Explore with Kati

Koti
Suomi
Helsinki
Explore with Kati

Explore the world with me! Let's forget "must see highlights" and busy traveling and focus on sustainable and responsible travel instead.

Here for happiness and good times!

09/07/2024

Our Taste of Scandinavia Tour group in May had the pleasure of experiencing a genuine fika tour in Sweden 🇸🇪 ☕️🍰

We even made it to the local newspaper of Alingsås (article in Swedish, translated to English in comments): https://e-tidning.lokalpressen.eu/p/alingsas/2024-06-04/r/5/8-9/7117/1477071

❤️It delights me to see how Intrepid Travel keeps developing these small group tours and aims to include authentic local experiences in lesser known places.

Text and photo by Matilda Falk. Translation by ChatGPT

17/05/2024

Gratulerer med dagen Norge! 🇳🇴

What a beautiful National Day of Norway we got to witness today.

♦️ Started the day by watching the flag being hoisted at 8AM in Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands.

♦️ Traveled by public busses for 3,5hrs across the stunning Northern Norwegian landscapes.

♦️ Admired many Norwegian National outfits aka. Bunads.

♦️ Saw the student parade and a fancy car parade in Harstad.

♦️ Organised a make shift travelers version of a 17. Mai picnic. Incl. kransekake, bubbles, and other local sweet treats. (Kudos to ❤️)

♦️Traveled another 3 hours on a public passenger speed ferry to reach Tromsø and marvel at the evening atmosphere of white nights and festive locals.

A day to remember ❤️💙🤍

02/04/2024

I have a soft spot for North of Norway 🇳🇴

Where nature is the boss and the unexpected can be expected. And that’s the beauty of it all.

That’s also something I tend to tell my groups quite often.

🎒“Always prepare for everything. You never know what comes up along the Arctic roads.”

🥶🥵“Although it might be warm inside the minibus, always have your warm and windproof outerwear handy. And remember to fill in your drinking water bottle and bring some snacks.”

I’m often met with amused faces when I’m being so thorough with my safety briefings, and I think it’s fair enough.

This winter season one of our minibuses broke down on the way from Lyngen region towards Tromsø. Leaving us stranded by the side of the road… waiting for a plan B to take over.

Fortunately this only happened once, but that’s already enough to prove a point, right?

Better prepared than sorry! 🍭
(I wonder from where I’ve learned that from 😉)

23/03/2024

Finnish Lapland in March • Great sunny views and traveling with a very happy crew • Small group tours are a great way of exploring the Arctic

Thank you Kilpisjärvi and Levi for good winter vibes despite the surprisingly warm temperatures.

14/02/2024

Happy Friendship Day! ♥️

I’m feeling grateful that tour leading has provided me with so many connections across borders: nationalities, ages and backgrounds.

How beautiful it is to have crossed paths with people that I would have never met otherwise. Guests, colleagues, local partners and passers-by.

Strangers that have become friends. Friendships that have supported me through the tougher moments on the road. Laughters, hugs and tears - they all have a meaning.

Today I want to say:
Wherever you are reading this post. Thank you for being part of my journey. Even if we wouldn’t ever meet again in person. We can always cherish the moments we’ve shared. 🫶🏼

🎶 “Far across the distance. And spaces between us. You have come to show you go on. Near far, wherever you are, I believe that the heart does go on.” Celine Dion

📸 Lisa B

23/12/2023

When you believe in magic… ✨ Miracles can happen!

This has been a vivid and wonderful tour leading season with plenty of surprises and also familiar experiences! Crafting new friendships and strengthening existing connections. My love for the North is growing fonder. ❤️

I have myriad of stories to tell and thousands of pictures to share… but right now they’ll all have to wait.

It’s time for Christmas. Time to log out. Time to slow down. Time to recharge and enjoy the present moment.

✨✨✨✨✨

Wishing you all relaxing holidays!

✨✨✨✨✨

“The best gift is the gift of curiosity.”
- Team Santa

22/12/2023

Hey you! I just wanted to remind that there’s nothing to be afraid about in Polar Night!

It’s not as dark as some might think.

Sure, it can be cloudy for days or weeks, but when the skies clear up… it’s just magical!

My last group of the season was Finnish Lapland in Winter. Lady Aurora was very shy this time, but this is just a great reminder: There’s more to the Northern Skies than just the Northern Lights ✨

20/12/2023

Polar Night Dreams 🤍 Loving “kaamos”

12/12/2023

Happy to be on the Northbound rails again!

💚 Rail traffic is the most energy-efficient and low-emission mode of transport.

🚆Choosing to travel by train instead of a plane from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (at the Arctic Circle) will save on a one-way trip:
124.36 kg CO2

🍔 This is equivalent to the emissions from the production of 37 hamburgers.

