North Lapland Winter Fam Trip

 Please note that changes to the program are possible.

Premilinary Program 

Wednesday, April 12

20:55 Flight AY088 Shanghai to Helsinki operated by Finnair 

Thursday, April 13

06:15 Arrival to Helsinki Airport
Transfer time 4 h 30 min
10:45 Flight AY637 Helsinki to Ivalo operated byFinnair
12:30 Arrival at Ivalo Airport
Meet your local DMO representative Mervi Tahkola at arrival hall. Mervi's phone: (+358 40 7260 995)
Transfer to Wilderness Hotel Inari 
Transfer time approx. 45 minutes.
Lunch is served upon arrival at the Wilderness Hotel Inari's Restaurant Ukko
Beautiful panorama restaurant by the shore of the Lake Inari welcomes you to taste the delicious Lappish cuisine! In our restaurant you can enjoy traditional Lappish cuisine with an exceptional panoramic view over the Lake Inari. The nearby location to Inari village makes our restaurant ideal for stopping by for a tasty meal. Our restaurant can seat up to 200 persons and our bar up to 60 persons.
After lunch check-in to your Inari Arctic Chalet
Inari Arctic Chalets offer a glimpse of Scandinavian design. The Arctic Chalets are semi-detached and each suite fit up to four persons. The suites are equipped with master bedroom, separate living area, interior fireplace, bathroom, and private sauna. Scandinavian design details and panorama windows quarantees comfort while staying in the Arctic Chalet.
15:00 Lobby call
Meeting in the hotel's reception and a site inspection of Wilderness Hotel Inari. Then it's time to get dressed for your first activity in Lapland! After getting equipped we will go for ice fishing which is done in a traditional Finnish way - can it get any better? We will learn how fishing can be done during winter and hear interesting facts about the life in the North. Our guide will teach us how to make holes through the ice, and then we try and see who's the best fisher!
18:00 Dinner is served at the Wilderness Hotel Inari's Restaurant Ukko

Before going to sleep, remember to check the sky! If the sky is clear and dark enough - and you have a bit of luck - you might see Northern Lights dancing in the sky. 

Friday, April 14

08:00 Breakfast in the hotel's restaurant
09:30 Lobby call & Check out
Meet your host Ms. Mervi Tahkola at the reception, phone: (+358 40 7260 995)
09:40 Transfer to the Reindeer Herder's Camp
In the camp we will meet the reindeer herder and his reindeer. We will get familiar with the husbandry and we will also have a possibility to experience a short reindeer sledge ride (NB: Weather permitting for the reindeer ride). 
Transfer to Siida Sami Museum and Nature Centre 
11:30 Guided tour in Siida Sami Museum and Nature Centre
During the tour you will get familiar with the ancient and vibrant Sami culture as well as get a good glimpse of the Arctic nature. Approximantely, 45min tour.
12:30 Transfer from Inari to Saariselkä
Transfer time approx. one hour 
13:30-14:30 Lunch at Santa's Hotel Tunturi's Restaurant Kaltio
Come to enjoy fine Lappish cuisine in Restaurant Kaltio. The restaurant has been awarded with the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs recognition for the excellent quality of the food. With the grand fireplace in the center, the atmosphere is relaxed, without compromising on the level of service and dishes.
After lunch site inspection at Santa's Hotel Tunturi
15:15-16:00 Site inspection at Lapland Hotel's Riekonlinna 
16:15-16:45 Site inspection at Holiday Club Saariselkä
After hotel site inspections short transfer to Northern Lights Village
The Northern Lights Village provides a unique opportunity to experience the magnificence of the Northern Lights and the wild nature of Lapland at close range, without sacrificing comfort.
Check-in to Northern Lights Village
19:00-21:00 Buffet dinner is served at the restaurant in the Norhern Lights Village
Overnight in Northern Lights Village in your Aurora Cabin
The Aurora Cabins at the Northern Lights Village are a magical way to experience the wintry star-filled sky and the Northern Lights, while lying comfortably in the warm bed. The laser-heated glass-roof opens up into the northern sky, directly above the bed.All the activities in the Northern Lights Village begin in the yard outside and the restaurant Kota is only a stone’s throw away. The services at the center of Saariselkä, such as the store, the spa, and restaurants are only a 350 meter walk away while on the other side, the cabins are lined by uninhabited fells and forests. 

Saturday, April 15

07:00-09:00 Breakfast served in Northern Lights Village's restaurant
08:45 Lobby Call and check-out
Meet your local host Ms. Hanna Kouri at the reception, phone: (+358 40 70 98 999)
09:00-09:30 Site inspection of Northern Lights Village
09:40 Transfer to the Husky Farm
We will meet the energetic huskies who eagerly wait to take us on a sledge ride in the surrounding wilderness! Husky ride takes about 30 minutes. After the ride we will have time to pet the dogs and learn more about these arctic dogs. Nd: Weather permitting for husky ride.
Transfer to the forest camp where we will enjoy the lunch
Lunch by the open fire at the forest camp
Snowmobile safari
After the lunch it's time to go for a snowmobile safari! The safari provides a perfect way to experience the beautiful nature of northernmost Lapland while having no rush with driving. The route climbs up the fells to the top where you are greeted by and awe-inspiring landscape. Snowmobiles are driven 2 persons/snowmobile (one is driving, one is sitting behind the driver, driver can be switched during the excursion). 
Transfer to Star Arctic Hotel
16:00-16:30 Check-in to Star Arctic Hotel
Upon arrival site inspection of Star Arctic Hotel
Star Arctic Hotel is a certified environment-friendly company. We carefully chose our exterior design to blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings. From inside the hotel or any room, you are able to experience the full view of Saariselkä and conveniently admire the northern lights.They have been awarded as The Best Luxury Hotel (2020) and Travellers Choice by Tripadvisor (2020). We offer high quality services, including restaurant Kaunis, saunas, transportation, Wilderness Center and more. In addition we offer a wide range of activities for our guests, to make their trip to Lapland unforgettable.
18:45 Transfer to dinner restaurant
Transfer time approx. 10 minutes
19:00 Dinner at Restaurant Laanilan Kievari
It’s not about filling our stomachs but eating and enjoying pure and fresh ingredients together. That’s the philosophy here at Laanilan Kievari. The food is of course playing an essential role in that. A lot of our ingredients have been harvested from our own yard or the local forests. It is very important for us to produce as much as we can ourselves. Our food is supported by a large range of beverages from quality wines to beer from local brewery. More and more people are not realizing what and even when they are eating. We want people to stop and enjoy their life. A well thought and produced meal in a care free environment is the key to that
21:00 Transfer to Star Arctic Hotel
Transfer time approx. 10 minutes
Overnight in Scenic View Suite in Star Arctic Hotel 

