DAY 01 ISTANBUL – ROVANIEMI – SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE – NORTHERN LIGHTS
We depart from Istanbul to Rovaniemi with the Turkish Airlines scheduled flight (TK1749) at 09:45 in the morning. We arrive in Rovaniemi at 13:25. We head to Santa Claus Village with our bus that meets us at the airport.
Santa Claus Village Visit
Santa Claus Village is known as the home of Santa Claus and is particularly popular in winter months. It is famous for its traditional Lappish houses and snow-covered landscapes. Visitors can visit Santa Claus's house and convey their special wishes. Additionally, you can send postcards to yourself or your loved ones from Santa Claus's post office to arrive by the next Christmas time by dropping them into the red mailboxes. The village is full of souvenir shops, local handicrafts, and Christmas-themed cafes. Santa Claus Village, a great place for people of all ages to experience the magical atmosphere of Christmas, is the point where the Arctic Circle passes, and the polar line is marked with a blue light line. After our visit to Santa Claus Village, we move to our hotel, Santa Claus Holiday Village, located in the same area. Before checking into the hotel, we stop by the safari office to collect our thermal clothing that we will use during our safaris and tours.
Ice Hotel Visit, Dinner, and Northern Lights
After checking into the hotel and a short rest, we head to the ice hotel. The Ice Hotel is a popular attraction open to visitors every day between December 15 and April 1. It is one of the largest snow hotels located on the Arctic Circle. The Snow Hotel is built differently every year and decorated with ice and snow art. Visitors can tour the rooms made of ice, ice sculptures, the Ice Bar, and the Ice Restaurant. After the visit, we have our dinner with a main course of salmon cooked over a wood fire in the Kota, the traditional Lappish house belonging to the ice hotel. If we are lucky and the weather is clear, we will have the chance to see the northern lights. We return to our hotel late in the evening.
DAY 02 ROVANIEMI – HUSKY AND REINDEER SAFARIS
After breakfast, we head to the husky and reindeer farm.
Husky Safari
We arrive at the husky farm and visit the huskies, some of the cutest dogs in the world. Today we will learn how to guide our own husky team and have an unforgettable sledding experience with these cute friends. Afterward, we rest around the fire in a traditional Lappish hut (kota) accompanied by hot drinks. After the husky tour, we move to the reindeer farm.
Reindeer Safari
After getting information about reindeer from our local guide, we take a tour with sleds pulled by reindeer in the snow-covered forest. After this unforgettable experience, we spend pleasant moments around the burning fire and receive a “Reindeer Driving Certificate” at the end of the tour. Afterward, we have our lunch consisting of reindeer roast, a traditional Lappish meal. Then we return to our hotel by bus.
Free time for the evening.
DAY 03 ROVANIEMI – FREE DAY (OPTIONAL ICEBREAKER TOUR)
Free day in Rovaniemi. Our guests who wish can participate in the optionally organized icebreaker tour.
Icebreaker Ship Tour – 500 eur per person
After our breakfast, we head to the city of Kalix in Sweden, located 170 km away from Rovaniemi, for the icebreaker event. During our journey, we cross the Sweden-Finland border and arrive at the port of Axelsvik. During our 3-hour journey on the world's largest tourist icebreaker ship, you will witness how the ice on the frozen sea is broken. Halfway through our journey, in the middle of the ice-covered sea, we put on thermal suits specially designed to survive in cold seas and keep us on the water surface, and we swim in the pool created by the ship breaking the ice. After our tour, which is among the activities that must be tried before dying by National Geographic, we go to the Swedish fishing town of Kukololaforsen for our lunch. After lunch, return to Rovaniemi and free time for dinner.
DAY 04 ROVANIEMI – SNOWMOBILE – ISTANBUL
Snowmobile Safari
This morning we will have an unforgettable tour on frozen river valleys and snow-covered forests by snowmobile. During the journey, we will enjoy the frozen landscape and take breaks with hot drinks. There are two people per snowmobile, and you can change drivers halfway through the road. After the snowmobile, we deliver our thermal clothing. Then we transfer to the airport. We depart for Istanbul at 15:20 with the Turkish Airlines scheduled flight (TK1750). End of our tour after our arrival at Istanbul Airport.
