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5 days | Independent tour | Dec | Saariselkä
Christmas in Saariselkä offers a refined yet authentic introduction to life above the Arctic Circle. Surrounded by protected wilderness and gentle Arctic fells, the village is known for reliable snow conditions, low light pollution and strong winter traditions, making it one of the most dependable festive destinations in Finnish Lapland.
Staying at Santa’s Hotel Tunturi, centrally located within the village, you are ideally positioned for daily excursions while enjoying the comfort of a private in-room sauna. Over four nights, experience the essential elements of the region: snowmobile safari through forest and across frozen lakes, a cultural visit to a reindeer farm with insight into Sámi herding traditions, and a husky sled ride through snow-covered woodland.
As one of the region’s established ski resort villages, Saariselkä brings a busy yet welcoming atmosphere throughout the season, with a range of slopes and winter activities attracting visitors from across the world. This creates a vibrant festive energy while still allowing space to enjoy the calm and quiet of the surrounding Arctic nature.
This trip is suited to families and travellers seeking a balanced Arctic Christmas that combines soft adventure, cultural context and comfortable accommodation in one of Lapland’s most established and well-connected winter resorts.
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.
On arrival at Ivalo Airport you'll be met for a group transfer to Saariselkä, approximately thirty minutes south through the heart of Finnish Lapland. This region lies well above the Arctic Circle and is known for its vast protected wilderness, sparse population and exceptional Northern Lights visibility. The drive itself is an introduction to the landscape, passing through snowy forests and open tundra.
You will check in to Santa's Hotel Tunturi, one of the most established properties in the village and particularly well suited to winter stays. Your Superior Room in the Gielas building includes a private sauna, an essential part of Finnish culture and an ideal way to unwind after time outdoors. Saariselkä is a compact Arctic resort community, making it easy to explore on foot this evening as you acclimatise to the polar night atmosphere.
Welcome dinner at Santa's Hotel Tunturi
After breakfast, you begin your introduction to Lapland’s winter landscapes with a guided snowmobile safari. Two guests share each snowmobile, with approximately one and a half hours of driving time. The route is selected according to snow and weather conditions, which play a significant role in daily operations in the far north. A stop is made along the way for hot drinks and biscuits, offering time to appreciate the silence and scale of the surrounding wilderness.
In the afternoon, it's time for the Santa Experience! During this festive time, the elves are up to all sorts of fun things. Let Santa's helper led you to a hideaway cottage, where you will enjoy the magic of powder snow. You can also decorate gingerbread to your liking. Hot drinks are served throughout the excursion. The highlight is meeting Santa in a log cabin for a chat and take photos Each child will receive a small gift straight from Santa himself.
This morning you travel by bus to a local reindeer farm for an introduction to one of the defining traditions of Lapland. Reindeer herding is closely connected to Sámi culture, the Indigenous culture of northern Europe, and remains both a livelihood and a cultural cornerstone in the region. During your visit you will enjoy a short reindeer sleigh ride through the forest and hear about seasonal migration, herding practices and life in Arctic conditions.
In the evening you head to the slopes of Kaunispaa Fell for an Aurora tobogganing experience. A chairlift carries you to the summit, where you gain elevated views over Saariselkä and the surrounding fells, rounded Arctic hills that define this landscape. Tobogganing down Finland’s longest run under the polar night sky combines gentle adventure with the chance, weather permitting, to witness the Northern Lights away from village light sources.
This is an optional activity for extra cost and min. age is 7 years (3 hours lift pass).
Today begins with a visit to a husky kennel for a five-kilometre sled safari through the surrounding forest. Huskies have high endurance and thrive in cold climate performance, and their enthusiasm before departure is part of the experience. Two guests share each sled, with one standing behind as the musher and the other seated as a passenger. The trail winds through quiet woodland, offering a deeper sense of the Arctic environment beyond the village.
Later, you travel to a frozen lake for a relaxed introduction to traditional winter activities. Ice fishing remains a common pastime across Finland, and your guide will demonstrate how to drill through the ice and try your luck beneath the surface. Snowshoeing and marshmallow grilling by an open fire round out the experience, highlighting the Finnish concept of enjoying simple outdoor moments regardless of temperature.
After breakfast at the hotel, you transfer privately back to Ivalo Airport for your onward journey. Depending on flight time, there may be an opportunity for a final walk through the village or a last sauna session before departure.
Standard price, per person twin/double share
Family triple - 2 adults sharing with 1 child (age 3-12)
Family quad - 2 adults sharing with 2 children (age 3-12)
MEDICAL AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy group travel. During winter, roads and footpaths can be icey so please consider carefully how much luggage you bring as you will be responsible for carrying all the luggage on these outside paths. There is limited portage service in Scandinavia and your tour escorts cannot help you, beyond reason.
Scandinavia is a fairly accessible destination for people with restricted mobility and other disabilities and is actively working to be more accessible every day. However, please note that our group tours are often not suitable for persons with limited accessibility due to inclusions and pace. 50 Degrees North is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability and we can tailor-make independent itineraries for travellers when needed. Please contact us for further details.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL:
Several of your accommodations on this itinerary are Nordic Choice hotels, who we support due to their outstanding sustainability policies. This group of hotels are ISO 14001 certified (which is given to enterprises that have a high-quality environmental managing system), has launched plastic free initiatives in partnership with WWF, where possible is powered by renewable energy and are taking great strides to reduce water consumption and reduce the use of chemicals. Even though access to water is not an issue in Nordic countries compared to other parts of the world, this hotel is conscious of the energy consumed for heating, and chemicals required for purification, so reduction makes up part of their overall environmental policy. In addition to this they provide sustainable, organic, fair-trade food, and only use sustainably produced palm oil. Your hosts also encourage guests to eat less meat and substitute this for plant-based alternatives.
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.
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.
From Finland to Norway, stop along the way at Sannan Putiikki Shop and pick up some souvenirs.
Helsinki is the Christmas City - visit one of the magical Christmas markets during your stay.
