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    5 days - Pre-Christmas tour near Rovaniemi with Santa's secret hideout

    Visiting Santa in Lapland is a wonderfully magical experience – with the snow topped landscapes outside, and cosy fires indoors. This pre-Christmas tour is based in a small town outside Rovaniemi and introduces you to the incredible animals of the Arctic as well as Santa Claus himself. Enjoy a white wonderland in your own family apartment with self-catering facilities as well as breakfast and dinners fully included. Based within the wildlife park complex, in between your winter activities such as snowmobiling and dogsledding, see the polar bears as well as endless visits into the zoo.

    Due to high demand, many of our Christmas tours are fully booked over the 24th and 25th December dates, however, most of our tours now have pre-Christmas departures running just before the busy Christmas period. These tours include a Santa visit which is still very exciting to the children as Santa can talk to them about what they are hoping to receive from him and his preparations for his imminent departure. Flights and activities are also easier to prepare at this stage.

    Highlights include

    • Action-packed pre-Christmas holiday with the opportunity to enjoy traditional husky sledding, search for the Northern Lights and visit Rovaniemi
    • Visit Santa Claus in his secret forest hideout
    • Stay within the amazing Ranua Wildlife Park and meet the creatures of the Arctic. Using modern & expertly crafted enclosures, see animals such as polar bears, moose, golden eagles, Arctic foxes, otter, lynx, elk and deer in the snow setting. Grab a sled for quick & fun travel around the zoo.
    • Relax in contemporary style log cabins with your own sauna, lounge with log fire and kitchen, suitable for families and groups
    Day 1
    Transfer from Rovaniemi to your apartment
    Day 2
    Head out for an escorted Wildlife park tour before visiting Santa
    Day 3
    Snowmobile safari to a reindeer farm & evening Northern Lights tour
    Day 4
    Go dogsledding on the Husky Safari and then sleep in a Glass Igloo
    Day 5
    Depart the Wildlife Park and head to next location
    Start/End Place
    Rovaniemi, Finland
    Country Visited
    Finland
    Duration
    5 Days
    Start Date
    Scheduled
    Travel Style
    Independent
    Suitability
    Adventurous Christmas holiday, minimum age: 4 years old
    Code
    50DN1080

    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.

    Details

    Transportation

    Airport shuttle transfers to & from Rovaniemi (for scheduled flights). Car transfers from the Gulo Gulo apartments to the Glass Igloos.

    Included
    • 3 nights in a modern self-contained villa with a fireplace, two bathrooms, living room, sauna and kitchen with all amenities and a private terrace with a view of the forest
    • 1 night in a family glass igloo
    • Half board (breakfast and dinner)
    • Airport shuttle transfers from/to Rovaniemi Airport on days 1 and 5 (for scheduled flights).
    • Winter Activities: Entrance to Ranua Wildlife Park, Guided tour, Snowmobile Safari to Reindeer Farm (3 hours), Search of Aurora Borealis Snowmobile Safari (3 hours) and Husky Safari (20 kms, 2 hours) and Santa Visit
    • Thermal clothing for the whole stay -  thermal winter suit, winter boots, socks, inner and outer gloves, winter hat and balaclava.
    • Entrance fee and free sled use at the Ranua Arctic Wildlife Park
    • Car transfers from the apartments to the Glass Igloos
    • 24-hour emergency service
    • Taxes and service fees
    Not Included
    • Domestic flights
    • International flight tickets, meals other than described, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, travel insurance, visas, gratuities and any items of personal nature.
    • Rovaniemi additional transfer on the last day which drops you off in Rovaniemi and Santa's village tours are optional - depending on your flight departure time, you may like to book an additional night in Rovaniemi city on the 23rd December if available. We can offer suggestions at the time of booking.

    Itinerary

    Day 1 - Transfer from Rovaniemi to your apartment

    Arrive Rovaniemi and enjoy an hour's transfer to your apartment. Relax by your log fire before heading out for your included dinner.

    Meals
    1 Dinner

    Day 2 - Head out for an escorted Wildlife park tour before visiting Santa

    After breakfast, get ready for a tour at the Wildlife Park. Enjoy a guided tour of the wildlife park.

    Later, in the backwoods of Ranua, close to the Ranua Wildlife Park, you have the chance to visit Santa in his very, very secret place, his Hideout Cabin in the wilderness. Within merely a 10 minute ride by snowmobile, you will see a tiny light flickering from far away. As you come closer and closer, you will see a tiny wooden cabin appearing in the shimmering darkness, with candle lights flickering in the windows, smoke rising up from the chimney.

    Your family will have a private visit for approx. 15 minutes with Santa, inside his private cabin where you can take photos together and receive pre-organised gifts.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner

    Day 3 - Snowmobile safari to a reindeer farm & evening Northern Lights tour

    The snowmobile safari starts with driving instructions, after which we head towards Laivala, a small, authentic reindeer farm. The reindeer herder welcomes the visitors and takes you on a reindeer sled ride for a little less than one kilometre. After the reindeer ride, a hot meal is served in a Lapp hut. The owners of the farm will tell you more about reindeer husbandry and living in harmony with nature.

