Furqan's Finland Trip with Thrillophilia

Thrillophilia Verified Booking
PNR: BKD9LOGLGIZ
Rating: ★★★★★
Travellers: Furqan Shamim
Trip Duration: 21 Days | 20 Nights
Date Of Travel: 20 Nov 2025 - 10 Dec 2025
Package Booked: Discover Finland | Reindeer Trails, Santa Village & Northern Lights

A good Nordic countries trip review usually tells you more about the planning than the places themselves, because the places largely take care of themselves up there. Furqan's twenty-one-day tour through Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland belonged to that category.

Five countries in three weeks sounds like an itinerary that looks good on travel websites and crumbles by the time you hit day eight, but this one continued seamlessly from the first morning in Reykjavik to the final night by Helsinki Airport. The Thrillophilia team had planned the country changes, the train and flight journeys, and the minute self-transfers between stations and hotels and explained it all to him well in advance.

Iceland Did Not Need Selling

The trip started in Iceland, and it was from here that everything else was formed. A day in the Golden Circle, a day around the south coast, and a day at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and an ice cave. The black sand beaches of Reynisfjara, the winter power of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss, and a glacier walk with guides and safety gear.

Overnight stays in country guesthouses instead of going back to Reykjavik each night meant there were no 4-hour drives back to the capital each night.

The Northern Lights appeared during our first night away from the city. Later, Furqan explained how the guides were frank about the odds ahead of time, which made the moment feel rather more significant when it finally occurred.

Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo Were a Different Pace Altogether

Leaving Iceland, the trip shifted to Scandinavian capitals, and the mood of the trip completely changed. Copenhagen was the first location, spending two nights in a hotel near the central station, followed by a trip to Møn Klint and the Forest Tower over the remaining two days. The minibus was equipped with Wi-Fi, which made the whole trip even smoother. 

Reaching Stockholm by train and going for an old town walking tour in the evening, along with a slow walk through Gamla Stan, requires an in-depth understanding of the city to plan. Oslo came next, also by train, and the two-hour fjord cruise from Rådhusbrygge gave the group their first proper view of what Norwegian water looks like up close.

With three cities by three trains and transferring to three separate hotels, it sounds like too much, yet it landed clearly.

Norway in a Nutshell Was The Day Everyone Talks About Later

The Norway in a Nutshell leg (bus and train) from Oslo to Bergen is the highlight of the trip for those who book this trip.

A whole day of trains, then a bus on the mountain, then a boat back to the fjords, was stitched with porter service for the big bags, so no one had to struggle with suitcases at the changeovers.

Bergen, at the other end, with a couple of days to walk around the wharf at Bryggen and view from Mount Fløyen after taking the funicular up.

Tromsø Was Where the Trip Turned Magical

For a proper start to the Arctic part of the trip, take a flight from Bergen to Tromsø. Furqan, further in his review, mentioned the local operators in Tromsø and how professional and helpful they were.

The first night turned out to be spectacular on the Northern Lights cruise, with hot drinks and a guide leading us to witness the most surreal view. The second evening was all about exploring photography, starting with a small group led by a professional photographer who handled the camera settings so nobody struggled with manual controls to capture the lights, especially in such cold weather. The whale watching safari that morning was its own thing entirely, an early start and a long boat ride, but the kind of activity that earns its place on the itinerary.

Rovaniemi Felt Like Stepping Into a Children's Book

Crossing from Tromsø to Rovaniemi in Finland, the Arctic Route coach suddenly entered winter wonderland territory. Snowmobiling led to a reindeer farm, which led to a husky park, which led to Santa Claus Village, all packed into one full day.

The Ranua Wildlife Park visit the next day rounded out the Finnish leg before the overnight Santa Claus Express sleeper train carried the group down to Helsinki.

Helsinki Was the Right Way to End It

Helsinki was the ideal place to spend the last two days of the trip with a full day of exploration at leisure and a final night near the airport before flying home. By this point, the trip had given Furqan quite a lot, and Helsinki was the kind of soft landing that long trips need at the end.

Furqan mentioned later that everything from the trip was arranged smoothly, the hotels were comfortable and conveniently located, and the local operators and drivers were all professional and friendly.

He had booked twenty-one days across five countries, hoping it would hold together. By the time he came home, he had quietly become one of those travellers who tell the next person to just book it.