Northern Lights adventure to northern Lapland, Saariselkä (New Year edition) (27.12.2019-02.01.2020)
- Departure 27.12.2019
- End date 02.01.2020
- Availability 6
- Price from 399€
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Trip overview
Discover magical Lapland in Europe’s northernmost ski resort! Visit Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, check out a reindeer farm run by Sami people, explore the beautiful Arctic landscape and, if you are lucky, see the Northern lights! Try your hand at a variety of Winter sports: snowshoe trekking, cross-country skiing, husky sledding, snowmobile driving, swimming in the Arctic Ocean – and all this at student discount prices! The group will be staying in atmospheric cottages on Kaunispää-fell – a perfect place for spotting the Aurora Borealis!
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Customer reviews
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Guided activities
TOUR OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN and REINDEER VISIT
Timetravels price: from 63€ - average price in Saariselkä: from 195€ // Full day // Comfortable clothing recommended
This is our bucket list special. From early in the morning until late evening you will discover new things about Lapland and of yourself. First stop of the day will be in the Näätämö village near the national border. You have a chance to feed the reindeers and buy waffles or famous pork ribs from the local store. The journey continues towards the breathtaking fjords and ends up to a small, picturesque village of Bugøynes in Northern Norway. Bugøoynes is located at the edge of the world, 70 degrees north, 30 degrees east with less than 200 inhabitants. You cannot get much more rural than this! You then have a chance to swim in the Arctic Ocean or just have a walk on the sandy beaches and take photos of beautiful landscapes of Varangerfjord. The tour will include a traditional fish soup meal in a local restaurant where you will also hear interesting stories about the village. Don’t forget your wallet, on the way back to Inari we will stop at the biggest souvenir shop in Northern Lapland.
”Best day of my life!" -said by everyone who joined this tour.
Cross-Country Ski + sauna & ice swimming
Timetravels price: from 38€ - average price in Saariselkä: from 65€ // 2hrs // Outdoor winter clothes RecommendedDo you want to feel like a Finn by breathing in the cleanest air in the world? Ski through an untouched wilderness and have a relaxing sauna and swim after sporty activity? It is something you have to do while you are here! Our guides will show you the basics of Cross-Country Skiing before they let you go to the world famous snow tracks of Saariselkä. After skiing you will have a chance to go to sauna and ice-swimming with your friends. This activity shows how Finns survive and enjoy the coldest and darkest time of the year and shows why Finland is the happiest country in the world!
Snowshoe adventure
Timetravels price: from 30€ - average price in Saariselkä: from 65€ // 3hrs // Warm clothing RecommendedSnowshoeing helps you to escape the hustle and bustle of modern society. Depending on the weather we will either visit Kaunispää fell or UKK National Park, that are both located on the edge of Saariselkä. Walk through powdersnow, play in the snow, play with it. See and feel the beauty of Arctic Nature around you. This tour is fun, exciting and will push you out of your comfort zone. It is not a guided walking tour in the forest. It is something more. Its an unique adventure that will bring your inner child back to life! Try something new, you will love it!
THE SNOWMOBILE SAFARI
Timetravels price: from 95€ - average price in Saariselkä: from 130€ // 3 hours // Clothes provided by service providerLadies and gentlemen, start your engines! Snowmobiles are a convenient mean of transportation beyond the Arctic Circle. Locals use them anywhere from going to the grocery store, collecting reindeers from the wilderness or paying a visit to a friend who lives behind the hill. Each snowmobile is shared between 2 persons, so both of you can drive for about 45 minutes. The route takes you to hidden places out in the wilderness, surrounded by beautiful and breathtaking landscapes. Breathe in and live the moment. This activity is for those who have a space for adventure in their minds and hearts!
THE HUSKY SAFARI (about 5km)
Timetravels price: from 75€ - average price in Saariselkä: from 130€ // 2hrs // Warm clothing RecommendedHuskies are cheerful and strong dogs who really love to pull the sledge and were born to run! After a brief driving and safety instruction lesson the huskies will take you for a tour through the snowy landscapes of Finnish wilderness. The sledges are shared by two people, and the trail is about 5km long. After the safari you will enjoy a warm snack and tea in the base camp. A brief tour in the kennel is also included. Lifelong memories and cuteness overload guaranteed!
AURORA HUNTING WITH BUS
Timetravels price: from 35€ - average price in Saariselkä: from 130€ // 3hrs // Warm clothing RecommendedNorthern Lights, Aurora Borealis or ’Revontulet’ as we call it in Finland is an amazing show put on by our mother nature and only 2% of the worlds population live in area where they are visible. During our three-hour tour our guides will truly be hunting for the best spots to enjoy and photograph this unique light show. Chances get better when we drive away from artificial lights so cross your fingers and let´s hope that SkyTv is showing us the Prime Time program when we hit the scenes. Our success rate on these tours is 80%!
SAARISELKÄ SKI RESORT & DOWNHILL SKIING or TELEMARK or SNOWBOARD
from 25€ // 1-3hrs // Warm clothing RecommendedThis activity can not be booked in advance. Please ask your Guide for more information!
Nestling at the foot of Kaunispää fell and partly located within the borders of Urho Kekkonen National Park, the village of Saariselkä is one of Finland’s most exotic and popular ski resorts. You can go downhill skiing/Telemarking or snowboarding on a choice of six slopes. The landscape is simply breathtaking! Timetravels students get discounted rates by mentioning our discount code at the entrance to the resort.
