6 Days / 5 Nights - from £1,235 pp
The Polar Safari Adventure provides you with a unique opportunity for a winter holiday in Finland that combines the pristine beauty of
Lapland landscape with a once in a lifetime
icebreaker cruise adventure. You will visit the northern towns of
Rovaniemi and
Kemi, which combine a special arctic atmosphere with the charm of a small town. In Rovaniemi, which lies almost on the Arctic Circle, you will meet Santa Claus and take a ride ina sledge pulled by reindeer. In Kemi, Finland’s northernmost seaport, you'll board a tourist icebreaker, for an unforgettable arctic cruise.
Package price is £1,225 per person based on availability and two people sharing a twin or double room. Single supplement is £225 p.p.
Package includes:
- Direct return flights from London to Helsinki on Finnair
- Domestic flights Helsinki – Rovaniemi and Kemi - Helsinki on Finnair
- Airport transfers in Rovaniemi and Kemi
- 2 nights accommodation in Hotel Sky Ounasvaara ****
- or similar in Rovaniemi
- 1 night accommodation in Hotel Cumulus Kemi *** or similar in Kemi
- 2 nights accommodation in Hotel GLO **** or similar in Helsinki
- Breakfast at the hotels
- 2 lunches and 3 dinners throughout the tour
- Four-hour cruise on icebreaker including transfers
- Snowmobile safari to the Arctic Circle, 2 persons per snowmobile
- Service charges and taxes
Polar Safari Adventure - 2007 / 2008 Departure Dates: Dec 2007 19, 20, 27*, 28*, 29*, 30*, 31*
Jan 2008 1*, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31
Feb 2008 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28
Mar 2008 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27
Apr 2008 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23
* Supplement of £ 135 applies for the departures on 27,28,29,30 and 31 Dec & 1 Jan
Polar Safari ItineraryDay 1 - Sensational Lapland - As your flight from Helsinki lands at the airport of
Rovaniemi, you will find the arctic town folded in her snow-white winter attire. Transfer from the airport to Hotel Sky Ounasvaara or similar for dinner and overnight.
Day 2 - The Land of Santa Claus and Reindeer - Travel by snowmobile to a local reindeer farm, where your safari guides will instruct you on how to
ride a snowmobile and then, appropriately dressed in warm clothing, set out on your two person snowmobile to a
reindeer farm you will take part in a mysterious
Arctic Circle Crossing Ceremony. You will learn about the
Lapp culture and reindeer husbandry, and experience a
ride in a reindeer pulled sledge. After the visit, you will be taken by car to a local restaurant to enjoy a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, visit
Santa Claus Village where you can say hello to Santa and do some shopping and mail a card or two from his post office. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Sky Ounasvaara or similar.
Day 3 - At the Head of the Gulf of Bothnia - After breakfast, your driver will take you from Rovaniemi to Kemi, located at the northern end of the
Gulf of Bothnia. Leave your luggage at your hotel in Kemi and continue to the home harbour of the
Arctic Icebreaker Sampo. Throughout the winter, the shipping lanes to the northern ports are kept open by massive icebreakers. Today you will have the unique opportunity to visit one of them and take part in its journey through the ice, so thick that you can drive a car on it. After lunch on board and exploration of the ship, from the bridge down to the engine room, you will have a chance to
take a dip in the sea amidst freshly broken ice, wearing a thermal suit that covers you from top to toe and keeping you warm, dry and afloat . After four hours on and among rocks, you will return by car to your hotel in Kemi. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Cumulus or Hotel Merihovi in Kemi.
Day 4 - Head to Trendy Helsinki After breakfast transfer to Kemi airport by private car for your flight to Helsinki. Arrive in Helsinki and transfer to Hotel GLO or similar. Enjoy the
shops and restaurants of Helsinki, the compact Northern European city known for its design culture.
Day 5 - Explore Helsinki - Helsinki is a pleasantly compact city, with all the main attractions, including the
Neo-classical Catherdral and
Senate Square, famous
Rock Church and
sea fortress Suomenlinna, easily accessed by public transport or by foot. If you have an interest in Finnish design, the city offers a great variety of shopping facilities, boutiques and designer stores, which can be found on the two main streets of
Esplanadi and Aleksanterinkatu.
Day 6 - Departure - Airport transfer and departure flight.