Lapland from 28th November to 4th December 

This trip was organized by ESN Riga in cooperation with Time Travels. The Lapland adventure took place from 28th November to 4th December and, like the previous Erasmus trips, it was very affordable and designed specifically for students.

The itinerary included a stop in Santa Claus Village, followed by several days in Saariselkä, where we stayed in traditional wooden shared chalets surrounded by Arctic nature. One of the most exciting parts of the trip was the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights for the very first time in my life, which made the whole experience even more special.

The trip was organized together with my classmates Giulia, my friend Perla, and other students from my course, which made the whole experience feel even more familiar and shared from the beginning.

DAY 1 – Tuesday 28.11.2017

This trip involved a long travel journey, with almost a full day spent getting there and another on the way back. We started from Riga, Latvia, and travelled through Estonia by bus, crossed the Baltic Sea by ferry, and then continued by bus through Finland until reaching Saariselkä village in Lapland.

Departure was at 10:30 am from Riga, 5 Aspazijas Boulevard (University of Latvia Faculty of Economics and Management). From there, we travelled by bus to Tallinn, which took around five hours. At 6:00 pm, we boarded a Viking Line ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki.

Upon arrival in Helsinki, we continued the journey by bus at around 9:00 pm, heading further north. Along the way, we made several short stops so the drivers could rest and change shifts, as breaks were taken roughly every two hours. We stopped at a few gas stations during the night, and in the early morning we arrived Rauna Zoo in the Rovaniemi.

DAY 2 – Wednesdsay 29.11.2017

( Photo with Santa Claus, Perla and Giulia )

At 9:00 am we arrived at Ranua Zoo, where we started the morning with breakfast before exploring the park and discovering Arctic wildlife in its natural environment.

At 12:00 pm we departed from Ranua Zoo towards Rovaniemi, where we stopped at a shopping mall for groceries and lunch, preparing for the next part of the journey.

We then continued to one of the highlights of the trip, the Santa Claus Village. There we crossed the Arctic Circle, met Santa Claus, took photos, explored the souvenir shops, enjoyed lunch in one of the local restaurants, and even sent postcards from Santa’s official post office.

At 16:45 pm we left Rovaniemi and continued our journey north towards Saariselkä.

By 19:45 pm we arrived at our destination, where we had a short briefing and settled into our wooden cottages in the middle of Lapland’s winter landscape. I shared a room with my friend Giulia. Later in the evening, we finally had some free time to unwind, enjoy the sauna, have dinner, and spend a relaxed evening with the rest of the group, getting to know everyone better after a long but unforgettable travel day.

DAY 3 – Thursday 30.11.2017

( Bugoynes village from the hill, Norway )

At 6:45 am we departed from the cottages for a full-day trip to Norway, setting off early to explore one of the most breathtaking routes of the journey. The 550-kilometre bus tour would take around 8 hours and offered an unforgettable experience across Arctic landscapes.

Driving north through the snow at sunrise already felt magical, with endless white scenery stretching across Finland. Along the way, we stopped at a gas station where even reindeer ribs were on the menu, a very local and unexpected detail of the journey.

After crossing the border into Norway, we made a short photo stop at the Skoltefossen waterfall, a powerful Arctic waterfall surrounded by frozen landscapes. The cold was intense, so the stop was brief, just enough to capture the moment. We continued with a few panoramic stops, admiring the dramatic scenery of northern Norway.

One of the highlights of the day was arriving in the small fishing village of Bugøynes, where we learned more about the region and its culture, including the Sámi people and the Finnish Kvens, who have lived in these northern areas for thousands of years. In Bugøynes, we enjoyed a traditional fish soup at a local restaurant before continuing the experience by the sea.

Later, we visited a sauna right next to the Arctic Ocean. After warming up, we did something unforgettable: running into the freezing water and taking a swim in the Arctic Ocean, more than once, despite the extreme cold.

