FOR TOUR OPERATORS & TRAVEL AGENCIES
Your Local Partner in Lapland
Hei from Lappi – as we call Lapland in Finnish!
Looking for a reliable local partner in Finnish Lapland? We work with independent tour operators and travel agencies looking for something more personal than an off-the-shelf Lapland package.
We create trips together. You bring us your ideas, your customers and what you’d like to achieve, and we’ll bring our local knowledge, contacts and a few ideas of our own. From there, we can design the itinerary, organise the local logistics and personally host your guests while they’re here.
LOCAL WITH AN INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK
We’re a Finnish team, mostly from Lapland, and we know this part of the world inside out. But we haven’t always stayed here.
Our founder, Riitta, spent around 15 years working internationally before returning to the Arctic. With a background in tourism management, an MBA and many years designing and delivering international events and travel experiences, she brings an international eye to very local knowledge.
Our team combines wilderness guiding, route and safety planning, logistics, food, photography and years of experience outdoors in the Arctic.
We understand Lapland as locals, but we also understand what it’s like to experience and work in a country that isn’t your own.
We work directly with local accommodation providers, guides and activity companies we know and trust. No unnecessary agency layers in between. It keeps things efficient, can keep costs down and, quite frankly, makes working together a lot more fun.
BEYOND THE USUAL
Our expertise is in creating tailor-made Lapland itineraries rather than repeating the same programme week after week.
We love authentic experiences, learning new skills and getting outdoors. There might even be a little Finnish sisu involved – that determination to have a go! Your guests might stay in a beautiful villa one night and a wilderness hut another, learn to cross-country ski, cook over a fire or travel somewhere well beyond the usual tourist routes.
Your guests can experience all the classic Lapland activities – husky sledding, visits to authentic reindeer farms, reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobiling and much more. But there’s also plenty of opportunity to get out into the Arctic nature under their own power, on snowshoes, backcountry skis, cross-country skis or simply hiking the winter trails.
Along the way, they’ll get a taste of local Lapland life and traditions. A break by the fire in a kota, amazing Lappish food made from local ingredients, often foraged, fished or hunted right here in Lapland – dinner in a local home, a traditional sauna or even a lumberjack sauna followed by an ice dip. Often, it’s these simple experiences that people remember most.
We’re based between the Ylläs and Levi areas in Finnish Lapland, with the fells, forests and national parks on our doorstep. It means an itinerary can combine proper wilderness experiences with time in the ski resorts for sightseeing, shopping and those all-important souvenirs – perhaps even on the way to the airport!
Our Bespoke Holidays and Team Building pages give you another glimpse into the kind of trips we create!
We also take Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles seriously. Respecting Arctic nature, working locally and responsibly, and creating experiences that have a positive impact are part of our planning from the start.
Listen to Riitta talk about the RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IN THE ARCTIC – RADIO 3 HONG KONG.
SMALL BY CHOICE
We don’t focus on mass tourism and we don’t overbook.
That means when your customers are here, we’re really here too – hosting, guiding and travelling with them from morning until evening.
For a tour operator hundreds or thousands of kilometres away, there’s someone on the ground who knows the guests, knows the itinerary and is there when needed. And for your guests, it feels less like being passed from one supplier to another and more like being on holiday with locals.
You can trust us on small or large groups. There’s no real upper limit – we simply match the number of guides and hosts to your group size.
LAPLAND ISN’T JUST FOR WINTER
We can create programmes throughout Lapland’s eight seasons. Winter may be famous, but summer is brilliant for a coolcation, while autumn brings ruska – the spectacular autumn colours that cover the fells and forests. Here’s a bit more about our Arctic Seasons.
And we don’t have to stop at Lapland’s borders. We can add experiences elsewhere in Finland, or create journeys that include neighbouring Norway, Sweden or Estonia.
Have an idea? Let’s create something together. We’re always happy to have a chat, share some ideas and see what we can come up with.
Kiitos!
A FEW WORDS FROM OUR GUESTS
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5.0/5
“We, 30 Strivers, had the most incredible time in Lapland. The people, the food, the lodges, the scenery and the locals have made for the most adventurous experience yet. Thank you!”
— Richard Branson and Noah Devereux, UK
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5.0/5
“Thank you for EVERYTHING! It was a 10 out of 10 week. Everything was just perfect!”
— Beth Whitman, WanderTours
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5.0/5
“Thanks to her many years of experience organizing events with participants from all over the world, and the deep love for her home country, Riitta creates professional, unique experiences. Her attention to detail and her warm personality ensure that every event feels special and authentic. She shows great empathy towards the guests, intuitively understanding their needs and quickly identifying and fulfilling their wishes. Working with her is effortless. I wholeheartedly recommend Arctic Escapades to anyone looking for an unforgettable experience.”
— Roberto Rivola, Switzerland