Geared up in our brightest snowsuits, with a wooden luggage sled as our prop, two of us climbed onto the front while our strongest friend, Kim, offered to push. We blasted 90s dance music and attempted to recreate a cinematic, snow-filled adventure scene.
It was complete and total chaos.
Laughter. Slipping. Footage that was completely unusable.
And yet — it was absolutely perfect.
Because what that moment really captured wasn’t content. It was a connection. Three women who had started as total strangers just 24 hours earlier, already dancing in the snow like old friends in the middle of the Arctic Circle, completely not caring how it looked.
That, right there, is The Solo Travel Collection.
This is my honest, in-depth review of their Finland Northern Lights Tour — what I loved, what surprised me the most, what I’d do differently, and who this experience is genuinely made for. Because when I got that invitation to join this trip, I didn’t even hesitate. I typed back “I’m in!” before I’d even finished reading the email. And I want you to understand exactly why.
Who Is The Solo Travel Collection?
The Solo Travel Collection is a small-group tour company based right here in Toronto, Canada, designed specifically for women who want to explore the world — solo, but never actually alone.
Their tagline is “Because you’re worth the trip,” and I want you to know that’s not just clever branding. It’s a philosophy. You feel it woven through literally every single detail of the experience, from the first welcome email to the last farewell hug.
The company was founded by Nadine Paulo, who brings over 15 years of experience designing and leading transformative tours worldwide. Her goal, in her own words, is to “empower women to travel freely, confidently, and safely, even solo.” Every journey is designed to connect you to yourself, to like-minded community, and to the places you visit — through curated boutique stays and immersive experiences where every detail is taken care of so you can focus entirely on your joy, clarity, and confidence.
I want to be really transparent here: this was a media trip, and I was hosted. My flights were supported by Icelandair — and a quick note here, because this is something I want every North American heading to Europe to know about… Icelandair offers a FREE LAYOVER in Iceland if you’re travelling from North America to Finland. Yes, FREE. (You’re welcome.) My trip with The Solo Travel Collection was hosted, including internal flights, accommodations, meals, and activities. But this article? Every word is mine. Every opinion is honest. My job is to help you decide if this is the right fit for you, and I’m going to do exactly that.
Why Finland? Why the Northern Lights? Why Solo?
When the invitation to join this trip came, I didn’t even need to think about it.
I had seen the Northern Lights once before, in Yellowknife, Canada, and I have been chasing them ever since. Once you’ve witnessed that kind of magic in the sky — truly witnessed it — you don’t check it off a list and move on. You become the kind of person who arranges their entire travel schedule around aurora forecasts. Ask my family. My husband knows that if the Aurora is out in the sky, it means we’re hopping in the truck and heading for dark skies so we can see them.
The Finnish Northern Lights itinerary was as if we were transported into a life-size snow globe. Reindeer sleigh rides led by Indigenous Sámi People. Sledding through the snow pulled by huskies. Snow-covered forests. Sleeping in a glass igloo under the stars. Meeting the REAL Santa.
My family, bless them, does not share my deep love of cold destinations or aurora chasing. But this trip wasn’t for them — and that was the whole point.
As a mom, carving out space for something that is purely yours — your interests, your curiosity, your sense of adventure — is something I think we don’t do nearly enough. This wasn’t just a trip abroad. For me, it was an investment in myself.
Before We Even Left: How The Solo Travel Collection Prepares You
The preparation period that Nadine runs before departure is genuinely exceptional. We received a warm introductory welcome email, followed by a detailed 18-page “Before You Go” document — and I mean detailed. Day-by-day itinerary, comprehensive packing list, required visas, currency information, communication tips, emergency contacts, and insurance requirements. It answered every question I had and saved me literal hours of Googling.
Then there was the pre-trip Zoom call. All of us — the solo travellers who would be heading to the Arctic together — gathered on screen before we’d ever met in person. And I want to tell you, the energy that came through that monitor was something else. That’s when our unofficial word of the trip was organically born, “Vibe.” Setting the perfect stage for what would be an incredible adventure!
One last touch before departure: a final text with a short list of the most commonly forgotten items. A bathing suit was on that list. Hold onto that detail — it becomes very relevant later as a certain journalist almost didn’t bring hers!
