Type “Lapland” into Google Maps and you’ll be shown an area in northern Finland. Wrong. Well, almost… If Lapland is indeed an administrative region of Finland, it more broadly corresponds to the area of Sweden, Norway and part of the Kola Peninsula in Russia. This area is inhabited by about 90,000 Sami, the only indigenous people recognized in the European Union, who settled here long before the founding of the Nordic countries and the drawing of borders. They have their own language (Sami), flag and parliament and live mainly from reindeer herding, tourism and handicrafts.
Unique natural phenomena
Located almost entirely beyond the Arctic Circle, Lapland is known as one of the best places to observe Northern lights in the world. This luminous phenomenon occurs when particles of the solar wind, charged with electrons and protons, collide with gas in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. If you can see them from the end of August, then the best time to observe them is that time polar night, from mid-November to mid-January. The sun has not been above the horizon for several weeks, offering dark skies almost all day. To be amazed by the “northern lights”, you only need to hope that the sky is not cloudy…
Northern lights are also seen in Iceland, Scotland or Canada. In the Southern Hemisphere, the same phenomenon occurs in Australia, New Zealand or the Patagonia region (Argentina and Chile). then we talk about the aurora borealis in australia.
In summer, on the contrary, we use it Midnight Sun (or polar day), a period during which a star does not set for several weeks. So the night is as bright as the day. An ideal region for hiking, in relative freshness, in wild areas away from the world, between forests, lakes and mountains. In both summer and winter, you can stay there in unusual accommodations, such as the Icehotel or the Arctic Bath floating hotel, both located in Sweden.
Birthplace of Santa Claus
Beyond the Northern Lights, Lapland is also reminiscent of Santa Claus. that Santa’s village (Santa’s Village), in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, has become a tourist destination, attracting between 500 and 600,000 visitors each year. In particular, there is his house and a post office where half a million letters from children from all over the world arrive every year. In winter, there are plenty of activities, from reindeer sleigh rides to snowmobile safaris.
How to get there?
- With airplane
There are direct flights between Paris and Lapland in winter. Calculate flight time 3h30. Outside of this period or when departing from an airport in the region, a stopover is expected in Oslo, Stockholm or Helsinki.
To Finland.Air France will operate a seasonal route between Paris-CDG and Rovaniemi (from 27 November, 1 flight/day) and between Paris-CDG and Kittila (from 10 December, one flight every Saturday) until March 2023. Finnair: connects several airports in Finnish Lapland (Rovaniemi, Kittila and Ivalo…) departing from Paris-CDG and Nice with a Helsinki connection.
To Sweden. From December 16, 2022 to March 24, 2023, Transavia Every Friday there is a flight between Paris-Orly and Lulea. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) also connects Paris to several airports in Swedish Lapland (Lüleå and Kiruna) with a connection to Stockholm.
To Norway. from December 10 to the end of March 2023. Air France will offer a direct connection between Paris-CDG and Tromsø (one flight every Saturday). Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and: norwegian also connect Paris to Tromso, Stockholm or Oslo.
- By train
in Finland. An overnight train called the Santa Claus Express connects Helsinki to Rovaniemi, Kolar and Kemijarvi in about 12 hours. Information from VR Company.
In Sweden. an overnight train called the Arctic Circle Express connects Stockholm to Kiruna with the main cities of Lapland, Luleå, Kiruna and Abisko. Information from VY company.
in Norway. There is no rail connection between Oslo and Norwegian Lapland. The solution is to go through Sweden, taking the Arctic Circle Express night train from Stockholm to its terminal in Narvik (19 hours journey, info at vy.se). From there take a bus to Tromsø (4h30 journey, information at bestarctic.com).
Ask about
in Finland. With Visit Finland Lapland and Visit Finland.
In Sweden. With Swedish Lapland and Visit Sweden.
in Norway. From Norway.
VIDEO – The Northern Lights illuminate the Lapia sky
Source: Le Figaro
