Finland · NATIONAL PARKS
Good national park trips fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Leave Rovaniemi with an English-speaking Aurora guide such as Nino, Emily, or Patrick, then search up to three wilderness locations for clear skies. You will warm up by a fire, cook sausages and marshmallows, learn local customs, and receive your guide’s professional photos the next day.
“Weather is not good but still try the best to find aurora”
Drive a snowmobile through the snowy countryside outside Rovaniemi with an English-speaking guide such as Jeremy, Emily, Vero, or Jordi. You will share a machine with another adult, switch drivers during the one-hour ride, and stop for photographs in the frozen forest.
“It was really fun. If you are two people on 1 bike, you may get less time to do the activity given that you’ll take time to get used to the mobile. (10-15mins) Overall it was a great experience.”
Meet your English-speaking biologist guide near Helsinki Railway Station, then ride by train and bus to Nuuksio National Park. In a small group of up to 10, walk among spruce forest, ancient rocks, mosses, ferns, lakes, mushrooms, berries, and possible wildlife sightings. Guides such as Mikhail and Michael lead the five-hour outing.
“I was a really nice hike! I was with my 17 year old daughter who is normally not into hiking. But this was an easy hike, she really liked it and you get to see a few lakes of the area. I love that the group was small. Our guide was really nice and we learned a lot.”
Drive a snowmobile across a private frozen-lake trail outside Rovaniemi with an English-speaking guide and a small group of up to eight. Expect about one hour of riding, winter gear, photo stops, a fire break, grilled sausages, and hot drinks. Drivers need a valid Class B license.
“We did the snowmobile with Arctic GM and it was just amazing! The tour is super well organized, they pick you up on your location, they offer clothes and equipments. The location of the activity is just wonderful and the guys are very nice. Special thanks to our driver from Talin with his amazing playlist, and Max our French guide for the snowmobile. Super recommended.”
Join David from Backpacker Helsinki Tour for a 4.5-hour trip from central Helsinki to Nuuksio National Park. Walk forest trails, spot berries, mushrooms, trees, and animal tracks, try snowshoes in winter, and enjoy homemade soup, glögi, biscuits, and berry drink.
“Great guide, excellent knowledge of plants and tree, good to have a day away from the city and explore the Finish countryside.”
Travel two hours from Rovaniemi to Riisitunturi National Park for a 4-kilometre winter hike among snow-loaded spruce trees. Your English-speaking guide, such as Atanas, Lola, or Rosanna, leads the walk, shares Arctic nature facts, takes photos, and prepares a fire-side Finnish snack.
“The park is astonishing! The hike is very simple and the guide stops a lot of times for photos and for explaining the nature of the place. The Finnish bbq was very very good!”
Meet Wild About Lapland in central Rovaniemi and head into the snowy wilderness with an Aurora guide. You may visit up to three dark-sky locations in four hours, warm by a fire with hot drinks and Finnish snacks, and receive guide-taken photos the next day. Groups are limited to eight.
“Though we didn't get to see northern lights (18th nov - due to weatherconditions), but our group (beautiful people across Thailand, Australia n S. Korea) and our Guide- Thomas (from Chile) was exceptional who took us through lot of info / history about aurora, lapland n finland...fire place n 📸 were amazing experience in snowy cold weather of Rovaniemi...”
Meet in Rovaniemi or Santa Claus Village, ride to Apukka Resort, and learn to handle a snowmobile before setting off through pine forests and frozen marshes. You share one machine with another adult, stopping in the silent wilderness for a warm drink and a look around.
“I love it so much, it was amazing driving in the forest and add some speed in open place”
Join Wild about Lapland for a three-and-a-half-hour forest outing limited to eight people. Your English-speaking guide, such as Lola, Eline, or Eneko, leads an easy wilderness walk, explains animal tracks, and teaches fire-making without matches. Winter clothing, boots, transport, and a campfire snack are included.
“We loved this tour, from strat to finish. Our tour guide was Lola, who was very knowledgable on the forest and the different wildlife that we may see. We were lucky enough to see a reindeer roaming. The viewing point we went to was beautiful, we had some hot drinks there then onward to make a fire and had some food. Was a brilliant tour and perfect timing. Thank you Lola.”
Join Wild Frame Adventures for a six-hour escape from Helsinki to Nuuksio National Park. Hike 7.5 km through forest, hills, viewpoints, and lakeshores with guides such as Nikolai or Patricia, then enjoy Finnish campfire snacks and homemade berry juice.
“Nikolai was such a great tour guide! The tour was well paced, informative and such a beautiful location. It's clear they're passionate about the area and the history, I'd highly recommend going on this tour!”
Join David for a roughly 5-kilometer guided hike in Nuuksio National Park, about 4.5 hours from central Helsinki. Expect Finnish forest, lakes, boggy trails, berry tea or glögi, biscuits, rye bread, and homemade mushroom soup. The route suits moderate fitness, but waterproof shoes with good grip matter.
“David was fantastic and soup amazing. Greet size group for this tour. Our group from Canada enjoyed it all”
Leave central Helsinki with a small group of up to eight for a 6-kilometer forest hike near Kuusijärvi and Sipoonkorpi. Guides such as Alex and Jeff explain local plants, birds, berries, and mushrooms before serving a Finnish campfire lunch and leading you through a smoke sauna with lake swims.
“This was a great tour! Would put this at the top of list of things to do while in Helsinki. The hike is an easy stroll and quite scenic with two lake views. Lunch was great and ate beside the lake. The smoke sauna and alternating lake swims is a unique experience in the forest setting. All of this within 30 minute drive. Our guide was great as well, explaining everything. 100% recommend!”
Leave Helsinki for a six-hour guided hike in Nuuksio National Park. Walk about 7 kilometers past pine forest, rocky paths, lakes, and scenic viewpoints, then share Finnish campfire snacks and homemade berry juice. Guides such as Nikolai, Szabi, and Patricia add nature stories, local culture, and music.
“It was such a nice hike in the nature, as beautiful as it can get. The fresh air, the lush greenery, the views, learning about Finnish culture, and our tour guide was cherry on top for the entire experience. Nikolai showed us how to prepared bonfire and prepare lunch for us (which was delicious by the way) and he is pretty good at playing music too - made our bbq even better.”
Spend a winter day hiking 5km in Riisitunturi National Park with a guide and photographer such as Valeriia. Expect snow-covered trees, wide views, a campfire lunch, and professionally edited photos. The small group is limited to eight, with pickup and return in Rovaniemi.
“It was really nice and absolutely amazing experiences ever. I love so much the place, the nature, the operator and everything. Such a wonderful trip ever to enjoy this moment for a life time.”
Leave Levi by van for a guided snowshoe walk through Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. You’ll cross open fells and quiet snowy forest, then warm up in a hut with grilled sausages, snacks, and hot drinks. English and Finnish guiding is provided, and no snowshoeing experience is needed.
“Wycieczka na rakietach śnieżnych była dobrze zorganizowana. Miły przewodnik opowiadał o przyrodzie tego miejsca. W przerwie można było ogrzać się przy ognisku, napić gorącego soku, zjeść przekąski. Bardzo dobrze spędzony czas.”
Pick a town, a machine, or a fire to sit beside.