First Stop: Helsinki — A Soft Landing
Something I genuinely love about The Solo Travel Collection is what I’d call their philosophy of soft landings. They don’t make you hit the ground running. You’re not being shepherded from activity to activity the moment you arrive. Your body gets real time to adjust, to ground itself in a new destination, to actually arrive before the experience begins. And as someone who has travelled enough to know how much that matters, I can tell you — it makes a significant difference in how you feel for the rest of the trip.
After my Iceland layover [seriously, do the layover], I landed in Helsinki. And as soon as I walked through arrivals, I spotted a big sign with my name on it — and three of my fellow travellers immediately yelled out, “Jami!” Jet lag evaporated instantly. Our big personalities filled the black SUV, and by the time we pulled up to the hotel, I already knew these strangers were going to become friends.
Hotel Lilla Roberts
We clicked a few photos as we walked through our hotel in Helsinki. The Hotel Lila Roberts is a boutique hotel in Helsinki’s design district, tucked inside a landmark building that dates back to the early 1900s. Walking into the foyer felt like a photographer’s dream — art deco details, intimate and elegant, a lounge and Lilla Bar that had this incredible mix of old-world charm and quiet Nordic cool. After meeting Nadine and Kim in the lobby, we got our keys and were officially in Finland.
I was sharing a room, which — I’ll be honest — is one of those things that sounds a little nerve-wracking before a trip and ends up being one of the best parts. One of the things in my “Before You Go” package was actually a section called “How to Be a Good Roommate.” Most of it was common sense, but one tip stuck with me: give your room partner at least an hour a day in the room by themselves. So I unpacked my stuff, tucked it all away so she’d walk into a clean room, and headed out into the city.
Website: https://www.lillaroberts.com/
Address: Pieni Roobertinkatu 1-3, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
Phone: +3589 689 9880
Exploring Helsinki
On our transfer from the airport, Rebecca and I had already pointed out a ton of spots we wanted to revisit. We met Kim down in the lobby and headed out into the design district, soaking in the gorgeous golden light as it melted into the beautiful coloured buildings.
The waterside promenade with ferries crunching through jagged ice, sailboats all tucked in for the winter, reminded you that it was still Winter in Helsinki, even though the sun was warming us with signs of Spring. We wandered around the stunning Uspenski Cathedral, and I may have stopped approximately fourteen times to frame up a shot while the girls trotted ahead of me, laughing. “Hang on, one sec” became a phrase they learned to expect when traveling with Jami Savage.
Welcome Dinner
After 3 hours of exploring, the sun began to set, which was our cue to head back to the Lilla Roberts hotel and change out of our Lulus and hoodies and into our dinner evening clothes. I packed only a carry-on, so my wardrobe was very limited, and my friends saw me wearing the same sweater to dinner each night. (Okay, that’s not true, they loaned me a sweater for our final night!).
We all met downstairs at 6:00 at the Krog Roba restaurant, our first official time gathering in person for our trip. A beautiful welcome from Nadine kicked off our night, with local wine and delicious food flowing almost as fast as our conversations. We would talk though dessert but finish our dinner around 8:00, as we were tired from our travel and wanted a good night’s sleep before our next day’s adventures.
Breakfast at Lilla Roberts
The next morning, we all met downstairs for breakfast at Krog Roba, and honestly, it set such a great tone for the trip. It was a buffet, but not in any ordinary sense — the food was elevated, international, thoughtful. European breakfast options, American options, Asian fusion options, fresh fruits, fresh juices, and more. But the thing that truly stopped me in my tracks was a health juice bar. Little shots of ginger, turmeric, and fruit blends. I had never seen that in a hotel before, and I was immediately and completely obsessed with it.
There’s something about sitting in a beautiful restaurant surrounded by the sound of a dozen different languages — all of it humming with that specific energy of people about to go out and explore a new place — that just lights me up. We were a group of loud, excited Canadians adding to that multicultural chorus, and I was grateful that I had paused to soak in this moment.
Heading North: Into the Arctic
The next morning, after breakfast and one last lingering look at Helsinki, we loaded up our beautiful luxury Mercedes van — I’m talking big leather seats, great music, plenty of room for bags, the whole thing — and headed to Helsinki Airport for our short domestic flight north to Ivalo.
The flight is only about an hour and a half, which honestly feels almost too short given how dramatically everything changes. One minute you’re in a modern Nordic city. The next, you’re descending into an endless white wilderness — frozen forests, frozen lakes, pristine snow stretching to every horizon. A stillness that you don’t just see. You feel it coming through the window.
