Finland Tours Winter 2011-12
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Dog sled adventure |
Visit Santa's workshop in Rovaniemi |
Northern Lights |
Night in an Igloo under the Northern Lights
5 days / 4 nights
Hotel Kakslauttanen, half an hour drive from Ivalo airport, is the perfect location for an exotic holiday experience, far away from the rush and bustle of city life. It has a beautiful location amidst the untouched Lapp wilderness, 300 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. Far away from city lights, the place is excellent for viewing the aurora borealis, whenever they adorn the dark sky with their colourful waves. Guests will enjoy comfortable lodgings in rustic log cottages, which reflect the traditional Lapp style. There are 31 cottages, 20 Igloos, 5 Glass Igloos, a restaurant with souvenir shopping facilities and two saunas. Each cottage has a peaceful location not too close to the other ones. The resort also offers an unusual highlight: accommodation in genuine igloos made of snow. Sleep in a temperature below zero, warm and snug in your padded sleeping bag, breathing in crisp, fresh air. Or you can choose to experience the polar night sleeping under the stars in a glass igloo, which has normal temperature. Here you can experience the true nature of the Arctic winter and still enjoy modern conveniences
Departures
On request from December 01, 2011 until April 30, 2012 excluding Christmas season
December 23-26, 2011
Duration
5 days / 4 nights, Land Only
Prices per Person, land only
- In shared twin room from $2640
- Single supplement from $900
- Third adult in extra bed from $2365
- Child under 12 years sharing room with 2 adults from $1650
- Supplement per person for overnight in a glass igloo instead of snow igloo (max 2 persons/igloo) $65
Supplement per person for New Year Eve's dinner with programme
- Adult $315
- Child under 12 years $230
Supplement per person per night when staying Dec 26 through Jan 03
- Adult $60 per night
- Child under 12 years $40 per night
CALL FOR AIR INCLUSIVE RATES FROM U.S OR HELSINKI.
Tour Includes
· accommodation for four nights in log cottages with own sauna and fireplace, two persons in a cottage
· one night in an igloo made of snow, double occupancy (the cottage is also at your disposal for this night)
· half board (4 breakfasts & 4 dinners)
· airport transfers between Ivalo airport and Kakslauttanen by hotel shuttle bus
· Dog sled safari with picnic lunch
· Reindeer safari with picnic lunch
NOTE! This is a non-escorted tour. Services of a guide and domestic air fares are not included. A minimum of two (2) passengers are required for the operation of the tour.
Daily cleaning of the cottage and change of linen available at extra cost paid locally
Day 1 - Arrival in the Land of Snow
Transfer from Ivalo airport to Kakslauttanen Igloo Village. Overnight in traditional log cottage with private facilities, kitchenette, fireplace and own sauna. You have an excellent opportunity to try the Sauna, which is an integral part of the Finnish lifestyle
Day 2 - Dogsled Adventure
Buffet breakfast is served in the beautiful log restaurant, located within walking distance from your accommodation. After breakfast meet a team of friendly husky dogs who are eager to take you on a dogsled adventure. These northern dogs are perfectly suited to the Arctic conditions and they enjoy pulling the sledge to their hearts' content. A stop is made to enjoy a picnic lunch in open air. Duration of the excursion is 4 hours. Overnight in log cottage
Day 3 - Reindeer Excursion
Breakfast. Excursion to a local reindeer farm, where you will learn about the culture and lifestyle of the local Sami people. You also have a chance to try a ride in a reindeer sled.
A stop is made to enjoy a picnic lunch/snack in open air.
Duration of the excursion: 4 hours.
Overnight in log cottage
Day 4 - Igloo Night
Today is a day at leisure to relax and enjoy the beautiful, peaceful settings. The more energetic may want to try cross-country skiing or ice-fishing.
There is a real arctic, yet perfectly comfortable experience in store for you tonight, as you have a rare opportunity to try sleeping in an igloo made of snow. Reindeer hides and woollen rugs will keep you warm. The temperature inside the igloo varies between minus 3 and minus 6 degrees Centigrade, but the padded sleeping bags would keep you warm even at much lower temperatures. Optionally, you can choose to spend the night in a glass igloo with normal room temperatures. Your log cabin is also at your disposal should you not prefer to stay all night in the igloo
Day 5
Transfer to Ivalo airport for the flight back to Helsinki
NEW! Arctic Circle Impressions
8 days / 7 nights
Rovaniemi & Helsinki
The tour combines the winter pleasures of Lapland with the ample opportunities for sightseeing, fine dining and shopping that the capital city Helsinki offers. Rovaniemi, a town on the Arctic Circle, is home to Santa Claus, who has his own workshop village there.
