Delish food, fascinating culture and the most attractive people you've ever seen – welcome to Sweden! Pull on your beanie and your biggest coat and meet us in the iconic city of Stockholm. First things first: say ‘hej' (pronounced ‘hi' = win) to your fellow explorers and then get pumped for the adventure ahead over an included group dinner. This is gonna be EPIC... (D)

Dust off those brekkie crumbs and pull on some warm and comfy shoes – today, we're kicking things off with a morning walking tour with our Trip Leader. Check off Gamla Stan, Parliament House, Riddarholmen Church and The Royal Palace – then, the rest of the day is up to you. Ready for your next feed? Seek out some authentic Swedish meatballs – ‘nuff said.

Later, we'll get cosy in our bunks on the overnight train. Our destination? The BEAUT coastal city of Lulea – aka the getaway to Swedish Lapland... (B)

Rise and shine! You'll have a few hours to gaze out the train window at some seriously eye-popping views before we roll into Lulea around midday. Then, stash your luggage at the hotel and grab a snack at a local bakery (cinnamon bun, anyone?) before we hit up the city's best bits on a walking tour with our Trip Leader. Fun fact: Lulea is built on an archipelago made up of over 1000 tiny islands just below the Arctic Circle.

Plans for this arvo? You've got options. Check out the city's 6-kilometer-long ice track for ice skating and sledding. Or pull on some snowshoes and head out into the snowy wilderness. There's also an optional icebreaker cruise with some insane highlights. Think: walking on the frozen sea and swimming in an ice-free patch of water that's been cleared by the ship's path (don't worry, you'll be wearing an insulated floatation suit).

Tonight, you'll have your first opportunity to see the Northern Lights on an optional snowmobile tour. Prepare to be WOWED.

Wrap up warm, we've got another day of outdoor discovery.

First up is screen-saver worthy Gammelstad – a UNESCO World Heritage church town packed with quaint 16th century buildings. We'll soak it all in on a walking tour with our Trip Leader, including a stop at Nederluleå Church to check out its beaut medieval interiors. And later? There's an optional visit to an authentic Sami village on the cards where you can meet the indigenous community (and their reindeer herds) and tuck into some traditional snacks.

Tonight, if the skies are clear, we'll hop on the coach and go hunting – for the Northern Lights, that is! Keep your eyes peeled for those dazzling colours (and don't worry if they''re feeling a lil shy – there'll be more chances to spot them later in the week). (B)

Today's an early start – but we promise it'll be 100% worth it. Shotgun a window seat and watch out-of-this-world scenery whizz past as we cross the border into Finland. Our destination? Rovaniemi – aka the official home of Santa Claus (yep, really!). Your inner child will be crying tears of joy cos we've got an entire afternoon in the town's storybook Santa Claus Village. Meet the man himself in Santa's Office. Step over the official latitude line into the Arctic Circle. Or shop for handmade (sorry, elf-made) souvenirs at Santa's Gift House.

Got an appetite after all that excitement? We don't blame you. Luckily, there's an included dinner on the agenda at a local restaurant. Then, you'll probably wanna hit the hay early. Why? Cos we''re snoozing in I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E glass igloos. Enjoy a relaxing sesh in your own private sauna and then keep your eyes peeled for the Northern Lights (or just the stars) while snuggled up in bed. Fact: it'll be a true pinch-yourself experience either way. (B/D)

Still vibing from the dreamiest night of your LIFE? Laze around in your glass igloo a little bit longer or wrap up warm for an optional husky ride. You'll soar across fresh powder and soak up views of enchanting snowcapped forests. Expect ALL the feels (and a full camera roll). Can't get enough of Santa Claus Village? It's only a five minute walk from the hotel if you still need to grab some souvenirs for the fam back home.

Then, it's nearly time to move on to the next stop on our wintery adventure. But first: a chance to meet some of the awesome locals at the Ranua Arctic Wildlife Park. We're talking arctic foxes, grey wolves, snowy owls and polar bears.

Next, it's onwards to Oulu: Finland's cultural capital that's perched right on the mouth of the Oulujoki River. Gather your trip mates and seek out a bowl of rössypottu – a heart-warming Finnish stew flavoured with smokey bacon. Yum! And tonight? There's yet another Northern Lights hunt with your Tour Leader on the agenda. (B)

What's that? A free day to delve deeper in Oulu? And you've got plenty of options. Keep your eyes peeled for Rudolph at a local reindeer farm where you'll have a chance to feed these majestic creatures. You could also hop on a snowmobile and explore more of Finland's wild beauty. Expect views your mates back home won't believe.

Later, there''s an optional dinner and sauna sesh on the cards at Maikkula Mansion. You'll tuck into some delish local grub – think fresh salmon and steak. After, pull on your bathers and prepare for total bliss in a relaxing wood-fired sauna just steps from the frosty Oulu River. Moments like these? Next level.

Tonight, it's our last opportunity to see the Northern Lights. Huddle together in the winter air as the skies *fingers and toes crossed* transform. Magic. (B)

After another included brekkie, we'll wave goodbye to Oulu and board the train for Helsinki – Finland''s quirky capital city. This is your chance to catch up with the rents and swap tales with your trip mates. When we arrive this afternoon, we'll get our bearings on a city walking tour. Tick off the A-list sights with your Trip Leader, including the historic Senate Square, the eye-popping Uspenski Cathedral and the space-age Oodi Library.

