Experience Overview
Take the family to a true winter wonderland on this five-day adventure through Finnish Lapland. The magic starts early as you begin in the official hometown of Santa Claus, where the kids will get the chance to meet the jolly man himself. Spend three nights in the heart of the Finnish wilderness, exploring the snow-dusted woodlands with the help of incredible huskies and learn the traditional ways of life from a local. Whether you’re building igloos or trying snowshoeing on for size, there’s unforgettable fun to be had for travellers of all ages.
Highlights
- Enjoy a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the joy and magic of meeting Santa at his Finnish home on the artic circle.
- Unplug and fully immerse in the natural beauty of your unique eco-lodge stay in the heart of Hossa National Park, more than 60 miles (+100kms) away from the nearest village
- Be pulled across the landscape at high speed on the back of a dog sled. These incredible huskies are doing what they love most – making a lot of noise before rushing along sprawling trails.
- Visit a local Reindeer Farm where you will get to meet these beautiful animals up close and learn the art of reindeer herding and life on the farm.
- The aurora borealis is the best lightshow on Earth, and this trip is your ticket. Stay up late to see the northern sky dance with green light (subject to weather conditions)
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
Trip Details
Product Code: 1632
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private vehicle
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: BMFF
Starts: Rovaniemi, Finland
Finishes: Rovaniemi, Finland
Duration: 5 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (4), Lunch (3), Dinner (3)Accommodation: Hotel (1 night),Eco-lodge (3 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) $3,217 ($643 /day)
Itinerary
Tervetuloa! Welcome to Rovaniemi, Finland – the capital of Lapland and the official hometown of Santa Claus. Your family adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 2 pm. Rovaniemi is full of culture and stunning scenic hikes, so if you arrive early, you might like to take the family to the nearby rapids and aapa mires or stay in town and visit the Arktikum, the Museum of Finland. After your welcome meeting, it’s time for the kids to write their list and check it twice as you head off to meet Santa Claus himself at Santa Village. Cross into the Arctic Circle along the way, showing just how far north you’ve come. Later, enjoy an optional group dinner at a local restaurant and toast to the magical adventure that lies ahead.
Included Activities:
- Rovaniemi - Santa Village
Accommodation:
- Hotel Aakenus or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, bid farewell to Rovaniemi and head to Hossa National Park, located in the Kainuu region of Finland. Hossa translates to 'a distant place' in the Sami language (Huossa), and with its many lakes, rivers and canyons, this truly is a place like no other. Check into your eco-lodge accommodation in the heart of the national park, then enjoy a free afternoon with the family. Hossa will be your home for the next few days, so take your time to really soak in the scenery. The kids might be keen to try out snowshoeing or test their balance with some Nordic skiing.
Optional Activities:
- Hossa National Park - Snowshoeing (85 EUR)
- Hossa National Park - Nordic skiing (85 EUR)
Accommodation:
- Camp Norwide (Number of Nights: 1)
Make sure you rug up for today’s adventure, as you head into the wild taiga on dog sleds! In the morning, meet your guides and dogs for an introduction to basic mushing techniques. Then, two per sled, you’ll head off across beautiful white lakes and into the forest. These incredible huskies are doing what they love most – making a lot of noise before rushing along sprawling trails. After, the young ones might get to give the dogs a pet and a cuddle – just be sure to ask the sledmaster first! Return to your accommodation in time for lunch, then the rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you like.
Included Activities:
- Hossa National Park - Half day husky dog sledding
Accommodation:
- Camp Norwide (Number of Nights: 1)
Get a taste of the Lapland lifestyle today as the family spends time with a local trapper. You’ll learn the art of the trapper lifestyle and the essential skills the local people need to know in order to survive and move around this pristine and remote region. The kids will feel like true adventurers as they follow tracks in the snow, identify flora and fauna and even build an igloo! Return to your accommodation in the evening, making sure to keep an eye out for any hint of the Northern Lights.
Included Activities:
- Hossa National Park - Trapper Day
Accommodation:
- Camp Norwide (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, it’s time to say goodbye to your home in the Finnish wilderness and make the journey back to Rovaniemi. On the way back, stop at a local reindeer farm and get up close to these amazing animals. Arrive back in Rovaniemi in the early afternoon, where your adventure will come to an end.
Included Activities:
- Rovaniemi - Reindeer farm
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
David - Traveled, June 2023
The Baltic Experience tour was a lot of fun! Our Tour Leader, Agata, was superb! The small tour size (we had six participants) meant we got to know each other well. The tour had a perfect mix of planned group activities and time to explore the sites on our own. The on-line tour description was accurate and extensive. Three cautions: Travel insurance is MANDATORY, somewhat expensive, and not included in the tour price. Many, like me, will commit to the tour not knowing this additional cost will be tacked on. Second, the tour sometimes involves significant walking (up to 30 minutes) from transportation facilities to hotels while carrying your own bags (two weeks of baggage), as well as walking tours that sometimes involve climbing as many as 800 steps. This is a tour for fairly young and fit participants. Finally, European hotels and home-stay facilities generally don't have air conditioning or screened windows, meaning sometimes in the summer you will have to choose between sleeping in hot, stuffy rooms or opening the windows for mosquitoes to enter. All that said, this was a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable experience and I would highly recommend it for fit, adventurous people with positive attitudes who can tolerate occasional less-than-luxurious accommodations.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/25/2023
Monika - Traveled, February 2024
Excellent trip in the wonderful outdoors!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/12/2024
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