Finnish Lapland Photography Tour with Tiina Törmänen | february 2027
Photograph the Arctic wilderness of Finnish Lapland
Split between Kilpisjärvi and Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, this 7-day photography tour is built around light, weather, and aurora conditions, positioning you in the right locations when conditions are strongest.
FLY TO
Kittilä (KTT)
LODGING
Arctic Cottages
SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate to Advanced
DURATION
6 Nights
GROUP SIZE
Max 6 Photographers
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Moderate
7 Days, 6 Nights
Lapland Photography Tour
Join award-winning photographer Tiina Törmänen and myself for an exclusive 7-day, 6-night Finnish Lapland Photography Tour in February 2027. This tour is split between two exceptional regions, Kilpisjärvi and Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, allowing you to experience a broader range of Lapland’s winter landscapes while working alongside two photographers with extensive local knowledge of the area.
In Kilpisjärvi, you will photograph the arctic desert, a vast, treeless wilderness where wind-shaped snow dunes stretch uninterrupted to the horizon. The village sits isolated within this open landscape, creating powerful opportunities for minimalist compositions, scale, and atmosphere. The stark simplicity of this environment rewards careful observation and precise use of light. Under clear winter skies, this remote region also provides ideal conditions for photographing the northern lights above the open tundra.
In Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, the landscape becomes more varied, with snow-covered forests, frozen wetlands, and the iconic rounded fells that define much of Finnish Lapland. These locations offer opportunities to create layered compositions, work with texture and depth, and photograph classic arctic scenery shaped by winter conditions. The elevated fell tops and low treeline provide unobstructed views of the night sky, creating excellent opportunities to photograph the aurora in a range of different environments.
Throughout the tour, you will stay in comfortable accommodation and photograph during the most productive hours, including sunrise, sunset, blue hour, and night. The structure balances guided field sessions with time for rest and editing, allowing you to review your work, refine your approach, and fully engage with the experience of photographing winter in Finnish Lapland.
Meet Your Guides
This Finnish Lapland Photography Tour is led by two experienced Arctic photographers, this tour combines local knowledge with years of guiding small-group photography workshops across Lapland and beyond. Locations and timing are chosen in real time, ensuring you are always in the strongest possible position as conditions develop.
Trip Highlights
Difficulty and Requirements
Temperatures in Finnish Lapland can range from around 0°C to as low as −35°C. During the tour, typical temperatures are between −15°C and −35°C, with extended periods spent outdoors, often standing still while waiting for light or northern lights activity. These conditions are demanding, but they are also what create the distinctive landscapes and photographic opportunities Lapland is known for. With proper preparation and clothing, you can remain comfortable and fully focused on photography throughout the week.
This tour is designed for photographers who already understand the fundamentals of camera operation, including the exposure triangle, and can operate their camera confidently without assistance. You should be comfortable adjusting settings independently, including in darkness and cold environments. Physical exertion is moderate, with short walks over snow and uneven terrain. Snowshoes are used when required, allowing safe and efficient movement across deep powder snow and access to locations beyond compacted paths.
We provide insulated winter overalls and boots designed specifically for arctic conditions, which past guests have found extremely effective at maintaining warmth, even in very low temperatures. You will still need appropriate personal layers underneath, including thermal base layers, insulating mid-layers, gloves or mitts, and proper head protection. Detailed clothing recommendations will be provided before the tour to ensure you are fully prepared and able to work comfortably in these environments.
Inclusions
Included
Airport Transfers from/to Kittilä airport
Local English speaking guides
7 Days of Photographic Guidance
6 Nights of Accommodation (Twin-Shared Rooms)
Sunrise & Sunset Photography Sessions
Northern Lights Chasing
Transport during the tour
Snowmobile Excursions (Sleigh)
Winter Overalls
Winter Boots
Snowshoes
Entrance Fees
Post Processing Sessions
Not Included
Flight Tickets
Visa Fees (if applicable)
Meals / Snacks
Travel & Equipment Insurance
Schedule
This tour is structured around conditions, not a fixed timetable. From experience leading over 80 photography tours in Arctic environments, fixed itineraries limit your chances of producing strong images. Instead, locations and timing are chosen based on real-time weather forecasts, light conditions, and aurora activity, ensuring we are in the right place when opportunities develop.