🧊 This will prevent the melting of an area of polar glacier the size of 2.7 postcards.

🇫🇮 95% of passenger train services in Finland run on electricity. Emissions from the remaining train services have been offset since late 2019.

🎒I’m very pleased that includes an overnight train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi instead of a short haul flight on these Finnish Lapland in Winter trips.

Honestly, sleeping in a compact but comfortable cabin and arriving after 12 hours to Lapland in the morning is much more pleasant option than pushing through the busy airports and security checks etc.

Taking a train also makes you feel the distance more thoroughly. It’ll help you appreciate the change of pace from the city life to the Northern calm.

02/12/2023

Recover and recharge • the period between tours • fighting the post-tour blues • preparing to head North again very very soon • the Polar Night is waiting

✨✨✨✨✨

I’ve been on the move pretty intensively since the start of August. Plenty of social interactions. Which I love. But they also seem to take a toll on me.

Usually the post-tour freedom would feel exhilarating straight away.

This time it took couple of days of dwelling in the discomfort of being on my own. Struggling with some sort of social withdrawal symptoms. I guess.

All I could do was to let the tears flow. Force my(unmotivated)self outside for some exercise.

Pushing through the grey to be able to see the glimmer through the clouds.

Understanding that feeling the highs of the tours will also require feeling the lows in between.

✨✨✨✨✨

“At times you need to slow down to be able to accelerate again” said my virtual running coach

I’m starting to think that’s exactly what’s happening right now.

16/11/2023

Aurora Borealis - the Northern Lights - 15 Nov 2023

Ivalo, Finland

09/11/2023

Here we go again ❤️

Intrepid Travel End of Season Meeting 2023 in Karlovy Vary 🇨🇿 truly delivered. 4 incredible days bringing this bunch of bloody legends together from different corners of Europe.

These days were for learning and feedback, but also all about reuniting with familiar soul mates and creating new meaningful connections.

Being a tour leader requires a generous amount of lunacy and I’m very proud to be able to call these crazy munchkins not only colleagues and friends - but my Intrepid Family ❤️

Pro tip: when you’re feeling emotional - go to a sauna or thermal bath. Breathe in and breathe out. You can let the tears flow free. No one will notice the difference between them and your sweat drops. 💦

22/10/2023

Autumn Aurora Borealis 💚❤️

🍁 This was the first time I’ve ever seen the Northern Lights without snow and ice.

🔥 2023 October Friday the 13th was such a stunning night!

Just how beautiful is the reflection on the mirror like unfrozen lake?

It normally takes a lot more effort to see the Northern Lights, but this time the stars somehow aligned for us. ✨

This was the very first night of our Chase the Northern Lights Escorted Small Group Tour by

And oh goodness did we get lucky!

This 3h Aurora Hunting trip with professional guides was organised by

📸 These stellar pics are captured with professional gear and pure talent by

🎨 As usual, the colours in the photos are more vivid than what our naked eyes could see, but this show was spectacular in person as well. We could see the lights dance across the sky. Starting with a faint glimmer. Becoming more intense, only to fade away again. And then putting up a show like no other. 🦊🔥

15/10/2023

Incredibly precious moments 🩵 Living my childhood dreams.

28/08/2023

A Taste of Scandinavia 🇩🇰🇸🇪🇳🇴

One week of good Scandi vibes with happy guests and lovely local guides. ❤️

From cycling in Copenhagen, to kayaking around Vrångö Island and urban explorations in Malmö, Gothenburg and Oslo.

👌🏼😋 Sweet treats and smørrebrød.

Like a good appetiser, this trip gives a good intro to local lifestyle and tickles one’s curiosity to come back for more!

✨ Small group tours (max 12 ppl) enable us to eat in cute restaurants and travel by public transport (trains, trams, busses & ferries). It’s a great way to explore for solo travellers, couples and friends. These tours have some included activities, but also allow for freetime, to make your vacation uniquely you!

This Trip AMSD trip 30.7.-5.8. was the first time I had a tour leader trainee with me and it was a great new experience! Happy to have Pavle in the team!

10/08/2023

And so the summer season of 2023 is in full swing ❤️

I’m late to the game, but most definitely making the most out of it.

Between the winter and summer season I was away from the Nordic countries for a good few months. Took a break from tour leading, while trying to sail as far south as possible. ⛵️

Only to remember how much I love the North. 💙

So much so, that I’m already semi seriously dreaming of moving to the Lofoten Islands one day. ⛰️

There’s hiking, there’s sailing, there’s even surfing and saunas! Stunning views of the majestic mountains and refreshing Norwegian Sea!
What more could I ask for?

Osoite

Helsinki

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