Come experience Christmas like you always imagined, with tasty food, good company, fun activities in the snow and, of course, Santa Claus. With a group of other travellers, you‘ll get to meet Santa in person at the famous Santa Claus Village, enjoy the thrill of a dog sled ride and learn about the local culture at a reindeer farm. If you‘re lucky, the northern lights may also shine for you at night!
Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.
A day-by-day plan to guide your northern adventure.
Arrive at Kemi Airport where you will be met by a driver and transferred to your hotel in Kemi. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the town or relax in a traditional Finnish sauna at the hotel. In the evening, you will meet your travel companions and tour leader for a welcome dinner at the hotel.
Up for a little adventure this evening? If so, you can take part in a guided snowmobile excursion to experience the tranquil beauty of Lapland’s wilderness and, if conditions are favourable, the northern lights (optional; not included).
Spend the night in Kemi.
Helpful notes:
• Transfer from Kemi Airport is included in this package. We can also arrange a transfer from Oulu Airport for an additional fee. See ‘Not Included List’ for details.
• Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed.
This action-packed day is a treat for animal lovers! Start your special Christmas Eve with a visit to a husky kennel. Here you’ll enjoy a short (1.5 kilometre) but thrilling dog sled ride as well as a hot beverage and snacks in a traditional Sami tepee. You might even get a chance to feed the animals that dwell in the forest! Then your group will continue onwards to Ranua Wildlife Park to go on a guided walking tour through the park to observe arctic wildlife such as polar bears, lynx and wolves. You’ll then enjoy a lunch buffet of local specialties in the park’s restaurant. Before the ride back to Kemi, you’ll have a chance for some last-minute Christmas shopping at the park’s souvenir and candy shops.
Back at the hotel, take some time to relax and dress up in your Christmas Eve outfit. Then your guide will meet you at the hotel for the short walk to the restaurant for tonight's celebration. Before dinner, you can help decorate the Christmas tree while enjoying some freshly baked gingerbread cookies and a warm mug of glögg, a mulled wine traditionally served at this time of year. Of course, you’ll want to save room for the festive Christmas Eve dinner buffet! Last but not least, Santa's elves will make a special appearance to spread Christmas cheer and give small gifts.
Spend the night in Kemi.
Helpful notes:
• Two people will share one dog sled and take turns driving.
• The ride to the husky kennel is 30 minutes and the ride to the wildlife park is 1.5 hours. Transportation is by comfortable coach bus.
Experience the magic of an arctic Christmas during an excursion to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. The first stop will be at the famous Santa Claus Village. There you’ll get to meet Santa himself at his workshop and do a bit of souvenir shopping if you wish. After, you'll travel back to Kemi to visit a reindeer farm and learn about reindeer herding and Sami culture. Here you'll enjoy a delicious Lappish lunch in a traditional Kota before going on a fun 1.5-kilometre reindeer sleigh ride through the woods, which will earn you a special “reindeer driver license”.
Later, you'll have time to enjoy a stint in a Finnish sauna before having dinner at your hotel.
Spend the night in Kemi.
Helpful notes:
• The ride between Kemi and Rovaniemi is about 1.5 hours each way. Transportation is by comfortable coach bus.
After this exciting Christmas getaway in Finnish Lapland you will be transferred back to Kemi Airport for your departure flight.
Helpful notes:
• Transfer to Kemi Airport is included in this package. We can also arrange a transfer to Oulu Airport for an additional fee. See ‘Not Included List’ for details.
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.
Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.
Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.
Photographic evidence of just how stunning Lapland is.
We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.
This is the first package tour that we have ever booked, as I am used to arranging our travel myself and being more independent. Given the quality of the service and organisation, and how much less stress it was than to do that all myself, I would absolutely consider doing this again. Thank you for the great experience!
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
Hotel Merihovi is located in the centre of Kemi, steps from shops, cafes and other convenient town amenities. Each room offers a c..
ViewIf you would like to book this tour with an arrival date 4 weeks or less from today, please contact us for assistance.
For more information about travelling in Lapland, such as what to pack and what to expect with the weather, check out our Lapland Travel Guide.
Adventure Packages
All of Nordic Visitor’s Lapland travel packages should be considered adventure travel on account of being operated in the Arctic during sometimes extreme weather conditions and with the use of live animals for many excursions. For this reason, those booking a travel package in Lapland (except for those considered family travel packages) should consider themselves at least moderately physically fit and comfortable engaging in activities that are considered adventurous or strenuous.
Some things to keep in mind:
The safety of our travellers is our top priority at Nordic Visitor. We reserve the right to change or cancel departures if we feel the conditions will jeopardize the safety of our customers.
Meals
Starting with dinner on 23rd December and ending with breakfast on 26th December, all meals are included in this tour. The meals are a mix of traditional Finnish foods, Sami foods and international dishes. The dinners are either 3-course set menus or buffets. A typical 3-course dinner consists of: a starter of salad or soup, a main course such as meat or fish and a dessert such as cake and ice cream. The Christmas Eve dinner is normally served as a traditional Christmas buffet with a variety of dishes such as different salads and fish choices, a Finnish Christmas ham with potato casserole and carrot purée, dill potatoes, gingerbread biscuits, Christmas chocolates, plum mousse and other treats.
If you have any food allergies, please let your travel consultant know as soon as possible so we can inform the local suppliers and hotels.
Northern Lights
The northern lights are a natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed. Evening excursions will operate according to the tour schedule, even in unfavourable viewing conditions, and our guides will do their utmost to determine the best possible location for sightings.
After booking with Nordic Visitor
After booking your package with Nordic Visitor, you will be contacted within two working days by one of our travel consultants, who will serve as your dedicated contact person for all of your travel needs before, during and even after your holiday. Before you travel, Nordic Visitor will provide you with a detailed personal itinerary and vouchers for all services and activities booked for your travel package. You will also be provided with Nordic Visitor’s 24/7 helpline phone number where you can always reach a Nordic Visitor representative during your time in Lapland.
Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.