Each day is built around the available light. We position ourselves before sunrise, work through the best daylight and twilight conditions, and return again at night when aurora activity and sky conditions allow. Daily plans are finalised the evening before, based on the latest forecasts.
The outline below shows the overall structure of the tour.
Day 1 – Arrival and transfer to Kilpisjärvi
Arrival at Kittilä Airport (KTT) on Finnair flight AY571 at approximately 08:20, followed by transfer to the remote village of Kilpisjärvi in Finland’s far northwest. The transfer takes approximately 3 hours 30 minutes, passing through open tundra and arctic wilderness as we travel north towards our accommodation.
After check-in to our accommodation, we will hold a welcome and preparation session for the week ahead. During this time, we will collect our insulated winter overalls, boots, and snowshoes, and we will cover everything you need to know to work safely and comfortably in arctic winter conditions.
We will then visit the local supermarket so everyone can gather personal supplies for the coming days, including snacks, drinks, and anything else you may want while staying in this remote location. We will revisit the supermarket later in the week if needed.
If conditions allow, we will head out after dinner (around 7pm) for our first northern lights session, photographing from carefully selected locations close to the village and surrounding tundra.
Days 2 to 3 – Kilpisjärvi and the Arctic tundra
These days are dedicated to photographing the vast arctic desert surrounding Kilpisjärvi. This landscape is defined by open tundra, frozen lakes, and distant fells, offering exceptional opportunities for minimalist compositions and unobstructed views of the sky.
During our time here, we will work with our local guide Mika to access remote areas of the tundra using snowmobile and sleigh transport (moottorikelkka and reki). This allows us to reach locations far beyond the road network, positioning ourselves in untouched wilderness with complete isolation and ideal foregrounds for landscape and aurora photography.
Kilpisjärvi is also home to a network of remote wilderness huts (autiotupa), which provide shelter when working in extreme cold. These locations allow us to remain in the field longer when conditions are strongest, particularly during northern lights activity.
Each day’s plan is based on current conditions, with sunrise, sunset, twilight, and night sessions prioritised whenever weather and aurora forecasts align.
Day 4 – Transfer to Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park
We begin with a final sunrise session in Kilpisjärvi before returning to the accommodation for breakfast and check-out.
We then travel south to Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, one of Finland’s most important and visually distinctive protected areas.
This landscape differs significantly from Kilpisjärvi, with snow-covered forests, frozen wetlands, and exposed rounded fells (tunturi) rising above the treeline. These elevated areas provide expansive views across the surrounding wilderness and excellent vantage points for both landscape and northern lights photography.
After settling into our accommodation, we will photograph sunset and, if conditions allow, continue into the night.
Days 5 to 6 – Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park
These days are focused on exploring and photographing within Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park. The combination of forest, open fell terrain, and frozen lakes provides a wide range of photographic opportunities, from intimate woodland compositions to expansive views from elevated ground.
The low treeline and elevated terrain offer unobstructed views of the horizon, creating ideal conditions for photographing the northern lights in a range of different environments.
As throughout the tour, locations and timing are determined by weather, light, and aurora forecasts. We work when conditions are strongest, with multiple opportunities for sunrise, sunset, twilight, and night photography.
Day 7 – Departure
On our final morning, we will head out for one last sunrise session, making full use of the available conditions within Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park.
After returning to the accommodation, we will have breakfast, check out, and transfer back to Kittilä Airport. Transfer takes about 1 hour.
Airport drop-off will be at approximately 13:00 on 14th February. We recommend booking Finnair flight AY580 departing at 15:20..
Accommodation
During the Finnish Lapland photography tour, we stay in comfortable, well-equipped accommodation in both Kilpisjärvi and Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, providing direct access to the surrounding landscapes we will be photographing.
