No herds. Just heart.
In January, Ylläs is wrapped in deep winter. The days are short, but daylight is slowly returning, casting soft shades of blue, pink and gold across the snow-covered landscape.
This personally hosted Lapland small-group tour in January is limited to six guests and offers a quieter, more meaningful way to experience Finnish Lapland. Instead of following a typical winter activity schedule, the week brings together nature, local stories, regional food, traditional crafts and encounters with people who live and work here.
We’ll snowshoe to a lake considered sacred in Sámi culture, explore the extraordinary SnowVillage, and meet a local artisan and a Lapland shaman. We’ll also spend time around the fire, discover northern herbs during a creative workshop, enjoy a traditional lakeside sauna and share relaxed dinners in a warm lavvo.
On clear evenings, we’ll keep an eye on the sky for the Northern Lights. There is no fixed aurora-chasing program; instead, we remain flexible and step outside together when conditions look promising.
This is a winter journey for those who want more than a glimpse of Lapland – and the time to connect with the landscape, its stories and its people.
Maximum six guests – places go quickly
Booking closes 30 days before departure.
I personally coordinate availability with Loimu Resort and guide you through each step before you make any non-refundable bookings.
This Lapland small-group tour January is for travellers who want to experience the North at an unhurried pace. The week combines snow-covered nature with local stories, regional food, creative traditions and time shared around the fire.
You don’t need previous snowshoeing experience. The outdoor activities are easy to moderate, and solo travellers, couples and friends are equally welcome.
You will not see everything Lapland has to offer in one week. But you may leave understanding why the return of the light feels so special here.
Still deciding? Get the journey brochure by email.
Walk through a deeply snow-covered forest to a lake considered sacred in Sámi tradition, surrounded by a stillness that feels almost otherworldly.
Travel through the winter landscape by reindeer sleigh, help feed the animals and hear stories from your hosts over coffee and cake by the fire.
Explore northern spirituality and old traditions through stories about nature, the drum, smoke and song during a personal meeting with a local shaman.
Spend time with a local artisan and craft a small souvenir using materials connected to the North. A hands-on introduction to Lapland’s creative traditions and something personal to take home.
Explore how wild and cultivated Arctic plants are used in everyday life. During this relaxed workshop, you’ll learn about local herbs and create a natural product of your own.
Slow down with a traditional Finnish sauna beside a frozen lake. Enjoy the warmth of the sauna, fresh winter air and an optional dip through the ice. One of Finland’s most cherished rituals.
Your journey begins at Kittilä Airport. From here, the road winds through snow-covered forests and past frozen lakes towards Ylläsjärvi, a small village beside one of Finland’s most beautiful national parks.
After checking in, there is time to settle in and begin adjusting to the quiet rhythm of winter in Finnish Lapland. In the evening, we’ll gather for a relaxed welcome dinner, meet the other guests and look ahead to our week together.
And if the sky is clear, your first night in Ylläs may even bring an early glimpse of the Northern Lights above the fells.
Today we set out on snowshoes towards a lake considered sacred in Sámi tradition. Along the way, there is time to take in the stillness of the snow-covered forest and hear the stories connected to this remarkable place.
At an open fire, we prepare lunch together: warming moose stew with potatoes, followed by sweet stick bread cooked over the flames.
No previous snowshoeing experience is required. We walk at an easy pace and take plenty of time along the way.
The morning is yours to enjoy at leisure.
In the afternoon, we visit a small family-run reindeer farm. Wrapped in warm blankets, we travel by sleigh through snowy forests and across a frozen lake, with the reindeer setting the gentle pace.
Back at the farm, we warm up beside the fire with hot berry juice and biscuits. Our host shares stories about daily life with the reindeer before we help feed the herd.
In the evening, we gather for a relaxed dinner in a traditional lavvo.
And if the sky is clear, we’ll step outside together to look for the Northern Lights.