    Two persons share one snowmobile, and there will be a chance to change drivers. Children travel in a sleigh pulled by a guide on snowmobile. All drivers must have a valid driving licence.

    After dinner, get ready for an evening Northern Lights tour. Follow your guide from Gulo Gulo to the snowmobile track to receive instructions on how to drive the snowmobile in the evening. The snowmobiles have excellent headlights that guarantee good visibility, even on dark forest trails. We take a couple of short breaks on the way and enjoy a cup of hot juice by an open fire at the halfway point. If we are lucky, we will be treated to one of the most amazing natural phenomena in the world: the Northern Lights.

    Two persons share a snowmobile, and children will travel in the sled pulled by the guide.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner

    Day 4 - Go dogsledding on the Husky Safari and then sleep in a Glass Igloo

    This morning, check out of your apartment and then enjoy a free morning, remembering you have free entry to the Wildlife Zoo, head out on a Husky Safari.

    You will first receive detailed information on steering the sled. Then, the comfortable sleds head from Gulo Gulo into the winter wonderland. A sled can transport two adults and a child. You have the opportunity to steer your own sled, and change drivers with the other adult in the sled halfway. After the safari, you have a chance to ask our guides anything you have always wanted to know about sled dogs, who love to run fast and pull a sled, thus offering the visitors an unforgettable experience to enjoy this ancient, natural way of travelling in the wild.

    On your return, check into your Glass Igloo accommodation. It is eight kilometres between the Gulo Gulo apartments and you will be privately transfered. Your luggage will be looked after.

    The Arctic Fox Igloos are located by the beautiful Lake Ranuanjärvi, far from city lights. Each igloo has an unobstructed view with ice-covered open waters and far-reaching treeless northern horizons where the Northern Lights usually appear. And as you are on the Arctic Circle, they appear often - almost every other night, if the sky is dark and clear.

    At Arctic Fox Igloos you will stay in the middle of arctic nature without compromising your comfort. In addition to the glass-walled bedroom, each well-equipped igloo has a kitchenette, toilet, shower and even a sauna. The entrance, sauna and toilet are on the side of the igloos facing the forest, with wooden walls for privacy. There is approximately 10 metres between each igloo, all with a horizontal view of the lake.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    1 Dinner

    Day 5 - Depart the Wildlife Park and head to next location

    Either transfer back to Rovaniemi or head off for further adventures to Kemi for some ice swimming or icebreaker voyage - all within an hour or two drive.

    Depending on your flight time today, you might have time to visit Rovaniemi's Santa Village and post office.

    Meals
    1 Breakfast
    Dates & Prices

    Standard price, per person twin/double share in family igloo. Family triple price is 2 adults sharing with 1 child and family quad is 2 adults sharing with 2 children in Family Igloo (age 4-14).

    Dates
    Start Date
    End Date
    From Price
    Status
    Accommodation
    19 Dec 2024
    23 Dec 2024
    19 Dec 2024
    23 Dec 2024
    CAD 3,543
    Fully booked
    Standard
    19 Dec 2024
    23 Dec 2024
    19 Dec 2024
    23 Dec 2024
    CAD 9,066
    Fully booked
    Family Triple Total
    19 Dec 2024
    23 Dec 2024
    19 Dec 2024
    23 Dec 2024
    CAD 11,048
    Fully booked
    Family Quad Total

    Important Information

    Please note that polar bears are not native to Finland. Brown bears will be hibernating during Christmas and you will not seem them during your time at the resort.

    The order of the itinerary is subject to change. The Arctic Igloos have limited availability so the night that you stay in the igloo may change (first or last night ideally). Up to four people can sleep in the glass igloos. There is a small kitchenette and sauna as well as bathroom in the glass igloos.

    Remember to bring a gift for Santa to deliver personally to your children. Please note that included lunches in Scandinavia are often hearty soups with bread. When lunch isn't included, you have the option to dine at the restaurant adhoc, cater in your room or visit Ranua cafe which can be arranged with the reception.

    Equipment for cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing is available for use by guests throughout their stay as is entrance to the Wildlife Park. There is complimentary twice daily transportation to the nearby town of Ranua and a chance to buy additional provisions for your villa such as hot chocolates and snacks, please contact the hotel reception for details on your arrival.

    After your pre-Christmas tour, Helsinki is an incredible city to spend Christmas, with Christmas lights, markets, and of course, the traditional Christmas buffets.

    Christmas across the Nordic Region is celebrated only from the late afternoon and evening of the 24 December until midday on the 25 December. Outdoor activities are plentiful on the morning of the 25 December such ice skating in the heart of Helsinki. Local families all enjoy a sleep in and longer breakfast before heading outside to enjoy the time in nature.

    Our hotels and apartments are all filled with Christmas cheer including Christmas trees, music, and celebratory hospitality. Traditional Christmas buffets for the evening of the 24 December can be booked at your hotel or in local restaurants such as Restaurant Savotta in central Helsinki. Afterwards, you can join Christmas Mass in one of the cities' Cathedrals.

    Pamper packages are also available at many of our hotels with spas and treatments for the whole family. Alternatively, you can join the locals, such as spending their Christmas morning at the Löyly Sauna complex, with an ocean front location in Helsinki.

    Tile image credit: Santa Claus Foundation

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