Helsinki to Lapland by sleeper train
Travel into Lapland the way Finns do. Five nights from Helsinki to Ivalo, with an overnight train, a morning with husky dogs, bear watching in the wilderness and a last drive through the autumn forests. Book it on its own, or as the first part of The Complete Lapland Journey.
- Helsinki
- Overnight sleeper train
- Crossing the Arctic Circle
- Husky dogs
- Hiking Lappish trails
- Bear watching
- Sauna and lake plunge
- Beautiful accommodation and food
The best way into Lapland is to travel there slowly.
This five-night journey takes you from Helsinki to the north the way Finns do it: an overnight sleeper train, a morning with husky dogs, a day in the Kuusamo wilderness, and a last drive through the autumn forests to meet the main trip in Ivalo.
It is part of our Lapland in Autumn 2027 women’s group trip. Book it on its own, or continue straight into Northern Lapland for the full journey to the Norwegian border.
Book now
Five nights, four very different places.
Nights
From Helsinki to Ivalo, 13–18 September 2027.
Sleeper train
Go to sleep in the south and wake up in Lapland.
Nights in Ruka
Forest trails, a lake plunge, saunas and bear watching.
Hosts
Twin share by default. A single room is available on request.
Your Journey North, day by day.
- Day1Mon 13 SeptSleep: Helsinki
Arrive in Helsinki
Arrive, check in and settle in. Explore the city on foot, then share a welcome dinner together.
- Day2Tue 14 SeptSleep: Santa Claus Express sleeper train
A free day in Helsinki, then the overnight train
Spend the day exploring Helsinki at your own pace (the waterfront and the market are favourites). In the evening we board the sleeper to Rovaniemi and head north overnight.
- Day3Wed 15 SeptSleep: Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi, husky dogs and the Arctic Circle
Wake up in Lapland, then head straight out for an autumn morning with the husky dogs and a kennel visit. After lunch, cross the Arctic Circle at Santa Claus Village and meet Santa himself. Dinner together.
- Day4Thu 16 SeptSleep: Ruka
Through Riisitunturi to Ruka
A private transfer through Riisitunturi National Park to Ruka. A relaxed evening with a sauna and a plunge in the lake, then dinner together.
- Day5Fri 17 SeptSleep: Ruka
A full day in the Kuusamo wilderness
A walk along Lappish forest trails, lunch, then an evening of bear watching in the wilderness. Dinner together back in Ruka.
- Day6Sat 18 SeptSleep: Ivalo
North to Ivalo
A private transfer north to Ivalo, about 4 hours 40 minutes, through the autumn forests. You join Part 2 here. If you are only doing Part 1, this is where your journey ends.
Beautiful places to stay, and good food.
Every night is somewhere characterful and comfortable, from the city to the forest, and we choose each meal around seasonal Finnish food. After a day outdoors, there is always somewhere warm to land.
What’s included, and what isn’t.
Included
- Accommodation, twin share, for all five nights, including the sleeper train
- Breakfast on the hotel mornings and the dinners marked in the itinerary
- Sleeper train ticket, Helsinki to Rovaniemi
- The husky dog morning, the trail walk and lunch, the sauna and lake plunge, and bear watching
- Private transfers as described in the itinerary
- Erin, your host for the whole journey, joined by co-host Lisa where numbers allow
Not included
- International flights to Helsinki, and home from Ivalo
- Travel insurance
- Drinks and personal spending
- Lunches other than the one marked in the itinerary
Good to know: a single room is available on request, subject to availability. Autumn is crisp and cool, so we send a short packing list after booking.
Keep going to the Norwegian border.
Part 1 flows straight into Northern Lapland: Ivalo, Inari and Utsjoki, an Arctic Ocean dip, saunas and a night in a glass-roof cabin. Book both parts and save €330 against booking them separately.
Early bird €8,600 for the first 6 people to book.
The Complete Lapland Journey, per person, twin share
Erin with you, and Lisa where numbers allow.
Erin Parker
Your host · Finnish Lapland specialist
Erin runs Travel From Australia and has built this journey from her own travels in Finnish Lapland. She hosted our September 2026 Northern Lights Adventure for Women, and only recommends what she has experienced herself.
She travels with you the whole way, so you always have someone to ask, to share a sauna with, or to point out the view.
Meet ErinLisa
Co-host · confirmed once numbers are set
Lisa hopes to join the journey from Idaho, with her place confirmed once numbers are set. She is a friend, a colleague and a women’s group trip host, every bit as obsessed with travel as Erin, and she loves sharing the world with others.
Erin, with Lisa where numbers allow, looks after the details so you can simply enjoy Lapland.
Good to know.
Can I book Part 1 on its own?
Yes. Part 1 can be booked on its own or as the first part of the Complete Lapland Journey. If you book it on its own, your journey ends in Ivalo on Saturday 18 September.
Will I share a cabin on the sleeper train?
Twin share is the default, so you share an ensuite cabin with another guest. A single cabin is available on request, subject to availability.
Will I see bears?
Bears are wild, so there is no guarantee, but the forests around Kuusamo are known as some of the best places in Finland to watch them, and September is a good time to go.
Do I need to be fit?
No special fitness is needed. The walks are at a gentle pace on forest trails.
How do I get to Helsinki, and home again?
International flights are not included. You fly into Helsinki on 13 September. If you only book Part 1, you can fly home from Ivalo airport on 18 September, or carry on to Part 2.
What happens if the trip doesn’t run?
Each part has a minimum group size. If a part doesn’t run, we will let you know by 1 April 2027 at the latest, and you can choose a refund, a transfer to another trip, or a credit note. Full terms are on the Group Booking Terms and Conditions page.
Ready for The Journey North?
Bookings are now open. Choose your journey and secure your place.
Erin Parker is a Finnish Lapland specialist, women’s adventure host and founder of Lapland Lowdown & Travel Her Way. She has travelled six continents and brings first-hand experience to every destination she writes about – from the Arctic wilderness of Finnish Lapland to the high Andes of Peru. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Erin helps long-haul travellers plan extraordinary Finnish Lapland adventures and leads small group trips for women who are ready to explore the world boldly.
