Before You Go

In nature

Take everything back with you. Wrappers, tissues, used hand warmers, food scraps. Nothing decomposes quickly in Arctic cold, and animals find what people leave behind.
Stay where the guide shows you. Under snow, it's impossible to see young trees, lichen or frozen streams. Established tracks protect both you and them.
Give wildlife space. Never feed, chase or call to animals. Reindeer on the road belong to local herders; we stop, wait and let them pass. No flash photography on animals.
Keep lights low at night. Use red light or dim torches on aurora hunts, and keep phone screens down. Your eyes need about 20 minutes to adapt to the dark, and so does everyone else's.
Campfires only where the guide lights them. Open fires are restricted in Finland, and we only use designated fire sites.
Quiet places stay quiet. Keep voices low near other groups and near homes. Sound travels far over snow.

Everyman's rights. In Finland you may walk freely in forests and nature, but not through gardens, yards or near homes. Ask your guide if you're not sure.
Sámi culture is living culture. The Sámi are the Indigenous people of this region. Please don't wear imitation Sámi dress or treat it as a costume, and ask before photographing people, their homes or their reindeer.
Spend locally. We're happy to recommend family-run cafés, restaurants, producers and craftspeople in Rovaniemi, Helsinki and Porto. Local purchases keep money in the community you're visiting.
Try the quieter places. The famous spots are crowded for a reason, but some of the best experiences are in places few visitors see. Ask us for suggestions.

Lapland's clean water and air are part of what you came to see. Small habits add up when thousands of visitors arrive each winter.

Bring a reusable bottle. Finnish tap water is among the cleanest in the world, and Porto's is safe to drink. There's no need to buy bottled water. On tour, we serve hot drinks in recyclable cups and take them back for recycling.
Save energy where you stay. Heating in the Arctic takes a lot of energy. Close windows and doors, turn heating down and lights off when you go out, and reuse towels rather than asking for fresh ones every day.
Short showers and saunas. A sauna is part of Finnish life, and worth trying, but it needs no more than one session per day. Keep showers short.
Don't overbuy warm clothing. Renting winter boots and overalls from a local rental shop is better than buying gear you'll wear once. Ask us for a recommendation before you shop.
Sort your waste. Finland separates biowaste, paper, cardboard, glass, metal and plastic packaging. Look for the labelled bins at your accommodation.
Travel lightly between places. Rovaniemi's centre is walkable, and there are good bus and train connections across Finland. Consider the night train from Helsinki instead of a flight.

Dress for the cold. Layers, wool, a hat, warm gloves and good boots. Temperatures can fall below −30°C. See our what to wear guide.
Follow the guide's instructions, especially near roads, on ice and in the dark. Never walk onto frozen rivers or lakes unless the guide says it's safe.
Tell us about any health or mobility needs when you book. We'll tell you honestly what the tour involves and adapt it where we can.
Emergency number in Finland and Portugal: 112. Your guide carries first aid equipment and follows a written emergency protocol.

Thank you for travelling with us. Read more in our sustainability policy, and send questions or suggestions to scandixplore@gmail.com.