Narayan / Lapland and Helsinki 11-18.12.
Winter has arrived early this year in Lapland! We suggest you would first stay 2 nights in Helsinki, then fly to Rovaniemi for 2 days and Ivalo for 3 days. The probability for northern lights increases the more north you go. Ivalo region is known to be one of the best locations for nothern lights observation.
Ivalo region is one of the world’s best spots for northern lights observation. Auroras dance on sky on 3 out of 4 nights there but naturally also clear sky is needed so no guarantee, however, can be given.
On the way from Rovaniemi to Muotka Wilderness Hotel you will stop for an easy and enjoyable snowshoeing in Tankavaara followed by soup lunch (mushroom soup for example).
You will stay in a log cabin with a separate master bedroom and a loft with 2-3 beds. Both floors have their own toilet. The cabins are located by a small river but belong to a wilderness hotel.
We’ll take you on an aurora camp and on a husky safari in a small group. You will also try cross-country skiing and the teens might want to go tobogganing with a guide. You will have one dinner at the hotel and two á la carte paid by you on site so you can choose what to eat.
Rovaniemi is the regional capital of Lapland, also known as the home town of Santa Claus. You will visit Santa’s Village with a guide. Santa can be met free of charge but you do need to queu. If wanted, a private meeting can be arranged for 400€ and a private dinner with Santa for 780€.
Next morning you will be picked up from the hotel to Sinettä, 20 minutes outside Rovaniemi. There you will have a chance to drive world’s first electric, silent snowmobiles, which are also easier to handle. The adults will share a snowmobile (driving licence needed) and the teens will sit in back or in sleigh. This takes place in a small group. After lunch you can visit the snow hotel, see the hotel rooms, ice bar, ice chapel and ice restaurant inside.
Now that you have a secod full day in Rovaniemi, it is possible to get to Santa's village and spend more time there exploring it on your own.
Your hotel is located on an island outside the city lights. In the evenings you can walk to the campfire with hot drinks and snacks prepared for you. The hotel also has a very nice sauna if you'd like to try.
Helsinki offers a nice stopover before flying home. We'll meet you at the airport and use the time befor checking in for a sightseeing by car. We'll stop at the National museum to see an exhibition about Finland and talk shortly about the history of the country, go and see the new public library Oodi chosen as the best new public building of the world. Lunch stop will be included.
You will stay at a very cozy 5-star hotel called Haven making it easy for you to have an evening walk to the Christmas market at Senate square on your own. Dinner table booking will be made according to your wishes.
Accommodation:
- 11-14.12. Hotel Muotka Wilderness: 3 nights in riverside log cabin
- 14-17.12. . Hotel Vartiosaari: superior room with loft (proper beds on loft for teens)
- 17-18.12. Hotel Haven:a grand deluxe connected with a superior room
ITINERARY
Wed 11.12. From Helsinki to Ivalo
- 13:15 arrival to Ivalo
- airport transfer
- check-in to your cabin
- dinner buffet
- 20-22:30 aurora camp (by sleigh pulled by a snowmobile)
- night in a log cabin at Wilderness Hotel Muotka
Thu 12.12. Ivalo
- breakfast
- husky safari 3h (2h safari, transfers and lunch at the hotel)
- transfer to Laanila
- dinner á la carte in restaurant Laanila (very cozy and relaxed, great food)
- transfer back
- night in a log cabin at Wilderness Hotel Muotka
Fri 13.12. Ivalo
- breakfast
- cross-country skiing 2h
- lunch at the hotel
- 14:30 transfer to Saariselkä ski village
- 15-17:00 guided tobogganing for the teens (1,8km slope), the grandparents can sit in the coffee corner or bar of the Arctic Star Hotel if they do not want to participate
- 17:00 dinner á la carte in the Arctic Star restaurant (panorama, on top of hill Kaunispää)
- 18:30 transfer back to your hotel
- night in a log cabin at Wilderness Hotel Muotka
Sat 14.12. From Ivalo to Rovaniemi
- breakfast
- 10:15-16:30 private transfer to Rovaniemi stopping for a 1,5h easy snowshoeing and lunch in Tankavaara Gold Village
- stop for coffee at a local reindeer farm (meet and feed reindeer)
- check-in to your hotel in Rovaniemi
- half-pension dinner (3 courses) in the Lappish hut restaurant
- campfire with snacks (observing northern lights!)
- night in a loft apartment on the Aurora Island in Rovaniemi
Sun 15.12. Rovaniemi
- breakfast
- 9-12:00 sunrise morning snowmobiling safari 15-30km by e-sled (electric snowmobile)
- lunch á la carte (burgers, salad, pasta) at the Lappish hut restaurant
- 13.15 guided visit to the Arctic Snowhotel (not 100% ready yet)
- 14:00 drive back to Rovaniemi
- 14:30-16:00 guidance 1h + visit to the Arktikum museum
- transfer to the hotel
- sauna available
- half-pension dinner (3 courses) in the Lappish hut restaurant
- campfire with snacks (observing northern lights!)
- night in a loft apartment on the Aurora Island in Rovaniemi
Mon 16.12. Rovaniemi
- breakfast
- 11:00 driver taking you to Santa’s village
- self-guided visit in Santa's village
- 16:00 drive back to the hotel
- sauna available
- vegetable buffet dinner in the Lappish hut restaurant (See the menu below)
- campfire with snacks (observing northern lights!)
- night in a loft apartment on the Aurora Island in Rovaniemi
Tue 17.12.
- breakfast
- 8-8:10 transfer to the airport
- 9:35-10:50 flight from Rovaniemi to Helsinki
- guide & driver welcoming you in Helsinki
- 10:50-15:00 sightseeing in Helsinki by car
- 15:00 check-in to your hotel
- evening walk by yourselves to the Christmas market open until 20:00 (all kinds of artisan products)
- dinner table booking at restaurant Chapter or if you want pizza, there is for example Italian restaurant Vaesa close by the Senate square
- two combined rooms at Hotel Haven in the city centre
Wed 18.12. Helsinki
- breakfast
- time for shopping or visiting museu,/exhibitions (open up at 11:00)
- 12:00 check-out, taking luggage to storage
- time for shopping or visiting museu,/exhibitions (close by 17:00)
- dnner table booking if you want
- 21:00 airport transfer
Vegetable buffet menu (for the last night in Rovaniemi and as an example)
Salad leaf with spruce sprout vinaigrette
Carrots baked in a salt crust, horse radish honey and Lappish cheese
Roasted beetroots with goats gruyere and lingonberries
Pickled mushrooms and sour cream
Root celery and apple salad with nuts
Bread with juniper berry butter
***
Vegetable cake with lentils, beans and tarragon yoghurt
Category |
Tours |
Location | Lapland |
Price | 10654€ for a group of 2 adults and 2 teens 17 and 13yrs |
Group size min | 4 |
Group size max | 4 |
Duration | 8 days |
Meals | Meals according to the sample program |
