Day 1: Helsinki – City Tour

Arrive in Helsinki and transfer to your hotel for check in. Depending on the time of your arrival, explore Helsinki either on your own or take the Hop-On-Hop-Off city tour of Heslinki, covering all the major sights of the city at your own pace. A seaside city and Finland's busiest port, it spills across a group of beautiful islands, while its modern suburbs spread out into the surrounding countryside. Overnight.

Day 2: Helsinki – Porvoo & Summolinna Tour

Breakfast. Proceed for the half day tour of the second oldest town Porvoo in Finland, about 50 km from Helsinki. Historical Porvoo is a charming little town with well-preserved wooden houses. The tour includes the Porvoo Old Church, Town Hall Square and the home museum of a Finnish national poet.

Lunch on your own. Proceed for the Summolina Island and the Fortress. Situated on a group of islands off Helsinki, Suomenlinna was built during the Swedish era as a maritime fortress and a base for the Archipelago Fleet. Work on the fortress began in the mid-18th century. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Finland's most popular tourist attractions. This includes the boat to the island and entrance to the fortress. Return to Helsinki. Overnight.

Day 3: Helsinki – Turku

Pick up your rental car after breakfast and head west towards Turku (149 km), the oldest city in the country and former capital. Check into your hotel. Explore this beautiful old city with its magnificent castle and cathedral, a national shrine. You will find the surrounding countryside dotted with museums and old manor houses, fine farm houses and ironworks. Traditional handicrafts thrive and seaside restaurants serve sumptuous menus of fresh seafood and other local produce. Overnight.

Day 4: Turku

Breakfast and day at leisure. Today you can visit Naantali, a charming seaside town 20 min drive from Turku. Naantali developed around a Birgittine convent founded in 1443. This makes it one of the oldest towns in Finland. Naantali's greatest attractions are its picturesque wooden houses. This family resort plays host to the wonderful Moomins, its sunny atmosphere mixes an enchanting sea and archipelago with rich and varied history. Return to your hotel in Turku. Overnight.

Day 5: Turku – Tampere

After breakfast, head to Tampere (141 km) and check into your hotel. Tampere, a bustling university town, spans an isthmus between two big lakes. Spectacular views of these are to be had from the observation towers of Pyynikki ridge and the Nasinneula in Sarkanniemi amusement park – one of Finland's top summer attractions. Tampere is often compared to the industrial towns of Northern England because of the red brick textile and paper mill buildings around the rapids running through the city centre. These days, the buildings contain spas, shops, restaurants and cafes, art studios, cinemas, and exhibition space. Tampere also boasts the only Lenin museum outside Russia. The Rajaportin sauna in its quaint Pispala district, is the oldest public city sauna still in operation in Finland. Overnight.

Day 6: Tampere – Vaasa

Breakfast. Drive to Vaasa (210 km), the biggest town in the Ostrobothnia area. Arrive and check into your hotel. Explore the vast plains and the sea, countryside traditions and archipelago islands in this area. Finnish and Swedish cultures mingle in small villages and old wooden towns. This region also boasts Finland's UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, the Kvarken Archipelago (Merenkurkku). Overnight.

Day 7: Vaasa - Kokkola

Breakfast. Drive to Kokkola along the west coast and check into your hotel. Kokkola is a historic city and the provincial centre of Central Ostrobothnia. The best way to explore it is to take Old Kalle's Town Walk, a route that takes you through Neristan ('Old town'), Kokkola's expansive old timber house district, to the K.H.Renlund Art Gallery, the History Museum and Kieppi Natural History Collection. You can also take a cruise from Kokkola to the lighthouse island of Tankar and the Seven Bridges archipelago Kokkola-Pietarsaari. Alternatively, why not check out the Mustakari Yacht Club or the Arctic Museum Nanoq? Overnight.

Day 8: Kokkola – Oulu

Breakfast. Drive to Oulu. On the way to Oulu, visit sandy beaches in Kalajoki. Check in to your hotel in Oulu. Oulu is on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia and is the biggest city in the northern Nordic region. It is a university town as well as a lively centre for science, research and high technology. From the picturesque market square, you can take a sightseeing cruise in the harbor, or take a trainbus to Nallikari beach and relax at Spa Hotel Oulun Eden. Overnight.

Day 9: Oulu – Rovaniemi

Breakfast. Depart for Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland. Rovaniemi lies on the Arctic Circle and is the home of Santa Claus. Upon arrival, drop off your car and check in to your hotel. Explore this magical place on your own. In the evening, proceed for the midnight sun experience. Take a cruise on a traditional riverboat along River Kemijoki, enjoy a local-style evening meal in the midst of nature. Before midnight, you'll be driven to the top of Ounasvaara Fall to raise a toast to the midnight sun. Return to your hotel. Overnight.

Day 10: Rovaniemi

Breakfast. The morning is at leisure. In the afternoon visit Santa Claus in his office at Santa Claus village or take optional excursions such as a riverboat cruise, visit to a reindeer and husky farms. Overnight.

Day 11: Rovaniemi – Helsinki

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Helsinki and onwards. Drop your car off at Rovaniemi.