Into the Arctic

DAY 1 Ivalo/Saariselka
After arriving into Ivalo airport you will be transferred to the Santa's Hotel Tunturi in Saariselka. This evening you will be able to meet your guide for a welcome drink and a briefing about the journey ahead of you. If you are lucky and the weather conditions are right, you will be able to explore the night straight away, getting your first glimpse of the Northern lights.

Stay at: Santa's Hotel Tunturi (3 star) or similar
Meals included: -

DAY 2 Saariselka - Kirkenes
After breakfast at the hotel. You will head for the border with Norway, cross over it, and travel to the town of Kirkenes. Here you will visit the wonderful snow hotel. After a lunch, you will be taken on a tour, marveling at therooms that have been made completely out of snow and ice. You will have time to further explore, perhaps seeing the ice bar, going to Santa's work shop, or joining a King crab Safari tour. If history is your thing, you may visit the Varanger Museum which highlights the devastation that occurred during WWII. After a full day, you will have dinner at your hotel.

Stay at: Thon Hotel Kirkenes (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 3 Kirkenes - Vardo - Berlevag
This morning you will be transferred to the Hurtigruten pier where you will board one of their vessels which will take you across the rugged Norwegian coast to Tromso. You will be served lunch on board, where shortly after your journey will begin. First stop at the port of Vardo with its star shaped Varohus fortress which is still in military use today. Next will be Batsfjord and Berlevag. Along the way you may even be able to see Mount Tanahorn in the distance, or the Kjolnes lighthouse blinking over the Barents sea. Tonight you will dine on board and sleep in your cabin, hopefully with the chance of seeing the Northern light flicker upon the ocean.

Stay: On board Hurtigruten
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 4 Honningsvag - Hammerfest - Tromso
Breakfast is served on board where you will continue to cruise past the Norwegian coast. During the night the ship would have stopped at Mehamn and Kjolleford, with early morning visits to Honningsvag and Havoysund. Following lunch on board you will spend time at Hammerfest, once the most northern town in the world. Here you can see the Polar Bear Society, Meridian Column or take the path to Mount Salen. Continue cruising to Oskfjord and then Skjervoy surrounded by astonishing peaks, before having dinner on board and a late arrival into Tromso, where you will check into your hotel.

Stay at: The Clarion Edge (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 5 Tromso
Start the day with a tour of Tromso, taking you through this unique arctic town. A charming blend of the old and new, modest wooden houses sit alongside modern sleek architecture. Cross the Tromso bridge and see Tromsdalen Church (The Arctic Cathedral). This landmark is visible from the Tromso sound and was built in 1965. If you wish, you may choose to continue to the cable car and go to the top of Mount Storsteinen, 421 meters above sea level, enjoying an unparalleled view of the city. In the afternoon, visit a local brewery and learn the unique methods for brewing beer in the arctic regions. This evening you can take the opportunity to join one of the several Northern lights tours leaving from Tromso.

Stay at: The Clarion Edge (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 6 Tromso - Kilpisjarvi
Meet the Reindeer today on a safari through the snow. Dress up warm and head off to explore the ancient Sami homeland. You will be treated to Reindeer sledding, lasso throwing and storytelling of Sami culture. After this fascinating and memorable experience, you will return to camp to be fed with hot food in a reindeer herders tent. Following lunch, you will continue on to Kilpisjarvi where the nations of Norway, Finland and Sweden meet, and you will have dinner at your hotel. This location is also one of the best in order to see the northern lights.

Stay at: Santa's Hotel Rakka (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

DAY 7 Kilpisjarvi - Levi
After breakfast, you will have the choice to take a truly unique optional tour. With this, you will take snowmobiles for a safari, on a trail that runs on a frozen lake and through beautiful birch forests to Koltavuoma where the yellow border cairn of the three Nordic countries is located. Later that afternoon, whether you took the tour or not, you will drive on to Levi in Finnish Lapland. Here you will spend the night in the Glass Igloos at the Northern lights village, and sleep under the arctic sky.

Stay at: The Northern Lights Village (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 8 Levi - Haparanda
More animal adventures are in store today, with a husky safari! Experience the sheer speed and exhilaration of mushing a team of dogs through the glimmering snow, watching as they effortless glide through it. This is one of those experiences you have to do when in the arctic. This tour begins in front of the Aurora cabins and takes you through some of Levi's most wonderful forests. In the afternoon you will depart for Haparanda in the Swedish Lapland, where you will have dinner and overnight.

Stay at: The Haparanda Stadshotell (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 9 Haparanda
Another bucket list optional tour is available for you today. You can choose to take the Icebreaker 3 hours sailing on the frozen Bothnian sea. During this time you will witness the ship split the ice ahead of you, as well as having a guided tour all the way down to the engine room and up to the captain's bridge. You can also choose to jump into the icy water itself! You will be provided with a floatation suit, and when the ship has stopped, an ice free pool will be made for you to float in. Or, if that doesn't appeal, you may always relax in a cosy saloon with a warm drink. After the journey you will be returned to Haparanda. The afternoon is free to explore the local area, even crossing the border between Finland and Sweden just to visit the mall. This evening you will have dinner at your hotel.

Stay at: The Haparanda Stadshotell (3 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 10 Haparanda - Rovaniemi
Depart for Rovaniemi in Finland, the official home of Santa Claus. Stop at Santa's village where you will be able to learn about the mystery that is Santa Claus, see his post office and even meet some more reindeer. The afternoon is free to enjoy the town of Rovaniemi, and maybe collect some souvenirs before the end of your Nordic adventure.

Stay at: Santa's Hotel Santa Claus (4 star) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

DAY 11 Rovaniemi
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward journey.

Meals included: Breakfast