Day 5 - My dreams came true!

Happy to have a relaxed morning since I definitely wasn’t ready to leave my igloo.

First on the agenda was visiting a reindeer farm owned by a Sámi family. The Sámi people are the only officially recognized Indigenous group in the European Union, and it was incredible learning about their family history and daily life with the reindeer.

Lunch was simple and perfect—salmon soup, sugar cake, and hot chocolate. And a fun fact: reindeer shed their antlers every year… and they grow back in the same shape!

Our bags were sent ahead to Lapland Hotels Riekonlinna, right in the heart of Saariselkä village. With a few hours to spare I wandered through some local shops, hoping to find the perfect little treasure before enjoying a couple hours of downtime.

The day isn’t complete without a hotel inspection 😉 First up was Santa Hotel Tunturi—part of the same chain we visited earlier, but with a slightly different vibe and great for both large and small groups.

Next was Wilderness Hotel Saariselkä, a beautiful, brand-new property they describe as Arctic luxury.

We then toured Wilderness Hotel Kieppi—a more moderate option, but still excellent. We wrapped up the visit with a wonderful buffet dinner there, with plenty of great choices.

The skies hadn’t been ideal for Northern Lights viewing the past few days, but I stayed hopeful—sending good vibes into the universe and encouraging my companions to do the same.

Bundled up, we met our guide at 9pm and set off under cloudy skies, hoping for the best. Just five minutes in, the driver suddenly shouted with excitement—he could see the lights—and quickly pulled over.

As you can imagine, we were beyond excited—oohing and aahing at the beauty above us. After a while, we debated taking a chance and continuing on to our intended destination, farther from the light pollution. It was a risk we were willing to take—and it paid off!

The open space gave us even more breathtaking views than before. Our guide quickly built a fire to warm us up and prepared simple snacks—sausages, marshmallows, and warm berry juice. In between sky gazing, she shared stories and local knowledge, making the whole experience even more special.

This was the night of all nights!Read more