DAY 01 ISTANBUL – ROVANIEMI – SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE – NORTHERN LIGHTS
We depart from Istanbul to Rovaniemi with Turkish Airlines scheduled flight (TK1749) at 09:45 in the morning. We arrive in Rovaniemi at 13:25. With our bus waiting for us at the airport, we first head to Santa Claus Village.
Visit to Santa Claus Village
Santa Claus Village is known as the home of Santa Claus and is especially popular in the 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. You can also drop postcards into the red mailboxes at Santa Claus's post office for yourself or your loved ones, to arrive by the next Christmas. The village is full of souvenir shops, local handicrafts, and Christmas-themed cafes. A wonderful place to experience the magical atmosphere of Christmas for people of all ages, Santa Claus Village is the point where the Arctic Circle passes, and the polar line is indicated by a blue light line. After our visit to Santa Claus Village, we proceed to our Santa Claus Holiday Village hotel located in the same area. Before checking into the hotel, we stop by the safari office to pick up our thermal clothing to be used in the safaris and tours we will take.
Ice Hotel Visit, Dinner, and Northern Lights
After hotel check-in and a short rest, we head to the ice hotel. The Ice Hotel is a popular attraction open to visitors every day from December 15 to 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. Following the visit, we have our dinner featuring a main course of wood-fire-cooked salmon at Kota, the traditional Lappish house belonging to the ice hotel. If we are lucky and the weather is clear, we will catch 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 at the hotel, 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 steer our own husky team and experience an unforgettable sleigh ride with these cute friends. Afterward, we relax accompanied by hot drinks around the fire in a traditional Lappish hut (kota). Following the husky tour, we move on to the reindeer farm.
Reindeer Safari
After getting information about reindeer from our local guide, we take a tour in the snow-covered forest on sleighs pulled by reindeer. Following this unforgettable experience, we spend pleasant moments around the burning fire and receive a “Reindeer Driving Certificate” at the end of the tour. Afterwards, we have our lunch consisting of reindeer stew, a traditional Lapland dish. 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. Guests who wish can join the optional icebreaker tour.
Icebreaker Ship Tour – 500 eur per person
After our morning breakfast, we set off for the town of Kalix in Sweden, located 170 km away from Rovaniemi, for the icebreaker activity. 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 overalls specially designed to survive in cold seas and keep us afloat, and 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 according to National Geographic, we go to Kukkolaforsen, a Swedish fishing village, for our lunch. After lunch, return to Rovaniemi and free time for dinner.
DAY 04 ROVANIEMI – SNOWMOBILE – ISTANBUL
Snowmobile Safari
This morning we will take an unforgettable tour on snowmobiles through frozen river valleys and snow-covered forests. During the journey, we will enjoy the frozen scenery and take breaks with hot drinks. There are two people per snowmobile, and you can change drivers halfway through the trip. After the snowmobile tour, we return our thermal clothing. Afterwards, we transfer to the airport. We depart for Istanbul with Turkish Airlines scheduled flight (TK1750) at 15:20. End of our tour upon arrival at Istanbul Airport.
