7 days / 6 nights - £ 1,875 pp This tour will take you from Rovaniemi Finland to the North Cape in Norway, the northernmost plateau in Europe. Along the journey you will get acquainted with Lapp culture, see impressive Lapp scenery and experience the” White Nights”, when the sun is above the horizon all night.
The North Cape Tour can also be joined from Rovaniemi directly after the Scenic Finland Tour. Furthermore, extra nights can be added in Helsinki to extend your stay in Finland.
Prices start from £1875 per person based on availability and accommodation in twin-bedded rooms. Single supplement £285
Tour Includes:
- Direct return flights from London Heathrow to Helsinki
- Domestic flights Helsinki-Rovaniemi-Helsinki
- 2 nights accommodation in Scandic Hotel Simonkenttä or similar **** in Helsinki
- Breakfasts at the hotel in Helsinki
- Airport transfers in Helsinki and Rovaniemi
- Accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with bath/shower during the tour
- Luggage handling in hotels
- 4 buffet breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners throughout the tour
- Transportation by private coach
- Sightseeing, visits, excursions and entrance fees
- according to the programme
- English speaking tour guide
- Service charges and taxes
SUMMER 2008 DEPARTURE DATES
| Departs |
Returns |
Departs |
Returns |
| Jun 12 |
Jun 18 |
Jul 24 |
Jul 30 |
| Jun 26 |
Jul 02 |
Jul 31 |
Aug 06 |
| Jul 03 |
Jul 09 |
Aug 07 |
Aug 13 |
| Jul 10 |
Jul 16 |
Aug 14 |
Aug 20 |
| Jul 17 |
Jul 23 |
Aug 21 |
Aug 27 |
Day 1: Arrival in Helsinki Arrive in Helsinki. Free time to explore Finland’s capital. Accommodation in 4 star Scandic Hotel Simonkenttä or similar.
Day 2: Architecture in Lapland Early morning flight brings you to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. During the sightseeing tour you will see works designed by Finland’s most famous architect Alvar Aalto. Crossing the magic line of the Arctic Circle is a great experience for any visitor. To make it truly exotic, you take part in a Lapp initiation ceremony.
You will also enjoy lunch at the Arctic Circle, in a Lapp tepee. Continue northwards along the Ounasjoki River, and stop at the Art Museum of Reidar Särestöniemi, the most notable Lapp artist who found his motifs in Lapland’s nature. His former studio and home, a complex of log houses, represent traditional Lapp architecture. Dinner and accommodation at 3 star Hotel Sirkantähti or similar in Kittilä.
Day 3: Shooting the Rapids Properly equipped with rain gear and a life vest, you set off from Harriniva on board a pneumatic lifeboat on an exciting, yet comfortable and perfectly safe one-hour journey through seven rapids. As you come ashore, nothing will taste better than steaming hot soup served around a glowing campfire. You continue northwards via Kautokeino, the largest Lapp cultural centre in Norway. As you travel, you notice the rolling hills of Finnish Lapland changing into Norwegian tundra. At last you reach the Arctic Ocean and the fishing port of Alta. Dinner and accommodation at 4 star Rica Hotel Alta or similar.
Day 4: North Cape Panorama Alta is famous for its 5000 to 6000 year-old rock carvings, which are so prestigious that they have been included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. During a visit to the Alta museum there is a unique opportunity to experience the world of an ancient Lapp depicted in the rock carvings. Continue towards Honningsvåg stopping for lunch on the way. You reach the North Cape in the evening. In front of your eyes opens the Arctic Ocean and the endless scenery. Standing on Europe’s northernmost plateau you celebrate this unforgettable moment with sparkling wine and local caviar. Dinner and accommodation at 3 star Rica Hotel Honningsvåg or similar.
Day 5: The Past and Present of the Sami People Enjoy the last glimpses of the awesome northern landscapes, as you head back south driving along one of the most beautiful Norwegian fjords. Lunch will be en route in the little village of Karasjok. Back in Finland, you visit an open air Sami museum in Inari. Buildings and handicraft collected from different regions of Lapland give you a fascinating look into the life of the nomadic Samis or Lapps of yesterday. While visiting a local reindeer herder at his home, you will have the opportunity to see how a present day Lapp family lives and treasures the ancient traditions. You will listen to joiku-singing, a chant in the Sami language, and hear the owner of the farm telling you about reindeer breeding. Dinner and accommodation at 4 star Hotel Riekonlinna in Saariselkä.
Day 6: Gold Rush in Tankavaara The last stop in northern Lapland is the Tankavaara Gold Village. Relive the thrills of the Gold Rush that once attracted hundreds of men into the region in the hope of finding a gold nugget. Today you will also have the opportunity to try your luck in washing for gold. Lunch will be taken in Luosto on the way to Rovaniemi airport. Take the evening flight back to Helsinki. Accommodation at 4 star Scandic Hotel Simonkenttä or similar.
Day 7: Goodbye to Finland Departure. Check out from the hotel and transfer to the Helsinki – Vantaa airport for your flight home.