“We are hoping you might be interested in traveling on our Northern Lights of Finland Tour,” said the nice PR representative from Collette Travel last fall.*
OMG, you want to send me on one of your small group Exploration tours? Really, really, really? Me, me, me?
Should I set off to explore Finland and go in search of the Aurora Borealis?
According to Condé Nast Traveller, the Northern Lights are supposed to be one of the wonders of the world. Ooh, ooh, ooh, it would be a great way to cap off my 60th birthday year.
The Northern Lights are a wonder of the world (Photo courtesy of Collette Travel.)
Could I manage through a trip through the rugged terrain of Lapland?
It would include a 3-night stay in the north of Finland. “Collette Explorations tours have many moments that you would be hard pressed to replicate on your own. They’re immersive and off the beaten path,” said the PR team at Collette Travel. Ooh, ooh, ooh, it’s so cold there. I’m a beach person. Not a skier.
There will be snow in Lapland in October (Photo courtesy of Collette Travel.)
Would I be able to overnight surrounded by wilderness in a glass igloo and lead a husky dog sled?
“Since we’re traveling with such a small group (average of 15 travelers) we are able to have more unique experiences like sleeping in glass igloos, going on a husky safari, and more,” added the PR team at Collette Travel. Ooh, ooh, ooh, there are saunas in the log cabin. This is sounding more like my style of travel.
Sledding with the huskies is on the itinerary. (Photo courtesy of Collette Travel.)
Would I, should I, could I?
“You’ll meet Santa Claus in his home. Embark on a reindeer safari with a local farmer. Mush your way to breakfast in a Finnish sleigh, and lead your own dog sled team,” continued the PR team at Collette Travel.
What’s that? I get to meet Santa Claus and maybe his reindeer too.
Per Wikipedia, “in traditional lore, Santa Claus’s sleigh is led by eight reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder and Blixem, with Rudolph being a 20th-century inclusion.”
OMG, I get to meet Santa and reindeers in the Arctic? How cool is that?
I’m going to meet Santa Claus! (Photo courtesy of Freepik.)
Note the above photo was designed by Freepik.
Would I, should I, could I? The answer is YES, YES, YES!
And just like that it’s a year later and this boomer girl is going solo, leaving her boyfriend L behind – I did invite L to join me but he passed on the opportunity – and preparing for her first-ever (maybe not last-ever) adventure in search of the Aurora Borealis.
I hope my pictures of the Aurora Borealis will look as good as this one. (Photo courtesy of Collette Travel.)
Packing for the Northern Lights of Finland
It’s going to be cold, cold, cold in Lapland as we head out on our journey, especially at night. I want to be warm, warm, warm from the crown of my head down to my pinky toes.
So what does one pack? Collette provided a suggested list of garments and gear. Plus, some of my skier friends gave extra recommendations to ready me for the arctic. Here’s the scoop:
♥ I packed an insulated hat to keep my head warm, a face mask to keep my face warm, and a hydra-flask to keep me hydrated throughout the day and night.
My hat has an Omni-Heat thermal reflective lining to keep my crown comfortable
♥ I have a Northface knee-length down jacket and waterproof pants. Under the pants will be Omni-Heat leggings or Cuddl Duds velveteen leggings for warmth and softness.
My top layers include a down jacket and waterproof pants to keep me warm and dry
♥ My 90% down filled Norwegian jacket will act as an extra layer while I’m in Lapland and as a stand-alone jacket while touring Helsinki. I bought it in Norway while I was there last month. It’s a great jacket because it folds up into a tiny sack.
My down jacket from Norway is so light it folds up into a small sack
♥ I bought a few fleece tops and a sweatshirt to layer under the jacket with thermal underwear.
I’m told fleece tops are good for layering with thermals
♥ I packed waterproof mittens and liner gloves, both have Omni-Heat thermal protective linings to keep my fingers warm. The gloves are touch screen compatible so I can use my camera and smartphone while out in the cold.
Waterproof mittens will keep my hands dry in the snow and the thermal gloves have touch screen capabilities
♥ Moving down the body, my toes are going to be nice and toasty in my new Merrell Thermo-Chill hiking boots. They are guaranteed waterproof and ready for some snow- packed mountains. The nice saleswoman at REI said she wore these boots when she went to Iceland.
These waterproof boots are meant for walking in the snow
♥ Wool socks were on the list. I bought four pairs with fleece linings. Ooh, ooh, ooh, hope my toes stay warm, warm, warm.
Wool socks will go under my boots
♥ “You better take hand and toe warmers,” said my friend S. √ Check, √ Check. On the case.
Hand and toe warmers are a must add-in for a trip to Lapland
“Head,shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. And eyes and ears and mouth and nose, I’m ready to face the cold, cold, cold!”
What’s that? You want to know what else I’m taking?
♥ Collette Travel advises taking a flashlight for when we venture into the darkness in search of the Lights.
I filled my flashlight with fresh batteries so will see in the dark
♥ Ooh, ooh, ooh, I couldn’t resist these reindeer pajamas. Maybe they will help me sleep or at least dream of Santa and his reindeer.
I had to buy these cute reindeer pjs
♥ I thought a backpack would be handy as well. This polka dot one was cute. It’s going to act as my carry-on bag. Hope my back isn’t weighed down by all the stuff inside.