Tonight, we have one final dinner together. Cheers (soz, kippis) to a road trip none of us will ever forget! (B/D)

9 unbelievable days. Two magical countries. Endless wintery vibes. And just like that, it''s time to say goodbye. Get down to breakfast and swap those socials – you're gonna need them for next year's reunion trip. Not ready for the adventure to end? Western Europe is just a stone's throw away... (B)

Hej, Stockholm.

Touch down in Sweden's capital: after checking into your central digs, tonight's group dinner is all about Swedish flavours, and maybe even a sneaky cinnamon bun to finish (yes, dessert totally counts as research for Swedish culture).

Later, your way: not yet ready to call it a night? Stroll the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan to see lanterns glowing on colourful old town facades, or grab a local beer by the water and watch the city sparkle on its 14 islands. Stay: Hotel C Stockholm (or similar) (D)

Stockholm served fresh.

Stockholm stories: this morning your Trip Leader will take you on a walking tour of the city. Expect pastel houses in Gamla Stan, the changing of the guard outside the Royal Palace and the chance to settle in for a fika (coffee + cinnamon bun = the real Swedish love story). Keep your camera handy – Stockholm sure knows how to work her angles.

Later, your way: when the tour wraps, the city's all yours. Stroll Djurgården for parks and world-class museums, or hit Södermalm where thrift shops, rooftop hangouts and quirky cocktail bars keep things buzzing. Tonight, swap cobblestones for bunk beds – your overnight train's a grown-up sleepover, and by morning you'll roll into a brand-new city. Stay: Overnight train (B)

Welcome to winter wonderland.

Lapland, landed: roll into Luleå around midday and shake off the train legs with a walking tour led by your Trip Leader. Think frosted shorelines, frozen harbours and a city that feels like it belongs in a snow globe.

Choose your chill: this afternoon's all about adventure, and you've got options. Strap on snowshoes and crunch through icy forests or rev up a snow scooter after dark to chase the Northern Lights. Your call, your adventure. Stay: Comfort Hotel Arctic (or similar)

Where cobbled streets meet cosmic streaks.

History, then headlights: this morning, your Trip Leader will take you to Gammelstad, a UNESCO World Heritage town with cobbled lanes, red wooden cottages and a medieval stone church at its heart. It's a step back in time – and about as photogenic as it gets.

Swap daylight for starlight: join the optional ice breaker cruise, where you'll drift through ice sheets, don a survival suit for a float in the icy waters, and then head back to the hotel with bragging rights intact. If the weather's behaving itself, after dark, pile onto the coach with your Trip Leader and chase the northern lights – not guaranteed, but trust us, it's worth braving the cold for a chance at the glow show of a lifetime. Stay: Comfort Hotel Arctic (or similar) (B)

Christmas magic on tap.

Northbound magic: join a local Sámi experience and learn about the culture of Sweden's Indigenous people (traditional snack included), and then head to Santa's Village, a festive playground where candy-cane streets, twinkling lights and snow-dusted cabins set the scene. If you're keen, you can meet Santa himself and wander through twinkly shops and workshops that bring childhood dreams to life – an optional extra if you fancy adding a little more magic.


Your way, your play: soak up the Christmas magic with a hot chocolate in hand, then settle in for the night under the stars (and maybe the northern lights) in your glass-roof igloo. It's all the joy of Christmas, minus the wrapping stress—and yes, it's perfectly acceptable to act like a kid again. Stay: Santa's Igloos Arctic Circle (or similar) (B/D)

Chasing lights and Arctic sights.

Wild encounters: check out of your igloo and head to the Ranua Wildlife Centre to meet Arctic locals. Or visit a local reindeer farm nestled within sparkling forests. Later, if the skies play nice, you'll get another chance to chase the northern lights – because one glow show is never enough. Stay: Original Sokos Hotel Arina (or similar) (B)

Oulu adventures.

Your arctic playground: today's your chance to dive into Oulu's winter wonders. Zoom across snowy trails on a snowmobile, and this evening, dive into a Nordic feast and let yourself melt away in a cosy hideaway sauna.

Chase the glow: if the northern lights have so far played hard to get, tonight's your last shot. Fingers crossed for a final sky show – you'll see the sky comes alive in rippling ribbons of green and pink, pulsating across the sky. It's the perfect end to your Arctic adventure. Stay: Original Sokos Hotel Arina (or similar) (B)

All aboard for a Helsinki finale.

City sights in the spotlight: catch the morning train south to Finland's vibrant capital. Your Trip Leader will take you on a walking tour past the striking Helsinki Cathedral and the grand Uspenski Cathedral, winding along the Esplanadi Park and glimpsing the harbourfront. Snap photos of the neoclassical façades, lively cafés and bustling streets – a picturesque last taste of Finnish city life.

Feast and farewell: tonight's farewell dinner bursts with Finnish flavours – a perfect excuse to swap Northern Lights snaps and relive your favourite moments before the trip winds down. Stay: Radisson Blu Aleksanteri Hotel (or similar) (B/D)

That's a wrap!

Sweet send-off: it's time for your final breakfast, where you'll be comparing who got the best photo with Santa, who conquered their sled ride and who managed to sneak the most cinnamon buns. Then it's time to say goodbye, carrying a suitcase full of memories – and maybe a few festive souvenirs – as your Arctic adventure comes to a close. (B)