Winter Santa visit

Tour type: Self-drive with electric car

Starting: Rovaniemi airport – Ending: Rovaniemi airport

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be given an electric car, which will be your emission free transportation for the following week. The car company representative will be waiting for you and will all the details regarding the car. You can download an app with all locations of charging stations, which are in every city. You will be provided with all necessary cards for these stations and will be charged accordingly to the usage upon returning the car. The car also includes plugs and cables for charging at stations or even at a regular electric socket.

However, most of the hotels included in the itinerary offer their own charging stations, so you will easily park and charge the car in front of your accommodation.

The electrical charging is free or at least significantly cheaper than the price of regular fuel. Also, upon returning you don’t need to return full battery as with the standard cars.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The 9-days tour will take you through the land of one of the most famous people in the world, Santa Clause. You will enjoy driving through the picturesque landscapes, visit Santa’s village and his home, drive all the way up to Norway and down south to Sweden. Get ready for exciting activities and good food.

Itinerary, accommodation, car rental, insurance and activities – everything is organised for you. The program can be adapted to your wishes.

All activities are subject to availability depending on the season of travel.

Itinerary

Day 1: Rovaniemi airport – Rovaniemi (9km, 11min)

Upon arrival at Rovaniemi airport pick up your rental car and drive to Rovaniemi city. Check in at the hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.

Arctic Circle Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland situated right on the Arctic Circle, which makes the town a gateway to the Arctic. There are many reasons to love Rovaniemi – spellbinding nature and phenomena, Lappish traditions and culture, urban life and wild activities make the Official Hometown of Santa Claus a unique place to visit.

8Services included: Electric rent-a-car for 8 days, overnight at 4* hotel in Rovaniemi

Day 2: Rovaniemi – Ranua (80km, 1h) – Sundholmen (144km, 2h)

After breakfast, depart from the hotel and head to Ranua Zoo. Ranua Wildlife Park has taken in endangered species and animals that need extra care-taking. You can see the only polar bears living in Finland, as well as, 50 other arctic and northern animal species, all in all 200 individuals, at the Ranua Wildlife Park. The animals live in spacious fencings in the midst of northern forest, in as authentic natural environment as possible.

You can enjoy buffet lunch in the Zoo restaurant and after, head down south toward Tornio. Make a stop in Simo to charge your car and then continue to the hotel.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Services included: Ranua Zoo ticket, dinner & overnight at 4*hotel

Day 3: Sundholmen – Båtskärsnäs (45km, 45min) – Kemi (73km, 1h)

It’s time to get your feet wet…well kind of?. Drive to the Polar icebreaker terminal and board the ship. Polar Explorer is a 3 hour cruise in the frozen water of the Bothnian sea in Lapland. During the 3 hours you will be a witness of a massive ice breaking power of the vessel, have a guided tour all the way down to the engine rooms and all the way up to the Captain’s bridge. You can relax in the cozy saloon, enjoying warm juice or go for walk on the frozen sea ice during the stop. The icebreaker makes a pool free of ice and every visitor can take a swim in the dark icy water in a flotation survival suit. The captain will present a Cruise & Swim Certificate to everyone as a memorable gift. After this amazing experience, drive back Rovaniemi for dinner and an overnight stay.

Services included: Icebreaker experience, dinner & overnight at 4*hotel in Rovaniemi

Day 4: Rovaniemi

In the morning we will take you to the husky and reindeer farm for a visit and a short ride on the sledges.

After a light lunch you can visit Santa Clause’s village, visit Santa in his office, cross the arctic circle and get the certificate to prove it.

Overnight stay in Rovaniemi.

Services included: Arctic crossing certificate, husky and reindeer farm visit with short ride and light lunch, overnight at 4*hotel in Rovaniemi

Day 5: Rovaniemi – Saariselka (256km, 3h)

After breakfast, start traveling north toward Saariselka, arrive in the early afternoon and hop on the snowmobiles for a quick spin.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Services included: snowmobile ride, dinner & overnight at 4*hotel

Day 6: Saariselka – Kirkenes (256km, 3h)

After breakfast head to Kirkenes, stop in Inari to charge your car.

Arrive to Snow hotel Kirkenes and check in the first hotel completely made of snow and ice in the world.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Services included: snowmobile ride, dinner & overnight at the Snowhotel

Day 7: Kirkenes (256km, 3h) – Levi (378km, 5h 10min)

The red King Crab is not only the biggest, but also the most delicious shellfish you will ever have the chance of tasting. Now it`s time for you to make your own deadliest catch!

After this exhilarating activity it’s time to go back south. Start your journey to Levi. Check in, have your dinner and go chaise the green lady.

Services included: king crab safari, aurora hunt, dinner & overnight at 4*hotel

Day 8: Levi – Rovaniemi (256km, 3h)

In the morning race down the ski slopes of Finland’s leading ski resort and year-round activity park (which offers 43 slopes and 27 ski lifts during the winter season) or head back to Rovaniemi.

Overnight stay in Rovaniemi.

Services included: Overnight at 4*hotel