Late in the morning, we visit the remarkable SnowVillage in Finnish Lapland. During a private guided tour, you’ll explore rooms, sculptures and passageways shaped entirely from snow and ice and discover how this temporary world is redesigned and rebuilt each winter.
After a warming soup lunch, the afternoon is free for you to enjoy Ylläs at your own pace.
You might choose to take the gondola up the fell or explore the winter scenery on cross-country skis.
Today we step inside the workshop of a local artisan. Using materials rooted in northern traditions, you’ll create a personal keepsake to remind you of your time in Lapland.
The afternoon is intentionally left free, giving you time to rest or explore independently.
Among reindeer antler, silver and well-used tools, you’ll make something that carries far more meaning than an ordinary souvenir.
Today, our journey takes us deeper into the fells for one of the week’s most unusual encounters.
In a secluded kota, we meet a local Lapland shaman and take part in a ceremony shaped by the sound of the drum, smoke, song and northern storytelling. Afterwards, there is time to ask questions and talk about the traditions and beliefs behind the experience.
Some encounters remain with you long after the journey home.
Our final full day begins with a hands-on workshop exploring Arctic herbs and natural ingredients from Lapland. You’ll learn how northern plants are used in everyday life and create a small natural product of your own.
After lunch, a traditional Finnish lakeside sauna awaits. Between the warmth of the sauna and the crisp winter air, you may also choose to experience ice swimming through a hole in the frozen lake.
In the evening, we gather in the lavvo for a farewell dinner cooked over the open fire, sharing food, stories and memories from our Lapland small group tour in January.
And if the sky is clear, the Northern Lights may offer one final farewell.
After breakfast, we travel together to Kittilä Airport for your journey home. Snow-covered forests and frozen lakes pass by the window once more, while the experiences of the past week slowly begin to settle into memories.
The fells remain behind. The stories travel home with you.
✓ Only four to six guests
✓ Personally hosted by Anja throughout the week
✓ Encounters with local people and small family-run businesses
✓ A thoughtful balance of activities, free time and shared moments
✓ Flexible Northern Lights viewing when conditions are favourable
This journey has been designed to leave room for conversation, changing winter conditions and the unexpected moments that cannot be planned. You’ll experience Lapland with personal guidance, while still having time to rest and take in where you are.
Rooms at Loimu Resort have been reserved for this journey and can be booked separately through me.
Set beside Lake Ylläsjärvi in Finnish Lapland, Loimu Resort is a small, family-run hotel with just seven rooms. Its intimate size creates a peaceful and personal atmosphere, far removed from the region’s larger resort hotels.
Surrounded by fells, forests and the frozen lake, Loimu combines Nordic warmth with modern comfort. At the heart of the hotel is its sauna area, with a traditional smoke sauna, a log sauna, a barrel sauna and an outdoor hot tub: a welcoming place to unwind after a day in the snow.
The rooms were modernised when the resort opened in summer 2025. Each has a private bathroom and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Loimu also has a small restaurant serving regionally inspired food, along with a relaxed café and bar for quiet evenings after a day outdoors.
This is not a large, conventional Lapland hotel. It is a peaceful base for travellers who want to experience Ylläs at a slower pace, close to nature and away from the crowds.
Standard twin or double room
1575 € per room for 7 nights
Approximately €787.50 per person when sharing
I’m Anja, the founder of Finnomenal and your host throughout this journey.
Originally from Switzerland, I came to Lapland many years ago and chose to stay, not because of one particular attraction, but because of the way life feels here. The vast landscapes, the rhythm of the seasons and the people who have found their own way of living in the North gradually made Ylläsjärvi my home.
Today, I work as a local guide in Finnish Lapland, welcoming guests from around the world. I love the well-known landscapes, but I’m even more interested in the stories behind them: conversations beside the fire, encounters with local people and the knowledge and traditions they continue to share.
I created Finnomenal’s Boutique Journeys for travellers who want more than a collection of booked activities.
