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  • 2025 AVAILABLE

6 days - Stay at a self-catering apartment near Rovaniemi and visit Santa's secret hideout

Celebrating Christmas in Lapland is a wonderfully magical experience – with the snow topped landscapes outside, and cosy fires indoors. This 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 Christmas in your own family apartment with self-catering facilities. Based within the wildlife park complex, in between your winter activities such as snowmobiling and dogsledding, see the polar bear as well as visits into the wildlife park.

Highlights include

  • Action-packed Christmas holiday with the opportunity to enjoy traditional husky sledding, search for the Northern Lights
  • 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 bear, moose, golden eagles, Arctic foxes, otter, lynx, elk and deer in the snow setting. Grab a sled for quick & fun travel around the wildlife park.
  • Relax in contemporary style villa with your own sauna, lounge with log fire and kitchen, suitable for families and groups
Day 1
Transfer from Rovaniemi to your apartment and then meet Santa in his forest cottage
Day 2
Search for a Christmas tree in the forest by snow mobile before a husky ride in the afternoon
Day 3
Ice fishing safari on snowmobiles & guided wildlife tour
Day 4
Snowmobile safari to reindeer farm
Day 5
Reindeer Safari & the Search for the Northern Lights snowmobile tour
Day 6
Transfer to Rovaniemi Airport
Start/End Place
Rovaniemi, Finland
Country Visited
Finland
Duration
6 Days
Travel Style
Independent
Suitability
Adventurous Christmas holiday, minimum age: 4 years old
Code
50DN0750

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

Return shuttle transfers from Rovaniemi airport (for scheduled flights).

Included
  • 5 nights in a 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
  • Half board (breakfast and dinner) incl. Christmas Eve dinner
  • Airport shuttle transfers from/to Rovaniemi Airport on days 1 and 6 (for scheduled flights).
  • All activities listed in the itinerary: Aurora Borealis Snowmobile Safari, Reindeer Safari, Ice fishing on snowmobiles, Guided Wildlife Park tour, Husky Safari, Visit to Santa Claus secret hideout, Search for Christmas tree and Snowmobile to Reindeer Farm
  • Thermal clothing for the stay at Ranua -  thermal winter suit, winter boots, woollen socks, inner and outer gloves and balaclava.
  • Entrance fee and free sled use at the Ranua Arctic Wildlife Park
  • 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.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Transfer from Rovaniemi to your apartment and then meet Santa in his forest cottage

Arrival at Rovaniemi airport and transfer to your hotel (approx. 1 hour). Families will enjoy the private self-catering apartments, sleeps 6 (4 adults and 2 children). With your own sauna, lounge with log fire and kitchen in these semi-detached wooden houses, you have a great spot to relax with your family.

Upon arrival at the hotel you will be shown your accommodation and hotel services.

In the backwoods of Ranua, close to the Ranua Wildlife Park, your family will visit Santa in his very, very secret place, his Hideout Cabin in the wilderness. At the reception, your family will meet your guide who drives you and your family through the dark, snowy forest towards Santa’s secret place. Within merely a 10 minute ride, you will see a tiny light flickering from far away. The guide stops driving in order to discuss what the light might mean, what it could be – in the middle of the mysterious dusk and darkness of just snow-covered trees all around. In a short moment the ride continues, ever towards the light. 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.

You stop here; at this point the children might go and peek through the windows to try and see who on earth could be staying in a sweet little cabin like this. The children, ever more curious of the sights they might have seen, courageously knock on the door. And who comes to open the door – but Santa himself, welcoming the family to step inside and stay awhile in the comforts of his cabin adorned with a fireplace, with handmade wooden sculptures and handicrafts all around, red blankets on the bed, his books and pens on the table.

Santa explains that this is the place where he likes to come before all the Christmas work and hassle, to stay and relax, to enjoy the quiet of the woods and the nature around; where he comes after all the joy and delight of the Christmas festivities. Santa continues explaining that he remembers the names of the children; that he knew they had arrived to Ranua and was expecting the family to perhaps even visit him, as many families, having gotten a little hint of a secret place in the woods, do visit him. And Santa takes his scrapbook to read aloud who has visited him lately. Santa has plenty fun little stories to tell, and with the children he also discusses about the school, the family, and the manners of the children; if they have behaved well, what they have learnt, during the past year. Santa also listens to the children’s questions, and answers them in his utterly unique, and always supportive, positive manner. The visit takes about 15 minutes and after the fare-wells the guide drives the family back to the Holiday Village. The total program takes about 45 minutes.

Following this,  you will enjoy your first taste of delicious Finnish food as you enjoy dinner with the group who will be sharing your upcoming Christmas adventure in the main hotel dining room.

