White wedding in the snow chapel

Prices from £4608 per wedding couple
Period: January, February, March, April

Exchange wows in a breathtaking ice chapel, in a romantic wooden chapel nearby or in the altar on a frozen lake. You can arrive to your chosen wedding venue in a sleigh pulled by reindeer or huskies – or if you prefer, by snowmobile. The choice is yours.

Igloo village

Hotel & Igloo Village Kakslauttanen is situated 10 kilometres from the northernmost winter resort in Finland, Saariselkä fell district, some 250 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle. With its unique selection of accommodation from traditional log cabins to snow and glass igloos, Kakslauttanen offers a perfect setting for a fairytale wedding.

All the cosy log cabins have full private facilities, small kitchen and open fireplace, complete with own private sauna. Across the frozen lake lay the snow igloos, built every year from ice and snow together with the permanent glass igloos, where you can lie on your bed looking at the winter sky hoping to catch a sight of the magical Northern Lights dancing in the moonlight.

Example itinerary

Day 1 – Final preparations
Scheduled Finnair flights from Heathrow or Manchester to Ivalo, via Helsinki. Transfer to Hotel & Igloo Village Kakslauttanen, check in to own log cabin with sauna and fireplace. Final preparations for wedding ceremony with Kakslauttanen’s toastmaster. Dinner at the hotel.

Day 2 – The great day
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning is spent for final preparations with the wedding co-ordinator for the special ceremony to take place later on in the afternoon at Kakslauttanen’s Ice Gallery. To begin the ceremony, bride and groom are driven to the wedding venue in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. After the ceremony, special dinner awaits at the hotel. Wedding night is spent in a glass igloo under the beautiful Northern Lights.

Day 3 – Relaxing or exploring
Breakfast with morning sauna. Day spent relaxing or trying out the various winter activities Kakslauttanen has to offer, such as reindeer, husky or snowmobile safaris.

Day 4 – Farewell to Lapland
Breakfast. Time to say goodbye to Kakslauttanen. Transfer back to Ivalo airport. Scheduled Finnair flights from Ivalo to Heathrow or Manchester, via Helsinki.

What is included in the price?

• Scheduled Finnair flights from Heathrow or Manchester to Ivalo, via Helsinki
• In-flight cabin service
• All airport departure taxes and passenger service charges
• Transfers Ivalo airport-Kakslauttanen Igloo village-Ivalo airport
• 2 nights in small log cabin for two persons with fireplace and sauna, 1 night in a Glass Igloo
• 3 breakfasts and 3 dinners including a special dinner on the wedding day with sparkling wine
• Wedding ceremony in the Ice Gallery (carried out by a priest or a judge)
• Witness fees, handling, organising and processing fees, marriage certificate
• Assistance of a local wedding co-ordinator
• Decorated wedding venue

Optional extras

To book in advance – please check the rates.

• Bridal bouquet / buttonhole
• Ornamental flowers at the chapel
• Rental of two Lapp costumes
• Photographer + 20 photos
• DVD of the wedding
• Bottle of sparkling wine
• Wedding cake
• Winter safaris
• We also have separate packages for wedding guests.

Good to know

• Wedding packages at Hotel & Igloo Village Kakslauttanen can be tailored to suit your own preferences
• When considering your wedding date, it is important to contact us first, since planning procedures will be highly tied with the availability of local magistrate
• We will inform you of the needed documentation required for wedding ceremonies in Lapland and send you the paper work well in advance to be completed
• Although legal requirements for weddings in Finland are not strict, the minimum processing time for all certificates is 2 months before wedding day

Aurora borealis

Prices from £619 per person
Period: December – end of April
3 or 5 nights

This individual Northern Lights holiday takes place at the Luosto Resort in the heart of the Finnish Lapland. On average the northern lights can be seen from Luosto about 200 nights a year. Aurora Chalet Hotel gives you a comfortable stay, with dining and relaxation during the evenings, and exciting adventures during daytime. Activities at Luosto include riding on snow mobiles, trekking on snowshoes and taking part in reindeer and husky riding. All activities can be bought either in advance or during the holiday.