One of my absolute favourite moments of the entire trip happened just after landing. Seated all around me was a group of travellers from Singapore who told me they had been planning this trip for twenty-five years. Twenty-five years. And they had never, ever seen snow before.
As a Canadian for whom snow is basically just a six-month inconvenience, we collectively complain about, I cannot fully describe what it was like to watch this group of adults in their 40s and 50s — absolutely buzzing with excitement — as the plane door opened and snow began to fall outside. “Do we need our boots on now? How do you even walk in it?” The joy was palpable and genuine, shifting something in me. It was a really good reminder of how extraordinary the ordinary can be when you experience it for the first time. I’ve spent years driving in snowstorms and complaining about it. These people had spent years dreaming about it.
We grabbed our bags off the carousel, loaded into another comfortable transfer vehicle, and made the roughly 30-minute drive to where we’d be spending the next few nights. The road was scenic, and our cameras swung from left to right as we took in the white landscape on either side.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
I don’t have words for this place. I’m a writer, and I genuinely don’t have words. But let me try.
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort was built by its founder, Jusi Eiramo, a man who fell in love with this land over 50 years ago and never left. His story is the kind that makes you want to pay attention. He started by the side of the road selling coffee to passing travellers. Then came a teepee, where he offered reindeer stew. And from those two things — a cup of coffee and a bowl of stew — he built one of the most internationally recognized Arctic destinations in the world.
I kept thinking about people like Walt Disney or David Suzuki— visionaries who saw a future that most couldn’t even comprehend, and then spent their entire lives building it into reality. Every year, Kakslauttanen welcomes guests from virtually every country on the planet. [FACT CHECK: pull their annual guest numbers from the website.] And what makes it remarkable isn’t just the igloos — it’s that the whole place is a love letter from Finland to the world.
Checking In
Even the check-in process at Kakslauttanen Resort is elevated. You’re brought to a private space inside one of the beautiful lodges, where you learn about the resort layout, process the formalities (like passports), and get your keys. All of this is facilitated by the welcome team (formally known as the Resort Managers), who are genuinely unhurried and warm. They want to know that you’re settled. They want to make sure you have everything you need. The level of attentiveness and care I experienced here was unlike anything I’ve encountered anywhere in the world. This isn’t scripted five-star hospitality. It’s Finnish hospitality. And there’s a real difference.
What Is a Kelo?
With our keys, we were off with our maps to find our accommodations, the kelo glass igloo, our home for the week. A kelo-glass igloo is half traditional Finnish log cabin, half glass dome igloo. On the cabin side, you have a full bathroom, a kitchen, a dining table, a cozy living room, bunk beds, and sleeping space for up to six people. On the igloo side, a glass dome lets you lie in bed and watch the Arctic sky move above you — sunrise, stars, and if you’re lucky, the northern lights dancing overhead.
It was way more space than I personally needed. I felt completely and utterly spoiled. The moment I opened that front door, I did what any reasonable travel writer would obviously do in that situation: I immediately FaceTimed my mom. Because some moments are simply too good not to share with the people you love.
What struck me beyond just the beauty of the space was the intentionality behind every single detail. Every log used in construction was harvested from dead wood — more expensive to source, but it meant they weren’t cutting down living trees. The handmade picnic table in the centre was built on-site by Finnish woodmakers. The bedding, the curtains, the rugs, the lights — all created by Finnish artists. This whole resort, down to the bolts holding it together, is a deliberate celebration of Finnish culture and Finnish craftsmanship. He didn’t just build a place to stay. He built a legacy to his people.
The Luggage Sled
When you arrive, you’re given two options for getting your bags to your kelo. Option one — have it delivered. Option two — grab a sled and drag it yourself through the snow.
I had a carry-on, and I still chose delivery, because honestly, I just wanted to be in the environment rather than wrestling my bags through snowdrifts. But here’s the detail I loved even more: the next morning, I spotted the housekeeping team making their rounds — pulling all of their cleaning supplies on red sleds, going from cabin to cabin through the snow. Have you ever seen housekeepers do their rounds on sleds? Because I hadn’t. And it was one of those small, unexpectedly delightful details that can only be unveiled when you travel to new places.
