Lapland Winter

   
 
 

New Year in Kemi

Winter in Lapland

4 Days / 2 locations in Finland

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 additional snowmobile trip with us on an extra day or in the evening. Advance reservations are necessary for all optional activities.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Kemi
Accommodation: Cumulus Hotel
Meals: Dinner

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

Tonight’s dinner is a special event, being served in Meripirtti Lodge, a private restaurant and family home situated near Kemi, just 20 minutes by coach. Those who wish have the opportunity to experience a genuine Finnish wood-heated sauna – and take a dip through a "hole in the ice" according to true Finnish fashion. Dinner features glowfried salmon prepared on open fire

 
Day 2     Kemi - Rovaniemi
Accommodation: Cumulus Hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Finnish buffet breakfast is served in the hotel. Today a trip to the Arctic Circle is on the agenda. The coach ride from Kemi takes ca. 1,5 hours through Lapland’s countryside. 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.

Tonight’s New Year’s Eve, and it will be celebrated in style! A festive dinner is served in the hotel. After dinner, it’s time to prepare for the welcoming of New Year by attending special festivities outdoors. So get dressed in your ”safari gear” and board the waiting coach for the 15-minute ride out of town, to a “Lapp Camp” which is all ”dressed up” to bid adieu to Year 2008 and wish Year 2009 welcome. There are camp fires and torches, Lapp ”kota” teepees, and a cozy wooden chalet for enjoying Finnish-style hot mulled wine called ”glögg”, live music and dancing. You will participate in the traditional ”tin ceremony” which is a typical custom among all Finns. And finally, at midnight, when the clock strikes 12, huge wooden numbers ”2009” are lit up and you’ll raise a toast of Finnish sparkling wine in celebration. After midnight, transfer onwards to Haparanda, the little town in the neighbouring country Sweden, just 25 km from Kemi which, due to the time change, is celebrating the New Year an hour after the Finns do. So set your clock back one hour and join the locals to watch the fireworks.

 
Day 3     Kemi
Accommodation: Cumulus Hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A Finnish buffet breakfast is served in the hotel. Today’s the day that everyone has been waiting for: it’s time to learn to drive a snowmobile, the Laplanders’ favourite method of travel. Equipped head to toe in winter gear and wearing a driving helmet and goggles, you’ll get acquainted with the machine as your local guides give you a thorough briefing on technical and safety issues. Sooner than you’ll know you’re seated on your vehicle – ”tandem”-style as two persons share one snowmobile, taking turns in driving and sitting as a passenger behind the driver – and the snowmobile convoy takes off. Your destination: a Lapp Camp in the snow-clad nature. En route your guides will teach you the secrets of ice fishing: how to drill a hole and how to hook the bait – and you just might catch a perch! An outdoor lunch is served in a "kota" teepee. Later in the day a trip is made to a local Husky Farm where Mrs. Ulla and her daughter Mrs. Paula with her family live –together with their Siberian huskies. You’ll hear about the training and life of Siberian huskies and get to try your hand at dog sledding: after learning about sled control you’ll take off on a ride, two persons sharing one dog team, taking turns as a “musher”. Dinner is served in the hotel restaurant.

 
Day 4     Kemi
Meals: Breakfast

A final breakfast is served in the hotel. Then it's time to say goodbye to Kemi and transfer to the airport.

 
Price Includes
Hotel Accommodation As in Itinerary With Daily Breakfast
Meals Daily Shipboard
Transfers Airport - Hotel -Airport
Entrances Per Itinerary
Sightseeing and Entrances Per Itinerary
Rental of Thermal Clothing
Price Does Not Include
 Optional Excursions
DOR-1269
1.28.15.WP26