Lemmenjoki National Park Day Trip from Ivalo – Riverboat, Waterfalls & Sámi Culture
A Slow Day in Lemmenjoki National Park: Riverboats, Ravadas Falls and a Sámi Yoik Some Lapland days are packed from start to finish. This wasn’t one of them and that’s exactly why it’s become one of my favourite memories from my recent trip. On a glorious sunny day, Hotel Ivalo took me into Lemmenjoki National…
Women’s Group Travel – Our Lapland Northern Lights Trip
Partway through our week in Lapland, with the clouds stubbornly refusing to clear, one of the women on our trip shared a feeling that I can resonate with from previous group trips I have been on. She’d come for the Northern Lights, she said, but she’d got so much more out of the trip than…
Best eSIM for Finland from Australia
…and why BambooSIM is now my go-to In partnership with BambooSIM. BambooSIM gifted me the eSIM I used on this trip. Buying a BambooSIM? Use the code LAPLANDLOWDOWN to get 10% OFF! In January 2026, I was driving a rental car through Finnish Lapland when the engine died. It was cold and dark and we…
Kotatieva Resort Rovaniemi – My Full 2026 Review
I don’t promote a product, place or partner I haven’t experienced myself or built a genuine connection with – and Kotatieva is a place I’ve now returned to twice, three years apart, because it earned a spot in both itineraries; and I would visit again! This is my full, honest review, built from a Christmas…
Arctic City Hotel Rovaniemi review – a luxury base in the heart of the city
If you’re after a Rovaniemi city-centre hotel that feels special the moment you walk in, Arctic City Hotel is the one. From the outside in autumn it’s fairly unassuming, but push through those doors and the whole mood shifts – dark, moody colours, comfortable lounges in reception and juice and water waiting for you on…
Aurora Holidays, Utsjoki – review and high recommendation
The authentic Northern Lapland experience long-haul travellers have been searching for If you’re planning a Finnish Lapland holiday and looking for something beyond the well-trodden Rovaniemi trail, Aurora Holidays in Utsjoki deserves a firm spot on your shortlist. Tucked into Finland’s northernmost region on the banks of the river that borders Norway, this small, family-run…
Day trips from Saariselkä: Inari, the Siida Museum, Ivalo and the road north
One of the underrated advantages of basing yourself in Saariselkä is how much you can access from here without needing to do a full destination change. The road north through Ivalo, Inari and beyond is one of the most beautiful stretches of road in Finnish Lapland – and in winter, it’s extraordinary. I spent a…
Santa Claus Village vs Santa Park: Which Should You Visit?
Confused About the “Santa Parks” in Lapland? Let us help you out! When we first planned our trip to Lapland from Australia, we were so excited to experience the magic of Christmas in Santa’s hometown. But honestly? We were also a little confused. With all the talk about Santa Claus Village and Santa Park, we…
Christmas in Lapland, Finland: Our Family Experience
Planning Christmas in Lapland, Finland? This is our Australian family’s complete experience – six days in Rovaniemi over Christmas including Wild About Lapland tours, Santa Claus Village, Joulukka and northern lights on Christmas night. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you…
Scandi House Levi Recommendation
A Lakeside Retreat at Finland’s Largest Ski Resort A disclosure before we begin – I haven’t personally stayed at Scandi House Levi. But after interviewing its host – five-time Winter Olympian and Levi resident Lydia Lassila OAM – in depth for the Lapland Lowdown and spending time understanding every detail of what she has built…