A range of optional snowmobile safaris are available at extra cost in Rovaniemi
Departures
On request from December 01, 2011 until April 17, 2012 excluding Christmas/New Year's season
December 22, 2011 - January 09, 2012
Duration
8 days / 7 nights, Land Only
Day 1-5: Rovaniemi
Day 6: Rovaniemi-Helsinki
Day 7: Helsinki
Day 8: Helsinki departure
- In shared twin room from $1315
- Single supplement from $635
- Third adult in extra bed from $625
- Child under 12 years sharing room with 2 adults from $435
CALL FOR AIR INCLUSIVE RATES FROM U.S OR HELSINKI.
Tour Includes
· accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with bath/shower, 5 nights in Rovaniemi at Sokos Hotel Vaakuna &
2 nights in Helsinki at Sokos Hotel Helsinki, or similar
· 7 breakfasts
· airport transfers in Rovaniemi and Helsinki by private car with English speaking driver
· scheduled Helsinki audio coach tour for 1.5 hours
Note! This is a non-escorted tour. Services of a guide and air fares are not included in the price. A minimum number of 2 passengers are required for the operation of the tour
Day 1: Santa's Home Town
As you arrive into Rovaniemi, you will find the arctic town folded in her snow-white winter attire. Transfer from the airport to Sokos Hotel Vaakuna, or similar, for overnight
Day 2-5: Arctic Adventures
Enjoy the fun of driving a snowmobile in the northern wilderness, selecting the excursions of your choice.
Optional Safaris Available in Rovaniemi
The safari leader will pick up you from your hotel in Rovaniemi. You will be provided with appropriate protective clothing. There will be two persons to a snowmobile taking turns in driving. Minimum age of 15 years is required for driving a snowmobile. Children 4-14 are charged at half the price, excluding the high season between 1st December 2011 and 9th January 2012, when children are given a 25% discount off the prices mentioned below. Children under 4 years – free of charge. These discounts entitles children to a seat in a sled pulled by a snowmobile driven by the guide. Child over 140 cm is allowed to sit on the snowmobile when paying the adult price
We offer the following OPTIONAL safaris, which are operated daily:
Tours should be prebooked to ensure space but can also be requested locally but are subject to space available.
1. Snowmobile Safari into the Wilderness (2PM-4PM)
During this safari you learn the fun of snowmobiling along frozen rivers and through forests covered with snow. Enjoy the beautiful view of the river valley from the top of the hills. A pause and hot beverages keeps your motor running.
2 hours, Price per person USD 195
2. Legend of Four Winds (10AM-1PM)
(Note! Santa Claus safari includes this safari)
A snowmobile safari to a reindeer farm. You will be familiarized with our Lappish culture and reindeer husbandry. Everyone passing a reindeer driving test will be issued an international reindeer driver's license and you have a possibility to participate in a special Lapp ceremony of crossing the Arctic Circle. Enjoy a cup of hot coffee or berry juice before returning back to the town.
3 hours, Price per person USD 250
3. Visit to a Husky Dog Farm (9AM-12PM or 2PM-5PM, advise your choice when booking)
After a short drive by car from the town, we’ll arrive at a husky ranch, where these friendly dogs will bark an enthusiastic welcome to you. Before departing on the safari, you will be given instruction on how to control the sleds, which you will ride in pairs. Enjoy some hot berry juice by an open fire and chat with the head musher about these amazing northern animals once you return to the ranch. Transfer back to town by car.
3 hours, Price per person USD 260
4. Santa Claus Safari (10AM-4PM)
The day starts with a snowmobile safari to a reindeer farm where you will hear more about reindeer husbandry and Lappish culture. You can take a reindeer ride and attend a special Lapp ceremony of crossing the Arctic Circle. After the visit we go by car to a cosy restaurant for delicious lunch. In the afternoon you will have time to do shopping in Santa Claus Village. You will also have an opportunity to send postcards from Santa Claus’s main post office. During the day you get to meet Santa Claus himself. You will get a Diploma for crossing the Arctic Circle.
