* TOURS INCLUDED * - MAGNIFICENT AURORA BOREALIS & LAPLAND - 2027
DAY 1 ISTANBUL – ROVANIEMI – SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE – AURORA BOREALIS
We depart from Istanbul at 09:45 AM on Turkish Airlines' scheduled flight (TK1749) to Rovaniemi. We arrive in Rovaniemi at 13:25. After being greeted by our bus at the airport, we first head to Santa Claus Village.
Santa Claus Village Visit
Santa Claus Village is known as Santa's home and is especially popular during the winter months. It is famous for its traditional Lapland cottages and snow-covered landscapes. Visitors can visit Santa's house and send their special wishes. Additionally, you can drop a letter into the red post boxes at Santa's post office to be delivered to yourself or your loved ones next Christmas. The village is filled with souvenir shops, local handicrafts, and Christmas-themed cafes. Santa Claus Village, where the Arctic Circle passes and the polar line is marked with a blue light strip, is a great place for people of all ages to experience the magical atmosphere of Christmas. After our visit to Santa Claus Village, we move to our hotel in the city center of Rovaniemi. Before checking into the hotel, we stop by the safari office to pick up the thermal clothing we will use for our upcoming safaris and tours.
Ice Hotel Visit, Dinner, and Northern Lights
After checking into the hotel and taking a short rest, 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 above the Arctic Circle. The Snow Hotel is built differently each year and decorated with ice and snow art. Visitors can tour rooms made of ice, ice sculptures, the Ice Bar, and the Ice Restaurant. After the visit, we have our dinner featuring grilled salmon cooked over a wood fire at Kota, a traditional Lapland cottage belonging to the Ice Hotel. If luck is on our side and the weather is clear, we will have the chance to see the Northern Lights. We return to our hotel late in the evening.
DAY 2 ROVANIEMI – HUSKY AND REINDEER SAFARIS
After breakfast, we head to the husky and reindeer farm.
Husky Safari
Upon arriving at the husky farm, we visit some of the world's cutest dogs, the huskies. Today we will learn how to guide our own husky team and enjoy an unforgettable sledding experience with these adorable friends. Afterwards, we relax in a traditional Lapland hut (kota) around the fire with hot drinks. After the husky tour, we move to the reindeer farm.
Reindeer Safari
After receiving information about reindeer from our local guide, we take a tour through the snow-covered forest on sleds pulled by reindeer. After this unforgettable experience, we spend pleasant moments around the fire and receive a "Reindeer Riding Certificate" at the end of the tour. Afterwards, we have lunch consisting of roasted reindeer, a traditional Lapland dish. Later, we return to our hotel by bus.
Free time in the evening.
DAY 3 ROVANIEMI – FREE DAY (OPTIONAL ICEBREAKER TOUR)
Free day in Rovaniemi. Guests who wish may participate in the optional icebreaker tour.
Icebreaker Ship Tour – 500 EUR per person
After our morning breakfast, we head to the Swedish town of Kalix, located 170 km from Rovaniemi, for the icebreaker activity. During our journey, we cross the Sweden-Finland border and arrive at Axelsvik port. During our 3-hour journey aboard the world's largest tourist icebreaker ship, you will witness how ice is broken on the frozen sea. Halfway through our journey, in the middle of the icy sea, we put on thermal suits specially designed to survive in cold seas and keep us afloat, and swim in the pool created by the ship breaking the ice. After our tour, which is listed among activities you must try before dying by National Geographic, we go to Kukololaforsen, a fishing village in Sweden, for lunch. After lunch, we return to Rovaniemi and have free time for dinner.
DAY 4 ROVANIEMI – SNOWMOBILE – ISTANBUL
Snowmobile Safari
This morning, we will take an unforgettable tour through frozen river valleys and snow-covered forests on a snowmobile. During the journey, we will enjoy the frozen landscape and take breaks with hot drinks. Two people share each snowmobile, and you can switch drivers halfway through the route. After the snowmobile ride, we return our thermal clothing. Afterwards, we transfer to the airport. We depart for Istanbul at 15:25 on Turkish Airlines' scheduled flight (TK1750). We arrive at Istanbul Airport at 21:10 local time, marking the end of our tour.
What's Included
- Economy class flights between Istanbul Airport and Rovaniemi – Istanbul Airport with Turkish Airlines.
- 3 nights at Scandic Pohjanhovi or similar (in central Rovaniemi), Bed & Breakfast or equivalent.
- Comfortable bus transfers between airport and hotel, and hotel to airport.
- Transportation via comfortable bus for activities and tours specified in the program.
- 1 visit to Santa Claus Village.
- 1 visit to the Ice Hotel.
- 1 x 30-minute Husky Safari.
- 1 visit to a Reindeer Farm, including a 1/2-hour reindeer ride.
- 1 x 2-hour Snowmobile Safari.
- 1 lunch at the Reindeer Farm.
- 1 dinner at the Ice Hotel (in the warm section of Kotka).
- 3 breakfasts at the hotel.
- Professional Turkish-speaking Tour Leader service (regardless of group size).
- Airport taxes.
- Hotel taxes.
- 1 set of thermal clothing including tunic, boots, woolen socks, and fisherman's overalls (for the entire tour).
- Mandatory travel insurance (professional liability insurance).
Not Included
- All types of personal expenses and hotel extras.
- Optional icebreaker tour (500 EUR, per person)
- Departure fund (You can pay it at relevant banks or the treasury counter at the airport).
- City taxes
- Domestic connecting flights.
- Schengen visa fee
- Travel insurance package (Covers cancellations). A 100% surcharge applies for guests over 70 years old.