Sunday, April 16

You will be provided with take away breakfast before departure
06:00 Lobby call and check-out
06:15 Transfer to Ivalo Airport.
It's time to say goodbye to Lapland!
08:05 AY637 Flight to Helsinki operated by Finnair
10:35 Arrival to Helsinki

Welcome to Helsinki!
Awarded with "City of Design" status by UNESCO, Helsinki is a modern city that offers functional design, unique gastronomy, and maritime appeal. The capital of Finland is filled with lively events all year round, but the peaceful archipelago and green forests are only a stone's throw away and can be easily reached by the efficient public transportation system. 

11:30 Transfer by car to Helsinki PCR Test
Meet your driver at Helsinki Airport with a sign "North Lapland Winter FAM Trip", Christian Lagerstedt +358 50 521 6807  

12:15 Arrival at Solo Sokos Hotel Helsinki
You can drop off your bags here, so you don't need to carry them around.
Walk to Tallink Silja
Tallink Silja Oy is part of AS Tallink Grupp. AS Tallink Grupp is the leading passenger shipping company on the Baltic Sea owning 15 vessels and operating under brands of Tallink and Silja Line on 5 different shipping routes. The company's vision is to be the market pioneer in Europe by offering excellence in leisure and business travel and sea transportation services. 
12:30 Lunch & tour with Tallink Silja
Meet your Tallink Silja host Shengchen Yan (+358 402208932) at the terminal
Walk back to Solo Sokos Hotel Helsinki
15:30 Check-in to Solo Sokos Hotel Helsinki
The new era of hotel Helsinki seeks its inspiration in the capital's colours, atmosphere and iconic details. The new hotel allows you to fall in love with Helsinki piece by piece – the lively market square, the gilded domes, the monumental lantern carriers at the railway station and other distinctive details form a charming and unique whole. Solo Sokos Hotel Helsinki has been created for people who love the pulse of the city, an urban lifestyle, and personalized experiences.
16:00 Lobby Call
16:15 Short Walk to Oodi
16:30 Short tour of Oodi
Helsinki Central Library Oodi is a living meeting place at Kansalaistori square, right at the heart of Helsinki. It is one of 37 branches of Helsinki City Library and part of the Helmet library network. Oodi complements the cultural and media hub formed by Helsinki Music Centre, Finlandia Hall, Sanoma House and the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma. Oodi is a non-commercial, urban public space that is open to all, right opposite the Parliament Building.
17:15 Short walk to Scandic Grand Central
17:30 Site Inspection to Scandic Grand Central 
Meet the Scandic Representative at the reception
18:30 Walk to Restaurant Alexanderplatz
19:00 Dinner at Alexanderplats
Meet Helsinki Partners representative, Tian Yu (+358 45 225 8618) at the restaurant
Brasserie & Pub Alexanderplats is an easy-going restaurant located in Eteläesplanadi where you can enjoy staying at the terrace as well as restaurant side. The concept of a brasserie means that you will get dished from the best ingredients inspired by the greatest European classic kitchen, no need to add any extra decoration. The athmosphere is pure and elegant.

Walk back to Solo Sokos Hotel Helsinki

Monday, April 17

Breakfast at the hotel & Check-out
10:00 Lobby Call
Meet your host for the day: Lily, +358 451790570
10:15 Helsinki Walking Tour
The tour focuses on the fresh and surprising character of Helsinki. During the tour you will be introduced to the main attractions of Helsinki as well as to some of the hot spots of the local design scene and explore different types of urban phenomena and venues. You will also discover a few delicious secrets of Helsinki’s food culture. Explore and be inspired! 
13:00 Short Walk to restaurant Long Wall
13:30 Lunch at Long Wall
Long Wall is a family run á la carte restaurant that has been in business since 1988. They have been in the same location for over 30 years in Helsinki’s Kamppi area. Their roots are in Canton area, Hong Kong and Guangshou, in China. Their menu consists of traditional Finnish-Chinese and Cantonese cuisine.
14:30 Free time
Enjoy the afternoon strolling around Helsinki, why not buy some souvenirs from Stockmann or Fazer Chocolate Shop? Or how about a refreshing walk around Kaivopuisto Park and coffees at Cafe Ursula? Did you know The Finns consume an amazing 12 kilograms coffee per capita annually, putting us at the top of the world, maybe that's the secret of happiness
21:30 Transfer to the Helsinki Airport
Meet your driver from Helsinki Limo Mr. Janne Levy (+358 40 1620190)
01:10 April 18 Departure AY087 Helsinki to Shanghai
18:10 April 18 Arrival at Shanghai Pudong Airport 

Thank you for visiting Finland!