6 hours, Price per person USD 350
Day 6: Good-bye to Rovaniemi
After breakfast, transfer to Rovaniemi airport for the return flight to Helsinki. Upon arrival in Helsinki, your driver will take you to Sokos Hotel Helsinki, or similar, for overnight
Day 7: Helsinki
After breakfast take part of the regular 1,5 hours’ audio sightseeing tour of the city The rest of the day is free for you to explore the sights on your own, to make some souvenir shopping or to visit a museum
Day 8: Helsinki Departure
After breakfast transfer to Helsinki airport by private car
NEW! Christmas at the Arctic Circle
4 days / 3 nights
Rovaniemi
Imagine a Christmas adventure for young and old to experience the spirit of Christmas in an enchanting land that Santa Claus chose for his home. Spend a Christmas holiday of a lifetime in a land of breathtaking beauty and spellbinding atmosphere. A land of unspoiled, snow-covered scenery and magical winter twilight. A land of sleigh rides, reindeer and husky dogs. This is Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland at the Arctic Circle. Here, your children will experience a true Christmas fantasy, which will long remain vivid in their memory.
See their eyes sparkle with delight and excitement, as they meet the real Santa Claus
Departure
December 23-26, 2011, optional extra nights can be added
Duration
4 days / 3 nights, Land Only
Day 1-4: Rovaniemi
- In shared twin room from $1925
- Single supplement from $285
- Third adult in extra bed from $1715
- Child under 12 years sharing room with 2 adults from $1290
CALL FOR AIR INCLUSIVE RATES FROM U.S OR HELSINKI.
Tour Includes
· accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with bath/shower for 3nights at Clarion Hotel santa Claus
· 3 breakfasts, 1 regular dinner and 2 special Christmas buffet dinners
· airport transfers in Rovaniemi in private car with English speaking driver
· excursions and activities as outlined in the itinerary
Note! This is a non-escorted tour. Services of a guide and air fares are not included in the price. A minimum number of 2 passengers are required for the operation of the tour
Day 1: Rovaniemi, Arctic Capital & Santa's Home Town
As you arrive into Rovaniemi, you will find the arctic town folded in her Christmas attire. Transfer from the airport to Clarion Hotel Santa Claus for 3 nights. Dinner at hotel
Day 2: Christmas Eve
Buffet breakfast is served in the main restaurant. Everyone in Lapland knows that Santa has a secret hideaway where he goes to relax. Now also you will have a chance to see this hideaway. Santa him self will not be there. He is a bit busy now. But he has left you a message. You just have to find it! At 11AM this trip
starts with about ½ hour guided coach transfer to a forest hut. The coach is stopped by different animals of the forest; bears and hares will guide the guests through a winding trail. Here and there you may even see Santa’s little helpers hiding in forest. Some of them may even make friends with children and share the path with them. Along the trail the children can see some traces of Santa himself; there are fresh traces of his sledge and there might
even be some objects and presents fallen out of his sledge. Finally the trail leads to a little hut in the middle of the forest where long tables are set up for enjoying Christmas Eve’s snack,
porridge with sandwiches together with hot drinks and gingerbread cookies.
At the hut every child is invited to visit the tiny hut decorated in Christmas style. There each child receives a personal letter from Santa. In the letter Santa encourages them to feed the birds and other animals of the forests and should they do this, he promises to pay a visit in the evening.
The Santa’s little helpers help the children to set up the food for the birds and after this they will go together to fetch some Christmas trees to decorate them for the joy of animals and Santa’s helpers. Also Santa’s reindeers have arrived to the hut, ready to take everyone on a test drive. If you manage this Lappish mode of transportation, you will be issued an international reindeer driver’s license. And since you are at the Arctic Circle, you can not leave without participating in special Lapp ceremony of crossing the Arctic Circle! Then it’s time to take the trail back to the coaches which take you back to the hotel at around 3PM and children can participate in decorating the Christmas tree and gingerbread baking in the hotel restaurant.
In the evening at 6.30PM the traditional and hearty Christmas buffet dinner is served at the restaurant and later appearance of Father Christmas at about 9.30PM.
An aperitif & 2 glasses of house wine/beer/soft drink is included.
Overnight at Clarion Hotel Santa Claus
Day 3: Snowfun
Buffet breakfast with sparkling wine is served in the main restaurant.
Coach transfer to the Snowfun site to experience all the activities possible in snow: mini snowmobiles, medium sized snowmobiles for adults to take about 15 minute snowmobile safari, and 4 wheeled forest scooters for everyone to enjoy! There are kick sledges, a toboggan run, ice golfing, snowshoes and skies to try out. Have fun while ice fishing and take part in a snow hockey game. Hot drinks are served by the campfires throughout the stay. In a big kota tepee you can fry sausages and enjoy lovely hot soup.
In the evening, special buffet dinner and overnight at Clarion Hotel Santa Claus.
An aperitif & 2 glasses of house wine/beer/soft drink is included.
Overnight at Clarion Hotel Santa Claus
Day 4: Rovaniemi Departure
After breakfast transfer to Rovaniemi airport by private car
