DAY 1 ISTANBUL – ROVANIEMI – SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE – NORTHERN LIGHTS
We depart from Istanbul to Rovaniemi on a scheduled Turkish Airlines flight 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.
Santa Claus Village Visit
Santa Claus Village is known as the home of Santa Claus and is especially popular during the winter months. It is famous for its traditional Lapland houses and snowy landscapes. Visitors can visit Santa Claus's house and share their special wishes. Also, from Santa Claus's post office, you can send cards to yourself or your loved ones in the red mailboxes so that they arrive by the next Christmas. 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 line of light. After our visit to Santa Claus Village, we head to our hotel in the center of Rovaniemi. Before checking in, we stop by the safari office to receive our thermal clothing, which we will use on the safaris and tours we will do.
Ice Hotel Visit, Dinner and Northern Lights
After check-in and a short rest at the hotel, 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 ice rooms, ice sculptures, the Ice Bar, and the Ice Restaurant. After the visit, we have our dinner in Kota, the traditional Lapland house belonging to the ice hotel, with a main course of salmon cooked over a wood fire. If we are lucky and the weather is clear, we will have the chance to see the northern lights. Late in the evening, we return to our hotel.
DAY 2 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, one of the cutest dogs in the world. Today we will learn how to steer our own husky team and enjoy an unforgettable sled ride experience with these lovely friends. Then we relax with hot drinks around the fire in a traditional Lapland cabin (kota). After the husky tour, we move on to the reindeer farm.
Reindeer Safari
After receiving information about reindeer from our local guide, we take a sled tour pulled by reindeer in the snow-covered forest. After this unforgettable experience, we spend pleasant moments around the burning fire and receive a “Reindeer Riding Certificate” at the end of the tour. Afterwards, we have our lunch consisting of roasted reindeer, a traditional Lapland dish. Then we return to our hotel by bus.
Free time for the evening.
DAY 3 ROVANIEMI – FREE DAY
Icebreaker Ship Tour
After breakfast, we head to the town of Kalix in Sweden, 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 the 3-hour trip we will make on the world's largest tourist icebreaker ship, you will witness how the ice on the frozen sea is broken. In the middle of our journey, in the center of the icy frozen sea, we put on thermal suits specially designed to keep us alive in cold seas and keep us afloat, and we swim in the pool created by the ship breaking the ice. After our tour, which is among the activities recommended by National Geographic as a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we go to Kukololaforsen, a fishing town in Sweden, for our lunch. After lunch, return to Rovaniemi and free time for dinner.
DAY 4 ROVANIEMI – SNOWMOBILE – ISTANBUL
Snowmobile Safari
This morning we will take an unforgettable snowmobile tour through frozen river valleys and snow-covered forests. During the journey, we will enjoy the frozen landscape and take breaks with hot drinks. There are two people per snowmobile, and you can switch drivers halfway through the route. After the snowmobile ride, we return our thermal clothing. Then we transfer to the airport. We depart for Istanbul at 15:50 on a scheduled Turkish Airlines flight.
DAY 5. ROVANIEMI – HUSKY AND REINDEER SAFARIS
After breakfast, free time. Then we transfer to the airport. We depart for Istanbul at 15:25 on a scheduled Turkish Airlines flight.