In Kilpisjärvi, we stay in traditional arctic cottages located close to the tundra, allowing us to respond quickly when conditions are favourable, particularly for northern lights photography. In Pallas–Yllästunturi National Park, our accommodation is situated within the national park itself, surrounded by snow-covered forest and fells, placing us directly within one of Finland’s most important winter landscapes.
Accommodation is based on twin rooms, shared with another guest of the same sex. Each location is warm, comfortable, and well suited to winter conditions, providing a place to rest, review images, and prepare between sessions. Most accommodation also includes access to a traditional Finnish sauna, an important part of recovering after time spent photographing in extreme cold.
Don’t just take my word for it…
THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
Pas terug van een ongelooflijke schitterende tour langs de kust van Noord Ierland georganiseerd door Tyler Collins. Hij heeft ons 12 dagen lang allerlei verschillende schitterende plekken laten zien en de een was nog mooier dan de andere. Een aantal keren een zonsopgang of een zonsondergang met prachtige uitzichten, op het strand of op de bergen. Tyler heeft onze groep elke dag geïnspireerd, uitleg gegeven en geholpen om de plekken mooi vast te leggen op je camera. Op elke vraag die je stelde kreeg je antwoord en zijn enthousiasme en motivatie voor fotografie was uitzonderlijk en bracht hij over op de groep. Ook van kliffen in het water, van meren, een waterval, een vissershut en verlaten gebouwen of tempels hebben we mooie foto's kunnen maken. Onderweg op onze route stopte hij een paar keer om wat foto's te maken van uitzichten of leuke dorpjes. Voor Tyler maakte het niet uit of het in de nacht of heel vroeg was hij nam de groep over al mee naar toe en we konden meer dan genoeg plaatjes maken. Tyler ik wil je bedanken voor deze tour, de uitleg van onze vragen en je wil om mensen te helpen om betere foto's te maken. Wil je een mooie tour dan kan ik Tyler echt aanbevelen.
Just got back from the Iceland tour. This was undoubtedly one of the best trips I have embarked on. Tyler definitely knows his stuff and brought us to each location at the best time of the day. We just needed to sit back, relax, and let him do his thing. It also meant that I was free of the hassle of looking at the substorm activity and weather when chasing the northern lights, having chased them on my own for a number of years only without much luck. I can imagine this is no easy job as the plan and itinerary of each day needed to change every hour depending on the weather and how crowded the locations were. Tyler is also the most encouraging when shooting on location, giving just the right amount of guidance and lots of freedom. I met the best companions on this tour, and I never would have thought I would bring home such precious memories. I have recommended Tyler to several of my friends, and I personally am looking forward to my next tour already.
I loved the high level of intensity from early mornings to late nights waiting on the aurora. Most importantly, your advance location work meant I could give ample time and full attention to the play of light on the vistas before me~without the distractions of logistics planning or renting a car. I appreciated your flexibility and sense of timing to drive us to ideal locations at the best moment for the light. An added plus was being in the international company of three other dedicated photographers who were jolly good companions!
Just back from a fabulous workshop in Lofoten with Tyler. First off - Lofoten is a landscape photographer’s paradise with a multitude of stunning locations all within easy reach. This means more time photographing and less time driving between photo stops. Bear in mind that the weather is volatile. and can be absolutely wild. This means potentially days lost (as we found out) but can also give some incredible shooting conditions as the storms clear. Tyler is a superb photographer (check out his images if you haven't done so) and he knows the locations intimately. He is knowledgable and willing to provide as much guidance as you need or to leave you alone to do your own thing if that's what you prefer. He is also very skilled in using Lightroom/Photoshop and gave us a tutorial one evening which was incredibly useful. The upshot is that you are bound to come back with lots of memorable and stunning images. Oh, and Tyler has a great instinct for finding the Aurora which meant we were chasing it whenever the skies were clear. This resulted in a truly epic night at Vik beach where we captured the lights in all their glory. The cherry on the top of a truly memorable trip!
What you’ll learn
Photographing in Lapland presents challenges that go far beyond typical landscape photography. Extreme cold, rapidly changing conditions, and low winter light require a confident, deliberate approach. This tour is designed for photographers who already understand the exposure triangle and can operate their camera independently. Our role is to help you apply that knowledge effectively in arctic conditions, whether that’s working in deep snow, photographing in darkness, or responding quickly when the northern lights appear.