The Adventures: Days Full of Arctic Everything
After checking in and completely losing our minds over our kelos, we had a couple of hours before our first group activity. And the energy was impossible to contain. A few of us — quickly dubbed the “content besties” — grabbed a sled someone had brought over, put two people on the front, blasted music, and spent the next hour taking the most chaotic, joyful, photos in the snow.
I want to say something about this, because I know content creation sometimes gets a side-eye — like it’s superficial or it takes you out of the experience. But for me, it’s the opposite. The reason I wanted those photos wasn’t for the grid. It was because I wanted people who weren’t there to feel the joy of that place, those people, that moment. Photography and storytelling are how I build a portal between where I am and where you are. And the fact that we were laughing so hard we couldn’t hold the camera still — that was the real story anyway.
Snowmobiling
Growing up in Canada, snowmobiling is basically in my DNA, so I was absolutely in my element winding through those snow-packed trails with heavy white snow sitting thick on every branch around us. Some in our group had never touched a snowmobile before and rode as passengers, but for me I was in the drivers seat the whole time. We even stopped mid-trail for a full dance sequence — because of course we did.
Dog Sledding – And Meeting The World’s Most Passionate Guide
This was one of the most entertaining experiences of the entire trip. And it starts before you even get on the sled.
First, you head to the prep room, where you gear up in full winter gear — making sure every extremity is covered and warm before you head out. Then your guide gives you the one important rule: when you arrive at the dogs, do not stop. Do not slow down for photos. Get on the sled and be ready for launch. Because those dogs? They are ready. 50+ dogs, ten sleds, and a level of high-voltage excitement that honestly could feel overwhelming until you realize — these animals are happy. Passionate and exciting. This is what they live for.
I had done dog sledding before, so I offered to ride as a passenger first and let my friend Kim take the reins. The moment the sled took off, I heard her: “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, this is happening—” And then she was just full-on screaming with joy as we flew through the snow-covered trails. After the first few bumps, Kim settled into the groove of what was happening and made the empowering transition from “Can I do this?” to “I’m doing it!”
Now — I know the question that’s forming in your head, because I get asked it too: Is dog sledding ethical?
Here’s what I can tell you from what I witnessed firsthand at this operation. Animal welfare isn’t just a priority here — it’s the whole foundation.
The dogs are carefully matched as companions. Their nutrition is closely monitored, and they are served a nutritious diet based on season, workload, and the dog’s needs. For example, in the Summer, the dogs are not working, so they stick to a fatty dry food that is easy to digest. In the Autumn and Winter, when they train the dogs are fed a raw meat (mostly beef) diet with the addition of dry food that contains more fat and protein than the summer diet. They are fed about 1.5 hours after their activity, which helps with easier digestion.
Every year, they invite an independent animal welfare organization called ympäristöterveydenhuolto (Environmental Health Care of Tunturi-Lappi) that comes in and conducts a full audit of the program — not because anyone is forcing them to, but because the team genuinely wants to keep raising the bar. These are athletes who love what they do, cared for by people who love them back.
After the run is when you really see it. The dogs come back, they settle, they’re calm and relaxed, and happy to meet you. There’s no frantic energy, or looking over to us humans and saying, “Hurry up!”. Just a bunch of dogs who ran their hearts out and are now totally content to let you photograph them and love on them. Our guide’s connection with those animals was one of the most genuine things I saw on the entire trip. I asked if we could go back for photos after the run, and the images I got of him with his dogs are honestly some of my favourites from the whole week.
The Lake Smoke Sauna and the Cold Plunge — and Michelle
Okay. If there’s one story from this entire trip that I need every woman reading this to really hear, it’s this one.
The Lake Smoke Sauna at Kakslauttanen is as Finnish as it gets. A wood-fired sauna that fills the little lodge with heat, followed by a Nordic cold plunge in the lake, Wild? Yes. Worth it? Yes, you gotta do it at least once!
But the experience itself isn’t actually what I want to talk about. I want to talk about Michelle.
Michelle is one of our fellow writers — a senior, a powerhouse, a woman I admire. She hadn’t planned to do the cold plunge. She’d hesitated bringing her bathing suit but threw it in last minute. (see — I told you that detail would come back around) and she was fully prepared to cheer the rest of us on from the warm side of things.
But then she watched us go. And something started shifting.
