6 days | Independent trip | Dec-Jan | Ruka
Spend New Year's Eve surrounded by snow and quiet, with a full range of outdoor experiences to fill your days. In the evenings, relax with your family in your own chalet with good food and, if you like, a Finnish sauna. Highlights include a visit to a traditional reindeer farm and a husky ride through the forest.
Ruka lies just north of Kuusamo, a municipality in north-eastern Finland known for its wide wilderness and national parks, on the southern edge of the Arctic. One of Finland's largest and best-known ski resorts, Ruka draws visitors for its long, reliable snow season. Staying in a private resort away from the crowds, you can enjoy a range of included activities, a family day at Santa's Cottage and a New Year's Eve dinner.
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.
Airport transfers on day 1 & 6
Flight tickets, meals other than described, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, travel insurance, visas, gratuities and any other items of personal nature.
It is possible to fly into Rovaneimi and we can individually quote for this.
Transfer from Kuusamo airport to Rukan Salonki. Free time for relaxing in your cabin: light the fire, make a cup of tea and watch the kids make their first snow angel. Ready to get moving - head out to the huge tobogganing slope, grabbing some free toboggans and snowtubes along the way. You will get your outer winter gear and boots as well this afternoon.
Enjoy your first evening in Lapland. With no light pollution and no noise you can truly feel the beauty of the Arctic night, admire the night sky and hopefully see the Northern Lights. Hear the silence of the wilderness and breathe in the cleanest air in Europe.
Enjoy some time outside before spending the rest of the day with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the elves (11.45am - 3pm)! Santa’s Cottage is located about 30-minute drive away from Ruka and you will transfer there with your guide and group.
The program begins with tobogganing instructed by Santa’s elves, so remember to dress up warm! After having fun outdoors, we will enjoy grilled sausages, hot soup and hot juice in the kota-hut. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will soon invite you to the house, where Santa tells stories about his life.
All children will be nominated as Santa’s little helpers and their elf skills will be put into a test. We will see how well you master gingerbread and sweet bun baking and Christmas card making. You can enjoy a cup of coffee, tea, glögi or homemade berry juice in the buffet, and eat as many gingerbread cookies and chocolates as you like! Don’t forget to stop by in our small post office where you can buy souvenirs and post cards.
At the end of the program everyone will get together to sing Santa’s favorite Christmas carol to him in Finnish. Santa will reward his hard-working helpers with a small gift. All baked goods will be packed for you to take them with you.
In the late afternoon, visit Ruka village for some shopping before returning for dinner at Restaurant Kultala.
After breakfast, transfer to the husky farm. On your arrival at the lakeside husky camp you are greeted by the enthusiastic barking of the huskies. The small-scale husky camp is located in lovely forest terrain and after the careful instructions on driving and safety you will take off into the landscape with your own husky team. The team carries two persons, one musher and one passenger and you can change places during the safari. After the thrill and speed of the start, you soon start to relax and enjoy the surroundings and the co-operation with these lovely arctic runners.
After lunch it's time to meet the reindeers. A short transfer takes you to a family-owned traditional reindeer farm. One of the reindeer herders will greet you and take you to the corral with hundreds of reindeer, they are waiting for their breakfast. Together with the reindeer herders you get to feed the reindeer and also take pictures of the unique moment when being surrounded by a herd of reindeer. After the reindeer have been fed, it is time for a sleigh-ride in the gorgeous winter wonderland of the reindeer farm. The 1,5km long sleigh-ride follows the riverside to the old farm forest. The sledge seats 2 adults and 1-3 children.
In the evening, enjoy at dinner at restaurant Kultala
After breakfast, experience fresh air, beautiful snow and a real winter feeling. This is what snowshoeing is all about. The snowshoes help you from sinking into the deep snow and lets you go to places in nature that are difficult to reach in wintertime. As you move silently, you might see some arctic animals or birds. Your wilderness guide will tell you about nature, the seasons and flora and fauna as you enjoy the surroundings.
This evening, join the New Year's Eve celebrations with a special dinner and fireworks.
After breakfast, familiarize yourself with snowmobiling, a favourite hobby of the locals. This tour gives you good basic skills for snowmobiling and the guide will give you a full safety briefing and instructions on driving. The safari goes through the stunning snow-covered forests and two persons share a snowmobile where there is an opportunity to switch places halfway through the tour. Children ride in a sledge pulled by the guide's snowmobile.
Later in the afternoon, you will be assigned time to do a 'sauna tour'. Finnish sauna is an institution, something very essential in life and a must-have. But why do the Finns love their sauna baths so much, is it not just sitting in a hot room? Your authorized sauna guide will tell you about the Finnish sauna and its health benefits and traditions. The sauna guide will advise you on how to make the perfect "löyly" happen, that is the steam in the sauna and also advise you to the use of a body scrub made of Lappish wild herbs. Between the heats you can cool off by taking a dip in the refreshing lake, or ice-hole if winter or even rolling in the snow!
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure.
Family triple price applies when 2 adults and 1 child (age 4-11) are sharing a villa-apartment.
Family quad price applies when 2 adults and 2 children (age 4-11) are sharing a villa-apartment.
Meal Description:
Breakfast: Breakfast buffet includes a selection of breads, croissants, eggs, cheeses, cold cut meats and fish, bacon, sausages, fruits and vegetables, cereal and muesli, yogurt, jam, sweet cookies, and coffee/tea. Daily variations to the breakfast menu.
Dinner: Buffet dinner is made from local ingredients and made in Kultala’s own kitchen and includes selection of salads, fish and meat, soup, one main course, dessert, coffee/tea, still water. Further beverages available on spot and charged by consumption.
Accommodation Description:
There are 2 different accommodation options and price varies per family depending on which accommodation you choose. There are standard log chalets with twin bedrooms, lofts, fireplaces, wifi, living rooms, kitchens, several bathrooms and saunas. There are superior options of these chalets as well. You can also consider a Sky View Villa with bedrooms with sky facing windows, ideal of Northern Lights viewing from your bed.
ANIMAL WELFARE POLICY:
At 50 Degrees North, animal welfare is a top priority during all our tours and packages. We carefully select suppliers who adhere to strict animal welfare standards, ensuring that wildlife interactions are respectful and comply with local, national, and international regulations. We avoid offering excursions that involve captive wildlife, except where they are properly regulated, and all activities are designed to minimise disturbance to natural ecosystems. Our travellers are educated on responsible, including responsible animal interactions, through our 'Responsible Travel Tips' for travellers, and our guides are trained to lead by example, promoting ethical conduct towards both wild and domesticated animals. By prioritising animal welfare in every aspect of our tours, we ensure that your travel experience is both enjoyable and ethically sound. Read our article on Animal Welfare to learn more.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Weather conditions may occasionally affect certain activities, and as a result, the schedule may be adjusted to ensure the best possible experience for all guests. For multi-activity stays, often the order of the activities will be confirmed locally on arrival. Activities might vary slightly in their duration or location due to the weather and local conditions. Any activities that are unable to be re-scheduled due to weather conditions will be refunded as a general practice, as determined by the activity provider.
A 7-day women-only wellness retreat in Lapland, Finland, combining yoga, mindfulness, sauna rituals, and Arctic adventures. Small groups, expert guidance, and quiet natural surroundings provide the perfect environment to reset, recharge, and reconnect with yourself and others.
Capture the Fireworks in the Nordic Capitals on New Year´s Eve...
Our CEO, who grew up in the region, explains why the days either side of Christmas week are often the smarter time to visit the Nordics.
