Solo Travel in Lapland: A Local Guide's Advice for Travelling Alone

Travelling alone is one of the most rewarding ways to explore the world, but it often requires much more planning than many people realise.

Finding activities that accept solo bookings isn't always easy. Unfortunately, some travellers even face the disappointment of having a long-awaited tour cancelled at the last minute simply because not enough people signed up.

Last winter, I heard several stories like this from visitors to Lapland.

That didn't feel right to me.

When I founded Arctic Safari Guides, one of my goals was to create experiences that would be accessible to as many travellers as possible, including those exploring Lapland on their own.

And that philosophy remains an important part of how we operate today.

Solo Travellers Are Always Welcome

At Arctic Safari Guides, we do our best to welcome solo travellers on as many of our experiences as possible.

Some of our tours can be booked for just one participant, while others have a minimum requirement of two guests. This can depend on the type of activity, transportation arrangements or the requirements of our local partners.

But here's something important: if you're travelling alone and our booking system doesn't allow you to reserve a tour for one person, please don't give up. Just send us a message!

We may already have other guests booked on the same departure, meaning there's room for you to join them. In many cases, we can manually arrange your booking even when the online system requires a minimum of two participants.

We can't promise that every experience will be available for a solo traveller on every date, but we will always do our best to find a solution.

When people travel to Lapland, many have spent months planning their holiday, travelled thousands of kilometres and invested a significant amount of money to make their dream trip happen.

I don't believe anyone should miss out on an unforgettable experience simply because they're travelling alone.

To us, solo travellers are just as important as couples, families and groups of friends.

Sometimes Strangers Become Friends

One of the most wonderful things about guided tours is watching complete strangers become friends.

Our guides spend several hours with their guests, sharing stories about Lapland, different cultures and everyday life around the world.

And something special often happens along the way.

People who have never met before start talking, laughing and sharing experiences. By the end of the excursion, what began as a group of strangers can feel like a group of friends.

Although I now spend much more of my time developing Arctic Safari Guides and supporting our growing international team rather than personally guiding tours, this is something I have always loved about being a guide.

And it's exactly the kind of atmosphere I want our team to create on every excursion.

A Little Story from Last Winter

If you're travelling solo, here's one piece of advice I'd like to share: don't be afraid to connect with other travellers.

Sometimes the best travel companion is staying in the very same accommodation as you.

Last winter, something happened that made me smile.

Within just a few hours, two separate solo bookings for my Riisitunturi National Park tour arrived from the same accommodation.

Later, I discovered that the travellers had met during dinner at their hotel.

They started talking, realised they were both interested in visiting Riisitunturi and decided to book the same excursion.

What began as two independent travellers became a shared adventure — and, by the end of the day, two new friends.

Moments like these remind me that travel is about so much more than visiting beautiful places.

It's about the people you meet, the conversations you have and the unexpected connections that can turn a good trip into an unforgettable one.

Don't Hesitate to Contact Us

If you're planning a solo trip to Rovaniemi and find an experience on our website that interests you, but the booking system requires at least two participants, please contact us before giving up on your plans.

Tell us which experience you'd like to join and your preferred date.

Our team can check existing bookings, see whether there are other participants on the same departure and explore possible alternatives.

Sometimes joining an existing group is all it takes to make your dream experience possible.

Whether you arrive alone, with your partner, your family or a group of friends, you'll always receive a warm welcome at Arctic Safari Guides.

My goal has never been simply to show people the beauty of Lapland. It's to build a company where our guests feel genuinely welcome, cared for and able to experience this wonderful place in a personal and memorable way.

Travelling alone shouldn't mean missing out on the magic of Lapland.

We hope to see you here!

Timo Tapaninen
Founder, Arctic Safari Guides
Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and be the first to read new articles, discover hidden places, receive practical travel tips, and get seasonal inspiration from the North.

By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Policy