You could see her wrestling with it. “I could… well, maybe… no… but actually… maybe I could.” The Solo Travel Collection operates with a “challenge by choice” philosophy. No one is ever pushed. No one is ever pressured. The energy of the group — women cheering each other on, holding space for each other’s courage — just quietly creates this force field where suddenly things feel possible that weren’t even on the table before.
I looked at her, and I said something along the lines of: “Michelle, you’re a badass. You are one of the most independent, capable women I know. We can all do hard things for twenty seconds. It’s going to be cold, and it’s going to be over, and you are going to be so proud of yourself. Plus, didn’t you give birth to TWO kids?”
She looked at me. She went quiet for a second.
And then she marched to that water, got in, and stayed for fifteen-something seconds and came out with the biggest, most radiant, most proud grin I have ever seen on a human being. She was crushed by the surrounding hugs when the group collided into her, surrounding her with big energy (and I’m sure she appreciated the physical warmth too!)
Michelle taught us all a lesson that day: you are never too old to make yourself proud. You are never too old to step into something terrifying and come out the other side with that grin. That moment — in the middle of the Arctic, in a cold river, with a group of women cheering — is one I am going to carry with me for a very long time. It was one of the most inspiring things I witnessed all year, and it had nothing to do with the northern lights.
Meeting the Sámi People and the Reindeer
The reindeer experiences at Kakslauttanen are run by the Sámi people — the Indigenous people of Finnish Lapland — and their connection to these animals is something that runs generations deep. One fact that was shared with us multiple times during our stay: there are more reindeer in Finland than there are people. Every single one of them is owned. In summer, the reindeer roam free across the resort’s land. In winter, they come into work.
One evening after dinner, we bundled up for a reindeer sleigh ride through the trails — gliding through the dark, snow-filled forest, looking up through the trees, hoping for northern lights overhead. We didn’t see them that night. But I need you to know: the thought of doing that exact same ride under the aurora? It’s already at the top of my list for when I go back. And I am going back.
Kakslauttanen: More Than Just Igloos
Here is what I did not expect when I imagined a log cabin resort in the Arctic: a world-class art gallery, a locally sourced gift shop that only carries Finnish-made goods, an on-site brewery, and a dining experience accessed through an underground tunnel that opens up into a two-story restaurant with stained glass walls.
The founder’s vision for this place was never just about the igloos. It was about Finland. About supporting Finnish artists. About using his resort to bring Finland to the world. The gift shop carries only Finnish-made items — fashion, photography, pottery, glass, figurines, and artisan crafts. The art gallery features works by local artists, some for sale and others from Jussi’s personal collection. His staff — by his own account — questioned why they needed an art gallery. His answer was essentially: because art matters, and because this is what we’re here to do. To which they reply, “Okay, Jussi,” and the next project would begin.
Then there’s one of the dining halls. You access it by going underground — through a tunnel that takes you past an indoor northern lights installation, and then you come up into this two-story space with floor-to-ceiling stained glass walls, boat-shaped chairs covered in artisan fabric, glass installations hanging from the ceiling, and artwork displayed in every direction.
I had expected snow and log cabins. I had not expected to be standing in a cathedral of Finnish art in the middle of the Arctic, feeling genuinely moved by one person’s vision of what a place could be.
And yes — they have their own brewery. I mean, of course they do.
The Planetarium — Because Of Course There’s a Planetarium
Jussi also built a planetarium on-site. A full 360-degree immersive planetarium that has 156 seats. It’s the largest privately owned planetarium in Northern Europe.
I laughed when I found out. Of course, he needed to add a planetarium to the resort.
Here’s why it exists, though — and it’s actually brilliant. The Kakslauttanen team worked with local videographers to film the northern lights on the property. They opened this theatre in 2021 so that even if you visit during a time where the cloud cover just won’t cooperate — you can go in and experience the full aurora show in an immersive, 360-degree space. Is it the same as the real thing? No. But it’s genuinely stunning, and it tells you exactly what you’re coming back for. Absolutely.
Meals & Restaurants at Kakslauttanen Resort
All meals are included in your stay at Kakslauttanen, and I want to spend a moment here because the dining was genuinely wonderful — and I say that as someone who is decidedly not a food writer.
Breakfast is a buffet, and it covers absolutely every kind of eater. If you’re a granola-and-berries person, you’re covered. If you want eggs and European cheese-and-bread, fully covered. Toast, coffee already waiting for you before you’ve even sat down — and yes, of course, the fresh juices.