Aurora Borealis

The Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, is a light phenomenon that occurs in the Arctic sky on clear, dark nights, caused by solar winds interacting with the earth’s magnetic field. The deep green and yellow colours, sometimes streaked with bands of red, are one of the most astonishing natural phenomena one can witness. They can be seen from September to April, but unfortunately their occurrence cannot be reliably predicted.

As the northern lights appear mainly during the night time, you can fill in your days with exciting arctic adventures. Weekly programme at Luosto provides daily excursions such as snowmobile safaris, snowshoe treks, visits to a reindeer farm or fun husky rides through the snowy woods. The search for lucky stone in Lampivaara amethyst mine will add to your experience.

Luosto area offers also a diverse range of quality ski slopes and cross-country ski trails. The skiing season in Luosto is exceptionally long, from November to early May. The ski slopes are suitable for intermediate skiers.

Aurora Chalet Hotel

Aurora Chalet Hotel is a perfect base for your Northern Lights Holiday. This hotel is the first Lappish Northern Lights themed hotel, and offers excellent standard of rooms and services. Aurora Chalet also offers a unique way to make sure you’ll witness the northern lights: the Aurora Alarm service informs customers when the Northern Lights are visible in the sky!

Aurora Chalet is located in the centre of the resort of Luosto. The privately owned hotel has 28 rooms – all ensuring a warm and unique stay. All rooms are spacious and of high standard. Rooms are en-suite and have a private sauna. You can comfortably observe the Northern Lights through your hotel room window as every room faces the northern horizon.

A small restaurant for up to 60 persons, and a cosy lobby bar by the log fire complete the fine facilities of this hotel. The restaurant serves northern culinary delights in a pleasant and warm ambience.

The hotel décor has a warm and cosy Lappish feel with modern amenities.

Aurora Chalet in pictures

Full panoramas from the hotel: The hotel lobby | Double room | Bathroom

Click the images below for bigger views:

Room description

• 28 spacious, non-smoking rooms (some with a fireplace)
• all rooms have their own bathroom and sauna
• coffee/tea making facilities
• television
• telephone
• hair dryer
• internet connection

Hotel facilities

• lobby bar seating 30 customers
• log fire in the foyer
• restaurant with open-plan kitchen and grill
• Aurora Club meeting room for 60 persons

Package prices

Travel period 01.12.2011-30.04.2012:

From London Heathrow: 3 nights £619, 5 nights £769

From Manchester: 3 nights £705, 5 nights £854

Package price per person when minimum of two persons share the room.

Packages also available without flights. Ask also for special offers!

Please ask for a price for

• The single supplement
• An extra bed for a third person who wishes to share the same room
• Child discounts (up to 15 years old)
• Extra nights

What is included in the price?

• Scheduled Finnair flights from the United Kingdom to Rovaniemi (via Helsinki)
• Accommodation in a twin/double room (with a fireplace)
• Return transfers by SkiBus between the airport and the hotel
• Optional extras (pdf file)

Please note that this is an unescorted trip and no guide services are provided.

As the flights to Rovaniemi are via Helsinki, you may wish to extend your visit to Finland by staying in Helsinki. If you wish to spend some time in the Finnish capital, call our office for further details and prices.

Special conditions apply.

Suomenlinna in the winter

Travel period 2.1.2012 – 18.4.2012
6 days (5 nights)

Take a proper winter holiday in Finland’s Lapland. Combine modern Helsinki, the World Design Capital 2012, with a trip to Kemi to visit the biggest snow castle in the world, and cross the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi for a unforgettable reindeer safari. Take a cruise on an icebreaker, try swimming in frozen sea (warm wetsuit provided), learn to drive a snowmobile, meet Father Christmas and just enjoy the magic of Lapland.

Our tour starts in the capital city of Finland – a very cool welcome to Helsinki. Helsinki is a vibrant, cultural and modern city, highly characterised by the presence of water.

From Helsinki you proceed north to Kemi. Kemi is located by the Gulf of Botnia, and is home of the biggest snow castle in the world and the magnificent Sampo Ice breaker.

After Kemi continue further north to Rovaniemi, the arctic capital of Lapland. Rovaniemi is the hometown of Santa Claus who has his own village on the Arctic Circle just outside the town.

