Winter Finland: Northern Lights & Snowmobile Thrills

Fly into and out of Ivalo Airport (IVL). Finding flights for this northwards voyage to the Arctic Circle can be a challenge. Please let us know if you are struggling – we’ll do our very best to help.

Before 3 pm ideally. The welcome meeting and dinner will be from 7 pm onwards at the hotel, which is located approximately 45 minutes from Ivalo Airport.

Check-out time is before 12 pm but you can leave any time that suits you.

If you arrive on Day 1 of your adventure, or you book pre-tour accommodation with us, your airport arrival transfer will be included. If you book alternative pre-tour accommodation or are arriving by another mode of transport you must arrange your own arrival transfer.

Arrival transfers are private to Flash Pack and will be in groups depending on flight times. Sometimes this means waiting in the airport for a short while until other flights have arrived.

Departure transfers are also included in the cost of this trip.

Please note that tips are not included in the cost of this adventure. Suggested amounts per person are:

• Pack Leader: 10 EUR per day
• Drivers: 3 EUR per day

However, all tips are at your discretion depending on what you feel comfortable with.

Up-to-date visa and entry information can be found using our official partner, Sherpa, who can help you arrange a visa if needed.

You can also find essential travel advice – including security and local laws, as well as passport and visa information – on the government website of your home country:

• UK residents: review the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Travel Advice before your adventure.
• US residents: consult the US Department of State Travel Advice for important travel information.
• Australian residents: check the Smart Traveler website for up-to-date travel advice.
• Residents of other countries: refer to the travel advice provided by your own government or local consulate.

Please be aware that passport and visa requirements can change before departure, so it’s important to stay updated with the latest information.

While we are not medical professionals and cannot offer personalised medical advice, we want to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable adventure. Here are some tips to help you prepare.

1. Consult with a healthcare professional

We recommend scheduling an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure. This will give you ample time to receive any necessary vaccines or medications.

2. Up-to-date medical advice

• UK residents: visit the NHS Fit For Travel website for the latest medical advice.
• US residents: check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for specialised health information.
• Australian residents: refer to the Smart Traveler Health website for current medical advice.

3. Government travel advice

• UK residents: review the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Travel Advice before your adventure.
• US residents: consult the US Department of State Travel Advice for important travel information.
• Australian residents: check the Smart Traveler website for up-to-date travel advice.

4. Medication tips

If you take prescription medication, ensure you bring enough to last the entire adventure, plus a few extra days in case of travel delays. Carry a copy of your prescription with you in case you need to visit a clinic while abroad.

We hope this information will help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure.

The Northern Lights are best viewed on clear nights between late August and early April.

Please be aware that the Northern Lights are weather-dependent and not guaranteed to appear on every trip.

This trip is nearly fully inclusive so you won’t need much. Activity guide tips are included in the cost – but you’ll need to allow for any drinks at the hotel. As a guide, a beer costs 6.5 EUR and a bottle of wine is from 42 EUR upwards.

This adventure is fast-paced and it will challenge you during the ski trek especially. However, no specific level of fitness is required, we just want to ensure you are happy partaking in the activities like snowmobiling, husky sledding and snowshoeing. We recommend having a read-through of the itinerary above, and getting in touch if you have specific questions on fitness.

On Day 2, we will kit you out with cold weather kit including a thermal snowsuit, boots and gloves, to keep you warm during outdoor activities.

However, it’s best to bring your own winter clothing too as it will be very cold when you exit the airport terminal.

Make sure you have good boots, thick socks and insulated waterproof gloves/mittens, as well as a winter hat, scarf/buff and insulated wind-resistant winter jacket and trousers.  You’ll also want a long-sleeved thermal base layers and a fleece.

Some Flashpackers have recommended bringing handwarmers and footwarmers, as well as a hot water bottle.

Food allergies and special diets can of course be catered for on this trip, for example, if you are a vegan you will receive a vegan version of the same menu. However extreme allergies like an extreme nut allergy cannot be catered for on this adventure, as all food is prepared in the same kitchen. Please bear this in mind when booking, and reach out to us if you think you will be affected.

You need to have a driver’s licence from your home country in order to drive a snowmobile. Otherwise, you can still take part but you’ll need to ride pillion.

Before going on the snowmobiling safari, you will be asked to sign a liability form to confirm you consider yourself to be able to take part in the activity. Snowmobiles are expensive machines and the form also explains that in the unlikely event you damage a snowmobile, you will be required to pay for repairs up to a value of 900 EUR. An insurance policy at a cost of 15 EUR is available to purchase locally which will decrease your liability for any damage to 150 EUR. Your activity guide will talk you through everything before the safari to ensure you are comfortable, but if you would like to see a copy of the liability form prior to travel, please do feel free to get in touch with us.

Please be aware that the itinerary, activities and hotels are subject to change. These changes can happen with little notice due to availability, poor weather, seasonal changes, or other circumstances beyond our control – but we’ll always do our best to ensure it has little impact on your experience. From time to time, we may also make changes to your itinerary to try out new ideas and keep things fresh and exciting.

To keep you warm in the frosty Finnish winter, you’ll be provided with a thermal overcoat, boots and gloves. However, please prepare for extreme weather and bring your own warm and waterproof clothes for day-to-day wear.  You might also consider bringing handwarmers and footwarmers, as well as a hot water bottle. Temperatures can reach -20C in this region.

What you pack is personal to you and our list is certainly not exhaustive. If you have any questions about what to pack for your trip to Finland, please get in touch with one of our friendly Trip Experts.

Baggage

• A large backpack or suitcase – it’s up to you whether you bring a backpack or a suitcase
• A day bag – this needs to be around 20-25 litres to fit your daily essentials in, such as water and your camera

Clothing

• Activewear – breathable and light materials are best as a base layer for most activities. Hiking tops are best as they have wicking properties that remove sweat, keeping you dry and warm
• Outdoor trousers that are warm and waterproof
• You will need a warm and waterproof jacket for general wear in Finland
• Fleeces/jumpers/down jacket – substantial, warm layers will be required
• Thermal vests/base layers – if the weather gets cold, you may want to wear a thermal vest during the day and at night
• Scarf/hat/gloves/buff
• Swimwear – you will have the chance to cold-water-swim and use the sauna
• What you wear in the evenings is up to you, but you may want some nicer clothes for the evenings

Shoes

• Waterproof shoes and socks – you’ll be provided with snow boots during outdoor activities, but warm and waterproof shoes will be useful for everyday wear in Finland

Accessories

• Driving license for snowmobile driving
• Electricals and chargers, such as your phone, camera, chargers, etc
• Plug socket adaptors – the standard plug socket in Finland is type C which has 2 round prongs. This is the same as most of Europe.
• Refillable water bottle – refilling a bottle instead of buying single-use bottles will help to reduce our plastic footprint
• Eye mask and earplugs – if you’re a light sleeper, you may feel more comfortable bringing an eye mask and earplugs
• Any personal medication you require
• Personal toiletries, including a toothbrush, deodorant, razors, hairbrush, etc
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Painkillers
• Anti-bacterial gel
• Lip balm with SPF
• Moisturiser
• High SPF factor sun cream – this helps to protect your skin from the cold