TTExperience! #15: Welcome to Grand Lapland!

In the stillness of a frosty winter night, inside cosy cabins, words spread around. It was the first night that we arrived.

“Guys it's getting very strong right now”

“Wow! What a nice welcoming gift ✨”

“Come outside!”

When the Lights slowly appeared, everyone rushed out to gather and look up at the sky.

At midnight, Whatsapp was booming with pictures.

Welcome to Grand Lapland!

Why do we call it “Grand”?

Simply, this is the ultimate Lapland experience. If you ever dreamed about travelling 3 Nordic countries in a row, this trip is taking you to the best of Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish Lapland has to offer!

On a snowy day in February, our team signed up for this ultimate experience, which got us super excited! This time, we are travelling the traditional way, so we will take the night bus instead of booking a flight to Rovaniemi. Also to take care of our travellers better. =)

The journey will start from rainy Helsinki - Rovaniemi - Kilpisjärvi - Tromsø - Abisko - Kiruna - Helsinki.

Our expected route of Grand Lapland

Day 1-2: Depature - Santa Claus Village - Kilpisjärvi

People were picked up from different spots from South to North, and soon we reached Santa Land. We had also a Finnish-style breakfast and headed to the grocery store to buy food as we needed to cook at the accommodation.

We finally arrived a the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, which is a geographical and cultural landmark that holds a special place in the hearts of many travellers. Located just a stone's throw away from the city centre of Rovaniemi, the Arctic Circle marks the point on the Earth's surface where the polar day and polar night meet, creating a unique spot to check in!

This enchanting village has the Christmas spirit all year round. You can easily find Santa's official post office, where visitors can send letters from Santa to their loved ones all over the world. There are two postal boxes. The red one will be delivered by Christmas and the orange one will be sent as soon as possible. Choose them correctly!

The highlight of the trip was that we all gathered in the Santa room for pictures. There was a myth that Santa could speak a lot of languages, so you could try to talk to him in yours. Then, look at the Elves’ camera and smile!

Our group at Santa Claus village

Goodbye Santa, we are heading to Kilpisjärvi now!

The snowy landscape from Rovaniemi to more Northern part is monotonous, nevertheless, completely special. The land is blanketed by snowy plains, frozen lakes, and snow-covered forests. All in all creates a picturesque winter postcard.

When we arrived at Kilpisjärvi, it was all dark. Seven of us were assigned to a Santa’s Chalet, which was a modern cottage with two floors. There was a big living room and a kitchen under, also a small double room. Upstairs, it was built as an entresol, there was one big bedroom that could host 3 people, and 2 more beds in different rooms.

The living room of Santa Chalet modern cottage

There was a small K-Market nearby. Inside there was Alko, “Ravintola Kilpis” restaurant and a sports clothing store, where you can buy some extra socks or gloves, etc. in the same building.

As the night went by, we had a small dinner together and some rushed out for Northern Lights, as what happened at the beginning of the story. :)

We were super lucky to already spot Aurora on the first night in Lapland.

Day 3: Husky Safari - Teambuilding activity - Night Swimming in the Fjords

Early morning rise in the middle of the wonderland, where the temperature was -34 Celsius degree. Currently, we are located in Kilpisjörvi, Enontekiö region, the northwestern part of Finland, bordering Sweden and Norway.

Husky Safari

Today, we are heading to Hetta Village, a popular tourist destination for cross-country skiers and winter outdoor activity enthusiasts. But first, we visited the husky farm and met the little friends!

How do we ride the sledge?

We met the guide and took a walk to the farm. Seeing all the dog name tags got us excited to meet them. We were taught how to control a husky sledge, as it required a combination of communication, balance, and understanding of the dogs' behaviours.

Our guide - showing us how to ride the sledge

There will be two people on the sledge, one standing as a driver, one sitting as a “passenger”. For the passenger, you only need to be well seated and enjoy the ride.

For the driver, here are the basic commands/rules:

Communications between slegdes:

There will be hand signals communication between the guides and all drivers.
The guide will show you all the signals at practice.
Pay attention closely to them

Body positioning:

Stand on the runners at the back of the sledge with your feet firmly on it. Remember to keep your knees slightly bent for balance.
Lean into turns: To head the sledge through turns, shift your weight to the side you want to turn toward. Use your body weight to help the sledge turn smoothly.
When going uphill, help the dogs to go up by pushing forward one leg on the ground. When going downhill, do a gradual break if the sledge runs too fast.

Braking:

The brake bar is located at the back of the sledge and can be pressed down to create resistance against the snow, slowing down the sledge. There are two types of brakes:
- Gradual Braking: Apply steady pressure on the brake to slow down.
- Hard Braking: Press the brake down firmly to come to a complete stop. Keep in mind that sudden stops might cause the dogs to be surprised and become tangled. What I would suggest is to always focus on the one in front of you and keep a safe distance. If you need to stop, do a gradual one, then a hard brake.

