An Arctic Summer in Lapland

Day 1-2

Your trans-Atlantic overnight flight arrives at Oslo Gardermoen Airport on the afternoon of Day 2 where we'll meet our local guide and enjoy a first taste of Nordic cuisine at our welcome dinner. Clarion Hotel The Hub - 2 nights (D) 

Day 3

Welcome to Norway's elegant capital city, Oslo. We'll begin at Vigeland Sculpture Park where more than 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland occupy the beautifully landscaped grounds. We'll see the Royal Palace, official residence of Norway's new monarch, before making our way to the 13th Century medieval Akershus Fortress. We'll then visit the Fram Museum, devoted to the extraordinary Norwegian tradition of polar exploration. (FB,D) 

Day 4-5

A short morning flight takes us to Tromso, known as the "Gateway to the Arctic." There you'll have plenty of time to discover the city at your own pace during the season of the Midnight Sun, when the sun remains above the horizon around the clock. We'll ride the Fjelheisen Cable Car to the mountain overlooking the city, visit the Arctic Cathedral and Polaria, Tromso's Arctic experience center and the world's northernmost aquarium. Clarion Hotel The Edge - 2 nights (2FB, 2D) 

Day 6

Today we travel from Norway to Finland and Lake Kilpisjarvi where a boat and a 3-km hike takes us to the Three-Country Cairn. There you'll have the unusual experience of standing in three countries at once - Finland, Norway, and Sweden. This is the northernmost international tripoint in the world. Lapland Hotel Hetta (FB,D) 

Day 7

Your summer visit provides the opportunity to take a walk with a team of huskies. Meet the animals, see them in their everyday environment and learn about their training and lives. Rest assured the huskies will provide enthusiastic company along the trail! Afterward we'll continue south toward Rovaniemi, the unofficial capital of Finnish Lapland and a natural base for exploring the region's forests, rivers, and fells. Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Rovaniemi - 2 nights (FB,D) 

Day 8

Today begins with a visit to Santa Claus Village. Located directly on the Arctic Circle, the village is open year-round, and yes - Santa is here in July, too! No visit is complete without making the official Arctic Circle crossing and receiving your certificate commemorating the occasion. At Arktikum, Rovaniemi's acclaimed museum and science center, exhibitions explore the people, history, and natural environment of Lapland. At 10:00 pm, we'll head out for our Midnight Sun Picnic. A relatively easy walk of 20-30 minutes takes us above the treeline to a mountain viewpoint. Here, rather than darkness descending over the landscape, we'll be surrounded by the extraordinary golden light of an Arctic summer night. (FB,L,D) 

Day 9

Our first adventure today takes us to the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine where the precious stones were formed roughly two billion years ago. Try your hand at finding a piece of Lapland's purple gemstone to take home as a personal "lucky stone." We'll continue north toward Tankavaara, Finland's most entertaining reminder of the country's gold-rush history, where we'll have our own opportunity to swirl gravel and water in the pan in hopes of discovering a tiny flash of Finnish gold. Our final destination is Saariselka which offers something truly special; Instead of a conventional hotel room, we'll stay in an Aurora Cabin with its glass-roofed design offering a direct visual connection to the surrounding Arctic landscape. Northern Lights Village Saariselka - Aurora Cabin (FB,D) 

Day 10

Today we will continue north toward Inari, the cultural heartland of Finland's Sami population. Our destination is Siida and the Sami Museum and Nature Centre, which explores the relationship between the Sami people and the northern environment, demonstrating how culture, livelihood, and landscape have evolved together. We'll then cross the Finnish Norwegian frontier once more, continuing toward Kirkenes, Norway's northeastern most town and a place that feels remarkably remote even by Arctic standards. Kirkenes has a fascinating history shaped by fishing, mining, border politics, and life in the far north. This evening we'll visit Snowhotel Kirkenes, an extraordinary attraction constructed from snow and ice with elaborately carved ice rooms and an ever-changing collection of snow and ice art. Scandic Hotel Kirkenes (FB,D) 

Day 11-12

Kirkenes is famous for the enormous red king crab that thrives in the cold waters of the Barents Sea, and today we'll have the opportunity to see this impressive creature up close and participate in the catch on a King Crab Safari. The safari heads onto the fjord by boat where we haul the crab pots aboard. Back on shore, the catch becomes lunch - freshly prepared king crab served in traditional northern Norwegian style. Your lunch features a generous portion of the catch. Then we transfer to Kirkenes Airport for our flight back to Oslo. The next morning begins aboard Brim Explorer for a cruise on the Oslo Fjord, followed by the Nobel Peace Center where the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place each December. Exhibitions explore Alfred Nobel, the history of the Peace Prize and the people who have received it, as well as broader issues of peace, human rights, and global cooperation. Our final evening in Norway concludes with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Clarion Hotel The Hub - 2 nights (2FB,L,2D)