Lunch is also a buffet, rotating daily. My strongest recommendation: try every single soup. Everyone. From a chicken noodle so dense and comforting it felt like a hug in a bowl, to traditional Finnish options that I still think about. There were always sandwiches, pastas, and salads too — so even in the middle of the Arctic, you are eating very well and very healthily.
Dinner is a sit-down, three-course affair with a choice of three appetizers, three mains, and three desserts. I tried reindeer. I didn’t hate it! The steaks and fish were beautifully prepared. But honestly, what I loved most about dinner wasn’t the food at all — it was the atmosphere. Antlers from the forest hang overhead, crafted into beautiful lights by local artists. Gnomes everywhere — said to bring good luck. And then, almost every night, the managers of the resort come around to check on you personally.
One evening, Jussi himself came to our table to greet us. You want to talk about Finnish hospitality? It doesn’t get more real than the man who built the place sitting down and asking how your trip is going.
The Lingonberry Berry Juice deserves its own mention. This served warm, sweet, slightly tart juice showed up everywhere — after dog sledding when we gathered in the teepee, at Santa’s house, and at activities throughout the day. It tastes exactly like the Arctic feels. Warm, wild, and a little surprising. I still think about it.
Sparkle, Santa, and the Permission to Be a Kid Again
Okay. I need to tell you about Sparkle.
Our guide into Santa’s world was an elf named Sparkle. And before you picture what you’re picturing — a person in a costume doing a bit — I need to stop you. Sparkle is not a person playing a character. Sparkle is Christmas magic in human (or elf) form. Full stop. She has the same presence as a Disney character who never breaks, because to her, this isn’t a role.
One of the Journalists in our group actually interviewed her during the trip, and it turns out Sparkle holds a degree — possibly a master’s — in happiness. Her life’s mission is to bring joy into the world, and working as an elf at Santa’s Village in the Arctic Circle is not her job. It is her calling. Her ethos. Her being.
At first, her energy was so big that some of us were doing that adult thing of, “Okay, we are grown professional women, let’s keep this calibrated.” But within about ten minutes, she had done something remarkable: she had given us permission. Permission to be silly. Permission to be curious, open, and genuinely excited. Permission to let our inner child out for a run in the snow.
We walked across the Wish Bridge and got to see Santa’s Celebration house for the first time. I felt like I was on the set of ELF as there was no way that this place could actually exist in real time. We walked through the large ornate doors to unveil a large dining hall, fit for a thousand little elves. A 2-story Christmas tree stood grand in the corner overlooking the long tables and chairs. Wraparound balconies offered great views down over the decorated place. And of course Sparkle had her magic at work with Gingerbread cookies and hot berry juice waiting on the tables. (Even gluten-free cookies for me!)
After taking in the Celebration house, it was time to make our way to meet you-know-who.
Meeting The Real Santa
I was completely unprepared.
After all that time with Sparkle, after being genuinely given permission to let my guard down and just be in the magic of it — walking into Santa’s house, seeing the thousands of letters from children piled on his desk, the roaring fireplace, the presents under the tree, the whole thing — was this magic or make-believe?
Santa invited us to sit down, poured us juice and passed the cookies, and asked the most deceptively simple question any of us had heard all week:
“What’s your story?”
I happened to be first. And the weight of that question hit me immediately. Do I talk about how I got here — to this trip, to this room? Do I talk about who I am as a travel writer? As a mom? As a person? What part of my story is the right story to start with?
In the end, it didn’t matter where I started. Because every woman at that table found her own way into the question. And what unfolded over the next little while was one of the most unexpectedly emotional, vulnerable, genuinely connected conversations of the entire trip. We talked about the journeys that brought each of us to that table — not just to Finland, but to the lives we were living. We expressed gratitude for the women sitting across from us. And there was something about being in that specific room, at the top of the world, with a group of women you’d known for four days and somehow connected with so genuinely that made this magical experience real and transformational.
Santa asked us another question, too: What would you change about yourself if you could change anything?
My answer was that I would have been gentler on myself sooner. I would have learned what self-compassion actually means much earlier in my life and led my days with more of it. Others at the table said they wouldn’t change a thing — that even the hard parts made them who they are. And just like that, what started as a visit to see Santa in his workshop had become one of the most honest conversations I’d had on a trip.
After our tableside chats, it was time for the final event… of course, a visit with Santa! We got to sit on his lap, find out what list we were on (I was nice), and even got a present. And I am not even a little bit embarrassed about it.
