Packing for Lapland in Autumn

Autumn in Lapland, Travel Diaries

Following our Christmas trip to Lapland in 2022/23, we absolutely fell in love with Finland in general, but we left a piece of our hearts in Lapland. Ever since, we have been pining to return to experience the different seasons. Not only have we wanted to go back but we loved it so much, we have worked at creating a business from it and now we help other Australians travel to Lapland to experience the magic!

This time next week, I will be on my way to Lapland for my first time to see it during Autumn and I couldn’t be more excited…and nervous! It has been a long time since I have travelled on my own to another country. I know I will be fine but it will be different. Bring it on though, this trip is going to be epic.

The purpose on this trip is to experience Autumn, see other parts of Lapland (as we only visited Rovaniemi and Ranua) and connect with different businesses.

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So, I’m a week out and today is packing day. I probably should have started packing earlier but I just haven’t really had the headspace for it. Even my travel insurance sent me a reminder to get packing!! I have been picking up bits and pieces here and there and leaving piles of things I need to take around the house for a little while, but now I need to bring it all together!

Items I won’t leave without

There are number of things I never leave home without when I am going on a holiday – I call these my “travel must haves“. This is my autumn Lapland packing list (with links in case you want to add to your packing items, too):

• Pegless clothesline because I don’t want to be spending hours in the laundromat.
• Dreamly washing sheets – easier to travel with than washing powder in the form of white powder.
• International drivers licence – eek! Driving on the wrong side of the road without my wingman!
• Coffee Brewspoon – while I love a coffee out, I know it adds to the cost of travel so have coffee to go will save me a few $$ while I’m travelling.
• My new Yeti travel mug!
• European adapter that has USB compatibility.
• Powerbank so I can charge on the go if I need to.
• My computer and charger.
• Locks for my bags and security cable.
• Thief-safe bum-bag (fanny pack).
• Document wallet for passport and other trip related documents.
• My camera gear – camera, lens’, drone, GoPro, Sirui tripod, video making kit, spare batteries and SD cards.
• Bathers for the saunas – oh I miss Finnish saunas!
• Business cards for meeting businesses and spreading the word that more Aussies want to visit Lapland!
• Norwex body cloths because they are so much better to use and travel with than having to take soap – have you used them before?? If you haven’t, get on them! Cloth only, no soap!
• Headtorch for nights when I’m out aurora hunting – yippee!
• My Lapland Travel Journal which has doubled as my notebook rather than a place to write and a selection of pens/highlighters!
• Passport, medications, toiletries etc…
• Clothes for Victorian winter temperatures, no snow expected but likely to sit below 10 degrees as a high.
• Shoes – I am going to take my Bogs snowboots for comfort (it’s like wearing slippers!) and to keep my feet warm at night and my Merrell trail shoes because I plan to be very active on this trip!

Data

On my list today is to also sort out my international eSim. I am going with Gig Sky this time round. I haven’t used them before but they have good offerings and I want to see how they go. I (we, my readers and followers), get a discount which is nice – you can see the code here.

Travel documents and itinerary

I always print my bookings off so I have a hard copy of everything. I put it in a folder, in order of stays. It is probably unnecessary these days given everything is on our phones, but I like to have that nearby, just in case. This week I will get that organised.

My Lapland itinerary is as follows:

• Rovaniemi – two nights at Santa Claus Village
• Posio – two nights at Livo Arctic
• Kuusamo – four nights at the House of Northern Senses
• Levi – two nights at Elve’s Village – Aurora Pyramids
• Rovaniemi – one night at Hotel Aakenus

Stay tuned for my next entry of my Autumn Lappish adventure from Australia!