Journey deep into Arctic Scandinavia on this exclusive 10-day adventure that blends magic and beauty with rich cultural immersion and hands-on experiences. Lapland, also known as Sápmi, is the ancestral homeland of the Sámi people, spanning the northern reaches of Scandinavia. Departing on Spring Equinox of 2027, this tour is designed for a small group of up to 12 travelers. The journey will go beyond the Northern Lights to offer meaningful connections with local leaders of the people who live here - the Sámi among them. We will learn about ancient traditions that continue to shape their lives - not without some complex cultural and political challenges. Like indigenous cultures and peoples all over the world, the Sámi grapple with questions of relevance on the national and international levels, inviting visitors and tourists to sustain and support their culture, while wishing to also to preserve the origins of values that were there long before the Scandinavian countries were even on the map.

✔ Dog sledding with a musher in Tromsö

✔ Meet with Sámi community leaders

✔ Understand the importance of reindeer herding

✔ Learn about the ongoing societal struggles of the the Sámi people
✔ Understand the importance of forest sustainability practices

✔ Sample traditional reindeer meat (renskav), moose, salmon, grouse, and other wild game, desserts with cloudberries and lingonberries.

✔ Stay at the world famous ice-hotel in Jukkasjärvi
✔ Experience an excursion of snowshoeing in subarctic wilderness
✔ Ice fishing (weather/temperature permitting, Finland)
✔ Daring to be wild! The Finnish sauna + cold plunge!

IMPORTANT NOTE: This itinerary should be considered a living document and subject to change based on local schedule changes, weather and circumstances beyond our control. Hotels, events and restaurants may have to change, sometimes at the last minute to a similar category, to accommodate for a smaller, or larger group.

A flexible schedule is also to be able to meet someone new while we are on our journey, or to engage in an activity we could not have foreseen.

INCLUDED: 

In-country transportation per itinerary (train, bus, as applicable); best available, locally run accommodations; all breakfasts, three (3) dinners and three(3) lunches, Cross Cultural Journeys trip manager; English-speaking local Arctic wilderness guides; exchanges with local indigenous community leaders, historians, wisdom keepers, story tellers and environmental activists. All entrance fees on itinerary; Destination Guides for each place, and other preparation materials.

NOT INCLUDED: Airfare from the United States to and from Scandinavia. Domestic flight between Tromsø and Kiruna. Meals not on itinerary; alcoholic drinks; excursions not on the itinerary; entrance fees to sites not on itinerary; tips for local guide and driver (optional, yet customary); travel insurance.

TRAVEL PROTECTION: Cross Cultural Journeys is not responsible for cancellation expenses that you might incur before or during our trip.  You may want to check first to see if your current insurance policy covers travel abroad, but we have found that most do not. We strongly encourage considering taking out travel interruption and evacuation insurance to cover any emergencies abroad such as evacuation, or reimbursement for cancellation due to your own illness or an illness in your family. We encourage you to choose a plan covers travel interruption before you depart, as well as during the trip. CCJ is not responsible for events beyond our control in this regard.  

Your journey begins above the Arctic Circle in Tromsø, a vibrant northern outpost surrounded by fjords and snow-covered peaks. After settling into your hotel, gather with your fellow travelers for a warm welcome dinner featuring regional cuisine. As evening falls, step outside into the crisp Arctic air—your first opportunity to glimpse the elusive Northern Lights.

Stay (depending on final size of group, and availability):

• Clarion Hotel The Edge (modern, waterfront comfort)

• Alternative: Scandic Ishavshotel

Experiences:

• Welcome dinner + Arctic orientation

• Aurora Borealis viewing

• Cultural introduction to northern Norwegian life

• Challenges of indigenous communities of the Arctic and Subarctic

Why here: Tromsø is one of the best-access hubs for Arctic experiences and Northern Lights visibility.

Day 2 – Exploration of the Lyngen Region

Today, you leave the city behind and travel into the Lyngen Alps, where the landscape grows quieter and more elemental. Arriving at a traditional camp, you are welcomed into a lavvu—an ancestral tent structure warmed by fire. Here, you begin your introduction to the original Sámi culture through conversation, shared meals, and, if we are lucky, the sounds of joik, - a traditional song form. We also learn about the pain points of the indigenous communities still living here.

Day 3 – Dog Sledding & Arctic Silence

This morning brings one of the Arctic’s most exhilarating traditions: dog sledding with an experienced musher. Glide across frozen terrain, guided by a team of eager huskies, through a landscape defined by deafening silence and glittering snow. The afternoon invites reflection—perhaps time by the fire—before another chance to witness the aurora borealis far from any artificial light.