About the Northern Lights — An Honest Answer
Okay. Here is where I need to be completely straight with you.
We did not see the Northern Lights on this trip.
I know. I know.
We had four nights in Lapland. The forecast kept promising us something, and the cloud cover kept refusing to cooperate. The day after we flew home, conditions were reportedly some of the best all season, and even then, they didn’t show up.
Here’s what I want you to understand, though. Northern Lights are never guaranteed — and that’s not a fine-print disclaimer. That’s the truth of chasing something wild and natural and completely outside any human control. Part of what makes the aurora so profound, in my experience, is exactly that. If they showed up on schedule every night like a theme park attraction, they would be a show… not a magical encounter. And magic is unpredictable.
What I can tell you is this: if you book at least three to five nights during peak aurora season — late September through February — your chances of seeing the lights at least once are very high. We were there in mid-March, slightly outside the most reliable window, which was a contributing factor. If the lights are the primary reason you’re making this trip, aim for November through February, and have a real conversation with the resort about optimizing your timing before you book.
And if the sky doesn’t cooperate? The resort’s planetarium was built specifically for this scenario. The Kakslauttanen team worked with local videographers to capture the lights at their most spectacular, and you can experience the full show in a 360-degree immersive theatre. It is not the same as standing under the real thing. But it is genuinely breathtaking, and it will absolutely confirm that you are coming back.
Because I am coming back. That’s not me being gracious about a trip that didn’t deliver — that’s me genuinely, enthusiastically planning a return.
A tip from the itinerary that I don’t want you to miss: Ask the front desk to show you how to download the aurora borealis alarm app. They actively monitor the conditions and will wake you up if the lights start to appear. You can get some sleep and then be ready to hop out of bed once they show up!
The Return to Helsinki: Same City, Different Eyes
On Day 5, after our farewell dinner at the resort, we flew back to Helsinki the next day.
Same city. Same streets we’d wandered at the beginning of the week.
But I was not the same person who had arrived.
There’s something about returning to a familiar place after an experience like this that makes everything look a little different — sharper somehow, more vivid, like your eyes have been recalibrated. The farewell dinner carried a completely different energy than the welcome dinner. Less who are you and more I’m so glad I know you. No more introductions, all appreciation for what we have just experienced.
The Power of Solo Travel
There is something uniquely powerful about a group of women who all chose this. Who all said yes to something that maybe made them a little nervous? That shared choice creates a foundation of openness and trust that is genuinely hard to replicate in regular life.
You arrive solo. You are never alone. And somehow, in environments like this, the people around you reflect back parts of yourself that you didn’t even know you needed to see.
I especially want to speak to the moms reading this. When you are in service to everyone around you — your kids, your partner, your extended family, your work, your aging parents — it is so easy to lose the thread of who you are outside of those roles. Solo travel gives you an opportunity to reconnect with yourself and chase your own dreams. From getting pushed outside your comfort zone — trying something new, doing something hard, going somewhere unfamiliar on your own terms — it’s the best form of evolution outside that house that will transform who you are on the inside.
The Solo Travel Collection isn’t just a tour operator. It’s a container for becoming a bolder version of yourself. And that’s worth every penny of the investment. As their motto says, “You’re worth the investment.”
Practical Takeaways for Planning Your Trip: The Solo Travel Collection
Best time to go for Northern Lights: Late September through February is peak aurora season, when the nights are longest and darkest. March is still a beautiful time to visit for the winter landscape and longer daylight hours, but cloud cover can be less predictable.
How to get there: Fly into Helsinki, then take a short domestic flight to Ivalo Airport. The transfer from Ivalo to Kakslauttanen is approximately 30 minutes. Pro tip: Icelandair offers a free stopover in Iceland for North American travellers on their way to Finland. Add it. You will not regret it.
What to absolutely not forget:
- Thermal base layers — minimum two to three sets
- Waterproof, insulated winter boots with non-slip soles (the paths between the kelos are snow and ice)
- Your warmest coat
- Mittens or gloves — your hands will thank you
- Hand warmers — which I also use as battery warmers to extend battery life.