Day 1: Sights of Helsinki
Arrival in Helsinki and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Our suggested top ten list includes:  The Temppeliaukio Church (The Rock Church), Helsinki Cathedral, Esplanade Park, The Sibelius monument, Haves Amanda Fountain, Uspensky Orthodox Cathedral, Finlandia Hall, Presidential Palace (Presidentinlinna), Kiasma Art Museum and Suomenlinna Maritime Sea Fortress (outside city centre).

Dine in one of the great Finnish or Russian restaurants. Overnight at the Sokos Hotel Presidentti in the city centre.

Day 2: Overnight train Helsinki – Kemi
After breakfast you have a full day to enjoy the capital: shops in the Design District, the old market hall, or one of the dozens of museums and galleries. The centre of Helsinki is very compact, and it is easy to walk everywhere. Just looking at the great art nouveau architecture is exiting or you can take the guided tour that is available in 11 languages, including Latin.

Departure from Helsinki to Kemi is approximately at 19.30. Meals are available in the restaurant car. Overnight in a sleeping compartment in the train.

Day 3: Kemi – Sampo Ice Breaker
The train arrives in Kemi at 06.30. Proceed to the Hotel Merihovi. Today you will create lasting memories with a four hour cruise on board the Sampo Ice breaker.

Depart Kemi at noon, and enjoy a traditional Lappish lunch (either reindeer or salmon) on board. During the excursion you will have an opportunity for ice swimming – definitely recommended and warmer than you think! Return to Kemi at approximately 16.00.

If you are still feeling adventurous, we recommend a dinner in the Kemi snow castle, located within close proximity of your hotel. The huge castle is built every winter, and has a hotel, a bar and a restaurant and a chapel. Overnight at the Hotel Merihovi.

Day 4: Kemi – Snow castle and gemstone  gallery
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and spend the rest of this day visiting the gemstone gallery or the local historical museum. This afternoon your departure by train will be at 15.10. Journey time to Rovaniemi is about 75 minutes. Enjoy the Lapland scenery during this short journey. Arrival in Rovaniemi and check in at the Hotel Rantasipi Pohjanhovi for an overnight.

Day 5: Rovaniemi – reindeers and Santa’s village
A sturdy breakfast gives you energy to explore the capital of Finnish Lapland. Optional activities, like reindeer or husky safaris and snow mobile rides, are easily available. You also have an opportunity to visit the Santa Claus village. There is a lot to see and do in Rovaniemi from simply enjoying your surroundings or partaking in fun filled adventures. Overnight at the Hotel Rantaisipi Pohjanhovi.

Day 6: Goodbye to the Arctic Circle
After breakfast, say good bye to this magical country.

Package prices:

From London Heathrow: from £1032 / person
From Manchester: from £1136 / person

Package price per person when minimum of two persons share a room.
Packages also available without flights. Ask also for special offers!

What is included in the price?

• Scheduled Finnair flights from the United Kingdom to Helsinki returning from Rovaniemi
• 1 night accommodation in Helsinki
• Train journey with a sleeping compartment (en suite) upper deck from Helsinki to Kemi
• Sampo Icebreaker excursion with lunch  (does not operate daily)
• 1 night accommodation in Kemi
• Train from Kemi – Rovaniemi
• 2 night’s accommodation in Rovaniemi

Please ask for a price for:

• The single supplement
• Extra nights
• The package without the flights

Please note that this is an unescorted trip and no guide services are provided.

Optional extras:

One Day Helsinki Card
This one day Helsinki Card offers you free admission to more than 40 attractions and free travel on local transportation and other bonus offers. Free audio city tour worth £19 included.
Price: £33.00 per person

Safaris in Rovaniemi (in pdf format)

Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included in your holiday cost. It is strongly recommended that insurance be taken out to protect you and your group against any unforeseen insurable events.

Northern lights search by snowmobile

Prices: from £1544 per person
Period from January to April 2012
7 day (6 nights) guided holiday on full board basis

This winter holiday week in Nellim in Finland’s Lapland is ideal for adventurous couples, families, individuals or groups of friends looking for an active holiday in real Lappish surroundings. See the Northern lights, meet the cute huskies, hop on a sled pulled by a reindeer, enjoy an exciting snowmobile drive, try out snowshoe walking, tobogganing, or just relax.

