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5 days - Independent Christmas tour, visiting the boutique Cahkal hotel in Finland
Join a relaxed and atmospheric Christmas journey set more than 400 kilometres above the Arctic Circle, deep in the pristine wilderness of Finnish Lapland. At its heart is a four-night stay at Cahkal Hotel, a boutique Arctic hideaway recently featured in the Luxury Travel Mag by award-winning travel writer Matt Brace (after this travels with 50 Degrees North), who praised its sense of comfort, character and thoughtful hospitality in one of the most remote corners of the north.
Christmas here is unhurried and deeply rooted in place. Your days combine classic Lapland winter experiences – snowmobiling across frozen landscapes, meeting local reindeer herders, and daily Finnish sauna rituals – with time to slow down and enjoy exceptional local cuisine at the hotel’s Aika Restaurant. On Christmas Eve, the celebration comes together with a traditional festive dinner and a special visit from Santa and his reindeer, creating an intimate and meaningful experience that feels authentic rather than staged.
This is a Christmas shaped by silence, snow and shared moments – a warm, welcoming alternative to more commercial festive destinations, where the spirit of the season is felt as much in the landscape as in the celebration itself.
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
Transfers Tromsø - Kilpisjärvi - Tromsø
Portage is not included - you will be responsible for carrying all your luggage.
Arrive in Tromsø and transfer across the border into Finnish Lapland, travelling through increasingly remote landscapes to Kilpisjärvi. On arrival, check in to Cahkal Hotel, perched above the surrounding tundra at Finland’s north-western edge.
With just 23 rooms and no televisions, the hotel is designed to draw your attention outward – towards wide Arctic skies, birch forests and distant fells. Settle into your Nordic-cool room before enjoying a three-course dinner at Aika Restaurant, where local ingredients and seasonal flavours define the menu.
After breakfast, experience the wide Käsivarsi- wilderness area with an experienced local guide.
Enjoy the surrounding silence and snowy landscapes, and with a local guide you can reach close by fells or just take an easy walk at close by beautiful snowy forests. During this experience enjoy hot beverages and tasty lunch in the nature.
In the evening, celebrate Christmas with a traditional 4-course dinner and a Santa visit.
Each year the Christmas program might change slightly. For 2025, the Christmas experience is baking Christmas cookies and decorating a real Christmas tree in the afternoon of the 24th December. Then Santa and Rudolf will arrive after dinner with gifts, Christmas carol singing and family photos with Santa.
After breakfast, experience the surrounding nature and views and learn to drive snowmobile while sightseeing the snowy mountains and lakes. This adventure should be on your bucket list! You can visit Finland, Sweden, and Norway in less than one minute. This snowmobile safari is ideal for beginners and first-timers. The snowmobile trail runs on the frozen lake and through beautiful snowy birch forest to Koltavuoma where the yellow border cairn of three Nordic countries is located. It is called the most peaceful border in the world. During the tour you enjoy hot drink and snacks in the nature.
Kilpisjärvi village and the surrounding area is one of the best places to see the northern lights. The snowshoe adventure takes you through the forests where you can enjoy a hot beverage and snacks while looking out for the magical lights.
Today you will visit the reindeer farm nearby. Meet the reindeer herder and learn about reindeer herding, a traditional local livelihood. You can also feed the reindeer and take photos with these beautiful arctic animals. For a finishing touch enjoy a short reindeer ride.
Finish the day with a delicious dinner at AIKA Restaurant.
After breakfast, transfer either into town or to the Tromsø Airport.
Please note all prices are per person in double/twin share.
Children age 4-11 sharing with an adult pay 50% of the adult price.
2026 dates and prices coming soon
Activities are subject to change due to updated schedules and weather.
Snowmobile Experience: For driving the age limit is 18 years. Passenger age recommendation is min 10 years and minimum height 135cm. Smaller children can join in the sleigh (connected to the guide’s snowmobile) with a parent.
Each year the Christmas program might change. For 2025, the Christmas experience is baking Christmas cookies and decorating a real Christmas tree in the afternoon of the 24th December. Then Santa and Rudolf will arrive after dinner with gifts, Christmas carol singing and family photos with Santa.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL:
Light pollution affects the ecosystem and among other things, it disrupts the ability of birds to navigate by moonlight and starlight, and the ability of nocturnal animals to hide from predators. As such they utilize as much natural light as possible, and only keep the lights on when they are needed. Customers are encouraged to do the same – this way marvelling the northern sky becomes easier.
Cahkal Hotel uses geothermal heating and solar panels (make sense in summer when the sun does not set). It is totally built of wood, a sustainable material in Lapland. Cahkal Hotel’s AIKA restaurant uses local ingredients as much as possible, including white fish from the nearby lakes (fished by the local fisherman), reindeer meat from the local herder (the one you meet) and wild berries from the surrounding wilderness.
Finland is well known as a 'Northern Lights' travel destination. Above the Arctic Circle, small villages and resorts in the wilderness over unique chances to see the lights between mid-September to early April.
Shared experiences make lifelong memories and our multi-generational family holidays offer it all.
Learn what to pack for your Lapland winter adventure. Stay warm, travel smart, and enjoy the Arctic snow.
