Welcome to HaparandaTornio, the border zone of Sweden and Finland! Torne River creates the natural border between the countries, but otherwise you will only notice that you have changed countries as the time zone and language changes.
In HaparandaTornio crisscrossing the border is done several times daily by the locals. The local culture features the double nationality of the area. The shared fishing traditions, villages that reach over the country borders and a regional language, Meänkieli. In addition to the riverside, you get to enjoy the Arctic Archipelago in this area of Lapland as Torne River flows into the Gulf of Bothnia.
One highlight of your winter stay in HaparandaTornio is for sure the traditional winter fishing program and one further is visiting the familiar husky farm in Sweden. Super-cozy Mustaparta Boutique Hotel in the centre of Tornio gives you easy access to shops, cafés, restaurants and just a walk over to Sweden. The area is best reached via Kemi, Rovaniemi, Luleå or Oulu airports.
Location
Season
Transport
Nights
Program
Day 1 – Wednesday
Transfer from Kemi, Rovaniemi, Luleå or Oulu airport to Mustaparta Hotel
Check-in at the accommodation
Dinner in Restaurant Päämaja of Mustaparta Hotel.
Day 2 – Thursday
Visiting Kukkolarapids where you meet the fisherman, pick up burbot fishnets and try out your luck in ice-fishing
Have you ever wondered how the locals make the most of the snowy, cold winter days? One of the favorite pass-time is ice-fishing and one of the local traditions is to catch fish from underneath the ice with nets or traps. How about trying your luck in ice-fishing? Our guide will teach you how to drill a hole in the ice and prepare the ice-fishing rod and baits. Further, you can participate in the lifting of burbot traps from underneath the ice and hear about this marvelous fish, which is a true seasonal delicacy. Before leaving the fishing grounds we enjoy a delicious snack by a campfire.
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 3 – Friday
Breakfast at the hotel.
Husky safari in Sweden
After breakfast we transfer to Storträsk village in Sweden. There we find a small husky property right in the beautiful rural countryside. Helene and her family greet guests as friends and here we take time to draw in the calmness and slow life of the north. We take off on a proper husky experience, a safari of 17km (duration 1,5-2 hrs) with the eager arctic runners. Each husky team takes two persons, one musher and one passenger, during the tour there is a possibility to change places. After the tour we gather in the old cottage on Helenes farm and enjoy a tasty picnic lunch: filled baguette, cake, coffee / tea. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and share stories. There is no rush in this moment.
Dinner at the hotel
Day 4 – Saturday
Breakfast at the hotel.
Snowmobile safari to Kemi-SnowCastle
Join in on this magic adventure to the world of snow and ice and visit the bucket list item Kemi SnowCastle.
The SnowCastle of Kemi by the Gulf of Bothnia in Finland is the source of great pride as well as a true showcase of architectonic snow-work of the local constructors. Every winter, the SnowCastle offers wonderful experiences for both children and adults alike.
Dinner at the hotel
Northern Lights hike to Toivola Island (Sweden)
The tour leads you to witness the magic or nocturnal Lappish. Maybe the northern lights will highlight your evening.
We reach the island on a nighttime wintry hike on snowshoes on untouched snow, in the woods and on the ice of the frozen river. We will be out at the best possible northern lights prospecting time of the evening to we get out in aspiration to see the northern lights on their playgrounds on the northern sky…
Day 5 – Sunday
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to Kemi, Rovaniemi, Luleå or Oulu airport
Thank you for visiting HaparandaTornio!
Price and availability on request.
Boutique Hotel Mustaparta
24 rooms
For meetings
Other experiences
Winter fishing in Kukkola
Husky safaris
Northern Lights hike to Toivola Island (Sweden)
