Day 1 -
(Dec 22) Arrive Finland
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On arrival at Kajaani Airport you will be met by Santa’s friendly elf and transferred by coach (journey time approximately one-and-a-half hours) to the Hotel Kalevala which has been decorated for Christmas. This evening there is a dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Meals included:
Dinner
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Day 2 -
(Dec 23) Winter Fun and Santa
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After breakfast and a short programme briefing, your winter adventure begins with a morning of outdoor activities including tobogganing and kick-sledding. Later you will make Christmas decorations which you can take home with you and the children will get together to plan a special programme for Christmas Eve. Following lunch in the hotel restaurant we embark on the highlight of the trip – a visit to Santa’s workshop. We walk through the snowy pine forest along a beautiful trail lit by candles and bonfires. There are surprises along the way with music and singing by Santa’s elves. In Santa’s workshop you can learn how to make gingerbread cookies and in the Forest Lodge you will hear more Christmas stories from the elves. The children’s eyes will sparkle with delight and excitement as each of them meets Santa Claus and experiences a fantasy moment that they will treasure for a very long time. Santa will have a small gift for each child. Later there will be time for a sauna before a traditional Christmas concert with local young musicians performing traditional Christmas songs and dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 -
(Dec 24) Christmas Eve
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After breakfast we walk through the snowy forest and bring the Christmas tree back to the hotel where we decorate it. We then enjoy traditional Christmas rice-porridge with a special prize for the person who finds the hidden almond and join Santa’s elves to bake Christmas pastries. In the afternoon there is an optional visit for the grown-ups to the nearby Chapel where candles are lit for loved ones far away, while the children stay at the hotel and practise for this evening’s spectacle. After a relaxing sauna it will be time for this evening’s festivities. A fabulous Christmas Eve buffet dinner is followed by traditional Finnish Christmas entertainment with singing and a visit from Santa Claus.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 -
(Dec 25) Christmas Day - Snowmobiling
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Finally the most magical day of the year has arrived and each family can choose how to spend this very special time together. After your breakfast we take you on a magical snowmobile safari, covering between 15-20km through the beautiful wintery forests. You can enjoy more optional winter activities (not included in the price) such as horse sleigh riding, cross country skiing, a snowshoe tour, ice sculpting, ice-skating, kick sledding and ice-fishing (Please contact us for details of activities), or simply relax and soak up the festive atmosphere. After tonight’s buffet dinner you can enjoy dancing until the early hours.
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 -
(Dec 26) Boxing Day
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Following breakfast there’s a morning of winter fun activities including a taster horse sleigh ride, an enjoyable husky sleigh ride, reindeer sledding and a short snowmobile ride with hot juice served by an open fire.
In the evening there will be time for a sauna before dinner and a late night outside by the fire where drinks will be served . Later in the evening you will experience a Samporite. During this fascinating Samporite, you will hear the story of Sampo. The story is based on Finnish National Epic Kalevala and is told by the Kalevala Shaman. During this rite you will receive one piece of this Sampo but you will have to wait till after the shaman has gone to find out what this piece will bring you
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 -
(Dec 27) Husky Safari
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After breakfast enjoy a day of activities. We include a half day husky safari in the morning and then for the afternoon we can arrange more winter activities such as snowshoe hiking, Ice sculpting and many more. These safaris can be altered to suit whatever activity you would like to do. In the evening there will be time for a sauna before dinner and a performance of a folklore program by the traditional Helka group. (local group of boys and girls, performing traditional dances and songs)
Meals included:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 -
(Dec 28) Depart Finland
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After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kajaani Airport for your return flight home.
Hotel Kalevala
This comfortable, cosy hotel enjoys a peaceful location on the shores of Lake Lammasjärvi in the small town of Kuhmo. The hotel offers a restaurant, lounge and saunas, while each of the 44 rooms is equipped with private bathroom (shower & wc), TV, telephone and minibar. Children are well catered for with special menus and a playroom where they can enjoy Playstation2 and DVD-movies.
Flying to Finland
Our festive season breaks includes scheduled flights via Helsinki from London Heathrow. Local time in Finland is 2 hours ahead of the UK.
What To Bring
We will provide you with the winter outer clothing (thermal overall, woollen socks, boots, gloves and balaclava) that are required for the extremely cold conditions (-20° to -30°C is common on these festive season breaks). You should bring with you adequate clothing (several layers may be required) to wear under your thermal outer clothing (cotton, wool and fleece are the best materials) including long thermal underwear. We strongly recommend extra socks, gloves, scarves and balaclavas especially for children.
Meals included:
Breakfast
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