Day 1 | Depart gateway city
AHI FlexAir passengers depart for Helsinki, Finland. Please check your luggage from your gateway city to your arrival city. Your claim checks should have the following airport code: HEL.
Day 2 | Helsinki, Finland
Hotel U14
R | D
Arrive at Helsinki Airport. Proceed through immigration to the baggage claim area and retrieve your luggage. After completing customs, AHI FlexAir passengers traveling on flights that qualify for the group arrival transfer and Land Program passengers who have purchased seats on the group transfer should exit the baggage claim area and proceed to the designated meeting spot, where an AHI Travel representative will meet you. The meeting location will be provided with your final documents.
Transfer to Hotel U14, conveniently located in the city center near the harbor. Please note that if you arrive before check-in time, your room may not be immediately available.
This afternoon, take a short stroll with your Travel Director to familiarize yourself with the area. Then, meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s Welcome Reception and Dinner in the hotel.
Day 3 | Helsinki
Hotel U14
B
Helsinki Tour. Settled since the Ice Age, Finland first appears in written sources in the 12th century. Over the subsequent centuries, it was ruled by neighbors Sweden and Russia during different eras until it declared its independence in 1917. It was a Swedish king, Gustav Vasa, who established the city of Helsinki in 1550 on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland with an eye toward establishing trade along the Baltic Sea.
On your guided, scenic tour of Finland’s beautiful capital, take in eye-catching architecture that ranges from neoclassical to contemporary. Along your route, admire the green-domed Helsinki Cathedral, or Tuomiokirkko, built in 1852 by architect Carl Ludvig Engel, who designed several of Helsinki’s other grand Neoclassical buildings. Another highlight is the sculptural, light-filled and inviting Oodi Library, popular with Finns since it opened in 2018.
Free Time: Choose a nice spot for lunch on your own before returning to the hotel for this afternoon’s lecture.
Enrichment: Finnish Sauna Culture. Relaxing in a sauna is a vital part of the Finnish lifestyle, a cherished, rejuvenating ritual enjoyed alone or with family and friends. In this nation of 5.5 million people, it’s estimated that there are roughly 3 million saunas. It’s such a mainstay of everyday life that Finland’s sauna culture has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A local expert will discuss the history and traditions behind this quintessentially Finnish experience.
Löyly Sauna Experience. With your fresh insights, it’s time to do as the Finns do! Head along Helsinki’s waterfront to Löyly Sauna, a sleek, modern sauna that serves as a tranquil oasis amid the urban landscape. During your visit, try different styles of saunas and soak up the soothing steam. Afterward, cool off outside on the large terrace, and if you’re game, take a bracing plunge into the Baltic Sea! If you plan to enjoy the sauna experience, please pack your swimsuit and a pair of water shoes or suitable footwear. The spa will provide towels and peflets, small cloths to sit on in the sauna.
Free Time: Get a wonderful taste of Helsinki’s vibrant and inventive food scene this evening. Your Travel Director is a great resource for dining suggestions and assistance with reservations.
Day 4 | Tallinn, Estonia | Helsinki, Finland
Hotel U14
B | D
After breakfast, board a ferry for the two-hour journey across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn, Estonia. Enjoy lunch on your own upon arrival.
Tallinn Walking Tour. Founded in the 12th century, Tallinn boasts an enchanting, medieval old town that’s one of the most impressively preserved in northern Europe. Its delightful Gothic and baroque churches, elegant spires and red-tile roofed buildings imbue this Baltic gem with a special romance. On a guided walk through this UNESCO World Heritage site, take in the charming, twin stone towers of Viru Gate that guard the entrance of the imposing, 14th-century town walls. In the bustling Raekoja plats, or Town Hall Square, admire the stately Gothic town hall, the only surviving one of its kind in northern Europe. Learn more about Tallinn’s landmarks and intriguing history from your guide while exploring its picturesque, winding cobblestone lanes.
Free Time: Afterward, make your own plans for sightseeing around the old town.
Rejoin your group and embark the ferry for Helsinki. During your return journey, dinner will be served on board.
Day 5 | Rovaniemi | Pyhä
Northern Lights Village
B | D
Check out of the hotel this morning and depart for Helsinki Airport for your flight to Rovaniemi in Lapland. Upon arrival, head to Arktikum in Rovaniemi.
