Discover the Natural Beauty of Lapland
February is peak Northern Lights viewing month in Finland’s northmost region of Lapland, an area known for its incredible arctic nature. Here is a roundup of fun winter activities to experience, complete with a guide to the most beautiful hotels for your stay!
Sleep Under the Northern Lights at Aurora Queen in Ivalo
Is there anything more bucket-list worthy than watching the magical Northern Lights dance in the night sky from your bed?
Aurora Queen Resort is a new family-owned resort, located deep within the pristine nature of Finnish Lapland that opened in 2021. This boutique resort features 17 luxurious glass-ceiling igloos, ideal for admiring the night sky and natural beauty of Finland. This resort is perfect for nature lovers striving to be more eco-conscious. This is because Aurora Queen has chosen to utilize geothermal heating and solid wood materials for their glass igloos.
Mush Your Own Dog-Sled Team
Dog sledding is the perfect winter activity to try on your Lapland vacation. You can do this fun activity everywhere during the winter months (Oct-March)! Fly through the snowy forests mushing your very own dog-sled team. Glide over the frozen lakes taking in the natural beauty of Finnish Lapland. Stop halfway in a traditional Kota (a wooden hut). Have a warm lunch, cooked over the crackling fire, before you continue on your sledding adventure.
This activity is perfect for families, couples and of course dog-lovers! After your tour, make sure you thank your dog team by giving them some cuddles and treats.
If you plan your Lapland adventure during the summer months, many activity centers also offer dog karting so you won’t miss out on meeting your furry friends!
Stay at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi
There are hundreds of luxurious hotels all over the world with their impressive lobbies, Michelin star restaurants and attentive staff. However, no hotel can truly fulfill your childhood winter wonderland dreams as well as the Arctic Treehouse Hotel in Rovaniemi! Fun fact: the hotel was featured in the first episode of award-winning actor Eugene Levy’s television series, The Reluctant Traveler!
Check in to your cozy Arctic Treehouse Suite and be mesmerized by the panoramic wintery views that surround you! This unique hotel invites you to connect with nature from the moment you wake up to the second you fall asleep with the innovative glass wall design and idyllic woodland location.
Speed Over Snowy Landscapes on Snowmobile
Feel the adrenaline build up as you race over frozen wilderness on your journey to a spectacular viewpoint or cozy cabin. It is the best way to explore the inaccessible areas of this vast arctic landscape. Snowmobile tours take place during the long winter months in Finnish Lapland (Nov-March) and can be done in every location. During the tours, your professional guide will teach you how to drive your own snowmobile safely. They will ensure you have the best experience possible and equip you with all the necessary outdoor clothing.
Always keep on the lookout for Lapland wildlife! You are likely to encounter some famous Lapland creatures on your rides. Look for Reindeer, Arctic Hares and a variety of arctic birds like the emblematic Ptarmigan. Take an evening snowmobile tour for a chance of seeing the fabled Northern Lights, while you zoom across the frozen lakes.
Join a Snowshoe Trek
There is nothing more enchanting than walking through a frozen forest with thick powder snow and learning about the Lappish animals from your expert guide. Your guide will equip you with a pair of snowshoes that will allow you to walk on top of the snow (thankfully not sink into it)!
This is one of the most rewarding activities you can do in Finnish Lapland. You never know what nature will present you with! Perhaps you will cross paths with a Reindeer, or you might be lucky enough to find some Moose prints in the snow – there is always something special to see in Lapland.
