Road trip – adventures across the Nordic countries
People often say that holidaying in Finland is expensive. And it can be, if you rent a cabin in the pricier part of a ski resort and eat out every night. But a holiday here can also be very affordable if you already have the outdoor skills and gear.
10 things to do on a road trip
- Take day trips to national parks you haven't visited yet
- Go on a multi-day hike (more than three nights sleeping outdoors)
- Go geocaching and find places you'd never come across otherwise
- Pop over to Sweden or Norway if you've never been. You'll be pleasantly surprised
- Visit towns and cities you haven't been to before
- Book an adventure activity, such as white-water rafting in Oulanka National Park
- Rent a bike, canoe or kayak
- Track down Finland's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Visit ancient monuments and military history sites
- Cool off at a lakeside beach on a summer's day
Finland is a paradise for nature lovers. It's safe to get around, and the whole country is full of outdoor infrastructure. Here are a few tips to keep costs down and add a sense of adventure to your trip.
At its cheapest, accommodation is free
If you have your own tent or hammock, you can visit all sorts of natural sites and sleep for free. You can often sleep in the car for a night or two, but your own shelter is a lot more comfortable. You can usually pitch up right next to the car, although the best camping spots tend to be found if you're willing to walk a little further away from it.
You can find good wild camping spots using a topographic map app and Google Maps. Save your favourite places, or drop a pin whenever you drive past somewhere that looks interesting.
Other affordable options include farm stays and campsites. At a campsite you can pitch your tent and usually get access to a cooking shelter, washing-up facilities, showers, toilets and a sauna. Many campsites also rent out small cabins at reasonable prices. When it's pouring with rain, a cheap cabin can be a very welcome option.
Cook the same meals on a camping stove as you do at home
With a camping stove, you can easily cook a meal in a roadside lay-by. A little creativity goes a long way: you can make most of the same dishes you'd cook at home. You can even turn two nested pots and a lid into a camp oven. Put some stones or foil between the pots and heat gently on the lowest setting.
Finland is also the promised land of lean-to shelters and campfire sites. Always check first whether a forest fire warning is in effect. You can find this information in the Finnish Meteorological Institute's weather app, for example, which is also a reliable and handy way to keep an eye on the forecast.
Summer cafés make atmospheric places to stop, and some of them serve affordable food too. There are plenty of other budget-friendly places to eat when you've had your fill of camp food.
Gear tips for summer road trips
Don't forget comfort – pack a camping chair. You'll stay much longer at rest stops when you have somewhere comfortable to sit. Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, but there are several ways to deal with them: insect-repellent clothing protects you without chemicals, or you can use an insect repellent. Sometimes it makes sense to rig up a larger mosquito net – or simply find an open, breezier spot where there are fewer bugs.
If you come prepared, you can get through even the worst bug season of the decade and carry on as normal.
It's a good idea to keep a large water canister in the car, but you can also collect water from nature. It's recommended that you treat it first, either by boiling it or using a water purifier.
In an estate car or van, you can sleep in the back. A mosquito net lets you keep the doors open. Park near a clean lake or river and you've got water and a place to swim.
The car has room for a bigger camp kitchen – say, a couple of stoves, a pot and a proper frying pan. You'll find our cooking gear here. A good cool bag keeps perishable food fresh, and you can find our cool bags here.
Anything can happen on the road. As well as a first aid kit, pack a hi-vis vest in case you need to fix the car by the roadside. If you're heading to more remote areas, bring a spare tyre, a jack and a wheel wrench too.
Keep a first aid kit in the car permanently, but take a separate first aid kit on your hikes as well. What goes in it depends on the type of trip. You'll find first aid gear here.
Our travel category also has plenty of useful kit, such as travel towels, eco-friendly soaps and shampoos, bags and more.
We hope you find these tips useful. Have an unforgettable road trip!