https://www.explorewithkati.com/

Explore with Kati, Helsinki (2025)

Name: Explore with Kati
Address: Helsinki, FI

14/04/2025

April is a good time to travel in Europe. 💛 From the Arctic to the mainland destinations with Spring Vibes.

🤍It’s a period of rapid change. While the very north still has snow, the more south you go, the more spring colours you get. Shades of vivid green are kicking in and flowers are starting to bloom.

💚 Especially if you travel by land and water you can truly experience the gradual change of scenery and season.

🧡 It’s shoulder season and therefore less crowded. While some places might be closed, it also leaves room for imagination.

💖 Peak seasons are peak seasons for a reason, but I can assure you that low season slow travel has some magical charm to it.

*****

I have just returned from our little slow travel adventure to Gdansk, Poland. (It was my first international trip with our baby.) Before that, we spent a week up in the North in Luosto, Lapland. Technically we could’ve traveled quite comfortably from Lapland to Gdansk (Approx. 1500 Km/ 900 mi straight line) in three nights in a row, by using overnight trains and ships. This time we spent couple of nights at home in Helsinki and coincidentally one night in Stockholm, Sweden. This way the travels felt less intense and more enjoyable. And definitely possible!

💡Did you know? The Arctic areas are melting and warming up 4 times faster than the rest of the world.

💙 I love traveling and I love the Arctic. At the same time I’m very concerned about the global warming. And the future of our winters and four distinctive seasons.

I’m hoping to inspire others to also consider alternatives for flying to Lapland, and any other destinations too. Let’s enjoy the journeys as much as the destinations. 😘 So that our future generations will also get a chance to enjoy traveling, exploring and getting to know foreign cultures.

P.S. wouldn’t it be great if more environmentally sustainable forms of transportation were subsidised as much as air travel is? The systems need to change so that land based travel becomes more affordable and tempting for the masses of travelers.

06/04/2025

3AM and freezing outside - Would you get up for views like these? 🔥🦊

I’ve experienced that getting up from your comfy warm bed to the Arctic night is the hardest part of Aurora Hunting.

People are willing to travel half way across the world and to pay the big bucks to get to the optimal locations, and yet the biggest challenge becomes the temptation to stay under your cozy duvet.

I’n no different myself. I love sleeping and I love staying comfortably warm. 😚 But somehow I still can’t resist the temptation to jump outside when there’s a chance to witness the Lady Aurora dancing. Time after time. Every time feels fascinating, unique and enchanting.

This was my one and only trip to Lapland this winter season. Instead of a work trip it was a friends and family vacation. I was following the forecasts and checking the webcams each night. For the most nights of the week it was way too cloudy. And we were not planning on going driving to hunt for clear skies.

Then on our last night… we finally got lucky! 💚

The first dance started faintly at 10:45 PM. It faded away only to return again across the skies.

The next time we checked the webcams it was just before 3 AM and I’m very grateful that also braved to crawl out of her bed to admire another wonderful show of Nature. 🥰

My love for the Arctic never fades 🤍

📍Luosto, Lapland, Finland
🗓️ 4-5th of March 2025
📱Photos unedited and taken by regular iPhones

[Special thanks to and for helping me learn how to better understand the Aurora forecasts!]

11/03/2025

Looking for inspiration and ideas! 🔎🗺️🧭

The travel bug has bitten (anyone surprised? 😉) and I’m itching to go explore a bit further, so that I can prove myself that it is indeed possible to travel abroad also with a baby.

But where to?

My initial dream was to travel to Switzerland 🇨🇭to visit some friends, but that’s turning out to be a bit too ambitious and time consuming option. I need to remind myself that this would be the first international travel with our tiny daughter. 😅

We could likely spend max 2 weeks and don’t wish to be rushing it or pushing it to the limit. For environmental reasons we won’t be flying either. And starting from Helsinki, Finland… well… when you look at the map you’ll notice that geography is limiting our options quite a bit. The only land based options would be far up in the North, but we’re hoping to travel southwards this time. As you may know, I love the Nordics, but this time would also like to see something different. Feeling like exploring new destinations with an open mind.

🚞Train travel feels like the most comfortable way of traveling with a baby, but first we need to get out of Finland and for that a suitable option is a sea voyage.

So far I’ve found out that we could take the overnight ferry to Stockholm 🇸🇪 and then another one to Gdańsk in Poland 🇵🇱. Then there’s that new Baltic Express Train Going from the Polish coast to Prague in Czechia 🇨🇿 That sounds like a great journey! Having already been to Prague we won’t be going all the way there, but could check out some other destination along the way. But which one?

⚖️And should we travel back the same way, or what alternatives could there be…?

Plenty of question marks in my mind and also some doubts, making me think if any of this makes any sense… but at the same time the excitement is rising and fueling my passion… Maybe we can make it!?

If you have any recommendations, ideas or pro tips -> I would love to hear them! 🥰

06/02/2025

Sámi National Day is celebrated on 6th of February each year.

💙When you travel to the very North of Europe I would encourage you to look for authentic experiences where Sámi people themselves get to tell you about their lifestyle, past, present and future.

♦️Here are some destinations that I can personally recommend:

🔹 The Sámi Parliament in Kárášjohka/Karasjok.
🔹 Siida - Sámi Museum and Nature Center in Inari.
🔹 Nutti Sámi Siida in Jukkasjärvi.
🔹 Sámi Week in Tromsø in February each year.

While one could say that the above mentioned destinations are in Norway, Finland and Sweden it would be more appropriate to mention that actually they’re all within Sápmi, the land of the Sámi people. Sápmi region also extends over to Northern parts of Russia. Sápmi is a nation without borders but with languages, culture and customs that are common for the whole area.

The Sámi languages, also rendered in English as Sami and Saami, are a group of Uralic languages spoken by the Indigenous Sámi peoples in Northern Europe. There are, depending on the nature and terms of division, ten or more Sami languages.

♦️ If you would like to purchase some souvenirs while in Sápmi, you can always ask for the locally made ones.

🔹Sámi Duodji and Sámi Made are certification marks for Sámi produced products, both for traditional Sámi handicrafts (duodji) and other Sámi products.

This winter I haven’t had a chance yet to visit Sápmi, so here I’m sharing pictures from previous years.

1.-6. Karasjok
7.-8. Inari
9.-11. Jukkasjärvi
12.-14. Tromsø

The lifestyle of Sámi people in harmony with nature keeps always inspiring me.

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.

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. 💦

Explore with Kati