Christmas in Lapland, December 20

Flight from your hometown to Ivalo Airport. *

Arrive at Ivalo Airport and transfer to the hotel by regular service. Upon check-in, ask for a welcome letter with information about the meeting time with your tour guide. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.At the northern tip of Finnish Lapland lies the well-known village of Inari-Saariselka. National parks, lakes, rivers and hills offer a variety of alternatives and activities throughout the year. During the winter months, the possibility of the Northern Lights dancing across the Arctic sky can be enjoyed for 200 days a year. The legendary village of Saariselka is Finland's northernmost tourist destination and offers a wide variety of services. In Inari and other villages in the area, Sami culture is still very much evident in everyday life and is where the real Lapland is found.

* The client may choose to take the flight included in the package or buy and book it on their own.

Breakfast. In the morning, get ready for a morning outdoor activity literally following in the footsteps of the Sami people. We start the day with a snowshoe safari, your guide will show you how to put them on to ensure a safe walk through the endless white carpet of Lapland forests. You will feel the crunch of the snow under your snowshoes, capturing the true feeling of winter in the northern forests. While exploring the surrounding nature, you will discover the hills and Urho Kekkonen, the National Park surrounding Saariselka. Once back in town, your guide will give you information on where you can have a delicious Finnish soup. Free afternoon in which we recommend taking a sauna to relax your muscles after the morning activity. Accommodation.

In the morning, after breakfast, the adventure continues towards the fantastic Santa’s Igloos located about 10 kilometres from Rovaniemi. During the journey, you will visit one of the highlights of the trip, the Reindeer Farm, where you will meet traditional Sami people who will tell you about reindeer and the culture in relation to the importance of these animals for the culture. Your host will teach you how to pull Suopunki (the Sami lasso), later, on two-person sleds, you will enjoy a short experience pulled by your reindeer, you will experience this traditional and peaceful way of movement through the white landscape over the lake and through the forest, where the only sound you hear is the soft melody of the reindeer bells. In addition, a typical three-course lunch is served during your visit to the farm. Continue through the white forests to reach Santa’s Igloos, for accommodation in a glass igloo. Enjoy the warmth of your dome-roofed cabin, from where you can admire, weather permitting, the stunning Northern Lights and millions of stars from your bed. Tonight we invite you to enjoy a typical Lappish three-course dinner in a giant wooden “kota”, where fresh salmon will be slowly roasted over the embers of a giant barbecue in the middle of the cabin. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure by bus to Rovaniemi. Arrival at Santa's Hotel Santa Claus to begin your Christmas adventure. Accommodation.

To continue the Lappish tradition, enjoy a typical Scandinavian breakfast, then head to the first excursion, the husky farm. The barking of the dogs will welcome you. The head musher will tell us about the life and training of these Arctic animals, and will also give us the opportunity to take beautiful photos with them. After a short instruction, you will be able to drive your own husky sled. The day continues with a visit to the world-famous "Santa Claus Village", built right above the Arctic Circle. Visit Santa's house, where he will welcome you himself. No words can describe the feelings provoked during this fairy-tale moment, but we guarantee that it will remain etched in your memory forever. During the visit, you can also send a letter to your loved ones with a greeting from our big white-bearded friend. After the visit, return by bus to Rovaniemi. At around 16:00 we will give the children the opportunity to decorate the Christmas tree, and at 18:00 we have the pleasure of welcoming Santa Claus to our hotel and the little ones in the families will be able to receive a gift. Guests will have the opportunity to give a gift to Santa Claus so that he can give it to their children. And to end the day, a Christmas Eve gala dinner will be served at the hotel (includes appetizer and a glass of house wine, beer or soft drink per person). Accommodation.

Early breakfast and departure to Ranua Zoo, located 80 km south of Rovaniemi. There we will take an interesting walk through the zoo, where we will be able to see different animals and birds. We will start the tour by seeing the different types of owls (snowy, royal, common…), eagles, falcons, ducks and swans, then we will see the rodent sector, just before moving on to the most beautiful part of the zoo where we will find brown bears and polar bears, which live in the natural conditions of the northern latitudes. At midday we will enjoy a self-service lunch in the zoo restaurant. After lunch we will have an hour at our disposal to explore the zoo grounds or perhaps visit the souvenir shops, the Fazer candy factory workshop or the local wine shop where they sell unique wines made from forest fruits such as blackberries, blueberries, etc. Afterwards, return to Rovaniemi and free afternoon to continue exploring this wonderful destination. In the evening, we will bid farewell to this fantastic Christmas with a gala dinner at the hotel (including an aperitif and a drink of your choice between a glass of wine, a beer or a soft drink). Accommodation.