❄️ Finlandia Exploradoras ❄️
Some trips are about rest. This one was about movement, curiosity, and leaning into the unknown.
From January 16 to January 26, my sister and I took one of our big sister trips of the year and headed north, way north. We flew every leg standby, rented a car just shy of the Arctic Circle, and explored Finland and northern Norway in the heart of winter. It was cold, active, and absolutely unforgettable.
This was not a beach vacation. It was a winter exploration.
Flying Standby Into the Unknown
Every flight on this trip was flown non-revenue. That meant flexibility, backup plans, and trusting the process from the very start.
We left Chicago on the evening of January 16 and flew overnight to Frankfurt. If you are flying standby internationally, my biggest advice is simple: do everything you can to sleep on the first long haul. Landing rested changes everything.
Day 1: A Slow Start in Frankfurt
We landed in Frankfurt on January 17 and kept the day intentionally simple. No tours. No packed itinerary.
We walked through the downtown areas, did a little shopping, and found a local diner for a hearty meal of meat, potatoes, and a couple of steins of beer. It was the perfect way to kick off a long winter journey and reset our internal clocks.
Day 2: Into Lapland
On January 18, we boarded one of the most beautiful flights I have ever taken. As we approached northern Finland, the sky put on a show, glowing and shifting as we descended toward Kuusamo.
We picked up our rental car at the airport and drove to Ruka, where we stayed in the coziest log cabin with a sauna. We made a quick grocery run before closing time, cooked dinner, and ended the night warming up in the sauna while snow quietly fell outside.
Day 3: Skiing in a Winter Wonderland
Ruka surprised us in the best way.
After picking up our ski and snowboard gear, we spent the entire day on the slopes. The resort had incredible variety without being intimidating, perfect for skiers who get out once a year. What made it magical were the details. Campfires halfway down the runs. Reindeer near the slopes. Soft lights illuminating the trails at night.
It felt like skiing through a snow globe.
We ate lunch and dinner at the resort, skied under the lights, then returned our gear and headed back to the cabin for another sauna and an early night.
Day 4: Snowshoes, Sunsets, and Long Drives
Before leaving Ruka on January 20, we rented snowshoes for the week. Winter in Lapland is no joke, and being prepared opened up so many opportunities.
We hiked the Myllykoski Rapids, then continued to Riisitunturi National Park. From the ridge, we watched the sun skim the horizon and set around 2 p.m. The light lingered for hours, turning the snow gold and pink.
That evening, we drove north to Ivalo and stayed at Hotelli Ivalo, resting up for one of our longest days yet.
Day 5: To the Arctic Ocean
January 21 was a big driving day, but the scenery never got old.
We crossed into Norway, stopped for photos at the border, and continued to Kirkenes. From a safe distance, we visited the Russian-Norwegian border and learned about the region’s history at the local museum.
Later, we drove along the fjords and found a quiet spot to walk down to the water and touch the Arctic Ocean. It is humbling to realize how few people ever stand in places like that.
That night, we enjoyed sushi in town and watched strong northern lights dance over the water from our hotel.
Day 6: Back Into Finland
After breakfast at our waterfront hotel, we explored a few local shops before starting another long drive, this time to Sirkka.
Levi Ski Resort was buzzing with activity, far busier than Ruka. We checked into Hotel Hullu Poro, grabbed beer and dinner in town, and ended the night watching the northern lights again from our balcony.
Day 7: Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle
On January 23, we stopped for coffee and pastries overlooking the Levi slopes before driving south to Rovaniemi.
We stocked up on groceries, grilled reindeer at our Airbnb, and explored town on foot. We visited a lookout tower near downtown and later drove out to Santa Claus World to take photos at the Arctic Circle latitude sign.
Rovaniemi felt lively and social, a contrast to the quieter northern towns. We ended the night with another sauna, reflecting on how much ground we had covered.
Day 8: Skating Through the Woods
One of the highlights of the entire trip was Kotatieva Adventure Park.
We spent the morning ice skating through the woods, sledding, and warming up in the cafe. It felt playful and relaxed, a perfect break from long drives.
The afternoon was slow and reflective. Lunch in town, candy shopping, grilling dinner, and drinks at a local bar as we talked through our favorite moments from the trip.
Day 9: One Last Winter Hike
On January 25, snow fell heavily as we packed up.
Before heading to the airport, we hiked through Korouoma, a true winter wonderland of frozen cliffs and deep snow. It was the perfect final adventure before returning our snowshoes, driving back to Kuusamo, and catching our once-weekly flight to Frankfurt.
We stayed at the airport hotel for convenience, knowing our standby journey home would start early.
Day 10: Home Again
On January 26, we flew from Frankfurt back to Chicago, tired, grateful, and already talking about where we might go next.
Final Thoughts
This trip reminded me that some of the most meaningful travel experiences happen when you lean into discomfort, cold weather, long drives, and flexibility. Flying standby forces you to stay present. Winter travel forces you to slow down. And exploring places that are not overrun by tourism gives you space to actually feel where you are. Finland in winter was challenging, beautiful, and deeply grounding. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!
Rooted Wildly 