Wilderness Hotel Nellim is beautifully located next to Lake Inari, one of the deepest lakes in Scandinavia and only 6 miles from the Russian border. Area offers visitors the opportunity to experience the fascinating culture and life of the local Sámi people while enjoying exciting winter activities.  Hotel is located only 45 minutes’ drive from Ivalo Airport. Nellim offers accommodation is in cosy hotel rooms and in fully equipped holiday apartments.

Example itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Lapland

On arrival at Ivalo, the northernmost airport in Finland, you will be transferred to the Wilderness Hotel Nellim. The journey takes about 45 minutes. After settling into your hotel, dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant.

Day 2 – Day with a reindeer herder

Visit to a local reindeer farm where you can see and feed the animals, and also learn about the Lappish way of life. The herder tells about reindeer husbandry, and how it affects local culture. You can also try ice fishing after checking the fishing nets under the ice. If you are lucky, some fresh fish will be served with the lunch by an open fire. The day includes about 30 km ride on a snow mobile, and lasts about five to six hours.

Day 3 – Cross-country skiing and snowshoes

Today will be dedicated to cross-country skiing and snowshoe walking. Skiing tracks start near the hotel, and you will learn the basics of cross-country skiing with your guide. Lunch at the hotel restaurant. After lunch we will go for a short snow-shoe tour close to the hotel followed by a sauna and dinner.

Day 4 – Northern lights and local culture

Day 4 is free for your own activities, whether skiing or learning about the local Sámi culture. You can spend the day exploring local traditions. You can book a three-hour special programme of traditional activities – learn about local crafts, listen to old songs and enjoy seasonal dishes prepared from Lake Inari fish, reindeer and cloudberries.

The wooden Nellim Orthodox Church is also worth a visit. The Russian border is only a few miles away, and on the Paatsjoki Bridge you can see the towers guarding both sides of the border. After dinner it’s time to seek out the Northern lights. We’ll take a snowmobile tour to Aurora Borealis camp on Lake Inari. Duration of the evening visit is about 3 hours.

Day 5 – Driving snowmobiles

This 20-mile snowmobile safari begins with an introduction to the safari and safety information, after which you will drive through snowy forests to enjoy a picnic lunch on campfire and try your luck in ice-fishing. Duration of the safari is approximately 3 hours. Afternoon is free for your own activities with dinner and sauna at the hotel later in the evening.

Day 6 – Husky safari

After breakfast it’s time to meet the huskies. First you will be taught how to handle a sled, after which you will start the half-day husky safari in teams of 2 people and a dog.  A picnic lunch is served by the campfire. Day’s driving distance is just over 10 miles (17km).  Return to hotel with farewell dinner with Lappish specialities.

Day 7 – Leaving Lapland

After breakfast, it is time to say good-bye to Nellim. You will be transferred to Ivalo airport to take your return flight home back to the UK.

Prices

From London Heathrow: £1544 /adult (two sharing), £1164 /child (4-12 years when sharing a room with two adults)
From Manchester: £1554 /adult (two sharing), £1174 /child (4-12 years when sharing a room with two adults)

What is included in the price?

• Scheduled return flights from London Heathrow or Manchester to Ivalo airport
• Transfers from/to Ivalo airport
• Accommodation in twin rooms in Wilderness Hotel Nellim
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner on daily basis
• Programme as described (when using snowmobiles, 2 persons share one snowmobile)
• Thermal clothing

Please ask for a price for

• Single supplement
• Shorter duration
• Package without flights

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is not included in your holiday cost. It is strongly recommended that insurance be taken out to protect you and your group against any unforeseen insurable events.

Reindeer husbandry

Prices from £1119 per person
Period: November – April, Thursday-Sunday
4 day guided tour

The village of Inari is Finland’s centre for Sámi culture, as the surroundings and nearby villages have kept the Sámi folklore alive. During our four-day (three nights) trip to this fascinating North Eastern corner of Europe, you will discover many things about the Sámi way of life and northern nature.

This relaxing break gives an opportunity to enjoy unspoilt nature and learn about the traditions of Sami people. On one day the only way to reach our destination, the “Old Man Island” is to ride on snowmobile through the frozen landscape.

Hotel Kultahovi

Hotel Kultahovi is a small, privately owned hotel located by the river Juutua in Inari. The rooms you will be staying in, are recently built and have riverside views. They are en-suite and equipped with a television, radio and private sauna.

