Yoga & Arctic Adventure, Finland

This yoga and Arctic adventure retreat in Finnish Lapland brings together daily yoga, husky sledding, snowshoeing, sauna and an optional ice dip over six nights in a forest cabin near Äkäslompolo. It is led by Laura Bell, founder of Zest Life, and is open to beginners and experienced practitioners alike. It suits anyone who wants deep snow, winter quiet and a chance of seeing the Northern Lights, with good company and an unhurried pace.

What to Expect

The week is built around a gentle daily rhythm. Rising is at 7:30, with morning yoga at 8:00 and a slow breakfast at 9:00. Around 10:30 the group heads out into the snow for husky sledding, snowshoeing or sauna. Lunch is at 13:00, followed by free time with the sauna and the fire. Evening yoga is at 17:30, dinner at 19:00, and from 20:30 there is a Northern Lights watch or simply rest.

The outdoor days include one husky sledding experience, where you meet a small team at a family-run farm and then take the reins of your own sled, and one snowshoeing excursion through quiet forest and across frozen ground with experienced local guides. There is a traditional wood-fired sauna beside a frozen lake, with an ice dip through a hole cut in the ice. The dip is never compulsory, and many guests watch first or simply enjoy the heat of the sauna.

The Northern Lights are watched for on every clear night. They cannot be promised, as they depend on clear skies and solar activity, but February is one of the strongest months for sightings. Winter in the Arctic is weather-led, so the order of the week may shift, though the programme stays full.

About Laura Bell

Laura Bell is the founder of Zest Life and has more than 20 years of teaching experience. Her roots are in Ashtanga, and her teaching has evolved into a fluid vinyasa style that focuses on building strength, creating space in the body and feeling grounded and present. Each day has a morning vinyasa flow and an evening restorative session, ten yoga sessions in all, always guided and never pushed.

The Setting

The retreat is held in a spacious Finnish cabin near Äkäslompolo in Lapland, inside the Arctic Circle. It has an open fire, its own sauna, and large windows looking onto the snow and surrounding fells. Rooms are simply furnished in an unfussy Nordic style, and the warm communal living space becomes the yoga room. Rooms are shared twin, shared double, private single or private double, and all use shared bathrooms. Private single rooms are limited.

Meals are plant-based and nourishing, with breakfast, lunch and dinner included, along with unlimited fruit, organic teas, coffee and fruit water. Other dietary needs can be met with advance notice. The retreat is alcohol-free.

Most guests fly to Kittilä (KTT) via Helsinki, with Finnair. From the UK the flight takes around four hours. A shared van transfer from Kittilä to the cabin takes about 45 minutes and is included when you travel on the recommended flights.

Before You Go

No yoga experience is needed, and you move at your own pace. A moderate level of fitness is enough: if you can walk comfortably for an hour or two, you will be fine, and you can always take a quieter day by the fire. Guests come on their own as well as in pairs, and the small group makes it easy to settle in. The retreat is run in English.

February days are properly cold, around -6 to -15°C, with deep, reliable snow. Warm outer gear for husky sledding is provided. Bring your own warm layers, base layers, hat, gloves and proper winter boots, plus your own yoga mat. A full kit list is sent after booking.

Included are six nights' accommodation, the husky and snowshoe excursions, the lakeside sauna and ice dip, daily sauna, Northern Lights watching, yoga props, linen, towels and toiletries, all meals, and return airport transfers on the recommended flights. International flights, personal winter clothing and alcohol are not included.