Finland and Norway – 7-Day Nordic Christmas Experience Tour
Finland and Norway – 7-Day Nordic Christmas Experience Tour
7 Days Starting in Helsinki, Finland and ending in Rovaniemi, Finland
Visiting: Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Saariselkä
Tour operator:
Tour code:
137589
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
4-90
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
English , French , German , SpanishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a magical 7-day Nordic Christmas Experience Tour through Finland and Norway, where festive charm and winter wonderland adventures await. Begin in Helsinki, exploring iconic cathedrals and the vibrant St. Thomas Christmas Market. Journey to Rovaniemi, the heart of the Arctic Circle, to meet Santa Claus and witness the Northern Lights from an Aurora Nest. Experience thrilling activities like snowmobiling, a husky ride, and dining in a Snow Castle. Venture into Norway for a King Crab Cruise, savoring your fresh catch. Immerse yourself in Sápmi culture in Saariselkä, and enjoy snowshoeing and ice fishing in Rovaniemi. Conclude with a visit to the Ranua Wildlife Zoo, capturing the essence of a Nordic Christmas. This enchanting tour includes hotel stays, glass igloo accommodations, and guided activities, ensuring a festive and unforgettable holiday.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Helsinki - Christmas City
Location: Helsinki
Accommodation Name: Santa's night train
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
In the Finnish capital, the first real snow is usually coming on Christmas, it will cover the entire city in a pure white atmosphere, and create a Christmas feeling through the Christmas decorations of Aleksanterinkatu. Our first stop will be Helsinki´s cathedral, the most famous white cathedral in Northern Europe. Shortly after we will visit Uspenski Cathedral, on our way to Tuomaan Markkinat (St. Thomas Christmas Market). Feel the true Scandinavian Christmas atmosphere in this lively street market. For lunch, we will enjoy a traditional Finnish Christmas lunch, before we continue to the Sibelius Monument. The Sibelius Park is a park erected to honor Jean Sibelius, a remarkable Finnish composer.
For dinner, we will have something not so conventional but certainly tasty: Arctic Seafood Sashimi. Once we are ready, we will begin our trip to Rovaniemi in Santa´s comfortable night train.
Day 2 : Rovaniemi
Location: Rovaniemi
Accommodation Name: Aurora Nest
Meals Included: Dinner
Rovaniemi is the first stop in the Arctic Circle! The area is mysterious and beautiful. In addition to the world's only Santa Claus, there is a magical summer midnight sun and a stunning winter aurora borealis! Santa Claus Village is probably the most exciting place in the world. Santa Claus will listen carefully to your wishes. Are you ready to meet Santa?During your visit to Santa´s Post Office, you can purchase a variety of Christmas cards. Cross the Arctic Circle and get a Certificate.Â
After meeting Santa, we will visit a snow castle, experience the amazing architecture and ice sculptures and have fun with the high speed sledding in the snow toboggans. Afterwards, we will have lunch, before we go to Santa´s Park! During this visit, we will meet Santa´s elves!Â
For dinner, we will try to have dinner cooked straight on a fire, following the pure Lappish barbecue style and, once we are full, we will go to an amazing experience in our Aurora Nest!
Day 3 : Husky And Snow Castles
Location: Lapland
Accommodation Name: Snow Hotel
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
We will begin this most exciting day with a snowmobile ride through the arctic forest. Very close from there, we can find a husky farm where we will enjoy a 10 km Husky ride, a taster of the most traditional means of transportation in the arctic regions.Â
In the evening, we will enjoy dinner in a restaurant inside a Snow Castle. And after being stunned by this breathtaking construction, we will be shown our rooms, also in the snow hotel!
Day 4 : King Crabs!
Location: Lapland
Accommodation Name: Four-star hotel or Forest Chalet Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
In the fourth day of our trip, we will go on a trip! After breakfast we will travel to Norway in search of king crabs. Norway's sea is a paradise for king crab catching all year round, the only difference is winter crab meat is harder! We will embark on a hunting King Crab Cruise and sail into the arctic fjord. The fishermen will dive into the crystal clear Arctic Fjord, hunting underwater crabs and Arctic sea urchins and scallops. Everything we hunt, we will bring it with us for instant cooking, you will be involved in the whole process and enjoy a fresh meal!
Later on the day, we will have a traditional dinner: Norwegian deep sea trout dishes, and you will be able to choose where you want to stay for the night, a four-star hotel by the sea or a forest Chalet Hotel.
Day 5 : Sámi Day
Location: Saariselkä
Accommodation Name: 4-star SPA hotel
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Today we will explore in depth the Sámi culture. We will travel to Saariselkä, a small but attractive town surrounded by the wilderness. We will visit a Sámi farm and a Sami Museum and, once we know everything about the Sámi, we will enjoy a traditional lunch. After the food, we will climb to the top of Saariselkä´s hill, and enjoy the astonishing views of Lapland from there. To add more history to our day, we will visit the gold rush museum, where we will improve our gold panning skills.
For dinner we will eat a delicious arctic char meal, and with our bellies full, we will go on the hunt for Northern Lights. There is nothing better after an exhausting day that a night in a 4-star SPA hotel double room!
Day 6 : Wild Land Experience
Location: Rovaniemi
Accommodation Name: Ice Hotel or Forest Chalet
Meals Included: Dinner
Back in Rovaniemi, we will try some more adventurous activities. We will go snowshoeing through a wild forest all the way down to a lake, where we will try some ice fishing! We will prepare a barbecue in the snow where we will have a chance to grill our catch of the day. We will then return to civilization, with a stroll around Rovaniemi´s Christmas Market, where you will find a lot of souvenirs and lovely memories.Â
For dinner, we will take you to savor the arctic duck and, once you are full, we will go on an exciting Northern lights hunt by snowmobile. You will spend the night in an astonishing Ice Hotel or Forest Chalet, at your own choice.