Just after this experience, we were incredibly lucky to witness the Northern Lights appearing in the sky. Seeing them right after the sauna, in such a remote place, was completely unexpected and one of the most magical moments of the entire trip.

At 20:00 pm we returned to Saariselkä, where we had dinner and shared a few drinks with our cottage mates before ending the day and going to sleep after an extraordinary Arctic adventure.

DAY 4 – Friday 01. 12. 2017

( The cottage where we stayed, Saariselka )

The morning started slowly after the intense previous day. We woke up a bit later, enjoyed breakfast in the cottage, and took some time to simply appreciate the peaceful winter atmosphere of Lapland. Snow surrounded everything, creating a calm and almost surreal setting.

Later in the morning, we relaxed in the sauna, took a few photos, and went for a walk through the snow. We even walked over to Perla’s cottage before all gathering back together at ours for a warm afternoon tea, enjoying the cosy indoor atmosphere after being outside in the cold.

In the afternoon, we went snowshoeing, one of the most enjoyable activities of the trip. Our guides led us through the snowy trails and made sure everyone could handle even the steeper hills, allowing us to fully experience the beauty of the national park. It was not just a physical activity, but also a great way to connect with others, challenge ourselves, and share moments in the stunning Lappish landscape.

In the evening, we all had dinner together at a restaurant before returning to the cottages. The rest of the night was spent relaxing, enjoying the sauna again, and sharing some wine with our cottage mates, ending the day in a calm and friendly atmosphere after another memorable Arctic experience.

DAY – 5 Saturday 02.12.2017

( The northern lights of the day before in Norway )

We woke up not too early for one of the most anticipated activities of the trip: the husky safari. We took the bus to the site, where we received a short briefing and instructions before meeting the dogs.

After that, the huskies led us through the snowy Arctic landscapes on an unforgettable ride. The sleds were shared by two people, and each person had the chance to drive for around 5 km. I shared my sled with a Dutch classmate, which made the experience even more fun. After the safari, we returned to the base camp where we enjoyed a warm snack and tea, taking a moment to relax and warm up.

Later, we continued with the reindeer experience. These peaceful and gentle animals guided us through the snow on a traditional sleigh ride. Beyond the ride itself, the activity was also a cultural experience, where we learned about the lifestyle and traditions of the indigenous Sámi people. We discovered how reindeer have played a vital role in their history and daily life, especially in the past when they were essential to survival and community life in Lapland.

In the evening, I went to Perla’s cottage where we all gathered one last time to enjoy drinks together and share our final moments in Lapland. Later, around 23:00 pm, we moved to the Tunturihotelli for an all-night clubbing session, ending the trip in true Erasmus style with music, dancing, and unforgettable memories.

( Here there is something that I will never forget 29€ for 4 tequila shot ).

DAY 6 – Sunday 03.12.2017

At 11:00 am we did the check-out, marking the official end of our stay in Saariselkä. After that, we had some free time in the village, although most of us were still feeling the effects of the previous night, so the day stayed quite relaxed. We went out for a simple lunch, took a short walk around the snowy surroundings, and spent the afternoon in a local bar enjoying hot chocolate and good conversations before saying goodbye to Lapland.

At 17:00 pm we gathered at the meeting point and departed for the journey back home. The return trip meant another long night on the bus, slowly leaving behind the Arctic landscapes and the unforgettable memories of the week.

DAY 7 – Monday 04.12.2017

We stopped a few times during the night journey back. Around 06:00 am we made a stop in Tampere, and later at 09:30 am we arrived in Helsinki, where we had enough time to go into the city center for a coffee and a short walk before continuing the trip.

From Helsinki, we took the ferry to Tallinn and then continued by bus from Tallinn back to Riga, retracing the same route as on the way there.

We arrived in Riga around 9:00 pm. As a nice way to end the trip, all the Italian students from the group went together to a sushi restaurant to share memories, laugh about the experience, and talk about the incredible week we had just lived through. After that, we finally headed home to rest.