Daily itinerary
Day 1 - Flight / Arrival in Rovaniemi
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Transfer to the cottage late afternoon, approx. 30 min from the airport
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Accommodation
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Dinner
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Sauna
Day 2 - Day at the cottage and exploring the surrounding area
After breakfast, guided snowshoeing tour. Snowshoeing is a fun and easy way to get around in winter nature. You are free to use snowshoes throughout your stay at the cottage.
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Snowshoeing together to a nearby nature church (approx. 2 hours)
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Traditional campfire lunch at the cottage
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In the afternoon guided ice fishing and skiing.
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Ice fishing is an old Finnish winter fishing method. It all starts with drilling a hole through the ice. As we are on a flowing river, the thickness of the ice can vary between 15-50 cm depending on the winter. You can catch perch, grayling and pike, among others. If you are lucky enough to catch a fish, I will teach you how to process the fish you catch so that it can be prepared for eating. Fishing equipment will be available at the cottage throughout your stay.
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There are 4 pairs of traditional skis at the cottage. We will make a ski track on the riverbank where it is safe and comfortable to practice skiing in the traditional way. The skis are also free to use at the cottage anytime throughout your stay.
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Sauna
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Dinner
Day 3 - Excursion to the Arctic Circle
After breakfast, we set off to explore the Arctic Circle and Santa Claus's Workshop Village. 20 min drive from the cottage is the northern Arctic Circle. In the same area is also Santa's Village, where you can meet the real Santa Claus. The area is full of cafes, restaurants, craft workshops and shops selling Finnish design products.
(https://santaclausvillage.info/activities-and-experiences/arctic-circle/)
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Shared buffet lunch at Santas cuisine restaurant (included in the price)
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On the way back to the cottage we stop at a large shopping centre with a grocery store, pharmacy and Alko (alcoholic beverage shop*)
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At the cottage there is the possibility of self-directed outdoor activities: snowshoeing, skiing and ice fishing.
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Possibility to participate in dinner preparation and see how fish is smoked.
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Sauna
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Dinner
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Liisa Holmberg is coming to visit. Read more about Liisa
Day 4 - Visit to a reindeer farm 1,5 hours
After breakfast we will visit the Sieri’s reindeer farm. The visit includes a 500 m reindeer ride, and we hear about the daily life on the reindeer farm and about the natural annual rhythm of the reindeer. (https://sieriporo.com/visit-reindeer-farm-winter-rovaniemi-lapland/)
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From the reindeer farm we drive to the Science Centre Arktikum for a lunch (included in the price). After lunch you will have 1,5-2 hours to explore the exhibition of the science centre. If you are not interested in the exhibition, the centre of Rovaniemi is within walking distance and you can spend 1.5 to 2 hours there. (https://www.arcticcentre.org/EN/Arktikum)
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On the way back to the cottage it is possible to stop at a supermarket and Alko if necessary.
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Sauna
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Dinner
Day 5 - Exploring Rovaniemi
After breakfast, we will independently explore the center of Rovaniemi. You'll have 3-4 hours to spend, and everyone will take care of their own lunch.
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On the way back, there's a chance to visit a supermarket.
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Afternoon coffee at kota (small hut with a fireplace inside). Fire steel and flint stone, are necessary when making fire using traditional methods without matches. That's what you'll learn on this trip.
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Sauna
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Dinner
If you have booked a 6-day trip and are interested in a husky or snowmobile safari, I can arrange it for you at an additional cost. Please check out the Pure Lapland website and let me know your interest when making the reservation.
Day 6 - Departure
Breakfast and transfer to the airport in the morning.
Liisa Holmberg
Liisa Holmberg is a Sámi cultural expert and influencer, coming from Sevettijärvi, North-Finland. She is coming to share with us information and stories about Sámi culture and other indigenous people of the Artctic regions. Which traditions are still valid? What is the impact of climate change on Sami people? What are the most important issues in everyday life for Sámi families? How does the future look? Liisa is working as the CEO of the Arctic Indigenous Film Fund AIFF, supporting filmmakers all over the Arctic region.
