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!

31/12/2024

Dear diary… 2024 was a year to remember!

Many wonderful new things happened to me:

📚 Became a published author. *
💍 Got married. **
🐣 Gave birth to a brave little baby.

Just to name a few highlights.

💛 It’s been a good lap around the sun. This year I’ve also been leading winter and summer tours for Intrepid Travel, 50 Degrees North and Amaco Travel. Chased the Northern Lights, enjoyed Norwegian fjords and mountains, explored Scandinavian capitals, enjoyed the white nights of the Nordics. Finished my last tour at 26 weeks pregnant.

Tours that I led included snow shoeing, dog sledding, meeting Sámi people, feeding reindeer, ice carving, fine dining, budget meals, kayaking, biking, hiking etc etc. And of course both learning and sharing about the local cultures.

I met some wonderful new people and caught up with tour leader colleagues and friends from past travels. Made the most out of it all.

Then slowed down and cherished the Finnish summer and autumn. In between did a bit of office work for Finland’s biggest youth organisation The Guides and Scouts of Finland.

Last quarter of the year has been all about getting used to my new role as a mom. Learning all about newborn sleep, nursing and healing. Been pushing the pram around. Exploring closer to home. And truly enjoying it. 🥰

2025 you’d better have something mind blowing amazing stuff in store if you’d like to beat 2024.

📖 * In fairness, I only wrote one little chapter to the book: The Intrepid List by , but I’m passionate about the topic and it’s a first!

** instead of a honeymoon I was leading a 2 week tour 2 days after the wedding 😅

06/11/2024

Brace yourself winter is coming. And a big change is happening.

I’m taking a break.

This year’s tour leading has been just a bit too…

…good!

Plenty of happy days, joyful clients, amazing experiences and incredible sceneries.

But still… I need to take a break. And I don’t know for how long yet. Will I even be able to return back to this kind of career again…?

As Tour Leaders we’re often away from home for one or two weeks in a go. Will that still be realistic for me due to this recent change? I honestly don’t know. Only time will tell. But this year I have definitely enjoyed tour leading in the Nordics to the max, as I knew that these days would be limited.

But the reason… the reason is a good one.
No.
The best possible!

✨✨✨✨✨

The new Queen of the North has entered the world!
And I have pledged to be her loyal servant now and forever.

✨✨✨✨✨

I’m leaving one lifestyle behind. At least for a moment.

My explorations will be closer to home. At least for a moment.

My perspective will change. For the better?

It’s all very new to me. Plenty of question marks in my mind, but all in all I’m beyond grateful and embracing this new phase of life.

{Swipe until the last photos to see what I’m talking about 😉}

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.

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