- A power bank — cold temperatures drain phone and camera batteries alarmingly fast
- European adapter (Type C or F)
- Your bathing suit — smoke sauna, cold plunge, and don’t say I didn’t warn you
Why a guided tour makes sense here: Remote Arctic travel has real logistical complexity — domestic flights, transfers, Arctic gear, activity bookings, meal planning, aurora monitoring. A guided experience like The Solo Travel Collection handles every single one of those pieces so that you can actually be present for the experience instead of managing it. That’s the whole point.
Who is this trip perfect for:
- Solo female travellers who want adventure without going it entirely alone
- Moms who are long overdue for something that belongs entirely to them
- Women who want connection AND freedom in equal measure
- First-time Arctic travellers
- Anyone who’s been waiting for permission to go
Frequently Asked Questions
How cold does it get?
In Helsinki in early March, expect somewhere between -5°C and +3°C. In Lapland, plan for -15°C to -5°C. Layering is everything. All of the outdoor activity gear is provided for excursions, but your base layers matter a lot for how you feel between activities.
Is Finland safe for solo female travellers?
Yes — Finland is consistently ranked among the world’s safest countries. The bigger challenge is usually packing the right boots.
What kind of food can I expect?
At Kakslauttanen, all meals are included, and everything is excellent. Expect hearty, comforting Nordic cooking — salmon soup, reindeer dishes, incredible daily soups, fresh breads, berries in everything. One note on Finnish dining culture: tipping is not expected. Service charges are already included, and staff are paid fairly. If you received exceptional service, rounding up is appreciated but entirely optional.
Is the glass igloo experience actually worth it?
Without question, yes. Even if the Northern Lights don’t appear — and I say this as someone whose northern lights didn’t appear — lying in a warm bed watching the Arctic sky shift above you through a glass dome is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Full stop.
Will I feel lonely travelling solo?
Not on a trip like this. Most women arrive solo and leave with real friendships. That’s not marketing — that’s what I personally experienced. But you will have ample solo time should you choose it, which I also really valued on this trip.
Is dog sledding ethical?
Based on what I witnessed at this specific operation: yes. Animal welfare is their top priority, supported by annual independent audits. The dogs are well-loved, well-fed, well-matched as partners, and genuinely happy doing what they do. You’ll see it the moment the run is over and they come back calm and content.
Do I need any winter travel experience?
Not at all. Every activity is designed to welcome beginners, your guides walk you through everything, and all the gear you need for outdoor excursions is provided. The only thing you need to bring is an open mind — and a willingness to be cold.
Final Reflection: What This Trip Actually Gave Me
I went to Finland to chase the Northern Lights.
What I actually found was something I hadn’t known I was looking for.
Stillness. The kind of stillness that only comes when you step fully out of the noise of your daily life and find yourself in the middle of a snow-covered Arctic forest with nothing pressing to do except be there. Connection — with women who became real friends in a matter of days, and with a version of myself that I sometimes lose track of in the busyness of being a mom, a writer, and a person with an inbox that never empties.
And joy in the most unexpected places. In a sled in the snow with people I’d just met. In a cold plunge in a frozen river. A woman named Sparkle holds a master’s degree in happiness. In Santa, asking, “What’s your story?“ — and realizing that sitting with that question, even just for an afternoon, was one of the most honest things I’d done in months.
The Northern Lights didn’t show up. But everything else did.
Would I Recommend The Solo Travel Collection?
Yes. Without hesitation and without qualification.
If you’re looking for a women’s travel company that genuinely delivers on adventure, connection, safety, and an experience that feels effortless in the best possible way — this is the one.
It’s not just a trip. It’s the kind of experience that changes the story you tell about yourself.
Solo Travel Collection Discount
I wholeheartedly support investing in this or one of their other trips. I’m excited to offer you a $500 Solo Travel Collection Discount on your trip. Book using referral code “Adventure Awaits,” and you’ll get $500 off your trip!
Ready to Go?
If you’ve been waiting for a sign — this is it.
Visit The Solo Travel Collection to explore their upcoming 2026 and 2027 tours, including this Finland Northern Lights itinerary and new adventures in Southern France and Italy. Personally, I’m keeping my eye on the Azores tour as it looks absolutely fantastic and very economically priced!
“Because you’re worth the trip.” ✨
PS – Have questions? I invite you to email me at [email protected], and I’m happy to answer them!
Disclosure: This was a hosted media trip. Flights were supported by Icelandair. Accommodations, internal flights, meals, and activities were hosted by The Solo Travel Collection. All opinions, words, and photography are entirely my own.