Nothing too rocket science, No worries, you will learn how it works in practice!

It was not my first time on a Husky sledge, so I got used to it pretty quickly. What I could only tell you from this experience is that, wow, one of the best! The wind breeze across your face, the cutie pies running, the sun, the snow. Time just basically stopped and all I could feel was joy.

Befriending the dogs

After the excursion, it’s finally time to meet the dogs!!! I thanked my team of dogs for treating us so well and gave them some compliments. They need it. :)

We went through the farm with the guide to learn about the dogs’ daily life, and how freely they could run around the farm. I got curious with many questions about the breeds and she was eager to answer everything I had.

But what I felt most special about this farm is that they actually let us hold the leash to really befriend a husky. There will be various mini-games where obstacles are built, and you need to cooperate with your “friend” to complete all the challenges. Huskies are creatures of sports, so they won’t let you rest at all. After several rounds of running, -30 did not feel cold anymore.

After completing all the challenges, it’s time to take them home. We were given the opportunity to take our friends back to their homes. We needed to take off their harness, to find their name tags on the house and, at the same time make sure they didn’t take us in the wrong direction (with all the strength, they are totally capable of).

I definitely learned a lot about the care, training, and handling of huskies!

The farm would likely provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about the care, training, and handling of huskies. You might have the chance to help with tasks like harnessing the dogs, feeding them, and getting to know their personalities.

Tips:

This would be totally suitable for dog lovers, who are looking for new experience.
Safety First!
Always follow safety guidelines.
Wear appropriate clothing to stay warm in cold weather. As the temperature is less than -30, cover your face to prevent it from being frozen.
Keep a safe distance between sledges to avoid collisions

Teambuilding activity

When our dear guide, Svetlana, asked us if we could help her set up for the Arctic Survival Skills activity happening the next day. We had a bit of energy in the afternoon, so yeah, the Timetravels Communication Team were up for some challenges.

After lunch, we carried all the equipment and jumped into the adventure. It was a 2km hike uphills, it was sunny so we warmed up quickly. After 20 minutes of hiking, we ended up in the middle of the frozen Čáhkáljávri lake, with a great view of Saana Fell. For Arctic Skills, we had three different activities (2023-spring):

Ice Fishing on Čáhkáljávri Lake
Quinzee (Snow House) Building
Fire making basics

We will prepare the foundation of the Snow House for our dear travellers!

Having fun while preparing the activity

The fun part

We slowly started to accumulate a large pile of snow. Any standard? Yes, the snow should be dry and powdery for best results. We would need enough snow to build the shelter, so gathered as much as we could.

Then we packed down the snow to create a solid foundation to prevent the shelter from collapsing. This was the most fun part, as we did what we do best in the team: TEAMWORK!

Well, sorta.

The preparation of Quinzee building activity

Get back to work! :D

After the “exercise”, it was already dinner time.

Night Swimming in the Fjords

After dinner, we immediately depart to one of the most beautiful Norway Fjords, Lyngenfjord to experience a one-of-a-life-time arctic experience: Sauna and swimming in the fjords!

Located at the inner parts of the east side of the Lyngenfjord, the tiny Norwegian fishing village of Skibotn and the surrounding mountains make it the perfect spot to be disconnected from the world and capture the moment!

Lyngenfjord sauna - Photo by Lyngentourist

How to enjoy the sauna?

Step 1: It was recommended to dip in the water to cleanse your body. This helps to maintain hygiene within the sauna and get you ready for it.

Step 2: Time to relax and enjoy the sauna! Enter the sauna and find a comfortable spot to sit. It is the perfect time to connect with people. Strangers get to know each other for a customary 10-15 minutes in one sauna turn. We made friends with travellers in the sauna. To find a suitable temperature for yourself, you can test sitting on benches at different heights; the higher benches are usually hotter. It's common to have a towel to sit on for comfort.

Step 3: Cool down. The best way would be to go straight to swim in the fjords! While in the water, take a moment to reflect on the beauty of nature, the stillness of the Arctic night, and the privilege of being able to experience such a unique environment.

We also tried rolling in the snow, but if it’s too much for you, a simple cold shower or cool breeze will also work.

Step 4: Repeat the whole process! The Finnish style would be to repeat the sauna session several times, alternating between heat and cooling down. Try it and feel the difference in your body afterwards!

In this activity, remember to bring a waterproof camera or a waterproof case for your phone to capture the mesmerizing moments of your Arctic night swim. The reflections on the water and the surrounding landscapes can create stunning visuals!

