Lapland is an area that lies over the northern areas of Sweden, Norway and Finland. Most people associate the area with Christmas, so holidays in Nov & Dec are usually quite popular.
This far north this area experiences long summers, where it never gets dark, and for 24 hours the sun is out, otherwise known as the midnight sun. The opposite in the winter though, where its dark or dusk all day and the sun doesn’t rise over the horizon.
A 4 Night stay at Muotka Wilderness Lodge
The flight arrived in Ivalo, Finland, and transferred us to Muotka Lodge for 4 days of snow filled activities. This lodge is located in the Saariselka area, which is 300 km north of the Arctic circle.
The lodge supplies duvet like overalls, woollen mittens and fur lined snow boots. Our room was in a building separate from the main lodge. A lady in traditional Finnish dress showed us our room. As soon as we stepped outside our eyelashes froze, Yes it was that cold evenings can be spent around the open log fire, warming up from the cold days outside.
Excursions were included in this package holiday.
Read about what i liked about Muotka Lodge
Snowmobile driving to Reindeer.
This is a 4-5 hour day, driving the snowmobile in two’s through the forest to the Reindeer farm. Once there the Sami (local people) gives a talk about their culture and tradition. A lesson in lassoing a reindeer (a pretend one for us). and ending in a short sleigh ride pulled by a Reindeer.
Aurora hunt.
A snowmobile pulls the sleigh high up a hill, to look for the elusive northern lights. Up the top there is a little log cabin to keep warm in while popping out every now and then to see if the lights show. Unfortunately the night we went out, we didn’t see anything. But the night after we got a knock on the door at 3am (you can be requested to be woken up) by the staff shouting “wake up the lights are amazing” so quickly putting all the layers of clothes on and running outside we saw them. And wow so incredible, definitely worth getting up for.
Husky Safari
You get driven to meet the Huskies first, and they don’t look like typical Huskies. But these dogs are very friendly and just itching to get going. Once tied to the sledges they are pulling and barking, six of these dogs easily pull the sledge with 2 people on board.
I was the one sitting down with my husband controlling the brakes, and yes you need them because the dogs don’t stop. The downside to sitting down, it gets cold, VERY cold, its between -20°C & -30°C there!!
You stop halfway and the leader makes a fire in a very thickly snow covered cabin. Salmon soup was cooked and served over the fire. Warming our hands and feet before going out again.
Snowshoeing & cross country skiing.
A 3 hour trip on snowshoes, the snow was about 2 ft deep so walking without the shoes on is impossible. So strapping tennis racket looking things on your feet off you go. Stopping halfway for a rest and a warm up in a teepee. The cross county skiing was in the afternoon once getting back after the snowshoe trip.
November 1, 2018
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