and the deep respect for nature that defines life in Sápmi. Your final night at the Icehotel concludes with a sense of connection and appreciation for the people who call this harsh yet beautiful region home.

Today’s journey carries you across one of the most beautiful stretches of the north as you travel from Sweden into Finnish Lapland. Snow-dusted forests, shimmering white lakes and open expanses roll gently across the border, each kilometre a reminder of how vast and pristine the Arctic truly is. Finland’s landscape feels subtly different — still wild, still remote — but softer, quieter and deeply peaceful.

By late afternoon, arrive in Saariselkä, home to one of the region’s most enchanting experiences: your private Aurora Cabin at the Northern Lights Village. These elegant timber cabins offer warm, luxurious interiors paired with a heated glass roof above the bed — your own window to the night sky. As darkness settles, you may lie beneath the rooftop glass with a warm drink, watching stars shimmer and waiting for the aurora to make its appearance.

The resort’s tranquil setting, surrounded by silent forests and gentle hill formations, creates a cocoon of Nordic calm. Dinner is served in the lodge’s atmospheric dining room, where Finnish flavours take centre stage. Tonight is pure magic — a blend of comfort, stillness and sky-watching from the warmth of your cabin.

Few Arctic experiences capture the spirit of Lapland quite like a husky safari, and today you’ll feel that extraordinary connection firsthand. After a warm welcome at the husky farm, meet the enthusiastic dogs — a joyful pack of working huskies whose excitement is impossible not to share. Their energy, their loyalty and their love for running are at the heart of the experience.

Soon, you’ll take control of your own sled, steering through forests and over snowy plains, with one traveller mushing while the other settles into the passenger seat. The only sounds are the pattering of paws over snow and the soft swoosh of the sled gliding forward. It’s an exhilarating yet peaceful journey, threading through landscapes that seem suspended in time.

Halfway through, switch positions and enjoy the view from the sled — a tapestry of white horizons, Arctic birch forests and distant hills glowing under the winter sun. After returning to the farm, warm up in a cosy kota hut with hot drinks and freshly baked cinnamon buns as your hosts share stories of sled dogs, training traditions and life in this remote corner of Finland.

Back at your Aurora Cabin, the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Tonight, the aurora may choose to dance overhead as you drift to sleep beneath your glass ceiling.

Travel south today through Finnish Lapland to the lively and whimsical Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. After days of wilderness and deep Arctic silence, this cheerful settlement offers a fun and surprising change of pace. Colourful buildings dot the snowy landscape, Christmas lights twinkle year-round, and the atmosphere is one of lighthearted joy.

Check into Santa Claus Holiday Village, where spacious timber cabins come with private saunas — a beloved Finnish tradition. The cabins combine comfort with rustic charm, offering a warm haven after your travels.

Spend the afternoon exploring the village. Browse boutique shops filled with Nordic crafts and Christmas treasures, enjoy a warm drink by the fire, or visit Santa himself in his charming cabin. The experience is playful but beautifully executed, giving you a taste of the festive spirit that Lapland is known for worldwide.

Tonight, dinner is your choice — from fire-cooked salmon to cosy taverns — before retreating to your cabin for a restful night.

This morning, fly from the snowy landscapes of Lapland to the vibrant capital of Finland: Helsinki, a city where neoclassical architecture meets bold modern design. The shift in scenery is refreshing — from wilderness to waterfront boulevards, from icy forests to creative urban energy.

Settle into Hotel Lilla Roberts, a boutique property blending Art Deco elegance with smooth, contemporary luxury. Large rooms, stylish furnishings and a serene location in the Design District make it one of the city’s most appealing stays.

Join your local guide for an orientation through Helsinki’s most notable landmarks, including the grand Senate Square, the iconic cathedral, and the sculptural Sibelius Monument. You’ll also visit contemporary gems like Oodi — a modern library hailed as one of the world’s most innovative public buildings. Finland’s emphasis on creativity, sustainability and thoughtful design is evident in every detail.

The evening is yours to enjoy, with Helsinki’s restaurant scene offering everything from traditional comfort dishes to cutting-edge Nordic cuisine.

Today invites you into the heart of Finnish culture through a warm and engaging culinary experience. Begin with coffee and traditional biscuits as your host introduces you to the essence of Nordic cuisine — seasonal ingredients, forest flavours, sustainability and the influence of regional traditions, including the Indigenous Sami foodways.

Your hands-on cooking class guides you through preparing two Finnish classics: lohikeitto, a creamy salmon soup beloved in every household, and karjalanpiirakka, delicate rice-filled Karelian pies wrapped in crisp rye pastry. The process is fun, tactile and filled with tips from your expert instructor.

Once the dishes are ready, gather around the table to share a relaxed lunch featuring your creations, homemade malt bread, and herb-infused butter. The atmosphere is warm and communal — a highlight of the Helsinki portion of your journey.

Tonight’s farewell dinner takes place in one of the city’s most delightfully quirky restaurants, offering a playful and lighthearted celebration of your unforgettable days in the north.

Your Scandinavian adventure concludes this morning. Enjoy a beautiful breakfast in the stylish dining room of Hotel Lilla Roberts, taking a final moment to absorb the quiet elegance of Helsinki. With hearts full and memories sparkling — from the northern lights to Arctic wildlife, from Sami culture to modern Nordic design — you depart with stories that will stay with you long after your journey ends.