Finland + Norway + Rovaniemi + Lofoten Islands 11 Days Tour

Uspenski Cathedral

Uspenski Cathedral is a Greek Orthodox or Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, Finland, and main cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Finland, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary). Its name comes from the Old Church Slavonic word uspenie, which denotes the Dormition. It is the largest Greek Orthodox church in Northern Europe.

The cathedral is set upon a hillside on the Katajanokka peninsula overlooking the city. On the back of the cathedral, there is a plaque commemorating Russian Emperor Alexander II, who was the sovereign of the Grand Duchy of Finland during the cathedral's construction. 

Annually, about half a million tourists visit the church. Admission to the cathedral is free of charge. In winter, the cathedral is closed on Mondays.

Helsinki Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral is the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the neighborhood of Kruununhaka in the centre of Helsinki, Finland, at the Senate Square. The church was originally built from 1830 to 1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Emperor Nicholas I of Russia. It was also known as St Nicholas's Church until Finland declared its full independence in 1917. It is a major landmark of the city, and one of the most famous historical structures in Finland as a whole when viewed globally.

A distinctive landmark in the Helsinki cityscape, with its tall, green dome surrounded by four smaller domes, the building is in the neoclassical style. It was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel as the climax of his Senate Square layout: it is surrounded by other, smaller buildings designed by him.

The church's plan is a Greek cross (a square centre and four equilateral arms), symmetrical in each of the four cardinal directions, with each arm's facade featuring a colonnade and pediment. Engel originally intended to place a further row of columns on the western end to mark the main entrance opposite the eastern altar, but this was never built.

Temppeliaukio Church

Temppeliaukio Church is a Lutheran church in the Töölö neighbourhood of Helsinki, Finland. The church was designed by architects and brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and opened in 1969. Built directly into solid rock, it is also known as the Church of the Rock and Rock Church.

The interior was excavated and built directly out of solid rock and is bathed in natural light which enters through the skylight surrounding the center copper dome. The church is used frequently as a concert venue due to its excellent acoustics. The acoustic quality is created by the rough, virtually unworked rock surfaces. 

Temppeliaukio Church is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city; half a million people visit it annually. The stone-hewn church is located in the heart of Helsinki. Maintaining the original character of the square is the fundamental concept behind the building. The idiosyncratic choice of form has made it a favourite with professionals and aficionados of architecture.

Sibelius Park

Sibelius Park is located in the Töölö district of Helsinki, about 1.5 kilometers northwest of Temppeliaukio Church. It was built in memory of Jean Sibelius, the great Finnish musician. The park is full of flowers and green grass, and is a place for citizens to rest. 

The Sibelius Monument is located in Sibelius Park. It is a sculpture by Finnish artist Eila Hiltunen titled Passio Musicae and was unveiled on 7 September 1967. It consists of series of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern. The monument weighs 24 tonnes (24 long tons; 26 short tons) and measures 8.5 by 10.5 by 6.5 metres. Hiltunen's aim was to capture the essence of the music of Sibelius.

Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Village is an amusement park in Rovaniemi in the Lapland region of Finland. It was opened in 1985.

Santa Claus Village is located about 8 kilometres northeast of Rovaniemi and about 2 kilometres from the Rovaniemi Airport.

The first original home of Santa Claus was Korvatunturi. In 1985, Rovaniemi was declared as an official hometown of Santa Claus.

There are several attractions in Santa Claus Village, such as:Arctic Circle, Santa's House of Snowmobiles, Santa Claus's Office, Santa Claus' Main Post Office, Northern Lights.

The Santa Claus Park that is connected to the Santa Claus Village was in 2007 awarded by Topworld International and placed as the second best Travel Adventure in Finland. Since 2008, it still holds second position after Topworld invited travellers to vote for their own Top 10 list over adventures.

The official demarcation line

In Finland, the official demarcation line is located near Rovaniemi and Sodankyla, and the official demarcation mark is located in the nearby Santa Claus village. Visitors here will put their feet across the North Pole line at 66 degrees 33 minutes north latitude to take a photo, and can buy a certificate to reach the Arctic Circle at the visitor center. At night, along this parallel line, there are colorful lights hanging in the middle of the sky as a demarcation mark, dazzling and romantic.

