Finnish Lapland & Snow Hotel Kirkenes, Norway

Prices from £1254
Travel period: January – April 2012

Visit the northern town of Kirkenes in Norway by the Arctic Ocean, stay overnight in an exotic Snow Hotel and search for the Northern Lights. Learn about Lapland’s Sámi culture in Finland, visit a reindeer farm, and try your hand in driving a snowmobile safari. You can also enjoy Lappish delicacies in local restaurants and take husky and reindeer rides during your cool winter holiday.

Day 1 -  Welcome to Lapland

Arrival at Ivalo Airport – Welcome to Northern Lapland! Guide meets the guests, before a 30 mile transfer to Hotel Kultahovi in Inari village. The village, by the large Lake Inari, is the Finnish centre of Sámi culture. You will be given a short introduction to the holiday and given information about the activities available during your stay. Dinner is served at hotel Kultahovi restaurant, famous for its fresh, locally sourced ingredients.  Here, fish comes directly from local fishermen, sea fish and crustacean from Bugoynes fishing village in nearby Norway, and reindeer from local herders. Mushrooms and berries are also locally harvested.

Day 2 – Sami museum, reindeers and snowmobile safari

After breakfast, guide will pick you from the hotel for SIIDA – the Sámi museum and Northern Lapland Nature Centre, for a guided tour. The exhibitions will show how nature and people have adapted to the extreme conditions of the Northern environment. Wonderful photographs, videos, dioramas, sound capes and original artefacts guide you between the seasons and back through past times.

After SIIDA, you will visit a local reindeer farm, where you can feed reindeer and try “Lappish lassoing”, a traditional reindeer herders’ skill. You will also hear stories about reindeer herding and Sámi Culture. The reindeer man will teach you also how to drive reindeer and you will get a reindeer driving licence as a memory. Coffee/tea is served in the cosy Lappish hut around open fire.

Dinner at hotel Kultahovi. Evening is spent relaxing or experiencing optional safaris in the area.

Day 3 - Arctic Ocean and Snow Hotel

You will leave the hotel with your guide towards Kirkenes, Norway, at 8.00 am. Drive follows a scenic road, which follows Lake Inari and other lakes in the area. On the way you are able to see fine views over 50 smaller and bigger lakes. There will be short stops in places of interest around the Skolt Sámi region. In the Skolt Sámi centre, Sevettijärvi village, you will visit a small orthodox church. Coffee break will take place in the Sanila reindeer farm in Sevettijärvi.

The drive will continue towards the Arctic Ocean and Kirkenes along the Neidenfjord. It will be a one hour’s drive from the Norwegian border to reach Kirkenes. In the afternoon, you will have time for an optional husky safari.

In Kirkenes you will have a true arctic experience with accommodation in a Snow Hotel. Built entirely out of snow each year, the hotel has around 25 snow suites, each decorated with snow sculptures. There is also an inviting ice bar with beautifully lit ice sculptures for a night cap. Departure for the Snow Hotel takes place from Rica Arctic Hotel, about half a mile away, where you will be taken by a traditional kick sledge. Breakfast and dinner will be served in a warm restaurant next door to the Snow Hotel.

Day 4 – Back to Inari

Good cool morning! Start the day with sauna to warm you up before breakfast. Return back to Inari later on in the afternoon.

In the afternoon, it is time to try out snowmobiling. You will be given warm clothing and introduction to the safari with driving instructions. Safari will start by driving on the vast Lake Inari, which is the sixth largest lake in Europe. First the trip will take you to the famous island ”Ukko” (Äijih), an ancient sacrificial site of the Inari Sámi. On the way you will also visit the wilderness church of Pielpajärvi built in 1760. Hot drink is served during the safari. Upon arrival to the hotel you will enjoy Lappish dinner.

Day 5 – Returning home

Breakfast in the morning with some free time to visit the local shops to buy souvenirs before heading to the airport. Flight back home to the UK in the afternoon.

Tour dates 2012:

January 6-10
January 27-31
February 10-14
February 24-28
March 17-21
April 13-17

Prices:

From Heathrow £1254/person when two persons share a room

From Manchester £1330/person when two persons share a room

Price includes:

Return flights from Heathrow or Manchester to Ivalo, return airport transfers, accommodation in Inari in double rooms with breakfast and dinner, guided tour to Siida museum, reindeer farm visit, snowmobile tour (2 persons/snowmobile including thermal clothing, insurance excess Eur 500), return transfers to Kirkenes with accommodation in Snow Hotel double rooms including breakfast, dinner and morning sauna, services of an English speaking guide, all taxes and fees.

Not included: Optional extras in Inari (in pdf format)