Where I’ve been:

• Helsinki, October 2017 ( passing on the way to St. Petersburg )
• Helsinki, November 2017 ( Pirates of the Baltic Sea )
• Helsinki, Rovaniemi and Saariselka, December 2019 ( Lapland trip )

Pirates of the Baltic Sea by ESN Riga

( The big square of Stocohlm )

From 12.11 to 14.11, Erasmus students in Riga set sail for the unforgettable “Pirates of the Baltic Sea” trip, a boat filled with Erasmus students from across the Nordic and Baltic countries. Once again, the adventure was organized by Time Travels, the same team behind the legendary trips to St. Petersburg and Lapland.

The journey promised international vibes, nonstop parties, new friendships, and unforgettable memories somewhere between a cruise and a festival at sea. One of the best parts of these Erasmus trips was that they were organized especially for students, making them affordable and accessible even on a typical student budget.

Just like for the St. Petersburg trip, I decided to join even though none of my classmates were going. At first, it felt a little strange to travel without really knowing anyone, but I already recognized a few people from parties and Erasmus events around Riga. In the end, that was more than enough to feel part of the group, and the trip quickly turned into an amazing experience

DAY 1 – Sunday 12.11.2017

At 01:30 am, our journey began as we departed from Riga, meeting at 5 Aspazijas Boulevard before heading towards Tallinn. At 06:15 am, all Erasmus students gathered at the Tallinn D-Terminal lobby, excited and already full of energy for the adventure ahead. Shortly after, at 07:30 am, we boarded the ferry to Helsinki.

Arriving in Helsinki, we discovered the Finnish capital through a guided city tour. We explored different corners of the city, walked along the seaside, visited a charming old tea house, and stopped by one of the city’s shopping centers. The tour ended in the beautiful Senate Square, where the stunning Helsinki Cathedral dominates the skyline with its iconic white façade.

Before returning to the ferry, we enjoyed lunch at a cozy café, taking a short break before the next part of the adventure.

At 16:45 pm, the ship departed towards Stockholm, and the atmosphere on board completely changed. What started as a relaxing cruise quickly turned into one of the biggest Erasmus parties of the semester. Music, drinks, and students from all over Northern Europe filled every corner of the ship.

Throughout the night, Silja Line organized the famous Midnight Show at Atlantis Palace, followed by DJs playing until the early morning hours both in Atlantis Palace and the New York Club. The ferry became a floating nightclub in the middle of the Baltic Sea, creating unforgettable memories for everyone on board.

DAY 2 – Monday 12.11.2017

At 09:30 am, we were scheduled to arrive at Stockholm Värtahamnen, although the ferry reached the port a little later than expected because of an emergency situation on board during the night.

Once we left the ship, we joined a guided tour around Stockholm and discovered some of the most beautiful parts of the Swedish capital. We visited the historic old town, walked through its narrow streets and charming squares, explored the area near the port, and reached one of the city’s panoramic viewpoints, where we could admire Stockholm from above.

After a free afternoon to enjoy the city, we returned to the terminal. At 16:00 pm, the boarding gates closed, and at 16:45 pm the ship departed towards Helsinki.

As on the previous night, the party atmosphere immediately came back to life on board. Silja Line organized another Midnight Show at Atlantis Palace, followed by DJs playing until the early morning hours in both Atlantis Palace and the New York Club. Once again, the ferry transformed into a floating Erasmus nightclub in the middle of the Baltic Sea.

DAY 3 – 13.11.2017

The final day of the trip started early, with the breakfast buffet open from 07:30 am until 10:00 am. After the last morning on board, the ferry arrived in Helsinki at the Olympic Terminal at 10:30 am.

A few hours later, at 13:30 pm, we boarded the ferry once again from Helsinki West Terminal and sailed back towards Tallinn, enjoying the final moments of the journey across the Baltic Sea while I slept due to the two previous night without sleep.

After arriving in Estonia, the trip continued by bus, departing from the Tallinn ferry terminal at 15:30 pm and heading back to Riga.

Around 20:30 pm, we finally arrived in Riga, tired but happy, carrying unforgettable memories from three incredible days filled with travel, parties, new friendships, and the unique Erasmus spirit shared by students from all over Northern Europe.

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

( Reindeer burger in Saariselka )

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.