Rooms at Hotel Kultahovi

A comfortable lounge with an open fireplace, a library with Internet connection and the lobby bar are pleasant places to relax. The hotel dining room has a fine view to the lowest rapids of River Juutua. The restaurant serves food made from pure local ingredients. The fish comes directly from the local fishermen, sea fish and crustaceans from the fishing village in nearby Norway and reindeer from local herders. Mushrooms and berries are locally harvested.

Example itinerary

Thursday – Arrival day
Upon arrival at Ivalo airport, you will be met by the local guide and transferred to your hotel. The journey will take about half an hour. After settling into the hotel, dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant. Our chosen hotel, Hotel Kultahovi, is renowned for its good food made from fine and pure local ingredients.

Friday – Introduction to the Sámi culture
After breakfast, you will walk with the local guide to the nearby Sámi museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre “Siida”, where a guided tour takes place. The exhibitions show how nature and people have adapted to the extreme conditions of the Northern environment. Wonderful photographs, videos, sounds and original artefacts guide you between the seasons and the past times.

Traditional dress

The tour continues to Lemmenjoki where you will visit a Sami reindeer herding family. The mother, a felt artesan and a Sami craft master will show us the different ways Sami artisans work today. In their home farm we will see how her felt art takes shapes and colours from the surrounding nature and how she has clothed her family from head to toe with traditional Sami clothing. Your host will also tell you about reindeer husbandry and you will have possibility to see reindeer at their home farm and hear about their reindeer work during the year. Coffee during the visit.

In the evening dinner is served at the hotel.

Saturday – Getting to know your arctic surroundings
After breakfast, it is time for your trip to the vast Lake Inari, the 6th largest lake in Europe. You will be provided with warm thermal clothing and instructions as to how to drive a snowmobile, the modern means of transport of the local people. Your destination is the legendary island Äijih (Ukko – “An old man”), an ancient sacrificial site of the Inari Sámis. On the way you will visit the wilderness church of Pielpajärv (build in 1760) and try your hand at ice fishing. Camp lunch will be served during the safari.

After the winter safari, you will visit some local handicraft studios and shops in Inari. This is an ideal opportunity to learn about Sámi handicrafts using reindeer bone, wood, wool and silver.

Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Sunday – Good bye Sámi land
After breakfast, it is time to say good-bye to Hotel Kultahovi. You will be transferred to Ivalo airport to take a scheduled Finnair flight from Ivalo to Helsinki, and further to the United Kingdom.

Please note that we can arrange a visit to a husky dog farm and a 10km (6 miles) husky safari before your flight to Helsinki, and onwards to the United Kingdom.

Extra nights in Inari or Helsinki are also available.

Package prices

Travel period 2011-2012 winter

From London Heathrow, starting from: £1119 /person/two sharing
From Manchester, starting from: £1154 /person/two sharing

What is included in the price?

• Scheduled Finnair flights from London Heathrow or Manchester to Ivalo (via Helsinki)
• Three nights accommodation at the Hotel Kultahovi, Inari
• Buffet breakfast and a dinner on a daily basis
• Transfers between Ivalo Airport and the hotel
• Programme as described in the program

Please note that this package is arranged for a minimum of two passengers.
Child and group (min. 4 people) discounts are available on request.

Please note also that extra nights either in Inari or Helsinki are available on request. As the flights to Ivalo are via Helsinki, you may wish to extend your visit to Finland by staying in Helsinki. If you wish to spend some time in the Finnish capital, call our office for further details and price.s.

Optional extras

Please ask for quotation.

Visit to a wild animal park and husky safari
After checking out on Sunday, you can visit a wild animal park and husky farm on the way to the airport. You will also join a one-hour husky safari. Two persons drive one sledge as a team. Coffee will be provided by an open fire. Thermal clothing will be provided.
Duration: 2 hours + transfers

Snowshoe search for the Northern Lights
Our guide will take you for a snowshoe trek to places in the village where the Northern Lights are most likely to be seen. You will experience the arctic nature, snow and frost while the guide tells you about the Northern Lights.
Duration: 2 hours

Cross-country skiing school for beginners
Learn how to ski using a cross-country technique in the skiing stadium in Inari.
Duration: 2 hours