Arktikum. This engaging science center and history museum delves into the unique aspects of life in the Arctic. On a guided tour, view fascinating exhibits about the culture, history, wildlife and natural environment of northern Lapland.
After time at leisure for lunch on your own, transfer to Pyhä, where you’ll check in to the Northern Lights Village. Gather for an informative meeting that will acquaint you with the lodge, its many activities and your scheduled itinerary.
Please note: The Village will outfit you with a thermal snowsuit, wool socks, boots, mittens and a balaclava, which you’ll keep for your entire stay.
Afterward, spend some time on your own to get settled in your cozy cabin and check out the lovely, snowy surroundings.
This evening, join your fellow travelers for a delicious dinner in the Village’s dining room.
Day 6 | Pyhä
Northern Lights Village
B | D
AHI Connects | Happiest People in the World Workshop. Finland consistently tops the World Happiness Report, which measures how people around the world evaluate the quality of their lives. Discover the reasons behind the Finns’ strong sense of well-being and their unique affinity with the natural world from a local expert during a workshop.
Husky Safari. This afternoon, you’re in charge as you drive a team of eager huskies on a fun, fast-paced and unforgettable journey across the snowy fjells! A professional driver will provide training. Then, you’ll lead the team of dogs in a sled that can accommodate two people. All the sled teams will follow the professional driver and will be accompanied by a second guide on a snowmobile. (Very Active. This is a highly active excursion that requires strong balance over a one-hour period, including balancing on the narrow slats of a dogsled for one hour (with a few stops along the way) as it travels at moderate speeds and the ability to stand with strength on the foot brake that stops the dogs.)
Meet your fellow travelers in the dining room for dinner.
Aurora Hunting in the Wilderness. Relish a wonderful evening at the lodge’s Aurora Camp, where you’ll have the opportunity to see the awe-inspiring Aurora Borealis (atmospheric conditions permitting.) This amazing natural phenomenon is the result of collisions overhead! When electrically charged particles generated by the sun hit the molecules of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, they become excited. As these particles calm down, they emit the glowing, dancing green and violet lights we see as the Aurora. On your way to the camp by minibus, stop for photos, and enjoy a warm drink by the fire inside a hut at the camp.
Day 7 | Pyhä
Northern Lights Village
B | L | D
AHI Connects | Finnish Reindeer Farm. Reindeer husbandry is an intrinsic part of Sámi culture, a custom that dates to the Middle Ages when the Sámi people first domesticated wild reindeer. Today, Lapland’s reindeer remain semi-wild, roaming the forests and fjells while local reindeer herders watch over them. At a traditional farm owned by a Sámi family, see these beautiful animals, learn about daily life over the seasons and enjoy a homemade lunch.
Free Time: Your afternoon is at leisure.
Head to the Village’s dining room for a satisfying dinner tonight.
Aurora Snowshoe Expedition. Strap on snowshoes and venture off for an invigorating hike under a moonlit sky amid the stillness of the pristine forest and fjells. Follow your professional guide over gentle slopes to special vantage points to view the Northern Lights (atmospheric conditions permitting.) Savor a refreshing break by a fire, complemented by a toasty beverage and tales about the Northern Lights.
Day 8 | Pyhä
Northern Lights Village
B | D
Snowmobile Safari. Feel immersed in the wintery wilderness as you zip across powdery snowdrifts on a carefree ride! Your experienced guide will provide safety training and accompany you. Pause for great photos and a warm drink during your two-hour ride. (Very Active. You must be 18 years or older and present your valid driver’s license to take part in this excursion.)
Free Time: Spend the afternoon pursuing your own passions! Delight in more of Lapland’s breathtaking scenery by taking advantage of cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals at a nominal fee for Village guests. In addition, the Village offers many other optional experiences (available at an additional cost). Take a cross-country skiing lesson or travel by snowmobile to a secluded lake and try ice fishing.
This evening, celebrate your time in Finland with your fellow travelers at a Farewell Dinner.
Day 9 | Rovaniemi | Helsinki | Depart for gateway city
B
After breakfast, depart for the Rovaniemi airport and fly to Helsinki. Connect in Helsinki to your international flights home. Please note: Upon arrival in Helsinki, you will be required to retrieve your luggage from the baggage claim area and recheck it for your international flight home.