*Kindly note that extra activities can only be booked online up to 8 days before the departure. They cannot be cancelled or changed after the booking.
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Preliminary trip program
This is a preliminary trip program, order of the activities may vary. The final itinerary is sent prior 2-3 days the trip by email.
DAY 1 - DEPARTURE DAY
20:00 Departure from Helsinki railway station square (In front of the Casino, Mikonkatu 17)
23:00 Departure by train from Helsinki railway station (Departure option available only for trips starting from 12.12.2019 to 31.12.2019)
22:30 Departure from Tampere railway station square**
DAY 2 - SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE , ARRIVAL IN LAPLAND
00:45 Departure from Jyväskylä Matkakeskus**
06:00 Departure from Oulu bus station**
09:00 Arrival to Arktikum museum: museum visit and breakfast included
11:00 Departure from Arktikum museum
11:15 Departure from Rovaniemi railway station
11:30 Visiting the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. In Santa Claus village you can take pictures with the SANTA, cross the magical Arctic circle, have a break, buy souvenirs, send postcards from the Santa’s official post office. Duration 1h 30 mins
13:00 Departure from Santa Claus village
13:15 Departure from Rovaniemi airpot
13:30 Grocery shop stop + lunch (not included). You will have the chance to buy groceries and have lunch either in Hesburger or Subway. Stop duration 2h
15:30 Departure to Saariselkä
18:30 Arrival in Saariselkä, briefing and lodging in your cottage/apartment. Free time for saunas etc.
Hint! In the evening the best place to see Northern lights is the local fell of Kaunispää, from the top of it you can see 360-degree panorama all over. You can easily reach the fell of Kaunispää by foot from your cottage.DAY 3 – HUSKY AND SNOWSHOE SAFARI*
08:45 Meeting at the cabins, transportation to the Husky Safari
09:00 Husky Safari. Overall duration with the briefing, kennel tour etc. 2 hours.18:30 Departure for the Snowshoe Safari. Overall duration with the briefing, etc. 2h.
DAY 4 – CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING+SAUNA, SNOWMOBILE SAFARI, AURORA HUNT BY BUS
10:00 Cross-country skiing. Departure from the cottages/apartments by bus to the starting point. The program includes a two-hour trek by skiing. Overall duration with the briefing, instruction+skiing and sauna, etc. about 3h
18:30 Departure for the Snowmobile Safari, Remember to take your credit card for deposit (only in the case of an accident up to 900€). Overall duration with brief, etc. about 3 hours.
22:00 Departure for Aurora Hunt by Bus. Overall duration, about 3hours.
DAY 5 – TOUR OF THE ARCTIC OCEAN IN NORWAY and REINDEER VISIT*
06:45 Day trip to Norway. Departure from the cottages.
See and pet Lappish reindeer before crossing the border to Norway and reaching the ocean coast near Bugoynes village (60 min break, possibility to swim in the ocean). A soup lunch inclusive in a local cafeteria. Swim in the Arctic ocean! Back to Finland, last stop in Inari village (shopping).
20:00 Arrival back to Saariselkä. Free time.
23:00 Student Party in Tunturihotel (until 3.30). Free entrance, cloakroom 3 €.DAY 6 – FREE TIME IN SAARISELKÄ + DEPARTURE HOME
10:45 Check-out. Free time for own activities, you can go shopping, dining, sledging, SPA, downhill skiing. No structured activities. The bus will stop at the ski resort at 11.15 and at SPA 11.30. (You can leave your luggage at your bus)
16:00 Departure from the meeting point for the home journey.
19:00 Arrival in RovaniemiDAY 7 – ARRIVAL HOME
00.00 Estimated arrival in Oulu**
03.45 Estimated arrival in Jyväskylä**
06.00 Estimated arrival in Tampere**
09:30 Estimated arrival in HelsinkiIf you need to book train/bus/ferry/flight transfer, we recommend booking at least 4 hours after the expected arrival time.
Important: In the final trip program, activities order can change. Departure and Arrival time might differ by 1-2 hour in case of last-minute unforeseeable weather and traffic forecast.
*activities price is available in "guided activities" section of this page
** Departure/Arrival option available only on specific trips
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What is included
- A round trip to Rovaniemi & Saariselkä from the booked departure place
- Accommodation in 3-14 person apartment/cottage with sauna 4 nights
- Visit of the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi*
- Visit of Arktikum museum and breakfast**
- Tour guide services in the destination
Package price does not include
- Catering, meals, breakfasts
- Bed linen (can be rented in Saariselkä for 15€/set)
- Extra activities as described in the itinerary (can be booked online until 8 days before departure)
* Santa Claus Village is not available if departure point is Rovaniemi airport
** Arktikum museum and breakfast is not available if departure point is Rovaniemi railway staiton or Helsinki railway station with train transportation -
Accommodation
Spend a week like a Finn! You will stay within walking distance from Saariselkä services (grocery stores, pistes, ski trails, restaurants, SPA, bars etc.) All cottages and apartments have a fireplace, own sauna, bathroom, TV, self-catering kitchenette with tableware and cooking equipment, fridge, freezer, mattresses and pillows. Cottages may vary by size and layout, in general, there are beds for 4-14 persons. WIFI is available in most of the cottages.
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Good to know
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Gallery
Images taken on Timetravels tours in Autumn 2018
(click to view full gallery)