Ivalo, Inari and Utsjoki
Nine nights in the far north of Finland. Ivalo, Inari and Utsjoki: lakes, rivers and wilderness, saunas, a king crab fishing boat trip and an Arctic Ocean dip over the border, and a last night in a glass-roof cabin. Book it on its own, or as the second part of The Complete Lapland Journey.
- King crab fishing boat trip in Northern Norway
- Siida Museum
- Lakes and rivers
- Finnish wilderness
- Arctic Ocean dip
- Saunas
- Chance of northern lights
- Glass-roof cabin
- Foraging and baking
Where Finland meets Norway, and the road runs out.
Part 2 is the wild heart of the trip. Nine slow nights across Ivalo, Inari and Utsjoki, with quiet forests, big rivers and lakes, golden autumn colour and the best chance of northern lights.
It is part of our Lapland in Autumn 2027 women’s group trip. Book it on its own, or begin in Helsinki with The Journey North and travel the whole way for the full journey.
Book now
Nine nights, three very different bases.
Nights
Ivalo to Ivalo, 18–27 September 2027.
Places to stay
Ivalo, Utsjoki and a glass-roof cabin for the last night.
Day in Norway
A king crab fishing boat trip, a sauna and an Arctic Ocean dip.
Hosts
Twin share by default. A single room is available on request.
Your Northern Lapland journey.
We confirm the order of the activities closer to departure, so the days can flex with the weather.
- Sept18SatSleep: Ivalo
Arrive in Ivalo
Arrive, settle in and share a welcome dinner together. If you have joined from Part 1, this is where the two journeys meet.
- Sept18–21IvaloSleep: Ivalo
Ivalo: wilderness, rivers and saunas
Three nights based in Ivalo, with the activities spread across your stay. While we are there you can look forward to:
- River packrafting
- Wilderness walks and the quiet of the forest
- Rivers and lakes all around
- Sauna, including a private sauna and a room with a fire
- A swim in the river
- Village walks
- Sept21TueSleep: Utsjoki
North to Inari and Utsjoki
Head north to Inari for the Siida Museum, the museum of Sámi culture and the north, then on to Utsjoki on the Norwegian border for a welcome dinner.
- Sept21–26UtsjokiSleep: Utsjoki
Utsjoki: village, fell and the Arctic Ocean
Five nights in Utsjoki, with the activities spread across your stay. While we are there you can look forward to:
- A small village tour with a local guide
- A walk across the bridge between Finland and Norway
- Utsjoki church and the old church huts
- A fell walk to a hut above the river (about 1.5 km each way)
- A picnic lunch in a kota, and foraging
- A baking session
- A king crab fishing boat trip in Northern Norway, with a catch-and-eat lunch
- A sauna and a dip in the Arctic Ocean
- Sept26SunSleep: A glass-roof cabin near Ivalo
A night in a glass-roof cabin
Leave Utsjoki and travel back towards Ivalo for one last night in a glass-roof cabin, with dinner included and a chance of northern lights overhead.
- Sept27Mon
Breakfast, then home
Breakfast, then a private transfer from Ivalo to the airport for your flight home. If you are continuing your travels, we will help you plan the way.
What’s included, and what isn’t.
Included
- Accommodation, twin share, for all nine nights, including the glass-roof cabin
- Breakfast and dinner throughout
- The Siida Museum, village tour, fell walk, baking and foraging
- The Norway day: king crab fishing boat trip, lunch, sauna and Arctic Ocean dip
- Transfers as described in the itinerary, including a private transfer from Ivalo to the airport at the end
- Erin, your host for the whole journey, joined by co-host Lisa where numbers allow
Not included
- International flights, to Ivalo and home from Ivalo
- Travel insurance
- Drinks and personal spending
- Lunch on some days (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.
Start in Helsinki, on the sleeper train.
Add The Journey North: Helsinki, the overnight train, husky dogs, the Arctic Circle and bear watching on the way to Ivalo. 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 2 on its own?
Yes. Part 2 can be booked on its own or as the second part of the Complete Lapland Journey. If you book it on its own, you fly into Ivalo on Saturday 18 September and home from Ivalo on Monday 27 September.
Will I see the northern lights?
September gives you a chance, not a guarantee. We plan the days so you will enjoy the trip with or without them, and the last night in a glass-roof cabin gives you the best seat in the house.
Do I need to be fit?
No special fitness is needed. The longest walk is about 1.5 km each way up a fell, at a gentle pace.
Do I need a passport for the day in Norway?
Yes, please bring your passport. We cross the border from Utsjoki into Norway for the king crab fishing boat trip and the Arctic Ocean dip.
Can I come alone?
Yes. Most guests are women travelling solo, and the group shares twin rooms. A single room is available on request, subject to availability.
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 Northern Lapland?
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.