Meals
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Gulo Gulo Apartments

Day 2 - Search for a Christmas tree in the forest by snow mobile before a husky ride in the afternoon

Today you will head out into the surrounding forested wilderness in search of the perfect tree. Adults will travel via snowmobile (2 people per snowmobile) whilst the children will sit in a sled pulled by the guides snowmobile. This is a thrilling way to travel across the snow topped scenery and allows you to see more of the stunning landscape as it moves past you.

Christmas isn't the same without the ideal Christmas tree and the children will no doubt want to get stuck into this important challenge as you look around the forest. There will be opportunity to enjoy hot drinks and biscuits by the fire too as a reward for all of your hard work.

This afternoon, get set for a Husky Safari. You will first receive detailed information on steering the sled. Then, the comfortable sleds head 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 the ancient, natural way of travelling in the wild.

This evening is the celebratory gala dinner for everyone with a range of Finnish and international specialities and lots of Christmas festivities for everyone to enjoy.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Ranua Resort

Day 3 - Ice fishing safari on snowmobiles & guided wildlife tour

After breakfast, get ready for a tour at the Wildlife Park. Accompany the Park Ranger on a tour to see all of the animals and you can even help out feeding some of the hungry critters! Which one will be your favourite? The Polar Bear, Arctic Foxes, Moose or Wolverine?

During the 2 hour tour, you will see some of the 50 different species residing in as authentic environment for the animals as possible. You can come back and visit for free whenever the park is open during your stay.

This afternoon, you will head to the lake to learn the secrets of ice fishing. Hot drinks are served during the trip, and any catch is fried on the open fire. You travel up to 5 - 10 kilometres, depending on the conditions, during this 3 hour trip with outer warm clothing provided.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Ranua Resort

Day 4 - Snowmobile safari to reindeer farm

After breakast you will join a snowmobile safari that takes you to a reindeer farm where you’ll get to learn about the fascinating world of Lappish culture and reindeer husbandry. Each snowmobile is shared by two guests taking turns in driving.

In the afternoon enjoy the peace & quiet of your apartments.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Ranua Resort

Day 5 - Reindeer Safari & the Search for the Northern Lights snowmobile tour

Today, enjoy a more peaceful day with a reindeer safari. Take the time to savour the snowcovered landscape during a wonderfully peaceful 3km sleigh ride. As night falls, time to rev the engines again on the snowmobiles for a Northern Lights tour - fingers crossed, the Aurora will shine for you tonight?

Follow our guide to the snowmobile track. The guide will teach you how to ride a snowmobile and what precautions to take. 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 with one of the most amazing natural phenomena in the world: the Northern Lights.

Meals
1 Breakfast
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Ranua Resort

Day 6 - Transfer to Rovaniemi Airport

Today your adventure will draw to a close as you are transferred back to the airport after breakfast.

Meals
1 Breakfast
Dates & Prices

Price is per person, family quad is total for 2 adults and 2 children age 4-14. Please contact us for a personalised quote for larger families. Families with children under the age of 5 might need slight itinerary changes.

Dates
Start Date
End Date
From Price
Status
Accommodation
23 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024
23 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024
NZD 4,779
Limited availability
Standard
23 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024
23 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024
NZD 12,865
Limited availability
Family Triple Total
23 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024
23 Dec 2024
28 Dec 2024
NZD 15,288
Limited availability
Family Quad Total
23 Dec 2025
28 Dec 2025
23 Dec 2025
28 Dec 2025
NZD 5,154
Available
Standard
23 Dec 2025
28 Dec 2025
23 Dec 2025
28 Dec 2025
NZD 13,365
Available
Family Triple Total
23 Dec 2025
28 Dec 2025
23 Dec 2025
28 Dec 2025
NZD 16,423
Available
Family Quad Total

Important Information

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

Finland celebrates Christmas on the 24th December and there may be some changes to the order of activities during the holiday. Your final itinerary will be provided to you upon arrival at Ranua. Adverse weather can also influence the order of activities.

Remember to bring a gift for Santa to deliver personally to your children (not delivered at Rovaniemi Santa Workshop). 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.

Interactive Tour Map

Inspiration

Best time for Northern Lights in Finland

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.

Read Article
Finland Snow Forests

Visiting The Green Planet's Taiga Forests

Sir David Attenborough's latest BBC series 'The Green Planet" re-visits the taiga forests of Finland. This subarctic forest lies just south of the Arctic Circle and is a playground for hikers, bikers, and boaters, in summer and winter.

Read Article

Get ready for winter touring in Scandinavia

Get ready for travelling in the Nordic winter weather - ideas for travelling smoothly in the snow.

Read Article
View all Inspiration

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