Finland travel advice
Activity tips
Urpo Heikkinen, of our supplier, Upitrek, shares his Finland travel advice:
“I really recommend cross-country skiing. You go from place to place, spending each night with different people – you feel like you’re having an adventure. The rhythm is flexible and it’s much easier than walking – you can cover great distances while still seeing wildlife and tracks in the snow. On the downhill sections you’ll enjoy the speed. In these remote areas people still have a more traditional way of living – they have gardens where they grow their own vegetables; it’s always Finnish food made with local ingredients, so no pizza or pasta! It all comes from very close by. Skiing from place to place is also an environmentally friendly way to see Finland – it’s much better than traveling by car.”
“I really recommend cross-country skiing. You go from place to place, spending each night with different people – you feel like you’re having an adventure. The rhythm is flexible and it’s much easier than walking – you can cover great distances while still seeing wildlife and tracks in the snow. On the downhill sections you’ll enjoy the speed. In these remote areas people still have a more traditional way of living – they have gardens where they grow their own vegetables; it’s always Finnish food made with local ingredients, so no pizza or pasta! It all comes from very close by. Skiing from place to place is also an environmentally friendly way to see Finland – it’s much better than traveling by car.”
Husky safari in Finland
Sled with huskies through spectacular Finnish scenery
From
£2923 to £3488
8 days
inc UK flights
Cross-country skiing vacation in Finland's eastern wilderness
Guided country skiing vacation through remote eastern Finland
From
€1140
7 days
ex flights
Lapland vacation, husky safari & log cottage
Luxurious log suite,northern lights & overnight husky safari
From
€1950 to €2050
5 days
ex flights
Finland winter activity vacation & Northern Lights
Discover this Finnish winter activity wilderness week
From
US $2870 to US $3500
8 days
ex flights
Northern Lights activity break in Finland, Arctic Hills
Experience the wilderness by car, snowmobile, skies, huskies
From
€1826 to €2376
4 days
ex flights
Northern lights family vacation, tailor made
A mix of Lapland family activities and a relaxing Spa hotel
From
£1225 to £2250
4 days
inc UK flights
Bird watching tips
Roy Atkins is a wildlife and birding guide for our supplier Speyside Wildlife, shares his Finand travel advice:
“Bird watchers should go to Finland in May. Birds need the snow to melt for the insects to reappear; if you see 15 species in March, you’re doing well, but in May you can see 150 plus! When they arrive back to their territories they sing and display for the mating season. So not only are they easy to see, because you can follow the songs, but they look great. If you leave it until July, they’ll have stopped singing because they’ll be feeding their young.”
Packing tips
Juha-Pekka Tuominen on behalf of our supplier, Activities Abroad, shares his Finland travel advice: “You must bring warm base layers. We provide mittens and all-in-ones, but it gets very cold and you need something underneath. Finland has quite a continental climate – the air is dry so it’s not uncomfortable and humid, but you must keep warm.”Culture tips
Aki Käräjäoja, founded our supplier, Routa Travel, after he fell in love with the huskies. Here's his Finland travel advice: “Get in touch with the locals and try to find the small places – Finland has so many small tourism businesses. Always keep your eye out for local things. The local food is especially good – one thing I like about Finnish food is that you can really taste nature. We try to use a lot of berries and game, such as moose, which are monitored and hunted sustainably every year.”Our top trip
Finland wildlife short break
Bear, wolverine and elk widlife short break in Finland
From
€850 to €890
5 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2024: 19 May, 16 Jun, 21 Jul, 1 Sep
2024: 19 May, 16 Jun, 21 Jul, 1 Sep
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Finland travel advice
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Finland travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Finland travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
Ice fishing may seem boring but it's great to be sitting on a reindeer skin on a frozen lake surrounded by snow...and then to cook the catch on a fire and eat it fresh, magic.![]()
– Karina Roberts
“Batteries die really quickly out there so be sure to take quick photos and then hide the camera until needed again. A spare battery is cost effective.” - Damian Clithero
“Leave the stilettos at home! Don't expect luxury at the hotel - it is fantastic, and friendly, and I have no complaints at all - just, it's not a Hilton.” - Jane Macarthur
“Take head torches if you go in winter, as it gets VERY dark. The food was very good - they coped far better with my seafood allergy than any other vacation I have been on and provided a good variety of vegetarian meals.” - Karen Horridge
“A set of thermal underwear is essential. Don’t take wet wipes as they freeze solid.” - Susan Prcychodny
“Leave the stilettos at home! Don't expect luxury at the hotel - it is fantastic, and friendly, and I have no complaints at all - just, it's not a Hilton.” - Jane Macarthur
“Take head torches if you go in winter, as it gets VERY dark. The food was very good - they coped far better with my seafood allergy than any other vacation I have been on and provided a good variety of vegetarian meals.” - Karen Horridge
“A set of thermal underwear is essential. Don’t take wet wipes as they freeze solid.” - Susan Prcychodny
