Isheta’s Finland Escape with Thrillophilia in Search of the Northern Lights

Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKD6E3GTWKK
Rating: ★★★★★
Travellers: Isheta Singh & Anujta Singh
Trip Duration: 9 Days | 8 Nights
Date of Travel: 2 April 2026 to 10 April 2026
Package Booked: Uncharted Horizons: A 9 Days Journey Through Finland’s Mystique
Guest Experience Officer: Priya Kumari

Finland had been more than just another destination for Isheta and Anuj. They wanted to experience the Arctic at its most magical.

Their nine-day journey brought together Helsinki’s historic charm, the quiet beauty of Finnish towns, the snowy landscapes of Lapland and, most importantly, a long-awaited search for the Northern Lights

With a mix of independent exploration and thoughtfully arranged experiences, the trip gave them the freedom to discover Finland while still having the support of Thrillophilia along the way.

Visit to Helsinki Before the Arctic Adventure

The trip began in Helsinki, where the two settled into their hotel and had time to ease into the Finnish way of life. Rather than rushing into a packed sightseeing schedule, the first day allowed them to take in the city at their own pace.

The following day added an international twist to their Finnish holiday with a ferry excursion to Tallinn. After crossing the Baltic Sea, they had several hours to wander through Tallinn’s Old Town before returning to Helsinki in the evening. It was a refreshing change of scenery without having to leave their Helsinki base.

Their final day in the capital took them to Porvoo, whose old-town streets and riverside setting offered a quieter glimpse of Finland. By night, the character of the trip changed completely as they boarded the Santa Claus Express for an overnight journey north towards Kemi.

Heading North Into Finland’s Arctic Heart

Arriving in Kemi marked the beginning of the most distinctive part of the holiday. After the city experiences of Helsinki and Tallinn, the Arctic landscape brought a quieter and colder atmosphere.

Kemi also became a brief pause before the couple continued towards Rovaniemi, the gateway to Finnish Lapland. Travelling by train, they watched the landscape gradually transform as they moved further north.

By the time they arrived in Rovaniemi, the focus of the trip had shifted from sightseeing to experiences that could only really happen in the Arctic.

The Northern Lights Became the Trip’s Biggest Quest

One of the main reasons for choosing Finland was the chance to see the Northern Lights, and Rovaniemi became the stage for that search.

Their first evening in Lapland was dedicated to an Aurora Quest by minibus. Guided through the darkness in search of clearer skies, they finally got the moment they had been hoping for—the Northern Lights appeared.

For Isheta, this became the defining memory of the holiday. In her review, she shared that she had been lucky enough to see the aurora and described the experience as “marvellous.”

The search continued in a different form the following evening with a Northern Lights sledding experience. Instead of simply waiting beneath the night sky, they travelled through the snowy landscape in a snowmobile-pulled sleigh before stopping for a traditional Lappish BBQ around a campfire.

A Day That Felt Like Stepping Into Lapland

Rovaniemi offered much more than the aurora.

During their Arctic Circle experience, Isheta and Anuj got to experience several sides of Lapland in a single day. They rode reindeer and husky sleds, visited a reindeer manor and spent time at Santa Claus Village. The experience also included a taste of local food with salmon soup and gave them an opportunity to experience the Arctic environment rather than simply look at it.

The following day brought another unforgettable experience—the Polar Icebreaker Cruise. The couple travelled through frozen waters, walked on the sea ice and experienced the unusual sensation of floating in the icy Baltic waters.

It was the kind of experience that made their Finnish holiday feel distinctly different from a conventional European vacation.

Wildlife, Wilderness and One Last Taste of Lapland

Their final full day took them to Ranua Wildlife Park, where they encountered Arctic wildlife and spent time surrounded by the wilderness of Finnish Lapland.

By this point, the trip had come full circle. What had started with Helsinki’s urban landscapes had gradually moved into the remote Arctic, replacing city streets with forests, frozen waters, snow-covered trails and long winter nights.

With one final night in Rovaniemi, the couple had time to reflect on everything they had experienced before their departure the following day.

Finland Delivered the Arctic Experience They Came For

By the time Isheta and Anuj left Rovaniemi, Finland had given them far more than a checklist of attractions. They had crossed the Baltic to Tallinn, wandered through Porvoo, travelled overnight towards Lapland, experienced reindeer and husky rides, cruised through icy waters and explored Arctic wildlife.

But above everything else, they had seen the Northern Lights. In her review, Isheta mentioned, “I loved Finland. I got to see the northern lights. Thrillophilia planned a good itinerary. I loved the hotels in Kemi and Rovaniemi. Overall, the experience was excellent. The itinerary allowed us to visit many attractions. The on-ground support was also up to the mark.”

They loved Finland, appreciated the itinerary, and were especially happy with the on-ground assistance. For a journey built around chasing one of nature’s most elusive spectacles, getting to finally stand beneath the aurora made the adventure worth remembering.

How Thrillophilia Made the Arctic Journey Easier

For a trip built around multiple transfers, overnight trains and time-sensitive Arctic experiences, having the arrangements coordinated made a significant difference. Thrillophilia brought together the accommodation, transfers, ferry and train journeys, visa assistance and a series of local experiences into one itinerary, allowing Isheta and Anuj to concentrate on the destination rather than the logistics.

Isheta specifically appreciated the on-ground support and felt that the itinerary still allowed them to experience a wide range of attractions across Finland.

She also highlighted the hotels in Kemi and Rovaniemi as particular favourites, while noting that the Helsinki stay could have been better.

Also Read: Furqan's Finland Trip with Thrillophilia