WELCOME TO FINLAND

Program 

Saturday, January 14

13.1.2023 Seoul-Helsinki AY042 23:05-06:05+1 at Helsinki Airport
14.1.2023 Helsinki-Oulu AY433 07:30-08:45
08:45 Arrival in Oulu Airport
09:10 Meet your Visit Oulu host Mr Y.T. Kivisaari (tel: +358 40 546 6283) and the bus driver at arrival hall
Transfer to Oulu city (about 25 minutes)
Welcome to Oulu!
The city of Oulu is located at the western coast of Finland. As the fifth largest city in Finland, Oulu offers its visitors plenty of tourist attractions and activities all year round. Oulu region is the biggest urban centre in Northern Scandinavia, a perfect mix of northern nature, urban city culture and original local flavour. Oulu has been also selected as European capital of culture for 2026.
09:35 Breakfast in Nordic Art Hotel Lasaretti and area presentation
10:30 Ice fishing on the frozen sea & snow sculpting by Oulu Safaris
13:30 Lunch in restaurant Nallikari
15:30 Site inspections of Scandic Oulu City
16:45 Check-in to Lapland Hotels Oulu
Lapland Hotels Oulu offers you a chance to experience Lapland in the heart of a city. The hotel is situated in the centre of Oulu, next to the Cathedral and the historical Ainola park, and its 160 rooms have been decorated with skill and style to suit the taste of even the most quality conscious guests.
Free time for relaxing, possibility to use the hotel sauna
18:00 Dinner in restaurant Oula by Lapland Hotels

Sunday, January 15

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out
09:30 Transfer to activity
10:00 Winter day in Koiteli by Go Arctic
Welcome to Koiteli located by river Kiiminkijoki to spend a wonderful day outdoors in good company! The word Koiteli comes from Sami language and it means "in the middle" - here in Koiteli you get to enjoy fun outdoor activities in an island located in the middle of two rapids. You get to try walking on snowshoes, cross country skiing and traditional kick sledge 'potkuri' ride! All these activities will give you the taste of traditional Finnish ways of moving in snow in the early days.
After the snow activities everyone will have the chance to make their own souvenir out of wood, leather and pine wood tar. So you will get the scent of Koiteli to take home with you.
13:00 Lunch in Koiteli
14:00 Transfer by bus to Kemi
15:30 Arrival in Kemi
Welcome to Kemi!
Kemi offers things to do and experience all year round. The sea with a charming archipelago freezes in the winter time and offers white night magic in the summertime. In Kemi you have direct access to the sea in every season, possibilities of various activities with a special twist like during the winter time you can participate on the world-famous Icebreaker Sampo cruises. In winter you can enjoy the freezing weather in warm Olokolo nests, dog safaris, forest skiing or drive a snowmobile and many unique other programmes all year around in the beautiful Archipelago. Kemi is also the home of the world's largest SnowCastle which is reconstructed every year to a different design. In summer you can enjoy cruises in the beautiful archipelago and many musical events and festivals are taking place in the inner harbor area which is the "living room" for the locals during the summer time. Other unique facilities in Kemi are the Seaside Glass Villas.
15:30 Arrival in Kemi. Your local host from Experience365 will meet you at the SnowCastle Area
Check-in to Seafront Premium Villas, single rooms
16:00 Visit to Reindeer Farm. Meet and greet your local guide from Sea Lapland Safari at the Safari House
You will get dressed in warm winter clothing (Thermal overall and boots)
Transfer to the local Reindeer Farm
The reindeer and the reindeer herder wish you warmly welcome to the reindeer farm! You will get a proper introduction to the world of these calm Arctic animals. You will learn how they are harnessed for the drive and you yourself will also get ready to be driven through the trail while sitting in a sledge. Reindeers walk slowly in the forest for a 400m route back where you started, and you will receive a reindeer driving license. After the ride you can try how the suopunki, a Lappish lasso, works in catching the reindeer. You can also treat your reindeer with their favorite snack liechen and take a photo with them. In the cozy kota you will hear stories about life with the reindeers and enjoy a hot drink with a sweet bun.
Transfer back to the SnowCastle Area
18:30 Evening in Kota (Wooden hut & campfire) or the Seaside Lodge, where the dinner is served (Weather permitting)
Overnight in Seaside Glass Villa