Kirkenes Church

Located in the city of Kirkenes in northern Norway, it is a church with a long history and unique architectural style. The church attracts many visitors and believers with its magnificent architecture and peaceful atmosphere. The church tower rises to the sky and is made of wooden structure, which is particularly spectacular. Step inside and you will see neat rows of green pews that provide comfortable seating for the faithful to pray and reflect in a peaceful setting.

Arriving at the king crab fishing area, visitors have the opportunity to participate in the fisherman's cage collection process and experience the life of a real fisherman. Professional fishermen set nets in the crab-catching waters in advance, and carefully prepare the crab's favorite food as bait. Visitors can experience the net pulling process and feel the fun of crabbing. At the same time, the guide will demonstrate how to slaughter the king crab live to ensure that the delicious taste of the king crab is maintained in the shortest possible time. While our chef begins to prepare the crabs, visitors can explore this mysterious and beautiful natural landscape by snowmobile to the Langfjord and the Siberian Taiga in the Pasvik Valley. The Langfjord in the Palsvik Valley is picturesque, and the Siberian Taiga is a vast green sea, where visitors can enjoy the peace and beauty of nature in this virgin forest.

Varggat

Far to the northeast, there is a lonely island in the midst of the magnificent and mysterious nature of the Arctic. It is covered with snow and ice all year round, and the climate is cold, and there are often violent snowstorms. On this island, there are two mountain ash trees, which are carefully protected by the locals and become a ray of life in this desolate place. These two trees are not only a natural wonder, but also a symbol of the spirit of the local people, representing resilience and hope.

Batsfjord

In this peaceful fishing village, every aspect of life is closely linked to fishing activities. The design of the municipal badge prominently features a fishing hook and a fishing boat, symbolizing the economic lifeblood and cultural core of the village. Every year, as many as 10,000 fishing boats make their way to this small village, bringing with them a bustling scene and the joy of harvest. Fishermen work hard at sea to catch a wide variety of fish, while the residents of the villages are busy processing, selling and processing the fresh seafood on the shore.

Berlevag

In order to resist the invasion of the waves and ensure the safety of people, it is necessary to use 15 tons and 25 tons of giant concrete blocks for protection. The concrete blocks will be placed along the shoreline to form a solid barrier to protect residents living in this extreme region at 70 degrees north latitude.

Hammerfest

Struve's geodetic arc project has made the town a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This achievement has raised the town's global profile and cultural values. The polar bear image on the town crest and the Polar Bear Society logo symbolize the preservation and research of the historical heritage of the Arctic. The association is committed to protecting and passing on this cultural heritage, ensuring that it is preserved and passed on to future generations. Their efforts have made the town an important place in terms of geography, history, environmental protection and cultural heritage.

Tromsø

Tromsø is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø. Other notable settlements in the municipality include the villages of Bjerkaker, Ersfjordbotn, Jøvika, Kaldfjord, Kjosen, Kroken, Kvaløysletta, Lakselvbukt, Melvika, Movik, Oldervik, Sandneshamn, Sjursnes, Sommarøy, and Tromsdalen.

Tromsø lies in Northern Norway. The 2,521 km2 municipality is the 21st largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Tromsø is the 12th-most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 78,745. It is the largest urban area in Northern Norway and the third largest north of the Arctic Circle anywhere in the world (following Murmansk and Norilsk). The center of the city of Tromsø is located on the island of Tromsøya, but the urban area also encompasses part of the nearby mainland and part of the island Kvaløya. Tromsø is 350 km north of the Arctic Circle. 

Oksfjords

Here is the transition from steep coastal cliffs and wide plains to steep peaks. More than a thousand meters of mountains and glaciers are set against each other, the mountain walls extend for hundreds of meters, and the blue ice goes straight into the fjord.

Harstad Church

Harstad Church is the local religious center of Harstad, where people come to worship and pray.

Lofoten Island

Lofoten is an archipelago and a traditional district in the county of Nordland, Norway. Lofoten has distinctive scenery with dramatic mountains and peaks, open sea and sheltered bays, beaches and untouched lands. There are two towns, Svolvær and Leknes – the latter is approximately 169 km north of the Arctic Circle and approximately 2,420 km away from the North Pole. The archipelago experiences one of the world's largest elevated temperature anomalies relative to its high latitude.

Lofoten has one of the world's most noteworthy football pitches. Located in the village of Henningsvaer, the pitch at Henningsvaer Stadium rests on a rocky islet and has no actual seats.

Unstad is one of its better known locations for surfing. Every September surfers from around the world visit to compete in the Lofoten Masters.

sortland church

Suitland Church was built in 1901 and is a white wooden church.