Day 7 : End Of The Tour
Location: Rovaniemi
Meals Included: Lunch
In the last day of the tour, we will climb to the top of Ounasvaara Hill, from where we will see all Rovaniemi under the beautiful sunrise. We will also visit the Ranua Wildlife Zoo and its 50 different species.Â
After the lunch, you will have some free time until the evening, when we will fly to Helsinki.
What's Included
- Pick-up from and drop-off to your hotel/accommodation
- Winter clothes (overall, boots and gloves)Â
- Guide in English (other languages available on request: Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese)
- 4 nights 4 star hotel / 2 nights igloo
- All the activities and Northern Lights tour
- Breakfast
What's Not Included
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Insurance
Travel insurance is not included.
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International Travel
International travel to and from the destination is not included.
Requirements
A valid driver’s license is required to drive the snowmobiles.
Please Note
- 4880€/person if more than 4 persons
- At least 2 people are required for this tour to take place
- Children under 14 must be accompanied by a paying adult
- Please be ready, and wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes prior to your scheduled pickup time
- Infant under 4 is complimentary
- Product may be canceled or rescheduled if the group size is smaller than 2 persons paying full price
- * A valid driver’s license is required to drive the snowmobiles.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation, and enjoy the scenic journey on Santa's comfortable night train equipped with double rooms.
Accommodation
Enjoy a blend of comfort and unique experiences with 4 nights in a 4-star hotel and 2 nights in a glass igloo, offering a cozy retreat amidst the Nordic winter wonderland.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of clothing is provided during the tour?
The tour provides winter clothes, including an overall, boots, and gloves.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, breakfast and lunch are included in the tour package.
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What languages are available for the tour guide?
The tour guide is available in English, and other languages such as Dutch, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese are available on request.
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes 4 nights in a 4-star hotel and 2 nights in a glass igloo.
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Is there a minimum number of participants required for the tour?
Yes, at least 2 people are required for the tour to take place.
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What activities are included in the tour?
The tour includes a variety of activities such as visiting Santa Claus Village, a snowmobile ride, a 10 km Husky ride, a King Crab Cruise, exploring Sámi culture, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and a Northern Lights tour.
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Is there a requirement for driving the snowmobiles?
Yes, a valid driver’s license is required to drive the snowmobiles.
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What happens if the group size is smaller than 2 persons paying full price?
The product may be canceled or rescheduled if the group size is smaller than 2 persons paying full price.
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Where are we located?
Nordic Unique Travels LTD located in the door to the Arctic: Rovaniemi, Lapland. Our office is approachable by walking distance from the major hotels in the city area (Maakuntakatu 29-31 96200 Rovaniemi Finland). We are in the middle of the city centre, next to Subway and in front of Sale Market. Come make us a visit!
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When to travel to Lapland?
There are four distinctly different seasons as far up north as Rovaniemi. However, locals think the conditions are in a constant state of change and say there are up to eight seasons in the year: midwinter, snowy spring, spring, summer, harvest season, autumn leaf colour, first snowfall, and Christmas. Please bear in mind that there is annual fluctuation in weather. Lapland is in the continental climate zone. The winters are cold and rich in snow, but thanks to the Gulf Stream, the summers are relatively warm. Rovaniemi is part of the arctic region; its climate, however, is subarctic and temperate, characterised by strong seasonal contrasts of dark versus bright and cold versus warm.
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Summer in Lapland
The Midnight Sun and white nights in June and July The Midnight Sun period officially lasts from early June until early July, but nights are white throughout the summer in Rovaniemi. The summer in Lapland can offer an interesting variety of weather conditions, with a longer warm spell expected in July. The warmest time of year brings people out in masses, and various events take place in summery Rovaniemi. Prepare to celebrate until the wee hours, as the sun never goes down. There are plenty of things to do in Rovaniemi in the summer, and with 24 hours of light, there’s no limits to time of action.
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Spring in Lapland
The snow melts, the ice breaks and nature is reborn in April and May April is still considered a snowy month in Rovaniemi and Lapland, but the snow gradually disappears as May approaches. The ice on rivers and lakes starts melting, and big chunks of ice can be seen flowing downstream. In early April, the last of the Northern Lights displays can be seen. Towards the end of April, nights are too light for the Auroras to be spotted. In May, northern nature starts getting ready to blossom once again after a harsh winter. At the end of May, nights are white. In Rovaniemi, winter activities still run in early April, after which it’s time for non-snow stuff.
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Winter in Lapland
Christmas, the Polar Night and snowy spring from December to March December and January are snowy months shrouded in the darkness of the Polar Night. The sun comes out in February and marks the start of the snowy, light-filled spring. March is often terrific for Northern Lights viewing. In Rovaniemi, the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, Christmas is a special time, as many flock to the arctic town to meet Santa in person and experience the festive season in magical wintery surroundings. The winter is a great time for a number of activities both in the snow outside and experiencing local culture inside.
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Autumn in Lapland
First Auroras and first snowfall from August to November Early August is still considered summer by many, but by the end of the month, it’s definitely autumn. The Northern Lights start appearing in late August, and September and October are ideal Aurora viewing months. Temperatures start dropping below zero in October, and first snow usually falls at around the same time period. A permanent snow cover is expected in late November. Autumn leaf colour paints the landscapes in earthy shades, and days are perfect for hiking and other nature related activities, as nights are best reserved for Aurora spotting.
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Low Deposit
Nordic Unique Travels requires a minimum deposit of 70% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of nordic unique travels charges.
Up to 365 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.