Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stay in a glass igloo? This was a dream of mine until I recently experienced glamping in Finnish Lapland firsthand. I had high hopes that this trip would live up to its hype and I must say it exceeded my expectations in every way possible! Interested in staying in a glass igloo but unsure where to start? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! During this post, I will share my 9 day Finnish Lapland itinerary with you!
I chose to visit Finnish Lapland in early March because statistically there are more clear nights than other winter months. There is still plenty of snow on the ground without the harsh temperatures. March also has plenty of daylight, although if experiencing the polar nights (24 hours of darkness) is on your list, then plan to visit during the end of November through mid-January.
9 Day Finnish Lapland Itinerary
Download my full 9 day itinerary below for complete details, logistics and tips for exploring Finnish Lapland during the winter.
Below is a glimpse into my 9 day Finnish Lapland Itinerary, including my stay in a glass igloo!
Day 1: Arrive in Helsinki
Begin your adventure in Helsinki, the international gateway into Finland. My husband and I stayed at Lapland Hotels Bulevardi to take advantage of the Finnish Sauna culture (most rooms here have private saunas!). We ordered room service from Kulta Kitchen and Bar, the hotel’s highly rated restaurant. From there, we retreated back to our room to embrace the Finnish sauna ritual of Löyly, creating steam from the rocks to release our stress and set the tone for our trip.
Day 2: Day Trip to Porvoo
Head to the historical Finnish town of Porvoo (a 45 minute drive from Helsinki) for lunch and shopping. We found unique souvenirs at Petris Chocolate and Design Deli (the owner here was delightful). Save room for the Runeberg Cake at Café Fanny – a Finnish staple – which pairs great with a glass of Prosecco!
If you are up for more sightseeing once you return to Helsinki, explore some of its walkable landmarks before heading back to the hotel. We started off near the Orthodox Parish of Helsinki and walked through both Market and Senate Squares.
Day 3: Arrive in Lapland, Visit Snow Hotel and Sauna
Catch an early morning flight to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland. We stopped at Arctic SnowHotel for their Snow sauna and Jacuzzi experience. Tickets included a complementary tour of the remarkable snow hotel – which is rebuilt every winter! The self-guided tour of the snow hotel alone was worth it. The attention to detail is insane – each of its 30 rooms are equipped with a different theme of ice sculptures. There is also a separate ice chapel, ice restaurant and ice bar. You can also spend the night here (but the tour was enough for me!).
Take a scenic drive through the snow covered evergreens and birch trees to Levin Iglut, and set foot inside your glass igloo for the first time! This place is truly magical. We stayed in a Prime Superior Igloo which was equipped with a full bathroom, wet bar, microwave, mini fridge, bluetooth and WiFi. Tip: there were some igloos situated behind us so be sure to request one overlooking the forest (although this cannot be guaranteed). We stayed in igloo #13 and it was fabulous! Scroll down to my Instagram post at the bottom to get a tour of this igloo.
Enjoy the chef’s surprise tasting menu under the glass roof of Levin Iglut’s Restaurant Utsu before heading out for a Northern Lights sightseeing tour! We booked our tour with Arctic Frontier but unfortunately the aurora borealis did not make an appearance (a reminder not to take this natural phenomenon for granted)! Our guide was extremely generous and let us keep a tripod for the remainder of our stay at the igloo.
Day 4: Visit a Reindeer Farm
Venture further north to Reindeer Farm Petri Mattus to experience a day in the life of a reindeer herder. Take a snowmobile through the wintery landscape in search of Petri’s reindeer herd. Enjoy close up interactions with over 200 reindeer and learn about life as a Sami (the indigenous people of Lapland). I really appreciated the authenticity of this tour. Petri welcomes you into his home and shares insight into his family and life in the Sami culture. This tour is a great way to support his family as well!
After visiting the reindeer farm, we returned to Levin Iglut and warmed up in our private sauna and outdoor jacuzzi. Booking the Northern Lights House for a two hour window (subject to availability) is a great loophole if you don’t want to splurge on one of the Suite Igloos that comes with its own outdoor jacuzzi.
We returned to Restaurant Utsu for dinner (because it’s that good) and then cozied up in our glass igloo to wait for the Northern Lights to make an appearance. Lucky for us, they did!
Day 5: Relax in a Kota and Chase the Northern Lights
Spend a relaxing morning in a Levin Iglut’s Kota (traditional Sami dwelling). We were fortunate enough to align our visit while Linda (owner of Husky Outdoor Levi) brought her three adorable huskies to visit! I highly recommend arranging a tour with Linda. She offers a variety of experiences to interact with her huskies, including snow shoeing and even husky yoga!
Head to Rovaniemi and check into Arctic Treehouse Hotel, your second Lapland destination. These “tree houses” offer another chance to view the Northern Lights from the comfort of your own bed! We booked one of the ArcticScene Executive Suites, that came with its own separate living area, private sauna, and outdoor patio with a wood burning fire! These views admittedly weren’t as great as what we had at Levin Iglut (the suites partially faced a parking lot), but certain Arctic Treehouse Suites have direct views of the woods, so consider submitting a request with the hotel ahead of time to increase your chances of an optimal view!
That evening we opted to book another tour to increase our chances of seeing the aurora borealis and also to capture photos with a professional photographer. We booked our tour with Beyond Arctic, which offered some creative photography opportunities in the event the Northern Lights did not appear. If you are looking for an even more adventurous option to chase the lights late into the evening, check out Lorenzo Mirandola with Arctic Road Trips. Check out his Instagram, it’s unreal!
Day 6: Hike through Riisitunturi National Park
Venture to a one of the most beautiful places in Lapland on a private photography expedition to Riisitunturi National Park. This park has one of the most dramatic landscapes in Finnish Lapland and is known for its dense snow coverage of its spruce trees in the winter. In March, the weather is comfortable for a hike and the snow still partially covers the trees as it begins to melt. In January and February, the tradeoff is colder temperatures for views of these trees completely covered in snow!
We chose this tour to invest in my personal photography skills; however, Riisitunturi is suitable to visit without a tour if you are up for the drive. Many locals visited and some even brought their dogs! Alternatively, consider spending a relaxing day in Rovaniemi after a late night chasing the Northern Lights. It was not easy waking up for this tour!
Day 7: Go on a Husky Safari
Take a late morning sled ride through the snow-covered evergreens at Bearhill Husky. This activity was definitely one of our highlights! These huskies LOVE to run through the snowy trails. We enjoyed learning about how the huskies are trained and how some are not suited for the life of a sled dog.
As an animal lover, I’m always skeptical of any kind of animal tourism but I was pleased to learn that these dogs are in great hands and it is apparent that the people working there genuinely love each one of them. They even have a program to re-home those who are no longer suited to run or do not fit in with the rest of the pack.
The sled portion of the tour lasts for approximately 45 minutes and you have the option to take turns driving if you are sharing with another person. We also discovered the optional snow shoe walk with the huskies that we would have considered had we known at the time of booking it was an option!
Day 8: Transfer to Helsinki
Catch an early morning flight back to Helsinki and check into St. George Hotel. Explore the Punavuori district and grab a bite to eat at one of its charming restaurants. I highly recommend Yes Yes Yes for its chic vibe and delicious culinary masterpieces (that happen to be vegetarian). Afterward enjoy St. George’s complementary spa amenities or grab a cocktail at Wintergarden.
Day 9: Return Home
Grab a coffee at St. George Bakery and reminisce on your incredible experience before heading to Helsinki International Airport for your return flight home.
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