New Year in Utsjoki
Relaxing New Year in middle of polar nightDay 1: Arrival – 30 December
Arrival to Ivalo airport – Welcome to Northern Lapland! Transfer to Utsjoki (170 km – ca. 2 hours driving time). Arrival to Utsjoki and meeting with your host, who will show you around. Accommodation in cosy double/twin rooms or in holiday cabins for 2-4 persons. Information about the programme and dinner in Restaurant Deatnu.
Day 2: New Year´s Eve – 31 December – celebrate the New Year twice!
After breakfast meeting with your guide who will gear you up with warm winter clothes. Then it is time to start the winter activities. You will learn the right technique for cross-country skiing and get tips how to use the snowshoes. Finally you will do a short tour to the nature nearby with your guide, who will tell you about the nature and animals. You will also learn how to read animal footprints and how to make fire. You will make coffee together by campfire. You can also make snow lanterns and other decorations outside and make you ready for the change of the year. During the day lunch in restaurant. In the evening special New Year´s dinner in restaurant. After dinner we melt tin in tradional way. At midnight we first celebrate the New Year with a glass of sparkling wine according to Finnish time, and one hour later according to Norwegian time: After a short walk or transfer to the Norwegian side of River Tenojoki we will send flying lanterns to the sky with wishes for the New year, and have another glass of sparkling wine.
Day 3: New Year Day – 01 January
Today you can sleep a bit longer. After breakfast you have free time. You can take a walk, go skiing or snowshoeing or just relax. During the day lunch in restaurant. In the evening dinner in restaurant.
Day 4: Reindeer safari – 02 January
Today you will get to know better the reindeer, which are very important to Sámi culture and history. After breakfast a short transfer to the reindeer farm nearby. You will meet and feet the reindeer before starting a short reindeer safari. After the safari warm drinks will be served by campfire in “lavvu”. Your guide will tell you about the reindeer and life of Sámi. After the programme short transfer back to holiday village. Lunch in restaurant. The afternoon is free. In the evening dinner in restaurant.
Day 5: Husky safari in Tana – 03 January
After breakfast transfer to Tana, which is situated on the Norwegian side of the River Tenojoki (driving time ca. 50 minutes). Meet and greet your musher, introduction to the huskies and driving instructions how to handle the husky sledge. Start of the 2-hour husky safari in the beautiful winter fell landscape – two persons per husky team. After returning from the safari coffee and picnic snacks by campfire. Before the transfer back to Utsjoki you will have time to say goodbye to the dogs and take photos. Total duration of the programme is ca. 4 hours, including transfers. After returning to Utsjoki free time. In the evening dinner in restaurant
Day 6: Free Day – 04 January
After breakfast you have free day. You can relax and enjoy the silence of the area, or maybe you want to do a snowshoe or cross-country skiing trip in nearby nature by yourself. You can also book additional activities. Lunch will be served in restaurant (or picnic lunch during the activities). Dinner in the evening in the Restaurant Deatnu.
Day 7: Free Day – 05 January
Breakfast. Today you have also free day. You can relax or book additional activities. Lunch in restaurant (or picnic lunch during the activities). The traditional dinner will be served tonight in the Lappish Kota (wooden teepee) by campfire.
Day 8: Departure – 06 January
Breakfast and free time depending on departure time of your flight. Check-out and transfer to Ivalo airport. Bye-bye amazing Sámiland!
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Group size: 8-12 persons (It can be several groups)
Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Available: 30 December 2017 – 06 January 2018
Prices
1495 €/ person in double/twin room
1845 €/ person in single room (double for single use)
In holiday cabins for 2-4 persons:
1620 €/ person, when 2 persons in the cabin
1520 €/ person, when 3 persons in the cabin
1430 €/ person, when 4 persons in the cabin
Children: 985 €/ child 4-11 years, when with min. 2 adults in the same cabin or in extra bed in hotel room with two adults.
Services included:
Transfers from Ivalo airport to Utsjoki and back, 7 nights in cosy hotel rooms with shower/wc or in holiday cabins (2-4 persons per cabin). Meals according to the itinerary (7 x breakfast, 6 x lunch or picnic lunch, 5 x dinner, 1 x dinner in Kota and 1 x special dinner on 31.12.). Warm outdoor clothing for the whole stay (Overalls, socks, mittens, boots, hat), activities as mentioned in the programme.
English speaking wilderness guides and hosts.
Free use of cross-country skis and snowshoes when equipment available.
We keep us the right to change the order of the daily activities.