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Santa Claus and his Reindeer - ©Visitrovaniemi.fi

Best of Rovaniemi - Classic

Santa Claus Village & Dog Sledding

(5 days / 4 nights)

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Highlights of Finnish Lapland

Enjoy the winter wonderland of Rovaniemi on this adventure-packed, 5-day tour. During your Arctic getaway, you’re sure to immerse yourself in the local culture of Lapland while participating in top excursions. Picture the festive décor of the Santa Claus Village and the ice sculptures of the Arctic SnowHotel. Or feel the wind in your hair as huskies and reindeer pull your sleigh through the snowy landscape. Come experience the magic of Finnish Lapland!

Please note that this package is subject to availability. Please wait to book your flights until after we have confirmed your reservation.

Would you like to spend the night in a glass igloo at the Arctic SnowHotel? Check out our Best of Lapland - Guaranteed Departure tour or the Best of Lapland Classic – Rovaniemi itinerary.

5 days / 4 nights

Price p.p. from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 1802 EUR

— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Hassle-free & seamless travel experience
  • Quality & value for your money
  • Specialists in travel to Lapland
  • Great customer reviews 
  • Carbon offsetting included

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Tour Highlights

  • Enjoy a memorable time in the true Arctic north
  • Discover the beauty, history and culture of Lapland
  • Feel the wind on your cheeks on a sleigh pulled by huskies
  • Meet the “man in red” at the Santa Claus Village
  • Learn about Sámi culture and meet local reindeer
  • Tour the Arctic SnowHotel and dine at the Ice Restaurant
  • Take in the snowy scenery of the Finnish valleys and woodlands
  • Walk through the magical streets of Rovaniemi
  • Experience the thrill of Arctic excursions and add optional activities
  • Have a chance to glimpse the colourful northern lights in the night sky

Travel style

Partially Guided i

Interest

Arctic Circle i, Best Seller i, Dog Sled i, Family i, Reindeers and Sami Culture i, Santa Claus i

Season

Dec - March

Departure

Daily

Interest

Arctic Circle i, Best Seller i, Dog Sled i, Family i, Reindeers and Sami Culture i, Santa Claus i

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your northern adventure.

  • Day 1: Arrival in Lapland

    Welcome to magical Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland! When you arrive at Rovaniemi Airport a private driver will meet you to take you to your accommodation in town. Then head out to explore the snowy city centre. It is small but charming, with children ice skating and sledging on the main streets. You’ll also find a shopping centre and lots of restaurants to try the local cuisine.

    Tonight, you have the option to join a wintry adventure to maximise your chances of seeing the northern lights. Tours range from a family-friendly snow train to a thrilling snowmobile ride in the frosty forest.

    Spend the night in Rovaniemi.

    Included:
    • Private transfer from Rovaniemi Airport 

    Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: Dog sledding & visit to the Arctic SnowHotel

    This morning, you’ll join a 10-kilometre (6-mile) guided dog sledding excursion. When you arrive at the husky farm you’ll hear the excited huskies waiting for their chance to run through the snow-covered forest trail. Following a brief lesson at the kennel, you’ll drive your own sleigh, pulled by a team of energetic huskies, through the woods and over the snowy plains. There will be 2 people sharing each sleigh, taking turns mushing.

    In the afternoon you will visit the Arctic SnowHotel. This complex is built entirely of snow and ice each year. Your guided tour will take you around the beautiful ice rooms as well the ice restaurant and ice bar.

    After the tour, tuck into a 3-course dinner based on local specialties at the Ice Restaurant. Later in the evening, you’ll return to Rovaniemi.

    Spend another night in Rovaniemi.

    Included:
    • 10-km dog sledding excursion including transfers
    • Guided tour of the Arctic SnowHotel with a 3-course dinner at the Ice Restaurant, including transfers

    Attractions Attractions
  • Day 3: Sámi culture & the Santa Claus Village

    Start the day bright and early to join a bus tour to a reindeer farm*. Here you’ll learn about the Sámi people and their culture. Their way of life includes reindeer herding, so you’ll enjoy a short reindeer sleigh ride. You’ll also join your hosts in a special ceremony of crossing the Arctic Circle.

    Next up you’ll travel to the Santa Claus Village. This is a magical spot to do some souvenir shopping, send postcards from Santa’s main post office, and of course meet Santa Claus himself! Afterwards you’ll return to Rovaniemi, where you can spend the evening at your leisure.

    Spend another night in Rovaniemi.

    *If you travel from December until 6 January the transfer will be by bus. On other dates, you’ll travel via snowmobile to the reindeer farm.

    Included:
    • Visit to a reindeer farm & reindeer sleigh ride including transfers
    • Visit to the Santa Claus Village including transfers
    • Arctic Circle crossing certificate

    Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 4: Pick your next Arctic adventure

    You have the whole day to explore Rovaniemi as you wish. To learn more about the local history, nature and culture, including the Sámi nation, you can pay a visit to the Arktikum museum. Here you can browse interesting exhibits about the Arctic region. If you love wildlife, you might want to tour the Ranua Wildlife Park located about 1 hour south.

    If you’d like to take full advantage of your time in the Arctic, you can add more fun winter activities to your itinerary. Going snowmobiling along frozen lakes and through frosty woodlands is always a guest favourite. You could even opt to go ice fishing.

    To keep in the festive mood, you can also head back to the Santa Claus Village. Hop on a reindeer ride, dine at the charming Santamus restaurant or visit the Snowman World. For families travelling with children in December, we recommend a visit to the magical Santa Park, the home cavern of Santa Claus.

    Spend another night in Rovaniemi.

    Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 5: Departure from Lapland

    Today is your last day in Finnish Lapland. After an adventurous winter getaway, a driver will take you back to Rovaniemi Airport in time for your departure flight.

    Included:
    • Private transfer to Rovaniemi Airport

Optional extras

Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

Rooms with private shower or bath and WC. These are in three-star hotels and are all centrally located within towns. Daily breakfa..

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Superior

Rooms with private shower or bath and WC. These are in four-star hotels and are all centrally located within towns. All hotels pro..

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Price per person from

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 1802 EUR

Tour Information

We recommend that you read carefully through the following section about travelling to Rovaniemi, Lapland. It includes some important information about what the tour includes, accommodation, and more about your thrilling activities.

Please note that this package is subject to availability. Please wait to book your flights until after we have confirmed your reservation. If the accommodation in Rovaniemi is fully booked on your preferred travel dates, your travel consultant will be in touch with information about the next available dates.

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MULTI-DAY TOURS
On a multi-day tour, Nordic Visitor books your accommodation and excursions for a self-guided travel experience. That means you’ll enjoy some free time to explore on your own as well as planned, guided day tours.

Each activity is run by a different tour operator, so you’ll get to meet a few local guides throughout your trip.

You can rest assured that Nordic Visitor only works with a small number of handpicked suppliers that meet our high standards. The activities you’ll participate in are all extremely well rated so you’re sure to have a memorable time.

During your tour, we’re with you every step of the way. Plus, you’ll always be able to reach us on your trip by calling our 24/7 helpline.

ACCOMMODATION
On your multi-day tour, you’ll stay in accommodation that’s been hand-picked by our Lapland travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses in Rovaniemi based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.

During the booking process, you can choose from single, double or triple rooms. Please note that in Lapland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

FITNESS LEVEL AND ADVENTURE PACKAGES
You should have moderate to good physical fitness to take part comfortably in this tour. This is because packages set in the Arctic are considered adventure travel due to the specific conditions you’ll experience. Arctic travel can sometimes involve extreme weather conditions as well as vigorous activity and animals (like huskies and reindeer) on many excursions.

TRANSFERS TO/FROM ACTIVITIES
Please note that transfers between your accommodation and tour meeting locations are not included. You will need to check your vouchers and itinerary information carefully. It is your responsibility to be on time to meet tour guides at meeting locations. Thankfully, Rovaniemi is a charming, small, and very walkable city.

DOGSLEDDING TOUR
The dog sledding tour on this package is a 10-kilometre (6-mile) husky safari.

Each sleigh is shared by 2 people, meaning you’ll take turn sitting and mushing. When controlling the sleigh, you’ll need to stand, kick and sometimes run to assist the dogs, depending on the terrain.

Children will be travelling safely with the tour guide on a large sleigh.

SNOWMOBILE TRANSFER TO THE REINDEER FARM
If you travel between 1 December and 6 January, you'll hop on a bus transfer to the reindeer farm. If you arrive between 7 January and 31 March, you'll enjoy a snowmobile transfer to the farm instead.

Each snowmobile is shared by 2 guests taking turns driving. The driver of the snowmobile has to be at least 18 years old and hold a driver’s licence valid in Finland on the tour. You should be able to present your driving licence at the excursion as there may be checks during the snowmobile safari. Under Finnish law, you cannot drive a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol.

There is a height restriction for children. Children measuring under 140 centimetres (4.5 feet) will usually be seated in a sleigh pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. Children over 140 cm are allowed to sit on the snowmobile behind an adult.

SAFETY AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
Please note that sightseeing and tours are dependent on weather and road conditions and might need to be altered if they are not favourable. If something unexpected occurs, you can call our 24-hour helpline to speak directly with Nordic Visitor staff.

As you’re visiting Lapland in winter, there will be snow and ice on the ground. This can sometimes make it difficult to walk. Please note that there are no luggage handling services available in Lapland. You must be able and prepared to carry your own luggage in snowy conditions.

NORTHERN LIGHTS & DAYLIGHT HOURS
The northern lights are a natural phenomenon, which means that sightings cannot be guaranteed. Evening excursions will operate according to the tour schedule, even in unfavourable viewing conditions. Your guide will do their utmost to determine the best possible location for sightings and make this an enjoyable experience for you.

Please be advised that because of its northerly location close to and inside the Arctic Circle, Lapland has limited daylight in winter. Usually you can expect daylight between 10 AM and 2 PM. The advantage of the snowy surroundings is that the light reflects off the snow making the days seem brighter.

TRAVELLING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
As it is a top family travel destination, generally our Lapland packages are child friendly. That said, many activities (e.g., snowmobile and dog sled tours) have an age limit of 4 years old.

On snowmobile excursions, height restrictions also apply. Children measuring under 140 centimetres (4.5 feet) will usually be seated in a sleigh pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. Children over 140 cm are allowed to sit on the snowmobile behind an adult, when paying the adult price.

TRAVELLING WHILE PREGNANT
If you are pregnant we do not recommend taking part in dog sledding and snowmobiling excursions due to safety concerns. Please let us know in advance and we can offer alternative options.

DEPOSIT PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION CHARGES
This tour requires a non-refundable deposit payment of 50% of the total price at the time of booking. You can view more about the deposit and cancellation fees here.

ADD-ONS & OPTIONAL UPGRADES
You can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. You are also welcome to combine this tour with any of our Scandinavian packages.

If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.

CARBON OFFSETTING YOUR TOUR
Nordic Visitor is working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours. Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.

AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR
After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip.

We aim to complete bookings within a few weeks. During this time we take care of booking your accommodation, activities, and transport, confirming all parts of your journey. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip.

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