Norway Winter Wonderland
From Helsinki to Olso including flights from Australia
From $8,999 pp
From $8,999 pp
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
✓ Small group tour - up to 16 people
✓ Return international airfares with Emirates
✓ Internal airfares from Evenes to Oslo
✓ Return airport transfers
✓ 15 nights in comfortable 4-star accommodation
✓ 1-night onboard the overnight Santa Claus Express
✓ Daily breakfast, 5 dinners including memorable welcome and farewell dining
✓ Professional guide throughout
✓Transportation, rail tickets and sightseeing as per itinerary
✓ Including husky sledding, a snowmobile safari, an icebreaker cruise, Santa's Village in Rovaniemi and the Lofoten Islands
This winter wonderland is just as dazzling as you dreamed. Spot reindeer trundling through snow-covered landscapes, enjoy sleigh rides and snowmobile safaris, discover Santa’s Village, and if you're lucky, spy the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky. This enchanting region encompasses towering mountains, glistening glaciers, staggeringly beautiful coastal fjords and plenty more beyond. Walk straight into this storybook adventure, exploring the best of Lapland for yourself on this 19-day itinerary.
✓ Small group tour - up to 16 people
✓ Return international airfares with Emirates
✓ Internal airfares from Evenes to Oslo
✓ Return airport transfers
✓ 15 nights in comfortable 4-star accommodation
✓ 1-night onboard the overnight Santa Claus Express
✓ Daily breakfast, 5 dinners including memorable welcome and farewell dining
✓ Professional guide throughout
✓Transportation, rail tickets and sightseeing as per itinerary
✓ Including husky sledding, a snowmobile safari, an icebreaker cruise, Santa's Village in Rovaniemi and the Lofoten Islands
This winter wonderland is just as dazzling as you dreamed. Spot reindeer trundling through snow-covered landscapes, enjoy sleigh rides and snowmobile safaris, discover Santa’s Village, and if you're lucky, spy the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky. This enchanting region encompasses towering mountains, glistening glaciers, staggeringly beautiful coastal fjords and plenty more beyond. Walk straight into this storybook adventure, exploring the best of Lapland for yourself on this 19-day itinerary.
|
DAY 1: FLY AUSTRALIA TO HELSINKI
Today, board your flight to begin a once in a lifetime arctic adventure. day 2:: helsinki
Today starts early, you will be transferred to your ferry and enjoy breakfast on-board as we cruise through a small stretch of the Baltic Sea, before arriving at the medieval city of Tallinn (Estonia). We will then enjoy a guided city tour of Tallinn's magical old town. Due to its exceptionally intact 13th century city plan, the Old Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, joining the ranks of the world's most recognised landmarks. Later, we return to Helsinki again by ferry where we’ll be transferred to the hotel before enjoying a welcome dinner to get to know your fellow travellers a little better. day 3: tallinn
Today starts early, you will be transferred to your ferry and enjoy breakfast on-board as we cruise through a small stretch of the Baltic Sea, before arriving at the medieval city of Tallinn (Estonia). We will then enjoy a guided city tour of Tallinn's magical old town. Due to its exceptionally intact 13th century city plan, the Old Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, joining the ranks of the world's most recognised landmarks. Later, we return to Helsinki again by ferry where we’ll be transferred to the hotel before enjoying a welcome dinner to get to know your fellow travellers a little better. day 4: kemi
This morning we enjoy a guided tour of the Temppeliaukio Church or locally known as the Rock Church. Excavated directly into solid rock and completed in 1969, this is one of Helsinki's main attractions. This afternoon, get ready to board the ‘Santa Claus Express’. This iconic overnight sleeper train will take us from Helsinki into the heart of Lapland and the ‘official’ home of Santa Claus. The modern train has private twin share cabins, on board dining and is the perfect way of journeying up to the untouched north. Train: Twin cabin with private facilities day 5: kemi to rovaniemi
We arrive early morning in Kemi and sadly we disembark the Santa Claus Express. We then head to the Snowcastle Resort located by the Bothnian Bay – the sea here freezes over during the Winter months. Here you will have breakfast and visit the SnowExperience365, where you are welcomed to a Winter wonderland every day of the year. Amazing snow and ice sculptures decorate the snowy walls, where you can wine and dine by the ice tables. A little later in the morning, you will board the Sampo Icebreaker, an incredible icebreaking adventure. This unique experience of swimming amongst the ice offers some of the most exciting and memorable moments in the Arctic nature. Sampo is like a moving museum retaining its original form from the 1960’s. Everyone on board will surely feel the by-gone glory of the vessel even today. After an unforgettable 3 hours we continue the journey north to Rovaniemi, the home of Santa Claus of course, where we experience all the thrills of Santa’s Village, before checking in to our hotel. day 6: rovaniemi
