New Year in Hotel Sokos Vaakuna Rovaniemi
Thanks to our direct flights, you can be in the Arctic Circle in just 4 hours and enjoy New Year's experiences such as dog sledding, reindeer sleigh rides, gliding across frozen lakes on a snowmobile, and, of course, meeting Santa Claus.
Rovaniemi is the capital of Lapland, where a thick white blanket usually covers the entire landscape. You will have the opportunity to discover this Arctic region where 180,000 inhabitants coexist with over 200,000 reindeer. The area experiences 200 nights in a year, some of which are illuminated by the Northern Lights. It is a territory with six national parks and small urban centers. Rovaniemi had to be rebuilt after World War II by the prestigious Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, who designed the silhouette of reindeer antlers on the blueprints and built the street grid on top of it. It is a modest but functional city, adapted to the Arctic climate.
Day 1. Barcelona / Rovaniemi
Arrival at the airport. Meet with Catai staff who will assist you with the simple check-in procedures. Departure on a direct special flight to Rovaniemi. Snack on board included. Arrival. Meet with our guide and transfer to Sokos Vaakuna Hotel (approximately 10 minutes). Arrival. Collection of thermal suits that can be used throughout your stay in Lapland. Once settled, you will have free time for dinner. The city offers many alternatives with restaurants of different styles and prices. Your guide will provide you with information about the various options. Accommodation.
Day 2. Rovaniemi. Snowmobile Safari and Optional Excursion
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Today, we will embark on one of the most spectacular excursions of the trip, a snowmobile safari. We will be provided with helmets and gloves, and after receiving instructions from the guides, we will start our snowmobile ride. The adults will drive the snowmobiles (2 people per snowmobile), while the children will ride in a sled pulled by the guide's snowmobile. During the journey, we will feel the power of these machines and enjoy the beauty of nature, with the frozen river and typical snowy Lapland forests. During the excursion, we will enjoy a snack around a campfire with sausages and drinks. Lunch is at your leisure. The afternoon is free to explore the city, visit Santa Claus Village, or participate in an optional excursion. Dinner is at your leisure. Accommodation.
Optional Excursion: Karting and Mini Snowmobiles.
Transfer to the karting circuit, where we will enjoy a completely new experience: driving special karts designed for snow or ice. In groups of 5 or 6 per session, we will go through a "warm-up, qualifying, and race" format, with each person driving their own kart. Driving the karts is very easy, and this activity is suitable for both adults and children with a minimum height of 150 cm (required to reach the accelerator and brake pedals). Children who are unable to drive the karts can ride the mini snowmobiles (for children aged 4 to 11). Prices are valid for bookings made up to 30 days before departure, subject to availability. A minimum of 10 people is required to carry out the excursion. Adult price: $195 // Children's price (5-11 years): $100.
Day 3. Rovaniemi. Optional Excursions
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Today is a free day to enjoy the city and all its possibilities. Visit the Santa Claus Village or take part in one of the optional excursions we offer. Dinner is not included. Accommodation.
Optional Excursion: Polar Explorer Icebreaker.
Undoubtedly, one of the best experiences you can have in the Arctic! Early in the morning, we will depart by bus towards Sweden (approx. 2 hours, 168 km). Before arriving, you will be able to admire the imposing vessel at the dock of Axelsvik, in the town of Batskarsnas, just a few kilometers from the Finnish border. The shape of the ship and its extensive stern (rear part), which occupies nearly half of its length, will catch your attention and allow for easy movement from side to side. The cruise aboard the icebreaker lasts for three hours. We will begin with a tour of the ship, from the engine room to the bridge. You can walk around and visit any corner of the ship or relax in the lounge with a hot drink. Dressed warmly, you can witness and feel the ship breaking through the ice beneath your feet. Apart from the unique experience of sailing on a ship of this kind, the highlight of the activity comes when the ship intentionally grounds itself on the ice and, with a specific maneuver, creates a hole free of ice at the stern. Then... it's time for a swim! You will don a survival immersion suit and float in the water without feeling the cold at all. It's a unique and fun experience that encourages us to take photos or videos. Once the cruise is over, we will transfer to a nearby restaurant for a light lunch. We will then return by bus to Rovaniemi (total duration approx. 10 hours, cruise duration approx. 3 hours). Adult price: $500 // Child price (3-11 years): $425. Prices are valid for bookings made up to 30 days before departure, subject to availability. A minimum of 10 people is required to carry out the excursion.