Sortland 

Sortland is the "Blue City," with houses painted in varying shades of blue that speak of the town's proximity to the sea and symbolize Sortland's maritime and fishing heritage. If you look closely at the blue facades, there are also Spaces for poems and short essays written by the city's young people, including the famous Norwegian writer Lars Sabi Christensen.

Reine

The poetic town, which is an important part of this Arctic Circle mystery, is also a particularly shining place, known as the "Norwegian village of beauty", the town is backed by the ancient glacial evolution of Reinebringen mountain, natural protection, making the town independent. Rows of fisherman's cabins are built along the coast, and the cabins with red walls and white Windows are scattered along the coastline, with the blue sea and the snowy mountains in the distance. Under the sunlight, they are like fairyland, one of the charming seaside resorts on the west coast of Norway, where there are magnificent fjords, lofty mountains and quiet oceans. The red cabins are a symbol of Norwegian architecture. You can visit the local museum and learn about the fishermen's stories and their way of life.

Hamnøy Village

Hamnøy Village, a small fishing village, has attracted countless photography enthusiasts with its unique charm. Nestled among the sea, fjords and snow-capped mountains, the village looks like a masterpiece crafted by nature. When the first rays of the morning sun are sprinkled on the sea, the sparkling water and the reflection of the distant snow-capped mountains complement each other, forming a beautiful picture.

Here, those independent red fisherman's hut facing the sea is a unique existence, standing on the "Hamnøy Bridge" on the vantage point to view photos, you can just look far behind the towering peak of Lilandstinde mountain, at this moment in the silence of the air has a kind of independent beauty, there is just the right human fireworks gas, let people feel like entering the immortal source.

Carl Johns Avenue

Located in Oslo, the capital of Norway, it is a commercial street favored by tourists, with a total length of 1.5 kilometers. The street, with its rich shopping and leisure facilities, has become a famous local tourist attraction. There are many shops on both sides of the street, including fashion brands and specialty shops, and the dazzling array of goods is dizzying. Tourists walking here can not only enjoy the fun of shopping, but also enjoy the beautiful landscape around.

The cafes on both sides of the street exude the attractive aroma of coffee, inviting visitors to stop and rest, taste a cup of fragrant coffee, and enjoy a quiet time. In addition, Karl-Johns Avenue is home to a number of historic buildings, which bear witness to the development of Oslo and add a unique cultural atmosphere to the street. Both local residents and visitors can find their own fun and memories on this street.

Karl-johns Avenue is not only a paradise for shopping, but also a great place to experience the charm of Oslo city. The Windows along the streets display a wide range of fashion items, from high-end luxury goods to original designer pieces. Tourists here can choose their favorite goods and enjoy the pleasure of shopping.

The Oslo Opera House

The Oslo Opera House is the home of the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the national opera house in Norway. The building is situated in the Bjørvika neighbourhood of central Oslo, at the head of the Oslofjord. It is operated by Statsbygg, the government agency which manages property for the Norwegian government. The structure contains 1,100 rooms in a total area of 49,000 m2. The main auditorium seats 1,364 and two other performance spaces can seat 200 and 400. The main stage is 16 m wide and 40 m deep. The angled exterior surfaces of the building are covered with marble from Carrara, Italy and white granite and make it appear to rise from the water. The roof of the building angles to ground level, creating a large plaza that invites pedestrians to walk up and enjoy the panoramic views of Oslo. It is the largest cultural building constructed in Norway since Nidarosdomen was completed circa 1300.

The Opera House won the culture award at the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona in October 2008 and the 2009 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture.

Oslo City Hall

Oslo City Hall is a municipal building in Oslo, the capital of Norway. It houses the city council, the city's administration and various other municipal organisations. The building as it stands today was constructed between 1931 and 1950, with an interruption during the Second World War. It was designed by architects Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson. The building is located in the city center, in the northern part of the Pipervika neighbourhood, and it faces Oslofjord.

Oslo City Hall is built of red brick and has two towers, one 63 meters tall and other 66 meters tall. The bricks used are larger than what was typical at the time of construction, but are roughly the same size as bricks used in the Middle Ages. The bricks, measuring approximately 27.5*13*8.5 cm, were produced by Hovin Teglverk in Oslo. The eastern tower has a carillon set of 49 bells. Various events and ceremonies take place in the building, notably the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, which takes place every December.