Liam’s Lapland Summer Adventure!
Our adventure kicked off at Heathrow on July 20th, bound for Ivalo via Helsinki with Finnair. Things went off-script fast – a delay out of London meant we’d miss our connection. Stressful? Yes. But kudos to Finnair: before we even landed, they’d rebooked us for the next day, sent boarding passes to my phone, and sorted a complimentary airport hotel. Dinner credit, a cosy bed, and an included breakfast took the sting out of the delay.
We landed in Ivalo feeling refreshed. A 40-minute transfer to Wilderness Hotel Muotka became a reindeer-dotted safari – these animals truly run the roads. At the hotel, more reindeer greeted us at the entrance. We rescheduled our first-day plans and leaned into the Finnish lifestyle: sauna first. 
Lunch brought unexpected delights – a creamy Arctic char soup and a standout pannacotta that stole the show. Then it was time to e-bike through Urho Kekkonen National Park. Nervous at first, I quickly warmed up with our guide’s help and the magic of “boost” mode. The ride? Effortless. At the top of the hill, we had some typically Finnish blueberry juice and cookies while admiring the Lappish scenery and endless fells.
More time to relax in the sauna followed our bike trip, alongside a refreshing dip in the icy cold river. We then checked out the various room types at Muotka – I wouldn’t be disappointed staying in any! My personal favourite though? Their Panorama Log Cabins – the level of detail is amazing, and the views are even better.
On our first night in Lapland, we admired the midnight sun – a natural phenomenon that occurs every summer. Because Lapland is so far north, the sun never sets, hence the name! It’s the most bizarre feeling knowing that it’s midnight, but the sky looks like midday.
The next day we explored Urho Kekkonen National Park some more by foot – admiring the flora and fauna with our expert guide. We learned how the trees and plants have adapted to the drastic seasonal changes and how they survive, which was super interesting. After a leisurely walk through the fells, we returned to the hotel and headed back to the river to cool down, before warming back up in the sauna and enjoying more glorious food. Reindeer this time – sorry, Rudolph!
After another lovely moment admiring the midnight sun, we explored other Wilderness properties in the area – including some currently under construction. Hearing about their sustainable ethos gave us a real insight into the company. Any questions on Saariselkä Kelo Lodge, Wilderness Hotel Saariselkä, Wilderness Hotel Kieppi, or Arctic Log Villas – do let me know! I’m excited to return to Wilderness Hotel Saariselkä one day to stay in their finished Arctic Sky Villas, which will feature an outdoor jacuzzi!
We ended the day by checking into our Inari Arctic Chalets at Wilderness Hotel Inari, situated on Lake Inari. Our living rooms were the perfect place to reflect on our time in Finland, enjoying the lapping waves on the lake shore through huge, gorgeous windows – ideal for aurora hunting in the winter and perfect for summer views. These rooms are perfect for a family of up to four and super spacious. My favourite thing about Inari? You can use one of their Aurora Cabins, which comes with a sauna, no matter which room you’re staying in – for a small additional cost. Perfect again for seeing the lights or getting the perfect Instagram photo!
Our final day came too quickly. After a pleasant breakfast and a last stroll along the shore, we transferred to Ivalo Airport for our journey home – thankfully no delays this time! I can’t wait to visit Finland again in the winter for a completely different experience.
My two bits of advice for visiting Lapland in the summer:
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Bring sunscreen
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Make sure you also have plenty of insect repellent!