Today, enjoy a free day at leisure in Rovaniemi. Christmas lovers might wish to return to Santa’s Village to enjoy the festivities. Tonight, get ready for a night you’ll never forget. Board a snowmobile for a 3 hour ride through the wilderness to hunt the Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as the Northern Lights. Experience the Arctic night by driving through the snow-covered forest and on the frozen river. With a little luck, you’ll travel under a bright sky lit by the moon and the stars. Perhaps the Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights – will appear to show you the way. Sip warm beverages and savour a snack by the campfire and learn more about this incredible phenomenon. Optional Tour - Fishing Experience by Snowmobile (5hrs) - Ice fishing safari to a wilderness lake. Head north on a snowmobile trail that takes you along the frozen River Ounasjoki and through snowy forests up into the hills, where you can admire the beautiful surrounding countryside of Lapland. Follow the trail through white, snow-covered fields to arrive at a small wilderness lake. The silence will envelop you as you prepare to go fishing. Try your hand at traditional ice fishing, then fry your catch over the campfire. Afterwards, return to town for a well-earned rest. Optional Tour - Reindeer Safari (1hr) - Memorable reindeer sleigh ride. Transportation by car to a reindeer farm to try reindeer sleighing. This traditional way of travelling through snowy forests is a unique experience. Enjoy a hot cup of coffee with a bun around the campfire and learn about the life of reindeer herders. (Note: Only 1 of the optional tour may be purchased as they run simultaneously). day 7: rovaniemi to sinetta & artic glass igloos
This morning is yours at leisure to explore a little more of Rovaniemi, until your Inspiring Sight this afternoon, a Husky Safari. After a short drive from town, you’ll arrive at a husky farm, where these friendly dogs will bark an enthusiastic welcome for you. Before departing on the 10km safari, you will be given instruction on how to control the sleds. Upon your return to the farm, enjoy some hot berry juice by an open fire and chat away with the head musher about these amazing northern animals. Later in the afternoon, we leave Rovaniemi and continue our journey into Lapland for an Inspiring Stay. Tonight we are staying in an incredible glass igloo. The glass-roofed igloos provide you the opportunity to sleep beneath the starry skies and hopefully the Northern Lights. Each igloo is extremely well heat insulated to ensure guests are not bothered by the cold in even the coldest of times at night. Optional Tour - Northern Lights Safari by E-sled (3hrs - Walking distance from your hotel) - We ride our E-Sleds to the top of a hill, far from the city lights – an ideal place for watching the Northern Lights. We stop to observe and admire the night sky and stars, and, if we are lucky again, see the Northern Lights. The guide is happy to help guests with camera settings, to capture the perfect shot. To top things off, we warm ourselves by the fire in a private hunting cabin and enjoy a delicious Finnish supper. Optional Tour - Arctic Photography Excursion (2hrs) - Ensure you get the photos of the Northern Lights you’ve only dreamed of. Our professional photographers will do their best to make your dream happen during this excursion. The expedition starts at Log Restaurant where you will receive some background information behind this natural phenomenon, while enjoying another hot berry juice. Our professional photographer will give you instructions to set the correct settings in your cameras. We highly recommend that you bring your own DSLR camera, as we cannot guarantee that you are able to take night photos with compact or phone cameras. When everyone is ready, it is time to go out to the nature and find the best spot for taking the ultimate photos. As a souvenir, you will also receive a professional photo of yourself (1 photo per couple or family), hopefully under the northern stars! (Please note: A minimum of 4 people is required for this tour to operate). (Note: Only 1 of the optional tour may be purchased as they run simultaneously). day 8: artic glass igloos, sodankyla; karasjok
Today we travel further north through the constant Winter landscape, with a pit stop in Sodankyla, located at the top of the Kaunispää Fell (438m), perhaps the most recognisable of Saariselka’s fells. A ‘fell’ is a ‘high and barren landscape feature’, such as a mountain range or moor-covered hills. Then enjoy an informative visit of the SIIDA museum in Inari, before continuing across the border into breathtaking Norway, and onto the Sami village of Karasjok for the night. day 9: north cape to honningsvag
Leaving Karasjok we continue our arctic adventures to the northern tip on Norway, the vast North Cape. Upon arrival you’ll be presented with a North Cape Certificate to say you have been to Europe's most northerly point, where you’ll also enjoy an Inspiring Taste of sparkling wine & caviar. day 10: alta
Leaving the North Cape region today we begin our southerly journey down the coast of Norway to Alta. Here we enjoy a visit to the Alta Museum, the World Heritage Rock Art Centre (in Winter the rock art outside is covered by snow of course). Tonight we go on an evening drive around Alta to hunt for the Northern Lights again from a different perspective. day 11: lyngen alps to tromso
