Lapland Winter

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

Other hotel options available. Please inquire.

Itinerary

Arrival at Kemi Airport.

Transfer to Hotel Merihovi or Hotel Cumulus Kemi.

Dinner and overnight in Kemi.

There are optional excursions available in Kemi. Please click on city link to review.

Today an excursion to the Arctic Circle is on the agenda. The car 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.

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. You’ll hear about the training and life of Siberian huskies, and weather allowing, 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 take a walk 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.

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

Or book an extra night or two and participate in a snowmobile trip, a cruise on the icebreaker, or spend the day Christmas shopping in Kemi or the nearby towns of HaparandaTornio at the Finnish-Swedish border.