VISIT THE FANTASY WORLD OF LAPLAND – where the magic of Christmas comes to life. Add a visit to Helsinki, Rovaniemi and an overnight train trip, and you have all the ingredients for the perfect festive holiday.
Departing: 6, 13 & 20 December 2023 from $4,685 p/person sharing
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ITINERARY
DAY 1: HELSINKI, FINLAND
Arrive Helsinki and transfer to your hotel. The festive season is a special time to visit the Daughter of the Baltic city – it’s a time where streets are illuminated with myriads of lights and store fronts dressed with beautiful festive displays. Afternoon at leisure to visit the Christmas Market.
DAY 2: HELSINKI / OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO ROVANIEMI
Helsinki is a beautiful city – compact and easy to move around. This morning you have an audio coach tour past the most interesting parts of Helsinki – the historical centre, City Hall, The Parliament buildings, Finlandia Hall and the Opera House. See the Sibelius Monuments and the Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church). Early evening departure by overnight train to Rovaniemi. Don’t forget to visit the restaurant for a drink with the locals and to try Finnish meatballs and mash.
DAY 3: PYHÄTUNTURI, LAPLAND
Arrive Rovaniemi and transfer to your accommodation in Pyhätunturi. Prepare yourself for days filled with different and experiences especially unique to those of us who call the southern areas of the world home. Over the following days, activities are, where possible, arranged for the morning leaving afternoons at leisure to relax or try other wonderful activities. Bring out the child in you and go tobogganing, try downhill and cross country skiing, fatbiking, ice carting or snowshoe walking – it’s all right there for you to enjoy. And in between all this activity don’t forget to try some hot chocolate with Minttu to warm your toes!
DAY 4: PYHÄTUNTURI, LAPLAND
It’s the festive season and we get into the spirt this morning with biscuit baking for the children. Whilst the biscuits are in the oven, head off on to the lake to try some ice fishing. After drilling a hole in the ice with a giant corkscrew, drop you line in and see what you can lure to take your bait.
Remainder of day at leisure. Suggest a visit to the Nature Centre where an excellent audio visual presentation introduces you of the geology, fauna and flora of the area. The exhibits are well presented and interesting. You should also try their typical Finnish lunch – salad, soup and milk/berry juice/non-alcoholic home beer.
DAY 5: PYHÄTUNTURI, LAPLAND
This special day has to be the highlight of your tour—it’s time to meet Santa! Be transported into a world of fantasy to a cottage hidden in the forest where Santa takes time to relax before setting out to deliver presents around the world. He’ll be expecting you and probably knows what you’ve been up to this year. How—it’s the elves of course who wander the world checking the boys and girls, young and old. But he’s a kindly fellow and he won’t leave you without a special reminder of the day you got to meet him.
Dinner this evening will be a sumptuous Christmas feast with a sweeping selection of hot and cold buffet. Remember to save your appetite!
DAY 6: PYHÄTUNTURI, LAPLAND
TToday you’re going to meet Lapland’s most loved animal – reindeers. After a talk on reindeer husbandry around the fire sipping warm berry juice, set off on a sedate sleigh ride through the snow laden forest. Sit back, relax and absorb the silence and beauty of your pristine surroundings. Round your experience off with a lunch of steaming soup.
Situated 20 minutes from Pyhätunturi in the village of Luosto, is the worlds’ northernmost Amethyst Mine. It’s a very special place on top of the fell (small mountain) providing a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. Even the transfer to the Mine is unusual – in a carriage behind a snow tractor. After a presentation on the Mine, it’ll be time for you to dig for your own lucky stone.
DAY 7: PYHÄTUNTURI, LAPLAND
Dreaming of being a husky musher? Well, today’s your chance to test your skills. They’re a spirited bunch these huskies and pull up to five times their weight without any effort. After an introduction to the huskies and driving instructions, you’ll set off driving your own husky team with a passenger seated in the sleigh. Expect a speedy ride—hold on to your beanie!