Optional Excursion: Ranua Zoo.
Visit the northernmost zoo in the world! Depart by bus from Rovaniemi (approx. 1 hour, 80 km) to reach the zoo that is the farthest north on the planet: Ranua Arctic Zoo. This excursion allows you to observe native animals that inhabit Arctic regions, not only in Finland but also in Greenland or the North Pole. The zoo is built in the middle of nature, within a forest. You can walk through different areas on wooden walkways, getting a close view of the animals. During winter, everything is covered in snow, and it's a delightful experience to walk through the forest while observing the animals in their natural habitat. You can see polar bears, moose, snowy owls, and more. A light lunch is included at the zoo's restaurant before returning to Rovaniemi. We recommend visiting the Fazer shop (the most famous chocolate in Finland). Adult price: $115 // Child price (2-14 years): $105. Prices are valid for bookings made up to 30 days before departure, subject to availability. A minimum of 15 people is required to carry out the excursion.
Day 4. Rovaniemi. Husky Safari.
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. We will start another day of adventures by transferring to a husky farm, where these gentle friends will be eagerly waiting to embark on their journey. After equipping the dogs with harnesses and preparing the different teams (4-6 dogs per sled), we will begin our sled ride. The guides will teach us how to handle the sleds. Well-trained huskies can pull up to seven times their own weight. We will experience the speed through the beautiful Lapland white landscapes... Light lunch during the excursion. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy the Village or visit attractions for those with tickets: Arktikum Museum. Arktikum Museum (entrance included) is one of the city's most famous museums. The building itself is admirable, with unique architecture. You can learn about Sami culture and tradition, as well as the history of the city. Special New Year's Eve dinner at the hotel restaurant. After dinner, we will be transferred to the Arctic Snow Hotel, an ice and snow hotel, where we will have an original New Year's Eve entry in a magical setting. We can visit the entire complex with its snow igloos, chapel, restaurant, and even a sauna, all built entirely of snow and ice. We will participate in the traditional Sami ceremony of melting tin to predict what the next year holds for us. Before midnight, the countdown begins, and at midnight, the fireworks will start. Around 12:30, we will return to the hotel for accommodation.
Day 5. Rovaniemi. Optional Excursion: Joulukka Christmas Story and Reindeer Farm.
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Today is a free day to enjoy the city with all its possibilities, visit Santa Claus Village, or take part in the optional excursion we propose. Dinner on your own. Accommodation.
Optional Excursion: Joulukka Christmas Story and Reindeer Farm.
The excursion that every child is waiting for. We will transfer by bus to a secret location in the forest where we will experience an incredible Christmas story: Joulukka Christmas. We will arrive at a fairytale place where every detail is taken care of. Upon arrival, the elves will be waiting for us to accompany us to a wooden kota (traditional Sami building) with a bonfire in the center. There, we will participate in the elf school, including gingerbread decoration. Those who pass the tests will receive a magnificent diploma. We will have time to enjoy fun outdoor activities such as tobogganing, troll dancing, snow scooters, etc. Next, we will be guided to the secret "Elf Control Center." To enter, we will have to pass another test... an incredible place. And there, family by family, we will be led to the cabin where Santa Claus himself awaits us, who will receive us and spend time with us. Each child will receive a gift from Santa. We will conclude this unique experience with lunch at the Joulukka restaurant. Afterwards, we will head to a nearby reindeer farm where we can enjoy a visit, have hot drinks around a bonfire, and take a ride on a sleigh. Price per adult: $295 // Price per child (2-14 years): $250. Prices valid for bookings made up to 30 days before departure, subject to availability. A minimum of 10 people is required to carry out the excursion.
Day 6. Rovaniemi / Barcelona
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Free time until the indicated time for the transfer. You can spend the morning skiing at the alpine ski resort, which has 5 slopes, special slopes for children, and slopes for snowboarders. The capacity of its lifts is 3700 people/hour. It also has a special sled track where you can enjoy with the little ones. Ski rental and lift tickets can be purchased by the hour. Departure to Rovaniemi Airport. Check-in procedures and departure on a special direct flight to Barcelona. Arrival and end of our adventure in Lapland.
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