Company history to date

Oiva Ilmari Niemelä (1916–2001), the son of a farmer from Tervola, began his entrepreneurial journey after the Continuation War with a single truck.

In 1951, a bus company in Malmi became available for sale. Oiva acquired it and launched scheduled services between Rovaniemi and Sodankylä. Later, the route was extended all the way to Ivalo—and it is still operated today.

Oiva’s wife, Helga, was actively involved in the business from its early years until her passing in 1994. While Oiva was on the road, Helga energetically managed both office work and dispatching. She was highly respected and well liked among the drivers. In the 1950s and 1960s, Oiva also operated as an entrepreneur in earthmoving and excavation.

Oiva began offering charter services in the late 1950s. At first, trips were mainly within Lapland, but by the 1960s he was already driving to Central Europe for several summers in a row. These journeys lasted 2–3 weeks, and cities such as Paris, Rome and London became familiar to him from behind the wheel of a coach.

Over the decades, Niemelä’s green charter coaches have become well known across Finland, Lapland and the entire North Calotte region—serving both Finnish and international travelers. In summer, multi-day tours often head to the dramatic landscapes of Northern Norway, welcoming guests from Europe as well as the Far East. In winter, Lapland and the Rovaniemi region have been our most important operating area for many years.

From 1981 to 2024, the company’s Managing Director and owner was Oiva’s son, Esko Niemelä. Growing up around vehicles, his career choice came naturally. Esko joined his father as an entrepreneur and continued to develop the proud legacy of a company with more than 70 years of history.

In 2024, Esko Niemelä sold the business operations of Liikenne O. Niemelä to Lapland Safaris Group Oy—one of the largest DMC and experience service groups in the Nordic countries. The acquisition was a natural next chapter in the story: Lapland Safaris is one of Lapland’s best-known and longest-established experience companies, and the partnership between the two businesses had already continued for more than 10 years. As part of the group, Liikenne O. Niemelä was able to serve its customers even more comprehensively.

In 2026, it was time for a next step. With international tourism continuing to grow and operations developing as part of the Lapland Hotels & Safaris travel group, it was evident that Liikenne O. Niemelä’s brand and strategy should be updated to better meet the needs of international travel market. It was time for Lapland Tours.

Lapland Tours continues Niemelä’s proud traditions as a reliable and safe transport partner with deep expertise in northern conditions. As part of Lapland Hotels & Safaris, Lapland Tours can now offer a unique advantage: transportation, accommodation, tour leader services and experiences—combined into one seamless package.

Our promise is simple: we take care of transportation safely and on time, so our customers can focus on the experience—whether it’s a corporate event, a group tour or an excursion to unforgettable places.

Lapland Tours – One partner, complete experience