The Christmas with Santa Claus and New Year’s Eve in Stockholm

Day 01 (22^nd of December) Helsinki

Meet your tour escort and fellow travelers in the hotel lobby between 6pm and 8pm.

Overnight at Glo Art Hotel (or similar) in Helsinki.

Day 02 (23^rd of December) Helsinki / Rovainemi

Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Morning city tour of the Finnish capital with a local guide.
We will see the colourful harbor market, the neo-classical Senate square, the Cathedral, the Sibelius monument, the Russian orthodox Uspenski Cathedral and the famous church in the Rock; Temppeliauko.
Some free time in the afternoon to maybe shop for the last Christmas gifts, visit the Christmas market or just enjoy the Christmas spirit and the decorations.

Transfer to the train station for the overnight train journey to Rovaniemi in cabins with private facilities.

Day 03 (24^th of December) Rovaniemi

Upon arrival in Rovaniemi, transfer to Scandic Hotel (or similar) for breakfast.
You will receive the thermal outfits which you can keep during all your stay in Rovaniemi to keep you warm and let you enjoy the snowy landscape.
Today we will make a visit to Santa Claus Village located on the Arctic Circle, here you have the chance to meet Santa himself and visit his post office, maybe send some post-cards, here they will be stamped by hand with special postmark of the Santa Claus Post Office.
In this magic world there will also be possible to find some unique gifts of Finnish handicrafts or top Finnish Design products offered in the many giftware shops.
This evening you will enjoy a traditional Christmas Eve Dinner. For families with children it is possible to leave the Christmas gifts for the children at the reception so Santa Claus can pick them up and give them to the children when he makes a visit to the hotel this Christmas Eve.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04 (25^th of December) Rovaniemi

Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Our morning adventure is a snowmobile safari with ice-fishing. Our safari guide will give us a briefing and driving instructions. There will be 2 persons per snowmobile and stops will be made during the tour to switch drivers. We will drive on the frozen river and our guide will choose a nice spot to stop for fishing. After drilling a hole in the ice, we will try the ice fishing! Patience is the key of success. We will get hot drinks and biscuits to keep ourselves warm! Time to enjoy the silence of the nature and breathe the fresh air of Lapland. After this nice experience we will return to the city by snowmobile!
Tonight, enjoy a traditional Finnish Christmas dinner.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05 (26^th of December) Rovaniemi

Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
A new adventure awaits you today with huskies and reindeer. We arrive at the husky farm where the breeders will tell us about the life of huskies, the breeding, feeding and training of the dogs while you will enjoy a hot drink. We will also enjoy a sleigh–ride pulled by a husky team. Their eagerness to run through the silent forest makes this adventure magic.
We continue to the nearby Reindeer farm to learn more about the life of reindeer and their herders. You will also enjoy a ride in a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
Possibility to join an optional Northern Lights Chase safari this evening.

Northern Light Safari

AURORA SKY DRIVE – To the wilderness by car/coach
The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are possible to be observed in the Polar zone of the world. The location of Rovaniemi on the Arctic Circle gives us the best possibilities to try and see them. A local guide will drive you out of the city reaching the perfect spots offering us the best open sky vision to enjoy the Lappish picnic, hopefully under the Auroras. Everyone will try to fun walk with snowshoes and we will share some nice moment around the fire, with stories about Lapland.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Departure: 20:30
• Includes: Winter clothing, car transfers, Lappish picnic, hot drinks, guiding in English
• Notice: Reservations subject to weather conditions on the spot.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06 (27^th of December) Rovaniemi

Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Today’s excursion will take us by coach to Ranua Wildlife Park. Here you will have the possibility to see the Arctic animals in an as authentic environment as possible for the animals. There are around 50 different species represented in the park. During your walk in the park, you might see polar bears, lynxes, moose etc.
Upon the return to Rovaniemi we board the overnight train which will take us back to Helsinki.

Dinner onboard and overnight in cabins with private facilities.

Day 07 (28^th of December) Helsinki

Morning arrival in Helsinki and transfer to your hotel for breakfast. Day free in Helsinki or join an optional day excursion to Tallinn.

Full day Tallinn excursion

09:30 Coach transfer: Hotel → Helsinki Pier
10:30 Ferry crossing: Helsinki → Tallinn
12:30 Local guide for 2 hours Starting at pier and ending in city center

During the tour you will admire the Alexandre Nevski church and Dome Church, and the 13-14 century Danish-German castle, today the seat of the Estonian Parliament. There will be time for photo stops, and to take in the views of the medieval town-wall and tens of towers. Then You walk down to the Lower part of the city. The highlights of this part of the town is the Town Hall Square with the 15th century Town Hall, the 15th century pharmacy, and the buildings of Great Guild and Brotherhood of Blackheads.

12:30 Coach at disposal for 1 hour starting at pier and ending in city center (Please note the transfer back to the ferry is not included and should be made individually.)
19:30 Ferry Crossing: Tallinn → Helsinki
21:30 Coach transfer: Helsinki Pier to Hotel

Overnight at GLO Art Hotel or similar.

Day 08 (29^th of December) Helsinki / Silja Line

Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Time free in Helsinki until late afternoon when we embark on Silja Lines overnight cruise to Stockholm. Plenty of things to do on the ship, entertainment, shopping, bars, spa, etc. Buffet dinner onboard.

Overnight in outside cabins.

Day 09 (30^th of December) Stockholm

Breakfast buffet onboard.
Enjoy the scenic archipelago as you sail into Stockholm.
Directly from the pier we start the sightseeing tour of Stockholm- the Swedish capital. The viewpoint at Fjällgatan gives you a beautiful panorama of Stockholm, which is spread out on 14 islands. We will visit Gamla Stan, the old city with its narrow cobbled-stoned lanes, charming small squares, medieval buildings in happy colours, the Cathedral and the Royal Palace. The tour ends at our centrally located hotel.
Afternoon free to continue exploring Stockholm.

Overnight at Clarion Amaranten Hotel (or similar).

Day 10 (31^st of December) Stockholm

Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
Time free in Stockholm to enjoy the city and prepare for New Year’s Eve celebration.
A visit is included to the famous Stockholm Ice Bar, including a drink. This is the planet’s first permanent ice bar, made of ice from the Ice hotel in Swedish Lapland. Everything except the liquids in the drinks is made of ice, including the glasses you drink out of.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 – (1^st of January) Stockholm

The services of the tour end this morning with the Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

The package rates include:

• accommodation for 7 nights at the hotel mentioned in the program
• accommodation for 2 nights on the night train in cabins with private facilities
• accommodation for 1 night on board Silja Line in outside cabins with private facilities
• English-speaking tour-leader throughout the tour.
• meals included: Buffet breakfast daily and 4 dinners as per itinerary.
• local guides for the sightseeing tours of Helsinki and Stockholm.
• thermal Winter clothing during all the stay in Rovaniemi (overall, gloves, hats, boots, socks, scarves etc.)
• visit to Santa Claus village
• visit to Husky farm including 2 km husky-sleigh ride.
• visit to reindeer farm including 500 meters reindeer–sleigh ride
• snowmobile safari with ice-fishing (2 persons per snowmobile)
• full day excursion to Ranua Wildlife Park.
• entrance fee to Stockholm Ice Bar including one drink

The package rates do not include:

• flight tickets
• meals, which are not mentioned int the program
• optional excursions
• tips
• personal expenses (laundry, telephone, etc.)