Northern Wonders: Traveling Through Lapland, Finland's Enchanted Wilde

If you dream of nothing more than escaping the noise and chaos of everyday life in the city, then you should definitely look into Lapland trips.

In the wilderness of the Finnish Lapland, peace and quiet is the norm.

Silence will only be broken by the crunching of leaves under your feet as you walk under the lush canopy of trees.

Or by the hooting of the birds soaring above, the winds rustling the tree leaves, or the lapping of the water against the river banks.

Anywhere you go in Lapland, you will find serenity and tranquility, which makes it the perfect place to meditate and unwind to relieve stress.

While waiting for your Lapland trip to be booked, let us go on a virtual journey and explore the enchanting wilderness of Lapland.

The Fascinating Landscapes of the Lapland Wilderness

Hailed as the last wilderness in Europe, the Finnish Lapland is home to a wide assortment of beautiful landscapes—from marvelous Arctic fells, gorgeous gorges, lush green forests, vast marshes, placid lakes, and gushing rivers.

Head to the north of Lapland, and this is where you will find Halti—the highest fells, the only mountains in Finland, and the gateway to the tundra. Come wintertime, snow falls first and stays the longest in Northern Lapland. After which, you will see the viridiscent emerald flames of the first auroras of the season dancing in the night skies.

Eastward, you will fall in love with rows and rows of evergreen forests, long rivers meandering through the wilderness, and the resulting grand canyons carved out by the gushing waters of the rivers.

Meanwhile, Southern Lapland is also home to forests of every stripe and color, placid lakes, and wide aapa mires. The heaviest snow in all of Finland falls here, which means this is the best spot for winter sports. Finally, western Lapland is where you’ll see rolling hills rise, and this is where the lush forests meet the longest free-flowing rivers in all of Europe.

The Enchanting Aurora Borealis

Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is a fascinating natural light phenomenon that graces the skies of the northern hemisphere in Lapland. Tourists from all over the world travel all the way to Lapland to personally witness the spectacular sight of these viridescent emerald flames dancing amidst the background of the night sky. For the ultimate aurora borealis and star gazing experience, consider sleeping in the glass igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. These glass igloos offer a panoramic 360-degree view of the sky and the Northern Lights, all while keeping you warm and cozy.

The Purest Water in the World

Lapland is also home to countless lakes and a vast network of groundwater sources, which produce the purest drinking water in the world. The water pumped from Lapland’s ground is so clean and pure that it needs hardly any processing for it to be potable, thereby making it exceptionally pure and tasty. So when you’re wandering around Lapland’s wilderness, you can actually just cup your palms and scoop a delicious drink of its pure water right out of the spring, stream, or even the river.

The Mesmerizing Midnight Sun

From May to late August, a curious phenomenon happens over Lapland—the sun doesn't ever set. During summer in Lapland, nighttime becomes but a memory, for in place of the stars and moon, you will see the continuous rays of the gentle, golden light of the midnight sun. At such point, summer in Lapland becomes less about hot days and warm nights. Instead, it morphs people’s states of mind where there's no point stressing over timetables and schedules as the day blends into the night. When you can’t sleep, you can actually go mountain biking, take an unforgettable hike in the wilderness, or simply appreciate the persisting sun while soaking in a hot tub.

The Winter Wonderland

Lapland is also home to Santa Claus, who you can personally meet if you go all the way to the town of Rovaniemi.

The Santa Claus Village and Winter Wonderland are popular tourist destinations, especially for children, because this is where they will get a chance to see and talk to Santa Claus, take a ride on his sleigh, and even visit his gift workshop. The Winter Wonderland is also the best place to enjoy winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.

You can also go cross-country skiing on its beautiful snow-capped trails winding through the forests and mountains.

For the ultimate thrilling experience, you can even go husky sledding.

Learn About the Sámi Culture

Sámi—the only indigenous tribe in Europe—lives in Sápmi, a cultural region in northern Lapland. With a population of merely 10,500, they maintain their own vivid culture, traditions, and language.

Reindeer herding is a central part of the Sami culture. They also take pride in making handicrafts, fishing, and hunting.  If you really want to immerse yourself in the experience of the Sami culture, you can stop by Inari, where you can learn about the Sami people in the Sami museum and even buy some authentic handicrafts from shops.

World's Cleanest Air

Lapland has the world’s purest air. If you have been used to the smoke and air pollution of the city, nothing can prepare you for the first breath of fresh, clean air filling your lungs here in Lapland.

Experience the Unspoiled Beauty of Lapland

Finnish Lapland—home to the iconic Santa Claus, the last wilderness in Europe, and the indigenous Sámi people—is truly a destination that will make for an unforgettable travel experience. Day in and day out, tourists can take delight in savoring the unspoiled beauty and tranquility of Lapland. From the Midnight Sun, Polar Nights, autumn colors, Aurora Borealis, and Arctic cities nestled among Ice Age fells, Lapland never fails to amaze tourists. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Olivia Poglianich          

Content Strategist

Olivia Poglianich is a nomadic brand strategist and copywriter in the ski and snowboard space who has worked with brands such as Visa, Disney and Grey Goose. Her writing has taken her all over the world, from a Serbian music festival to a Malaysian art and culture event. Olivia is a graduate of Cornell University and is often writing or reading about travel, hospitality, the start-up ecosystem or career coaching. Her latest interests are at the intersection of web3 and communal living, both on and offline.