The sauna area of Lyngenfjords

After the sauna, we gathered around the fire for hot drinks and cookies. Even the simplest snack could make us happy at this point. I could never forget the truly captivating combination of the tranquil waters, the mystique of the fjords and the shimmering sky. We looked at each other and knew that, we would have a good night's sleep.

Day 4: Three Borders Snowmobile Safari - Night Snowshoe Hike

Due to the hectic schedule, we skipped Arctic Skills to get more rest and worked a bit in the morning. When we were away, our team had some deadlines to catch up. The snowmobile activity started at 14:00, so we had the morning to have a team discussion.

Then we decided to cook some spaghetti together! We tried to have food ready when our colleagues came back from Arctic Skills. We lived like a family during this trip. As a person living far from home, having someone waiting for you with warm food at home brings the best feeling ever!

Three-border Snowmobile activity

Enjoying family lunch time so long that we almost forgot that time is running short. We rushed to cover ourselves up to prepare for the next outdoor activity.

Personally, I had frozen fingers and toes during this activity before, so this time I took it too seriously and covered many layers. I was really concerned with the temperature, but at the same time, super excited as I was only a passenger sitting in the back and never drove the snowmobile myself.

Even better, when I paired with my team leader, Nicola, I bravely carried the heavy responsibility of safely taking care of him! No pressure at all.

My leader and I :)

Preparation:

In a room full of equipment, we were given all kinds of protective gear, including a helmet, goggles, insulated clothing, gloves, and sturdy boots. These all were very important, even if you have your own gears, you will need to leave them behind and use more professional ones.

Gear up!

Now, start the engine!

We familiarized ourselves with the snowmobile's controls, including the throttle, brake, steering, and other safety measurement. These were extremely important for first-time drivers! (like me)

The most important safety feature was the key attached to your suit. Always keep it attached when you are on the snowmobile.

Briefly on how general snowmobiles work:

(The manual can vary for each snowmobile, so please take the guide’s instructions)

Starting the Snowmobile:

Sit on the snowmobile and adjust your suitable position
Keep your arms slightly bent.
Follow the instructions to start the engine.

Throttle and Brake:

The throttle is on the right handlebar. Press it gently to slowly accelerate and increase speed. At first, I was using my thumb to press it, nevertheless, it was tiring after driving for a while. So it might be better to use the whole hand muscle to push the button.
The brake lever is on the left handlebar. Squeeze it to apply the brake and slow down.
Use both the brake lever and the throttle to control your speed and maintain control. Do gradually brake to avoid sudden stops, especially on icy and uneven terrains.

Turning:

Use your body weight to steer the snowmobile. Lean your body left and right to guide the vehicle in the desired direction. I was using only my arm power at first and it did not end up so well, as it went a totally different direction than I was supposed to go.
Avoid oversteering, as this can cause the snowmobile to tip over.
Sometimes, the snowmobile will not be balanced on uneven terrains. Don’t worry and lean on the opposite side than the side that was tilted to.

Driving snomobiles can take a bit of time in the beginning, but you will nail it easily!

The ride!

As we moved on in lines, firstly, there was test driving to make sure everyone was familiar with the basic technique. Then, our trail runs from the frozen lake through a beautiful snowy birch forest to Koltavuoma where the yellow border cairn of three Nordic countries is located. Then we went back to the frozen lake and then, the headquarter.

I was driving through the forest and headed to a slightly steep hill. So there were a lot of uneven terrain. Except for the stress that I must make sure my leader would be safe, it was a really enjoyable ride as we got the chance to speed up many times.

I did not forget to take a moment to appreciate the breathtaking scenery through snowy trails. It was the feeling of freedom!

Soon we arrive at the most peaceful border in the world.

The junction of Norway, Sweden, and Finland!

The cairn serves as a geographical point where the national borders of Norway, Sweden, and Finland intersect. The cairn is painted yellow to make it more visible against the mountainous backdrop and to signify the shared heritage of the three nations.

Very meaningful, so we decided to climb up there like conquerers… Nah, it was fun and a bit dangerous at the same time.

The three-border-cairn, where Norway, Sweden, and Finland meet. There is a stone in the middle. Each side of this stone marks the area of each country (with their names!)! So just walk around the stone, you will cross three countries in less than 10 seconds!

To climb up there, there should be two persons pushing you up from both sides. To get down, someone needs to be there to catch you.

We made many stops on the way to take group pictures, and we changed the driver. Now I can be assured that my leader will take me back safely.

Tips for this activity?

Pay attention to instructed hand signals
Keep your distance from the ones in front of you and go in line
Gear up properly
Always remember to enjoy the scenery and have fun!

After having the ability to travel to three countries within 10 seconds, we could head back to fulfilment and prepare for another sporty activity: Night Snowshoe Hike!

(To be continued)