Finland Trip 2025

Arrive in Helsinki.

Tervetuloa! Upon arrival, meet your Evolve Tour Director at the airport. Transfer to drop off luggage at our Helsinki hotel. We will be tired after our overnight flight, but we will hit the ground running on our first day and avoid jetlag together.

4:00 PM – Embark on a walking tour of Helsinki to learn about the history, culture, and our favorite sites throughout the city. Highlights include Espaldi Park, Helsinki Central Railway Station, President’s Palace (Presidentinlinna), Uspenskin Cathedral, Parliament of Finland, and Helsinki City Hall.

5:30 PM – Towards the evening we will hop on the SkyWheel on the neighborhood island of Katajanokka in Helsinki’s Archipelago.

7:00 PM – Welcome Dinner as a group at the hotel.

9:30 AM – In the morning we will head over to the ferry port to catch our ride over to the fortress island of Suomenlinna.

10:00 AM – Arrive in Suomenlinna and meet our local guide. This maritime fortress is part of a 6 island district also part of the Helsinki archipelago, conserved as a World Heritage site with cannons, tunnels, and is a wonderful example of Swedish military architecture of the time. Meeting point: ferry pier in the market square

Afternoon – Enjoy the small idyllic cafes and restaurants for lunch there.

2:00 PM – Take the ferry back to Helsinki.

3:00 PM – Head to the Design Museum to explore their current exhibitions and participate in an art workshop.

Dinner as a group.

9:00 AM – In the morning, we will visit the Fazer chocolate factory and taste some of the best chocolate made in Finland!

10:00 AM – Then, we will take the coach to the artistic village of Porvoo north of Helsinki.

10:30 AM – Arrive in Porvoo. The narrow streets that bloom with historic charm and culinary treats, is the perfect place to spend the morning touring and enjoying lunch. Porvoo is best known for its Old Wooden Town, cheerful cafes and boutiques, riverside warehouses, and cobbled streets.

Afternoon – After lunch we will enjoy some free time in the village for shopping.

1:30 PM – Board the coach back to Helsinki and stop at the hotel to grab your already packed swimming gear and towel.

3:30 PM – Enjoy the afternoon at the Sea Pool, a centerpiece to Finnish culture composed of Nordic baths, pools, and saunas by the sea. This spa oasis is at the heart of Helsinki next to Market Square and the Presidential Palace. REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR OWN TOWELS

7:30 PM – Dinner as a group.

9:00 AM – In the morning we will check out of our hotel in Helsinki, and travel to Turku to visit our friends.

11:00 AM – After checking into our new hotel, we will spend the morning with them and share in their school activities.

1:30 PM – Ice hockey practice at a local facility.

Homestay families will pick up kids after the game and take them for the evening.

4:00 PM – Dinner at host families

5:30 PM – Evening activity TBD

Homestay portion organized by the school. Accommodation for the adults in the hotel.

10:00 AM – Visit Turku Castle on a self-guided tour.

11:30 AM – Then explore the historical part of town and have lunch at the market.

1:00 PM – Indoor rock climbing.

4:00 PM – Get to the rink for the game.

5:00 PM – Ice hockey game at a local facility.

Evening – Dinner with the host families.

8:00 AM – Host families bring boys to the meeting point.

Ice skating at an outdoor rink in Turku.

11:00 AM – Travel to Helsinki.

1:00 PM – Stop at Flamingo Spa and enjoy access to the waterpark.

4:15 PM – Depart to the airport.

4:30 PM – Arrive at the airport and eat dinner.

7:40 PM – Depart on our domestic flight to Rovaniemi in the North of Finland.

9:05 PM – Arrive and transfer to the hotel to check in.

Morning – Eat breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 AM – Head to the Rauna Wildlife Park to see the polar bears.

12:30 PM – Transportation in a snowmobile sleigh from the wildlife park to a skating rink, downhill sledding, campfire, and cabin. Contains snacks that can be easily prepared by the campfire, such as sausage, bread cheese, warm juice, and coffee/tea. Duration 3 hours. The place is a pond in the middle of the forest with an outdoor skating rink. At the edge of the skating rink there is a campfire site, a cabin, and a downhill sledding area. Winter overalls are available before departure from the Arctic guesthouse igloos, included.

3:30 PM – Transfer back to the hotel.

5:30 PM – Dinner as a group at the hotel.

Evening – We will gather outside and follow our fearless Evolve leader into the night to hunt for the Auroras Borealis while we stay in the cutting edge of the Arctic circle. Rauna is a small town and doesn’t suffer from light pollution, which makes it possible to enjoy natural phenomena such as the Northern lights directly from our location.

9:00 AM – We will check out and say goodbye to our hosts.

10:00 AM – We will enjoy a visit at Santa’s Village!

12:00 PM – We make our way back to the airport in Rovaniemi.

2:00 PM – Fly back to Helsinki.

3:30 PM – Land in Helsinki and head to the international terminal to check in to your flight home.

4:30 PM – Board your international flight home and reminisce on the amazing time spent in Finland, the great games played, and the many friends you met.

7:30 PM – Land in New York JFK airport. Welcome home!