Stay (depending on final size of group, and availability):

• Clarion Hotel The Edge (modern, waterfront comfort)

• Alternative: Scandic Ishavshotel

Day 4 – Crossing into Sweden: Ice & Light

After a scenic morning transfer and regional flight, you arrive in Kiruna in Swedish Lapland and make your way to nearby Jukkasjärvi. Here, you check into the remarkable Icehotel—an ever-changing work of art sculpted entirely from ice and snow. Wander through intricately carved suites and luminous halls before settling in. Have a beverage of choice on the rocks in a GLASS made of - yes - ice! Tonight, the frozen Torne River becomes your front yard, glowing under subarctic twilight.

Day 5 – Reindeer & Sámi Traditions

Today, you step deeper into Northern way of life. Spend time with reindeer herders, learning about a way of life that has endured for generations despite modern pressures. Try your hand at lasso throwing, feed the herd, and listen as your hosts share their connection to land, animals, and seasonal challenges. Return to the Icehotel for a second night—one spent fully immersed in this surreal, frozen environment.

Stay:

• Jukkasjärvi Icehotel

Experiences:

• 2 nights (warm room)
  NOTE: "cold room" stay, if available, adds an extra fee per person (see add-ons)

• Guided ice-art and architecture tour

• Reindeer herding with Sámi families

• Lasso throwing

• Learning about reindeer importance in Northern Scandinavian cultures

• Northern Lights along the Torne River

Why here? Reindeer herding remains a core cultural and economic practice among the Northern and Sámi communities

Day 6 – Into the Wilderness: Winter Nature Camp

Leaving Jukkasjärvi behind, you travel into a more remote corner of Sápmi—the cultural homeland of the Sámi people. At a wilderness camp, far from modern distractions, you are welcomed into a slower, more grounded way of life. Accommodations are simple yet deeply atmospheric, reflecting the environment and traditions around you.

Day 7 – Living Traditions of the Subarctic

Today is about participation, not observation. Join your hosts in daily practices shaped by the subarctic environment—whether assisting with reindeer, learning traditional crafts, or walking through snow-laden forests while discussing stewardship and sustainability. Meals are shared, stories unfold as we go, and the connection between culture and land becomes vividly clear.

Stay:

• Sapmi Nature Camp

Off-grid stay:

• Lavvu or eco-lodge accommodations

• Minimal electricity

• Direct hosting by local guides

Experiences:

• Hands-on reindeer herding immersion

• Storytelling, and food traditions

• Forest stewardship practices

• Snowshoeing through migration landscapes

Finland is often ranked the happiest country in the world—earning the #1 spot in the 2026 United Nations World Happiness Report—while the United States ranked 23rd. But is it really? What does this happiness consist of? For our travelers, this last stop on our winter adventure will offers a unique glimpse into the Finnish psyche, and to experience a different approach to well-being, one rooted in balance, trust, and connection to nature. In Finland, happiness is found not in constant activity, but in simple, meaningful moments—often in silence - time spent in the forest, gathering with friends, or unwinding in a traditional sauna. It’s a way of life that invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and discover a quieter, more grounded sense of contentment.

Day 8 – The Finns and & their Forests

Early departure from Kiruna for Rovaniemi. Crossing into Finland in our private motor coach, the landscape subtly shifts—dense forests, frozen lakes, and a deep sense of almost deafening quiet define this region. Settle into your accommodations near Rovaniemi. If time permits, late afternoon venture onto a frozen lake for ice fishing, embracing a practice that reflects the Finish patience, strength and resilience - also known as the Finnish SISU.

Day 9 – Sauna, Ice & Celebration of Winter

Today, experience one of Finland’s most cherished traditions: the sauna! The Finnish sauna culture is deeply embedded in daily life and wellness traditions.. Begin with a gradual warming in a wood-fired sauna before stepping outside into the cold—perhaps even plunging into icy water. This ritual, both invigorating and meditative, offers insight into Finnish approaches to wellness and balance. Later, visit Santa Claus Village, a lighthearted yet iconic Finnsih landmark, before gathering for a final evening together.

Stay:

• TreeHouse Hotel
  alternative:

• Remote wilderness cabins outside Rovaniemi

Experiences:

• Traditional Finnish sauna + cold plunge

• Ice fishing

• Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing

• "A Glimpse of Santa Claus...?" An example of a popular mass tourism experience - the world famous Santa Claus village in Rovaniemi. It's like Vegas, you may only go once....!

After breakfast, your journey concludes in Rovaniemi. As you depart, you carry with you not only memories of extraordinary landscapes, but also a deeper understanding of Arctic cultures—resilient, evolving, and profoundly connected to the natural world.

Continue to the regional airport for your flights back home, or continue you Scandinavian adventure to Helsinki, Stockholm or Oslo
(NOTE: these are add-ons and not included in your 10-day journey fee).