Don't worry about the temperature - yes it's cold but as long as you have plenty of layers, it's fine. And there's always a sauna, open fire and mug of hot chocolate (invariably laced with something!) to come back to.![]()
– Carolyne Coupel
“Have an open mind and go with the flow! I abandoned my quasi vegetarian diet for the week and found reindeer to be much more delicious than I had imagined.” - Emma Davey
“Finnish Sauna includes bucket showers - so don't forget your shower gel. It is an exceedingly pleasant way to end the day.” - Selina Bolton
“Just go for it - you don't know what you are capable of until you try it. Snowmobiling, snowshoe walking and dog sledding at the age of 62 was very special.” - Pam Crosland
“Approach everything with enthusiasm. You will get far more from activities and the people running them if you show an interest, are prepared to give anything a go and involve yourself as much as possible.” - Elizabeth Johnston
“Finnish Sauna includes bucket showers - so don't forget your shower gel. It is an exceedingly pleasant way to end the day.” - Selina Bolton
“Just go for it - you don't know what you are capable of until you try it. Snowmobiling, snowshoe walking and dog sledding at the age of 62 was very special.” - Pam Crosland
“Approach everything with enthusiasm. You will get far more from activities and the people running them if you show an interest, are prepared to give anything a go and involve yourself as much as possible.” - Elizabeth Johnston
More Finland articles
Our Finland travel guide lets you into long and light summer days, for trekking and kayaking, as well as Northern Lights watching, snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the snow covered, darker months of winter.
The best time to visit Finland depends on what you wish to do as winter is ideal for dog sledding and winter sports whereas the arrival of spring in May sees the sun making a return prior to the long hot summer days.
Click on our interactive Finland map and highlights to discover some of the best places to visit in both summer and winter, whether you're seeking wolverines, wild bears, snowshoeing, Santa or Sami hospitality.
If you’re looking to put a bit of colour into the darker depths of winter there’s no better place to start than Finland and if you’re also looking for more info on the best time to go then read as you keep watching the skies.
From snow shoeing and cross country skiing to husky safaris, Northern Lights and warming fires, Finland in the winter abounds with things to do so slip on your woolly socks, grab a glass of Glögi and read on for more info.
There’s no more exhilarating and rewarding way to discover the snowy Finnish wilderness other than on a husky safari, with a team of dogs pulling you through pure white landscapes and across vast frozen lakes.
Finns grow up learning about jokamiehenoikeus: every man’s right to roam. The Finnish landscape is everyone’s, including yours, to explore and forage – so long as you do so carefully.
You don’t need to travel to Alaska to see brown bears; the Wild Taiga region of Finland is home to these fascinating creatures and a supporting cast of other animals, too, from wolves and wolverine to elk and reindeer.
Traveling in Finland with kids is a wonderful experience for families of any age, with snowshoeing and canoeing on the cards for older children, and snowmen, sledging and reindeer-nuzzling delights for younger ones.
If you think that Lapland is just about snow and Santa then think again as summer vacations in Finland help to create a far more accessible and affordable outdoor experience. including self-drive tours and hiking vacations.
Rail vacations in Finland are far more relaxing than driving. They also encourage an element of destination-hopping, so you will be able to visit Oulu and Kemi instead of heading straight to busy Rovaniemi in Lapland.
Although traditionally semi nomadic reindeer herders, the Sámi are adapting to a changing world with responsible tourism playing a role in keeping alive the languages, music and folklore tales from around the Arctic Circle.
Vacations in Finland don’t have to mean Santa. You could exercise huskies in autumn to help them get fit for sledding season or visit the country in summer, when far fewer people think to come, and try vacationing like a Finn in a log cabin.
The first eSleds have made their debut in Finland, and in the responsible travel stakes, electric beats traditional snowmobiles hands-down, but how can you make sure your snowmobile safari is good for Finnish Lapland?
Finns prize privacy and remoteness above all else, and many choose to vacation in their home country, fleeing to their family cabins in search of solitude. Just like Finns, honeymooners appreciate a bit of alone time – just replace that family cabin with a place for two.
It's hard to know where to start when planning a trip to Finland but we've picked out our top activities to get you started - from admiring the Aurora to mushing huskies, tracking wolverines and thawing out in a sauna.
If you fancy fat biking in Oulanka National Park, these mountain bikes with big chunky tyres are a great way to enjoy some Arctic exercise and have fun as part of a small guided group without damaging the environment.
When you stay in a log cabin in Finland, you’re often staying in a family’s second home – sauna, open fire and a cupboardful of kayaks and snowshoes included.
Helsinki is the cool capital of Finland – a southerly peninsula city surrounded by lakes, islands and forest parks.
It's hard to go wrong when traveling in this nature loving nation but there are a few things to be aware of including hunting, Sami rights and huskies vs snowmobiles; read our thoughts on responsible tourism in Finland.
Find all our Finland guides in one place, from Husky safaris to the Northern Lights and everything in between.
