Christmas at the Arctic Circle 2010
4 days / 3 nights, Rovaniemi - Santa Village - Arctic Circle |
Imagine a Christmas adventure for young and old to experience the spirit of Christmas in an enchanting land that Santa chose for his home. Our Christmas Adventure with Santa brings you to the heart of Finnish Lapland, Rovaniemi, the center of the Sami life and culture. Spend a Christmas holiday of a lifetime in a land of breathtaking beauty and spell-binding atmosphere. A land of unspoiled, snow-covered scenery and magical winter twilight, of sleigh rides, reindeer and husky dogs. This is Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland at the Arctic Circle, where 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 and his reindeer.
| Departure | December 23rd - December 26th, 2010 Early Booking is recommended! |
| Price | $1,395 per person in double room $1,875 single room $885 child 4 - 12 years, extra bed, with 2 adults $1,165 adult, extra bed, with 2 adults |
| Included | Transfers from/to airport in Rovaniemi by private car with driver 3 nights hotel accommodations, twin room Scandinavian breakfast buffet daily 2 x special Christmas buffet dinners at the hotel 1 x normal buffet dinner at the hotel Excursions and activities as per itinerary English speaking guide during excursions Taxes & services on included items |
| Not Included | International airfare & Airport taxes Flights to/from Rovaniemi Additional optional excursions Gratuities Lunch Personal insurance / personal items $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | Early booking is recommended! Christmas packages also available at the following hotels in Rovaniemi: Clarion Hotel Santa Claus Holiday cabins at: Holiday Village Ounasvaaran Pirtit Order Santa's letter |
| Tour Options | Additional nights Rovaniemi and/or Helsinki Flights Helsinki - Rovaniemi - Helsinki, please request Additional activities St. Petersburg Art & Ballet tour Silja Line Cruise, Helsinki - Stockholm |
Day 1 ARRIVAL ROVANIEMI (D)
Thursday December 23rd
Transfer from Rovaniemi airport to hotel by private car with driver. The Christmas hostesses will meet all the guests at the reception and give you all the information concerning the Christmas at Hotel Rantasipi Pohjanhovi. Last minute shopping can be done in the town centre at many of its stores and shops; the hotel is located just in the centre of the town. For those wishing to participate optional tour at extra cost there are snowmobile safaris arranged, please contact the Christmas hostess. Afternoon sauna and swim is between 2 pm and 10 pm. Disco for the children. In the evening we have dinner at the main restaurant.
Day 2 CHRISTMAS EVE - IN SEARCH OF SANTA (B,snack,D)
Friday, December 24th
First the breakfast buffet at the main restaurant and possibility for morning sauna and swim. In the afternoon the children decorate the Christmas tree at the hotel and there is some warm drinks with Christmas gingerbread. 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 himself will not be there. He is a bit busy now. But he has left you a message. You just have to find it! 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. Every child is invited to visit the tiny hut decorated in Christmas style. 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 assist the children to set up the food for the birds. Then they will go together to find some Christmas trees to decorate.
By now, Santa's reindeer have arrived, 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. Afternoon sauna and swim between 2 pm and 10 pm.
Special Finnish traditional Christmas buffet will be served in the evening and later Father Christmas will visit with his reindeer. Santa will give each child a present.
Day 3 CHRISTMAS DAY - SNOW FUN (B, D)
Saturday, December 25th
Breakfast buffet, which is served between 8 am and 11 am. There is a possibility for morning sauna and swim between 8 am and 11 am. 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. Afternoon sauna and swim between 2 pm and 10 pm. In the evening an international Christmas dinner buffet is served at the main restaurant.
Day 4 DEPARTURE (B)
Sunday, December 26th
After breakfast you have transfer by private car with driver from hotel to Rovaniemi airport to catch your flight back to Helsinki.