Today we leave Alta and continue south to Tromsø. Tromsø is located 350 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle and is the largest city in Northern Norway. The city is known for its lively night scene and range of restaurants specialising in the fresh rich ingredients of the Arctic. Enroute we travel via the Lyngen Alps. These mountains dominate the exquisite Lyngen Peninsula, which is bordered by the Lyngen fjord to the east, and the Ullsfjorden to the west. On arrival, enjoy some time at leisure in the Gateway to the Arctic. day 12: tromso
Today is a free day at leisure to enjoy the relaxed life of Northern Norway. You will have the opportunity to visit one of the many museums within walking distance of your hotel, or why not join one of the many optional Winter safaris on offer. Optional Tour - Reindeer Sledding, Reindeer Feeding and Sami Culture - The Sami and their reindeer have been living and working on this land for centuries and have only recently invited guests to be part of their daily life. You will be hosted bya reindeer herder who will show and teach you about reindeer herding and Sami culture. With thousands of reindeer in the mountains and a herd of around 200 at the camp during the Winter months, you are guaranteed to experience the joy of being close to these wonderful creatures. Embrace the feeling of entering a warm Lavvu (Sami tent) and the sounds of the traditional Joik (Sami singing). This is a ritual which is an important way of life for the local Sami which is their pleasure to let you experience it. You will then get picked up in the city centre before enjoying a short, seaside drive to where the reindeer sleds are waiting. Join Sami guides for an unforgettable experience of reindeer sledding (approx. 35 minutes) and more Sami culture. After the sledding you will visit their camp and have a chance to feed the herd of around 200 reindeer. Then you will gather again inside the Lavuu (Sami tent) for a hot traditional Sami meal and listen to more stories about Sami culture around the camp fire. Optional Tour - Aurora Safari - Embrace more of the Northern Lights by safari with local knowledge and years of experience in finding the best places to photograph the Northern Lights. This is a fascinating way of searching the Northern Lights and enjoying the beautiful landscape, deep in the Polar Night. Don’t forget that camera! Includes: transport by comfortable minibus, warm drink and local cake (Lefse), advice and help with camera settings, Aurora portrait (later sent to your email address), thermal winter suit and tripods to be shared during the safari. day 13: narvik
After breakfast we leave Tromso and make our way to Narvik which sits on the doorstep of the beautiful Lofoten Islands. On arrival we visit the Red Cross War Memorial Museum. In the spring of 1940, Nazi Germany suffered its first defeat in Narvik at the hands of Norwegian, British, French and Polish forces. The Red Cross War Memorial Museum tells the full story of the epic Battles of Narvik. day 14: svolvaer
Leaving Narvik, we make our way to the Lofoten town of Svolvær. The setting surrounding the town is sublime with a backdrop of high mountains and iconic red wooden houses. Svolvær is the perfect base to explore the magical parts of Lofoten. day 15: svolvaer
Today we enjoy a full day of exploring the stunning Lofoten Islands and their natural beauty, including a stop in the small village of Henningsvær. Set among a group of tiny islands seemingly dropped into the ocean at the foot of the imposing Vågakallen mountain, Henningsvær is one of Lofoten‘s best known fishing villages. The stunning setting and mix of traditional wooden architecture with modern art galleries makes this island village one of a kind. day 16: fly evenes to oslo
After checking out of the hotel we head to Evenes to board a flight to the captivating Norwegian capital of Oslo. After a short flight we arrive in Oslo where we are transferred to our central hotel. Oslo is known for its green spaces and museums. Many of these are on the Bygdøy Peninsula, including the waterside Norwegian Maritime Museum and the Viking Ship Museum. Enjoy free time at leisure to explore this pedestrian friendly city. day 17: oslo
Today we enjoy a guided city tour of Oslo, including a visit to the Viking Ship museum. All the Viking ships at the museum were once ocean vessels before they were hauled onto land to be used in burial rituals for their wealthy owners. In the burial mounds, archaeologists unearthed skeletons, beautiful wood carvings and a diverse range of artifacts from the fascinating world of the Vikings. Afterwards, enjoy some free time before tonight's farewell dinner to recount the incredible experiences you’ve had over the last few weeks day 18: fly oslo to australia
Today marks the end of your magnificent and unforgettable tour through Northern Scandinavia. Enjoy free time at the hotel before your transfer to the airport where you will board your flight home. We hope you have thoroughly enjoyed your inspiring Winter Wonderland experience. day 19: arrive australia
Sadly, arrive home today. However, hopefully the memories will last through your lifetime. |
Sightseeing Highlights
|