This polka dot backpack is filled to the brim
Taking pictures of the Northern Lights
My new Sony DSC-HX80 Digital Still Camera is repaired (from it’s last trip when I accidentally dropped it and it broke — thankfully I had bought insurance and the Best Buy Geek Squad fixed it in time for this trip) and packed in a leather case along with a tripod. “It’s automatic. It’s easy to use,” said my son D. He showed me how to put the camera on the tripod. I’m not that good at all this technical stuff.
I bought a Sony Cyber-Shot camera to take pictures of the Northern Lights
I practiced how to transfer the pictures to my smartphone over WIFI. I did it!
I practiced how to take a selfie. I did it!
Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! Our guide Chad just sent a note with a full page of instructions on how to shoot the Northern Lights. Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! There are 11 steps I need to accomplish and the first one is setting my camera to manual.
Will I be able to navigate the camera and take pictures of the Aurora Borealis? Don’t worry Judi. You got this. If not you’ll ask for help.
Leaning into Lapland
As the time draws near. I’m setting aside my fears and am getting ready to “lean in” to each dynamic experience after another on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. There’s no holding back, I’m all in.
Be sure to like my Facebook page at Judi Boomer Girl; follow me on Twitter @judiboomergirl and check out my Instagram @judiboomergirl. This boomer girl is #leaningintolapland real soon.
Thank you Collette Travel for picking me, Judiboomergirl, to travel with you on the Northern Lights of Finland Tour.
Can’t wait to share my experience with each of you, my readers, in future blog posts. See you on the other side.
Judi
P.S. – If you have requests for Santa for this holiday season, leave a comment and I’ll make sure he gets them.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” Collette Travel provided me with a complimentary press trip on their Northern Lights of Finland Tour. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
OMGeeee I am so excited for you!~ You sure know how to #findadventure I can’t wait to follow along. I know from experience that the Collette Explorations Tours are off the charts amazing!!
Say “Hi” to Santa for me and just ask for World Peace. 🙂
Thanks Suzanne! And I’ll be sure to let Santa know about World Peace. Good ask.
Seeing the Northern Lights is way up high on my bucket list. Mr./Dr. Excitement does some medical research work with a Finnish biotech company, so maybe I’ll be able to convince him that he really should go meet with them on their home turf.
Sounds like a plan in the making. I’ll let you know how this trip works out.
You are ready girl! Can’t wait to read all about your adventure!
Yes Diane, I’m ready and the best thing it all fits in my 26 inch suitcase. Hope it doesn’t weigh more than 50 lbs.
Good heavens, how fabulous!
I got to visit Finland by sailboat at midsummer in 2012. It was SO beautiful! This sounds absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to read your writeup.
Bonnie, glad to hear that you liked Finland. I will have an opportunity to visit Helsinki too, which is supposed to be a lovely city. Will report back in future posts.
Hi Judi. How exciting for you! I live where there are northern lights and have been up to Churchill, Manitoba, to see them several times, so I know how exciting it can be. Your packing list is perfect. I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time! I look forward to reading about your adventures in Finland.
Doreen, how wonderful that you live in a place where you can see the Northern Lights. I may have to visit sometime if I don’t find them in Lapland. Now that I’m on this journey, I want to complete it.
Sounds like it will be a wonderful experience. But I am worried that you may get hot from overdressing:-)
How exciting! Your enthusiasm is evident!
Irene, definitely need all these layers and more now that I’m in Lapland.
What a fantastic opportunity! The Northern Lights are on my bucket list – but I hadn’t taken into consideration all the warm clothing I’d need (I HATE being cold!) Loved all your tips and photos and I’ll be following along on your adventure. Exciting stuff!
Leanne, yes you definitely need lots of warm layers. It’s not so bad. So far, so good with all my clothes.
I am a tropical travel girl so going to places where it’s cold are not high on my bucket list although I know once I was there I would be thrilled to see the Northern Lights! I would be buying all the layers and special clothing to keep me warm from head to toe as you have. I will be interested to read your experiences and see your photos!
I’ll be ready for a beach vacation after this trip. However, it is invigorating with all this cold weather and it is truly a magical place in Lapland.
Too exciting! I can’t wait to read about your adventures. I would so join you. My niece who lives in the UK says many families go to Lapland over Christmas to visit Santa. I guess that trumps Macy’s. Best wishes to keeping warm and dry.
Seeing Santa in Lapland is better than any Macy’s parade. The real reindeer make it all worthwhile.
You will have a blast. I traveled to Finland’s Lapland in 2016 and loved every moment!! The snowmobiling, reindeer, dog sledding, meeting Santa Claus and so much more. It snowed the whole time I was there and I never saw the northern lights, but I had already seen them in Canada, so it didn’t damper my experience!! I would go back in a heartbeat!
Marilyn, so glad you had a chance to experience Lapland. I know what you mean, I’m starting to really like this weather. Although maybe because it’s been sunny here the entire time.
Your aurora borealis journey has all the makings of a wonderful travel adventure—especially since you are so prepared! One tiny suggestion—maybe practice with your camera more before you go (from one whose Northern Lights photos are little more than gray haze—but all of the millennials with us took National Geographic-caliber pics). Have a great time!
Good idea about the camera. Taking pictures of the night sky is rather difficult and cannot be done in an auto mode.
Have a GREAT trip!! My Frozen-obsessed daughter already wants to be a writer when she grows up. If you happen to meet Olaf on your journey, it might seal the deal! 🙂
No Olaf, but I bet your daughter would love it here. It’s a magical place. I met the elf Aurora and Santa and his reindeer. Kids would love this place.