Learning is relaxed, personal, and happens naturally in the field. Both Tiina and I are there throughout the tour to provide guidance, feedback, and support when you need it. We will help you refine your compositions, strengthen your technical control, and better understand how light, weather, and landscape come together to create strong images. You’ll learn how to work efficiently in extreme cold, expose correctly for snow-covered scenes, focus reliably in low light, and photograph the aurora with confidence.
When time allows, we will also review images back at the accommodation and walk through our editing workflows using Adobe Lightroom Classic. The goal isn’t just to come home with great photos, but to leave with a deeper understanding of the process and the confidence to know those images are truly your own.
Working in Arctic conditions
Learn how to operate your camera efficiently in extreme cold, manage batteries, avoid condensation, and work comfortably during extended sessions outdoors. These practical skills are essential for photographing confidently in temperatures as low as −30°C.
Northern lights photography
Learn how to photograph the aurora using reliable focusing techniques and exposure settings. We will show you how to respond quickly when activity begins, adapt to changing intensity, and create strong compositions at night.
Camera control and exposure in snow
Snow-covered landscapes present unique exposure challenges. You will learn how to expose correctly using your histogram, avoid underexposed snow, and maintain detail in both highlights and shadows.
Composition in minimalist winter landscapes
Lapland’s open tundra and snow-covered forests provide ideal conditions for learning strong composition. We will help you simplify scenes, work with scale, and use light, shadow, and foreground elements effectively.
Working with arctic light
Learn how to recognise and use different qualities of winter light, from soft polar twilight to low-angle sunlight. Understanding how light interacts with the landscape allows you to position yourself more effectively.
Focusing in low light and darkness
Accurate focus becomes more difficult at night and in low contrast conditions. You will learn reliable techniques for focusing when photographing landscapes and northern lights in darkness.
Image review and editing workflow
When time allows, we will review your images and walk through our editing workflow using Adobe Lightroom Classic. This helps you understand how to process arctic landscape and aurora images while maintaining a natural and realistic result.
Good to Know
Getting there: Fly to Kittilä Airport (KTT) in Finnish Lapland with Finnair. Most international flights connect via Helsinki, with multiple daily Finnair flights to Kittilä. The tour begins and ends at Kittilä Airport, with all transfers included.
Packing List: A full packing list will be emailed after booking.
Meeting Point: We will meet at Kittilä Airport (KTT) on 8th February following the arrival of Finnair flight AY571 at approximately 08:20. After collecting your luggage and meeting outside the terminal, we will depart by private vehicle for Kilpisjärvi. The transfer takes approximately 3 hours 30 minutes.
End Point: The tour concludes at Kittilä Airport (KTT). Airport drop-off will be at approximately 13:00 on 14th February. We recommend booking Finnair flight AY580 departing at 15:20.
Hiking: Most of the locations are 100% accessible by minibus or snowmobile sleigh ride, however, you may be expected to walk 1-2 km with snowshoes in 60cm snow depths (powder snow). This can be surprisingly tiring, and moving around with winter gear can be exhausting and a little sweaty.
Self Catering: All my tours are based on self catering. We will visit the supermarket on the day we arrive and gather what’s needed for a few days so that we can bring packed lunches with us each day. We will revisit the supermarket a couple of times throughout the trip too. There will be opportunities throughout the trip to visit cafes and the odd restaurant if we have time. But primarily, we will be eating as we go.
UK Mobile Network: If coming from the UK, your data roaming will work and come out of your data back home.
Finnish Lapland Photography Tours Dates & Prices
Prices quoted are per person. Secure your spot with only a 15% deposit for my incredible Finnish Lapland photography workshop and bring home breathtaking images that capture the essence of your unforgettable adventure.
The remainder of the balance is due 8 weeks before the start date of the tour.
8th – 14th February 2027
Duration: 7 Days, 6 Nights
Price: £2800 PP (Twin Rooms)
Availability: 4/6 Places Left
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