Kiruna , Sweden
SCANDINAVIA & THE BRITISH ISLES
Sami woman , Sweden Horse Farm , Harstad , Norway
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U . S . Depart from the U . S . to Helsinki , Finland .
DAY 2 • Arrive Helsinki , Finland Arrive in Helsinki and meet your fellow travelers , including those who took our optional pre-trip extension to the Baltic Capitals : Riga , Latvia & Tallinn , Estonia . Later , enjoy a discovery walk to acquaint yourself with the city .
Meals : D | Klaus K Hotel or similar
DAY 3 • Helsinki Explore Helsinki on a walking tour , including the Esplanadi , the Swedish Theater , and much more .
Meals : B , D | Klaus K Hotel or similar
DAY 4 • Helsinki • Porvoo • Local farm This morning , we ’ ll enjoy a short tour of Finland ’ s second-oldest town , Porvoo . Then , visit Norrkulla Gard farm in the countryside outside of Helsinki . Meet the family before enjoying a tour of the grounds . Then , head to the family ’ s traditional farmhouse to discuss our hosts ’ heritage over an included lunch .
Meals : B , L | Klaus K Hotel or similar
DAY 5 • Fly to Rovaniemi • Overland to Tarendo , Sweden
Fly to Rovaniemi and , after a stop for lunch in Santa Claus Village , transfer overland across the Swedish border into Tarendo , in the heart of Swedish Lapland .
Meals : B , L , D | Arctic River Lodge or similar
DAY 6 • Tarendo • A Day in the Life of a local community & husky kennel visit
We ’ ll spend A Day in the Life of a local community this morning , including a hands-on visit to the local husky kennel , where we ’ ll learn about the role that these friendly creatures play in the local way of life , followed by a shared meal with our hosts .
Meals : B , L , D | Arctic River Lodge or similar
DAY 7 • Kiruna • Home-Hosted Dinner Today we ’ ll drive to Kiruna , a mining town in northern Swedish Lapland with a population of around 17,000 , arriving at our hotel in the mid-afternoon . Tonight , visit a local family for a Home-Hosted Dinner .
Meals : B , L , D | Scandic Kiruna Hotel or similar
DAY 8 • LKAB iron ore mine • Nutti Sami Siida ( Sami cultural museum ) & reindeer experience
We ’ ll start the day with a tour of the LKAB iron ore mines , and learn about how the operation ’ s enormous output will require the town of Kiruna to be rebuilt in a new location two miles to the east . Then we ’ ll visit the Nutti Sami Siida open air museum which includes meeting a local Sami reindeer herd .
Meals : B , L , D | Scandic Kiruna Hotel or similar
DAY 9 • Scenic drive to Narvik , Norway • Harstad We ’ ll embark upon a scenic drive across the Norwegian border to Narvik , enjoying views of alpine peaks , deep blue fjords , and other Arctic scenery as we ride . After an included lunch in Narvik , we ’ ll drive to Harstad and check in to our hotel .
Meals : B , L | Thon Hotel Harstad or similar
DAY 10 • Harstad • Horse farm visit This morning , we ’ ll visit a horse farm owned by a local psychologist who uses her livestock to help her treat patients with mental health issues such as alcoholism and substance abuse . In the afternoon , you can choose to join your Trip Experience Leader for an elective walk along the coast to Trondenes Church , a 13th-century site of worship that is the northernmost medieval church in the world .
Meals : B , L | Thon Hotel Harstad or similar
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
On Day 6 , spend A Day in the Life in the village of Tarendo and visit a local husky kennel .
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