Lapland Winter Experience

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Finnish Lapland

Upon arrival in Rovaniemi Airport, our local guide greets you in the arrivals hall. Transfer to the safari house, where we kit you with winter outfits, which you can keep the whole stay. Check- in to Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus. Santa's Hotel Santa Claus is a modern hotel in the heart of the capital of Lapland as well as very close to the nature. There are totally 168 well-equipped, spacious rooms of which most have a fantastic room height of 3,5 meters. Dinner at Lapin Hullu restaurant. The restaurant is located on short walking distance from the hotel. Menu with starter, main course and dessert. Accommodation in a standard room.

Day 2: Meet the Huskies & Snowmobile Safari

Buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant. 10:00 - 16:00 Huskies & Snowmobiles Galore!
The thrill of snowmobiling and the speed of husky sleigh ride all in one - this must be a lucky day! We drive a good distance from Rovaniemi on snowmobiles; to a wilderness husky farm where the dogs are waiting to take you for a speedy 30 minutes ride in their sledges. The sleigh takes one passenger and one driver, or musher as we call it. There will be a chance to swap places during the outing. After the ride you have time to get familiar with the dogs and hear about their daily life. The visit is topped off with a tasty lunch and hot drinks by the fire, after which we head back to Rovaniemi.

Recommendation:
Arktikum is a museum and research center for Lapland and other arctic areas in the world. It is located in walking distance from the city center and open daily in the winter season. Arktikum tells the story of the people of the north as well as the fantastic nature and its phenomena like the Aurora Borealis.

18:30 – 20:00 Aurora Dinner
During dinner you will see a video explaining how the Auroas come about and also how to best sight them. You will also receive a little leaflet with information on the magical lights. Menu: Tasty vegetable soup Lightly smoked salmon with potato cake and mushroom stew and Blueberry parfait

20:00 – 23:00 The Aurora Trail

The magic of a nocturnal forest can only be highlighted by a blaze of Auroras. We will take you out at the prime time of Auroras, as they are said to be visible most likely at the hours around 21:00 and midnight. For sure you have been wondering what the Auroras are and how come they are visible only in the north. Tonight you will get the answers to all these questions! At our open landscape sighting location you have snowshoes available, in case you wish to walk further out on the frozen lake and have a 360 degrees vision on the sky. Accommodation in a standard room.

Day 3: Visit to Reindeer Farm & Santa Claus Village

Buffet breakfast in hotel restaurant.

10:00 – 16:00 Highlights of your Arctic Journey
Reindeer, snowmobiles and Santa Claus – a dream come true for all Lapland visitors. Your day begins with visiting Santa Claus Village and of course Santa Claus in his chamber. Visiting Santa Claus’ Main Post Office is also a must and it is located right here, in Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle. You will find out that an amazing number of letters are coming in daily from all over the world. Before we leave the village, you will have time for own explorations and to do some shopping in the boutiques and souvenir shops. We gather for a tasty lunch at, this is the perfect time for you to share experiences with your fellow travellers and your guide. Now it is time to change to snowmobile gear and take off towards a reindeer farm. At the farm you will get to know the reindeer and their daily life, and of course experience a nice ride in a reindeer sleigh (500-700 m). Free time for shopping, meeting with Santa Claus and send post cards from Santa’s Official post office and transfer to Arctic SnowHotel. Dinner will be served in Ice Restaurant. The exquisite style of the Ice Restaurant tableware set on an ice table and frozen glasses used in the Ice Bar are simply stunning.

Sample menu: Tomato soup served with fresh French bread, Roast elk, season’s vegetables and sliced potatoes served in a foil bunch with wine sauce. Lingonberry-chocolate tartlet and Coffee/Tea.

Overnight in Arctic SnowHotel.
You overnight in the standard snow rooms, which all have proper beds. At bedtime you will receive instructions on how to use the provided sleeping bag and stay warm and comfortable in the snow room. Your luggage is stored in a personal locker in a warm room.

Day 4: Arctic Snow Hotel

Buffet breakfast in Arctic SnowHotel log restaurant.

Ice fishing 10:00-11:00 (1 hour)

Participate in a fun arctic activity which will be memorable for people in all ages. Our guide will take you to a near-by lake where you will learn how to drill a hole through a thick ice. With luck, you might catch a fish! Afternoon free at leisure. Overnight at SnowHotel in a warm room.

Day 5: Farewell Finnish Lapland

Buffet breakfast in Artic SnowHotel log restaurant. Check-out form the hotel and coach transfer to Rovaniemi airport for your return flights back to the UK.

You'll see...

• Lapland, Finland, activities & information »
• Dog sledding in Finland »
• Finnish Sauna »
• Ice Fishing »
• Photographing the Northern Lights »
• Reindeer Sledding in Finland »
• Typical Lapland weather, seasonal climate info »
• Facts on the Sami people: Culture, history & locality »
• Northern Lights »
• Tromso snowmobile safari attraction »
• Santa Claus Finland »

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.

Car Rental

You can rent a car, as long as you have a valid EU or international driver's license. Most cars will have manual transmission.