Best of Bothnian Coastal Route – Snow and Ice

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival at Oulu airport (OUL)
Several flight connections available from Helsinki-Vantaa and Europe.

Arranged transfer by taxi to the hotel in the city center.

Accommodation and dinner at De Gamlas Hem.

Day 2: Oulu

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast you get to experience ice-fishing on the frozen Bothnian bay.

Lunch at city center Restaurant Puistola. Puistola is a bakery and wine bar, serving meals thorughout the day.

Finnish sauna experience at Koivuranta Sauna (public sauna) with possibility for a dip in the ice-hole and hot tub.

The sauna is located 4 km from the hotel, have a nice walk on the way there. You can book a taxi for the way back if you wish to. 

Dinner at Restaurant Uleåborg, which can be reached by foot (1km).

Accommodation at De Gamlas Hem.

Day 3: Kemi

Breakfast and check-out from the hotel.
Time to have a short walk in Oulu, or explore some of the shops.

12:23-13:23: Train from Oulu to Kemi.
Pick-up from the train station and transfer to SnowCastle area.

Visit of SnowCastle in Kemi (no guiding). Café Lumipallo in the SnowCastle is available for snacks and beverages.

Dinner in Seaview Restaurant Lumihiutale.

Accommodation in Seaside Glass Villas.

Day 4: Kemi & Haparanda

Early breakfast from 06:30at Restaurant Lumihiutale

08:30 – 12:00 Morning cruise on ice-breaker Sampo. Transfer is arranged from SnowCastle.

Lunch: a snack on board Sampo or lunch at Restaurant Lumihiutale.

Arranged transfer to Filipsborg The Arctic Mansion, you will be arriving around 16:00 Swedish time (CET). As you cross the border between Sweden and Finland, remember to change from Finnish time (EET) to Swedish time (CET).

At Filipsborg you overnight in hotel rooms in the old mansion, dating back to 1805.

Dinner in the restaurant of Filipsborg.

Day 5: Luleå

Breakfast at Filipsborg.

Enjoy the surroundings of Filipsborg overlooking Kalix river before the snowmobile safari.

13:00-16:00 Nature safari on snowmobiles.

17:50 – 19:15 Train from Haparanda to Luleå
Arranged meet and greet at Luleå station and transfer to Brändön Lodge.

Check-in to your cabin at Brändön Lodge.

19:00 – 22:00 Aurora Hideaway Dinner.

Day 6: Luleå

Breakfast at Brändön Lodge.

After getting equipped in winter clothes you depart on Forest and Ice nature tour, 2 hrs by snowmobile incl Outdoor lunch.

Optional to snowmobile tour possible to do a Hovercraft tour.

Arranged transfer to Luleå by Brändön Lodge.

Check in to your room at Hotell Savoy.

In the afternoon take walk or try the free kicksleds on the frozen sea Isbanan – ice track that rounds the Luleå city peninsula.

Take an Ice bath next to the ice track and you are ready for dinner.

Dinner in Luleå city at Bistron restaurant.

Accommodation at Hotell Savoy.

Day 7: Skellefteå

Breakfast at Brändön Lodge.

Check-out from Hotell Savoy. Walk 3 min to nearby bus station.

10:00-12:20 Bus from Luleå to Skellefteå.

Arrival at and check-in to Wood Hotel.

Lunch at Restaurant Mandel at the hotel.

Afternoon relaxing at Vana Spa. At Wood Hotel you experience forest bathing without leaving the hotel.

Accommodation at Wood Hotel.

Day 8: Skellefteå

Breakfast at Wood Hotel. You enjoy the hotel room to the fullest and have a sleep in today, if you wish to as there is no morning activities planned.

Morning at your leisure in Skellefteå city center.

14:00-16:30 Snow ride horseback riding tour in the forest

18:35-19:15 Bus from Skellefteå to Lövånger.

A short walk takes you to a unique historical venue, where you stay overnight.

Dinner and accommodation at Lövånger Churchtown.

Day 9: Umeå

Breakfast at the restaurant., followed by a guided tour of Lövånger Churchtown.

11:20-12:36 Bus from Lövånger to Umeå

Check-in to Stora Hotellet Umeå

Lunch or fika at Kulturbageriet or Två Fiskare. Both are located in connection to the hotel, on the “inside marketplace” between the hotel and the city library.

15:00 – 16:00 Guitars the museum, we strongly recommend the guided tour

Dinner at Brasserie NÒR with a view over Umeå and surroundings.

Day 10. Umeå

Breakfast at Stora Hotellet

10:38 – 11:10 Bus from Umeå to Tavelsjö

11:30 Reindeer Ranch tell stories about Swedish Samilife. During your visit you get to know the reindeer herd.

Lunch at cozy Tavelsjö Wärdshus.

17:13 Bus from Tavelsjö to Umeå

Independent visit of Umedalens Skulpturpark

Dinner at Restaurant Harlequin, which is located in the city center.

Day 11: Umeå - Vaasa

Breakfast at Stora Hotellet

Bus from Umeå to Holmsund to board the ferry to Finland.

Crossing Kvarken Strait by Wasaline
Departure time depends on the day of the week, it is either 08:00 (Tue, Wed, Sun), 09:00 (Sat), 11:15 (Thu, Fri) or 12:00 (Sun).

Arranged transfer to World Heritage Gateway.
Kvarken Visitor Center is the best place in the world to experience the land uplift after the last Ice Age. Arranged transfer to Kvarken Archipelago UNESCO World Heritage Site where you meet your World Heritage Guide.

Guided tour in the area of Kvarken.

Arranged transfer to Kalle’s Inn

Sauna bath and dinner at the resort.

Accommodation in Glasshouses at Kalle’s Inn Resort.

Day 12: Vaasa - Kokkola

Slow morning with breakfast at Kalle’s Inn Resort.

Arranged transfer to Vaasa city center.
Time to grab a quick lunch close to the bus station or some snacks for the busride.

15:00-16:40 Bus from Vaasa to Kokkola

A local guide takes you on a walking tour; Storytelling about the old wooden town Neristan.

Dinner at Restaurant Vastaranta.

Accommodation Original Sokos Hotel Kaarle, Kokkola city centre.

Day 13: Kokkola - Kalajoki

Slow morning in Kokkola, enjoying breakfast at Original Sokos Hotel Kaarle.

11:00-11:50 Bus from Kokkola to Kalajoki

Lunch at Tapion Tupa.
Visit the yard of Tapion Tupa, which is turned into an ice-sculpture park in the winter-time.

Short walk to Hotel Lokkilinna.

14:00-15:30 Cross-country ski school

Dinner at Hotel Lokkilinna

20:00-22:00 Night-time sledging (northern lights tour)

Accommodation in Lokkilinna.

Day 14: Kalajoki

Breakfast at Hotel Lokkilinna, admiring the best view of the frozen sea.

Arranged transfer to the husky farm, transfer time app 25 min one-way.

10:00-12:00 Coastal husky mushing experience with 10 km husky safari.

Lunch at Lokkilinna.
A walk on the sandy dune beach to admire the pastel colors of a winter afternoon.

Dinner at Sandy Kelt.

Accomodation at Hotel Lokkilinna

Day 15: Departure

Breakfast at the hotel.

A short walk to the busstation, or you can ask the reception to call a taxi for you.

11:49 Bus from Kalajoki to Oulu airport

Departure from Oulu airport