Late afternoon transfer to Luosto for a presentation and snowshoe walk searching for the Lights. Delve into the science and myths of the Aurora Borealis with a multimedia presentation by a know-ledgeable guide who’ll also play recordings of radio signals from space. Finally, after an update from your guide on the current Northern Lights forecast, set off in search of the Lights. Your guide will take you to a suitable spot with an open view to the Northern skies, ideal for photography. Hot drinks are available around the campfire.
DAY 8: PYHÄTUNTURI, LAPLAND
At leisure today to try some of the many activities available. Good time to use your included tickets and take a ride by chair lift to the top of the Pyhätunturi fell for a spectacular view of the surrounding area. If you feel chilly up there on the fell, pop into the cosy Tsokka restaurant for a hot chocolate and a waffle. Today’s also a good opportunity to try the optional snowmobile safari. Set off following your guide on your motorcycle on skis across the lake and through forests. A thrilling and exhilarating experience. Drivers must be in possession of valid driving licence.
DAY 9: PYHÄTUNTURI, LAPLAND
Your final day in Lapland but still more fun to come your way! Try kick sledding, playing ice hockey and lassoing a ‘reindeer’. Don’t forget to hone your tobogganing skills – you may just be challenged to a race. In between all the activity, enjoy hot drinks and sausages grilled over the fire.
Dinner this evening will be at a special venue.
DAY 10: DEPART ROVANIEMI
Sadly the time has come to say goodbye to this magical place called Lapland. Transfer to Rovaniemi and travel by day train to Helsinki. If you prefer to fly to take the overnight train, this can be arranged for your account.
Stay at Pyhå Ski Resort
View this video and take a quick look at the incredible Pyhå Ski Resort, where you will stay on your tour!
OUR RESORT
Situated one and a half hours north east of Rovaniemi the capital of Finnish Lapland, is the ski resort of Pyhätunturi (meaning ‘Holy Fell’ and pronounced ‘Poo-ha’). With less than 1,000 inhabitants, it is not overrun with foreign visitors and is popular ski resort for the Finns and not overly crowded with visitors during high seasons.
The village has a hotel, a large number of cottages, supermarket, post office, restaurants, souvenir shops and an impressive Nature Centre. housing an informative display and digital presentation on the local geology and environment. And being situated out in the countryside, the Polar Night skies are less exposed to light pollution making it easier to observe the Northern Lights – when they choose to reveal themselves.
ACTIVITIES
Pyhätunturi has activities to suit everyone – husky and reindeer safaris, snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowshoe walking, fatbiking, tobogganing and more.
SKIING
Skiing in Lapland is probably not the first activity which comes to mind. It may then come as a surprise that Pyhä rates amongst the best ski resorts in Finland. Although the Fell (Scottish word meaning small mountain) is just 500m high, being that far north virtually guarantees snow. Ski slopes are floodlit as are the well-groomed cross country ski tracks. Ski equipment is available for hire from a well-equipped ski shop and lessons can be arranged with qualified English speaking ski instructors. A ski bus runs between Pyhä and its sister resort Luosto, twenty kilometres away.
ACCOMMODATION
HOTEL
The location of Hotel Pyhätunturi on the side of the mountain provides a spectacular view of the surrounding area and, being situated right beside the ski slope, makes this a perfect ski-in-ski-out location. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, sauna and a gym.
APARTMENTS
Set to the back of the hotel, the 43 and 55 sqm Pyhä Suites have all you need for a comfortable stay. With two or three bedrooms, these apartments come with a fully equipped kitchen, lounge, bathroom and sauna. And for more convenience, easy access to an on site laundromat. Access to the gym in the hotel is also possible. Breakfast at the hotel can be arranged on request.
COTTAGES
These cottages are situated at the ski slopes which makes them the ideal location for skiers – whether downhill or cross country. Cottages vary in size and furnishings as they are privately owned. Most cottages have one bedroom downstairs and a loft room.
*Example only, actual cottages may vary.