6 activities to enhance your Lapland business retreat

Picture this: your team gathered in a glass-walled meeting room, but instead of city skylines, you’re surrounded by snow-covered fells and pristine Arctic wilderness. The crisp Lapland air sharpens focus, while the extraordinary setting sparks conversations that would never happen in a traditional boardroom. Business retreats in Finnish Lapland offer something genuinely different – a chance to combine productive work sessions with experiences that strengthen team bonds in ways conventional venues simply can’t match.

When you bring your team to Lapland, you’re not just changing the scenery. You’re creating an environment where creativity flows naturally, where strategic discussions happen around crackling fires, and where shared adventures become the foundation for stronger working relationships. The Arctic setting provides the perfect balance of modern business amenities and authentic experiences that leave lasting impressions on everyone involved.

1. Northern lights viewing sessions for evening inspiration

There’s something magical about standing with your colleagues under the dancing lights of the Aurora Borealis. These natural light shows create shared moments of wonder that bring teams together in ways no trust fall exercise ever could. The best viewing times typically run from September through March, with peak visibility between 9 PM and 2 AM. Near our luxury villas in Saariselkä, you’ll find several excellent viewing spots away from artificial light, where the Northern Lights paint the sky in vibrant greens, purples, and occasionally reds.

Planning these viewing sessions into your evening schedule works beautifully with business retreats. After a day of meetings and workshops, gathering outside to watch for the Aurora creates natural networking opportunities. Conversations flow differently when you’re all bundled up, sharing hot drinks, and waiting for nature’s light show. These moments of shared anticipation and excitement break down hierarchical barriers and encourage authentic connections between team members.

The unpredictability of the Northern Lights adds an element of excitement to your business trip. Some nights you might see spectacular displays, while others offer starry skies and peaceful Arctic silence. Either way, these evening sessions provide valuable downtime where informal discussions often lead to breakthrough ideas and stronger team relationships.

2. Husky sledding adventures to build trust and teamwork

Working with a team of huskies teaches business lessons you won’t find in any management textbook. These intelligent, energetic dogs require clear communication, trust, and cooperation – exactly the same qualities that make business teams successful. Local husky farms near Saariselkä offer experiences ranging from short introductory rides to half-day expeditions through the wilderness. Each participant learns to handle their own sled team, creating immediate parallels to workplace leadership and collaboration.

The experience begins with meeting the dogs and learning basic commands. You’ll discover that leading a husky team requires a balance of confidence and respect – push too hard and they resist, show uncertainty and they lose focus. Sound familiar? These furry teachers demonstrate how effective leadership involves earning trust, providing clear direction, and understanding each team member’s strengths. The mushers (dog sled drivers) who guide these experiences often share insights about pack dynamics that translate directly to human teams.

During the actual sledding adventure, participants must work together, helping each other navigate turns, manage speeds, and overcome challenges. When someone’s sled tips (and it happens to everyone), the whole group stops to help. These moments of mutual support, combined with the exhilaration of gliding through snowy forests, create powerful team memories. By the end of the experience, your group will have shared something unique – and gained practical insights about trust, communication, and interdependence.

3. Finnish sauna sessions for strategic discussions

In Finland, some of the most important business decisions happen not in boardrooms but in saunas. This tradition of combining wellness with work discussions creates an atmosphere where people feel more relaxed, open, and creative. The private saunas at VALO villas provide perfect settings for informal meetings and brainstorming sessions. The heat and steam create a levelling effect – when everyone’s in towels, corporate hierarchies tend to melt away.

Understanding sauna etiquette helps international teams make the most of this experience. Sessions typically involve cycles of heating up in the sauna (usually 80-100°C), cooling down outside or with cold water, and relaxing in between. These natural breaks create rhythm for discussions – intense conversation in the heat, reflection during cooling, and synthesis during rest periods. Many Finnish executives swear by the sauna’s ability to unlock creative thinking and honest dialogue.

For teams new to sauna culture, starting with shorter sessions and moderate temperatures helps everyone feel comfortable. You can structure these sessions around specific business topics or let conversations flow naturally. Either approach works well, as the sauna environment encourages both focused thinking and free-flowing idea exchange. The combination of physical relaxation and mental stimulation often produces insights that wouldn’t emerge in traditional meeting settings.

4. Snowmobile expeditions through Urho Kekkonen National Park

Guided snowmobile tours from Saariselkä into Urho Kekkonen National Park offer adventure combined with stunning Arctic landscapes. These expeditions range from two-hour introductory rides to full-day adventures deep into the wilderness. Before setting off, experienced guides provide safety briefings and basic training, ensuring everyone feels confident handling their machines. The activity naturally promotes problem-solving skills as teams navigate varying terrain and weather conditions together.

