Kiruna, Sweden
SCANDINAVIA & THE BRITISH ISLES
Sami woman, Sweden Svolvaer, Norway
ITINERARY
DAY 1 • Depart U. S. Depart from the U. S. to Helsinki, Finland.
DAY 2 • Arrive in 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. Enjoy an included Welcome Dinner tonight.
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( human) 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 • 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 Sámi Siida open air museum which includes meeting a local Sami reindeer herd.
Meals: B, L, D | Scandic Kiruna Hotel or similar
DAY 9 • Overland to Harstad We’ ll embark upon a scenic drive across the Norwegian border, enjoying views of alpine peaks, deep blue fjords, and other Arctic scenery as we ride. After an included lunch in the coastal village of Evenskjer, we’ ll drive to Harstad and check in to our hotel.
Meals: B, L | Home Hotel Arcticus or similar
DAY 10 • Harstad • Local farm visit This morning, we’ ll visit a farm owned by a local psychologist who uses her livestock to help her treat patients with mental health issues such as substance abuse, learning disorders, and other disabilities. 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 | Home Hotel Arcticus or similar
ADVENTURE HIGHLIGHT
On Day 6, spend A Day in the Life in the village of Tarendo and visit a local husky kennel.
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www. oattravel. com / fsn 207