Lapland Winter

Categories Scandinavia Arctic Tours Adventure & Eco Travel Winter Tours Semi-escorted Tours

Other hotel options available. Please inquire.

OPTIONS: Spend an extra night in Kemi and participate in a unique winter adventure: a voyage through the ice! Transfer by coach to the Port of Kemi where Icebreaker Sampo is waiting for you. During the 4-hour voyage on board this famous vessel you�ll tour the entire ship from top to bottom and enjoy lunch in the ship�s cozy restaurant. Adults participate in an arctic swim dressed in special survival suits, and kids explore the ship with the help of the crew. The Captain hands a diploma to all passengers at the end of the cruise. Back at the hotel in late afternoon. Snowmobiling is Laplanders� favourite outdoor activity and you can book an optional snowmobile trip with us on an extra day, in the evening of your arrival day or the morning of your departure day. Advance reservations are necessary for all optional activities.

Itinerary

Arrival at Kemi Airport. Transfer to Hotel Merihovi or Hotel Cumulus Kemi.

Dinner and overnight in Kemi.

Finnish buffet breakfast is served in the hotel. Then get prepared for a full-day excursion � today is going to be a

genuine �animal safari day�. Board the waiting coach for a short trip to a local Husky Farm where Mrs. Ulla and her daughter Mrs. Paula with her family live � together with their Siberian huskies. There are Santa�s helpers at the farm, big and small, as well as four-legged ones! and you�ll hear about the training and life of Siberian huskies, how they are going to spend their Christmas and you get to try your hand at dog sledding, too. After learning about sled control you�ll take off on an exhilarating ride, two persons sharing one dog team (kids travel in parents� sleds), taking turns as a �musher�. Enjoy a cup of coffee or berry juice in a �kota� teepee.

Then the trip continues: the next destination is Ranua Wildlife Park, the 1,5 hour coach ride taking you through

Lapland�s countryside.

Upon arrival at the wildlife park you�ll enjoy a buffet lunch in the park�s restaurant and then participate in a guided walking tour through the park, seeing Nordic and arctic animals, such as polar bears, brown bears, lynx and wolves, in a natural environment. You can also take a moment for last-minute Christmas shopping at the souvenir and candy shops in the park.

Enjoy a mug of the traditional Christmas drink "gl�gg" and gingerbread cookies while the Christmas tree is decorated in the hotel restaurant later in the day. A special Christmas buffet dinner, featuring Finnish specialties, is served in the hotel restaurant. Santa Claus, together with Rudolf, of course, will then make his visit to greet everyone � and he brings a gift to all guests, adults and children alike.

Enjoy breakfast this morning and join the locals in Kemi Church for Christmas morning church service.

Today an excursion to the Arctic Circle is on the agenda. The coach ride from Kemi takes ca. 1,5 hours. A visit will

be made to Santa Claus Village where you�ll have a chance to meet the famous man himself, in his Office, and you�ll have free time to browse through the shopping gallery. Lunch is served in a local restaurant in Rovaniemi. Back to Kemi in late afternoon.

En route say hello to reindeer and their herders at a local reindeer farm � this is where you�ll learn about reindeer husbandry and Lappish culture. You�ll also take a ride in a reindeer-pulled sleigh, thus earning your very own international "reindeer driving permit", and attend a special Lappish ceremony of Crossing the Arctic Circle.

After breakfast this morning it's time to say goodbye to Kemi and transfer to the Airport for departure flight.