The national park’s 2,550 square kilometres of wilderness provide endless route options suitable for different skill levels and interests. Beginners might follow groomed trails through snow-laden forests, while more adventurous groups can explore remote areas where reindeer roam freely. These shared adventures create natural team-building moments – helping someone whose snowmobile gets stuck, sharing the triumph of reaching a scenic viewpoint, or simply experiencing the vastness of the Arctic landscape together.

What makes snowmobiling particularly valuable for business groups is how it develops adaptability and quick decision-making. Weather conditions can change rapidly in Lapland, trails may present unexpected challenges, and mechanical issues occasionally arise. Teams learn to support each other, communicate effectively despite engine noise and distance, and adapt plans when needed. These real-world problem-solving experiences translate directly back to workplace scenarios where flexibility and teamwork matter.

5. Ice fishing workshops for patience and focus

Ice fishing might seem like an unusual business activity, but this traditional Lapland practice teaches valuable lessons about patience, focus, and strategic thinking. Local guides near VALO villas provide all necessary equipment and expertise, transforming what could be a cold wait into an engaging team experience. The activity typically involves drilling holes through thick ice, setting up shelters, and learning techniques for attracting Arctic fish species like perch, pike, and Arctic char.

The quiet, contemplative nature of ice fishing creates space for reflection that’s rare in busy corporate life. While waiting for fish to bite, team members often find themselves having deeper conversations than usual. The shared silence punctuated by occasional excitement when someone catches a fish creates a unique bonding experience. Many groups combine ice fishing with outdoor cooking, preparing their catch over open fires – adding another layer of teamwork and satisfaction to the experience.

For business teams, ice fishing demonstrates how success often requires patience, preparation, and persistence. You can’t rush fish to bite, just as you can’t force innovation or hurry complex negotiations. The activity also highlights the importance of being present and attentive – missing subtle movements of your fishing line means missing opportunities. These metaphors resonate particularly well during strategic planning sessions later in your retreat.

6. Reindeer farm visits to understand local culture

Visiting authentic reindeer farms provides windows into Sami culture and traditional Arctic livelihoods. These experiences go beyond tourist attractions, offering genuine encounters with herders who maintain centuries-old practices while adapting to modern challenges. During farm visits, teams learn about sustainable practices, seasonal migrations, and the deep connection between people, animals, and land in Lapland. These insights often spark meaningful discussions about sustainability and long-term thinking in business contexts.

Meeting local entrepreneurs who run these farms provides unique networking opportunities. Many reindeer herders have diversified their operations, combining traditional practices with tourism, crafts, and other ventures. Their stories of adaptation and innovation in challenging environments offer valuable lessons for international business leaders. The conversations that emerge – about balancing tradition with progress, managing natural resources, and building resilient businesses – provide fresh perspectives on corporate challenges.

The cultural immersion aspect of reindeer farm visits helps teams develop greater cultural sensitivity and global awareness. Understanding how Sami herders read weather patterns, manage resources, and maintain community bonds despite vast distances provides metaphors for distributed teams and remote collaboration. Many visitors find these encounters shift their thinking about stakeholder relationships, environmental responsibility, and what constitutes business success.

Making your Lapland business retreat unforgettable

Combining these Arctic activities with focused work sessions creates retreat experiences that achieve multiple objectives simultaneously. Teams return home not just with action plans and strategic decisions, but with shared memories that strengthen relationships for years to come. The key lies in finding the right balance – enough structured business time to achieve concrete outcomes, enough adventure to inspire and energise, and enough unscheduled moments for spontaneous connections.

We understand that coordinating these experiences alongside business objectives requires careful planning. Our concierge services help create customised itineraries that match your team’s goals, fitness levels, and interests. Whether you need meeting spaces configured for presentations, catering that accommodates dietary requirements, or activity schedules that maximise both productivity and enjoyment, we handle the logistics so you can focus on your team.

The lasting impact of Arctic business retreats extends far beyond the immediate experience. Teams reference shared adventures during challenging projects, inside jokes from husky sledding lighten tense meetings, and the memory of Northern Lights dancing overhead reminds everyone that extraordinary things are possible. When you combine Lapland’s natural wonders with thoughtful business programming, you create more than just another corporate event – you create transformational experiences that strengthen teams, spark innovation, and shift perspectives in ways that benefit your organisation long after everyone returns home. What aspects of an Arctic business retreat would most benefit your team’s current challenges and goals?