Monday, January 16

Breakfast in the main building in restaurant Lumihiutale
09:00 Hotel inspections
● Scandic Hotel Kemi
● Hotel Merihovi
Return to the Snow Castle Area
Presentation of activities in Kemi and surroundings by your host
11:00 Lunch in restaurant Lumihiutale
11:45 Snowmobile Safari to Icebreaker Sampo
Pick-up helmets from the safari House and a short walk to the Snowmobile park.
After driving instructions, start the safari on the frozen sea towards the Icebreaker Sampo. See the size of the ship growing as you get closer to it. You walk onboard, and your guide will take you around the ship. You will witness how the ship can move in the frozen sea and around huge ice blocks. You can also try winter swimming, safely wearing special warm dry suites. After the cruise you get back to the snowmobiles and head back to Kemi.
17:30 Back in Kemi
18:00 Sauna experience
19:30 Dinner in the main restaurant at SnowCastle
Overnight in Seaside Glass Villas

Tuesday, January 17

Breakfast in the main building in restaurant Lumihiutale
Check-out
09:30 Departure by bus from Kemi
11:00 Arrival in Oulu, site inspection of Original Sokos Hotel Arina
12:00 Lunch in restaurant Frans & Camille next to Original Sokos Hotel Arina
13:00 Transfer to Oulu airport
13:25 Arrival at Oulu Airport
14:25 AY 438 Oulu-Helsinki
15:30 Arrival in Helsinki Airport
Transfer to Helsinki
16:30 Check-in at Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti
Wonderfully revamped Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti showcases Finnish phenomena in an innovative way. In the hotel rooms, designed by Paola Suhonen from Ivana Helsinki, you can immerse yourself in Finnish Sisu, Midsummer, a Fairytale Forest, the Tranquility or a Winter storm right in the heart of Helsinki.
Free time
18:55 Meet your Sokos Hotels hosts Ms Anu Huusko and Ms Minna Hirvonen in the hotel lobby
19:00 Dinner at Carl Gustaf at Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti  

Wednesday, January 18

MATKA 2023 Workshop Day 

Breakfast at the hotel

Transfer by bus to Messukeskus, the bus collects buyers from following partner hotels, please note times are approx.
07:45 First stop at Hotel Kämp, Pohjoisesplanadi 29
07:55 Second stop at St George, Yrjönkatu 13
08:05 Next stop at Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti, Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 4
08:15 Last stop at Radisson Blu Royal, Runeberginkatu 4
08:30 Arrival at Messukeskus

Program of the MATKA 2023 Workshop Day

20:30/20:45 approx. Bus to all hotels after "Party like a Finn"

Thursday, January 19

MATKA 2023 Trade Day

Breakfast at the hotel
Check-out

Transfer by bus from the partner hotels to Messukeskus, please note times are approx.
08:15 First stop at St George, Yrjönkatu 13
08:25 Second stop at Hotelli Mestari, Fredrikinkatu 51-53
08:35 Next stop at Radisson Blu Royal, Runeberginkatu 2
08:40 Last stop at Original Sokos Hotel Presidentti, Eteläinen Rautatiekatu 4
09:00 Arrival at Messukeskus

MATKA 2023 Trade Day

Lunch (lunch coupons are given to you on Wednesday by your Visit Finland/Finnair host)

13:30/14:30 Transfer by shuttle bus from Messukeskus to Helsinki Airport, please leave on time for the bus transfer
Check-in at Helsinki Airport
17:30 AY041 Helsinki-Seoul 17:30-12:15+1

Thank you for visiting Finland!