These small-group journeys leave room for meaningful encounters, unhurried time outdoors and a more personal understanding of Lapland. We travel without large groups or pressure to rush from one highlight to the next. Instead, we spend time in nature, meet people from the region and allow the week to unfold at the pace of winter.
If you are curious about the North and enjoy travelling with an open mind, I would love to share this corner of Lapland with you.
The snowshoe walk is approximately four kilometres and graded easy to moderate. We move at an unhurried pace with regular pauses, but you should be comfortable walking on uneven, snowy ground for several hours. No previous snowshoeing experience is required.
Yes. Many guests join Boutique Journeys on their own. With only four to six guests, the atmosphere soon feels relaxed and personal. Accommodation is priced per room, so solo travellers should allow for the full room rate. Many solo guests find the small-group format ideal for meeting others.
The journey operates with a minimum of four and a maximum of six guests. If the minimum number has not been reached, I will confirm the status before you book your flights.
January in Finnish Lapland is cold, with temperatures commonly below freezing and occasionally dropping well below –20°C. Conditions can change quickly. The days are still short, but daylight is returning after the Polar Night, creating several hours of beautiful blue, pink and golden winter light.
You will need warm base layers, insulating mid-layers, winter boots, gloves, a hat and suitable outerwear. A complete set of Arctic winter clothing can be rented separately. I will send you a detailed packing list before the journey.
The nearest airport is Kittilä Airport (KTT), which has connections via Helsinki as well as selected seasonal international flights. Transfers between Kittilä Airport and Ylläs are included. Please wait until your place and the journey departure have been confirmed before booking flights.
Rooms are pre-reserved for the group at Loimu Resort in Ylläsjärvi. Accommodation is booked and paid for separately. I will help you select and reserve the most suitable room category.
The journey is hosted in English & German. Activities with local partners also take place in English or are interpreted by me when necessary.
Please tell me about any allergies, intolerances or dietary requirements before booking. Most meals can be adapted with advance notice, although options may be more limited in some of the smaller local venues.
Yes. Winter weather, snow conditions or circumstances beyond our control may require changes to the order or content of the programme. Any adjustments will be made with safety and the overall character of the journey in mind.
Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance covering cancellation, medical treatment and winter outdoor activities is strongly recommended.
First, contact me without obligation so that I can check availability. Once your place and the departure are confirmed, you can book your flights to Kittilä.
I will then reserve your room with Loimu Resort, while the journey programme is booked through the Finnomenal page on WeTravel. Accommodation is invoiced separately by the hotel.
Please do not book flights or make programme payments until availability and the departure have been confirmed.
Maximum six guests, so places go quickly for popular dates. Booking closes 30 days before departure.
1. Enquire about availability
Send me a short message to let me know you are interested. I will check availability for both the journey programme and accommodation at Loimu Resort.
2. Check and book suitable flights
Once availability has been confirmed, you can book your flights to Kittilä Airport.
3. Reserve your accommodation
I will forward your travel details to Loimu Resort. The hotel will send you a separate booking confirmation and invoice for your accommodation.
4. Book the journey programme
You can then book the Finnomenal journey programme securely through WeTravel. Once your booking is confirmed, your place in the small group is secured.
I personally coordinate availability with Loimu Resort and guide you through each step before you make any non-refundable bookings.
I’ll personally reply within two working days.
No commitment required. By sending this, you’re asking Anja to check availability — not booking or paying for anything.
Maximum six guests, so places go quickly for popular dates.
Can’t join this departure? Explore the January, February and March journeys below and find the winter week that suits you best.
Personally hosted winter weeks with time for nature, local stories and meaningful encounters.
Not everyone comes to Lapland looking for bucket-list tourism. Finnomenal Boutique Journeys were created for travelers who want smaller groups, slower days, local encounters and a more personal connection to the North.
Lapland does not end with winter.
Finnomenal Boutique Journeys invite travelers to experience the North more slowly, personally, and closer to real Arctic life.