A Taste of Lapland

Lapland is in the Arctic, far north of Finland, with temperatures that can go as low as -50°C in the winter. A land plunged in darkness for days on end, Lapland summers are blessed with warmer temperatures and the Midnight Sun. Lapland is the last refuge of the Sámi people, and home to the reindeer. Hurtigruten's Lapland wilderness tours begin along the Neidenfjord where salmon live in mass and play endlessly in fish-filled rivers. You will travel though lush marshlands to Tana Bru, the administrative center of Tana with its 3060 inhabitants.

Continue to Inari, an area filled with Sámi reindeer herding communities where you will spend the next two nights in the quaint Hotel Kultahovi. This cozy spot sits next to the beautiful rapids of River Juutua within the village of Inari. The days will not disappoint as this portion of your Lapland expedition is filled with both escorted tours and independent adventures. From a visit to the Nature Center of Northern Lapland to an evening with a reindeer-herding family…white water rafting to beautiful hikes, your time spent in Inari immerses you in the cultural mystery of this distant land. Depart Inari for your final Kirkenes destination stopping along the way in historic villages and a stunning Russian Orthodox church.

Begin your Lapland travel in Kirkenes, where you'll be met by your private driver-guide. Travel along the Neidenfjord, a fjord arm on the south side of the Varangerfjord. Venture through wide highland marshes to Tana Bru on the Norway-Finland border. The river that runs along it is said to have the best salmon fishing in Europe. Continue via Utsjoki to Inari, a wild, barren, yet utterly captivating landscape. Check into the Hotel Kultahovi, a cozy, small hotel for wonderful two nights.

In the morning, take a trip to the Sámi and Nature Center of Northern Lapland, situated in the middle of Finland's largest conservation and wilderness areas. Enjoy the rest of the day as you'd like, where you'll have an opportunity to take advantage of a number of diverse adventures. Choose from optional excursions including hikes to the beautiful Pielpajarvi Wilderness Church; sightseeing by plane over Lake Inari; river excursions by boat; and white-water rafting. Choose to cruise on Inari Lake to the Sámi holy island of Ukko, named for the Sky God of Finnish mythology; indulge in shopping for handicrafts or immerse yourself in cultural museums. In the evening, you'll visit a reindeer-herding family and learn about reindeer and the everyday life of modern Sámi. While here, you will enjoy coffee and biscuits in a Sámi tent. [B]

In the morning, take a trip to the Sámi and Nature Center of Northern Lapland, situated in the middle of Finland's largest conservation and wilderness areas. Enjoy the rest of the day as you'd like, where you'll have an opportunity to take advantage of a number of diverse adventures. Choose from optional excursions including hikes to the beautiful Pielpajarvi Wilderness Church; sightseeing by plane over Lake Inari; river excursions by boat; and white-water rafting. Choose to cruise on Inari Lake to the Sámi holy island of Ukko, named for the Sky God of Finnish mythology; indulge in shopping for handicrafts or immerse yourself in cultural museums. In the evening, you'll visit a reindeer-herding family and learn about reindeer and the everyday life of modern Sámi. While here, you will enjoy coffee and biscuits in a Sámi tent. [B]

Meal codes: [B] Breakfast [L] Lunch [D] Dinner

Pricing is valid for North American residents only.

Hurtigruten explorations including Lapland wilderness tours and Norway cruises await. Request a brochure, contact a travel agent or book online. Embark on a journey of exploration, adventure and luxury with Hurtigruten, authentic voyages to pristine lands.