Authentic Christmas in Lapland

Arrival at the Luleå (LLA) airport. We will welcome you personally with a sign and transfer in a private vehicle to your cottage, located in Kukkola on the Tornio River shore. During the tour you will stay in hotel rooms or cottages located in the Kukkolaforsen complex, handled with energy and passion by Johannah and Matias. Every cottage has two twin rooms, common WC/shower, a small kitchenette and a living room. Hotel rooms have their own private bathroom and a terrace with river view.
Upon arrival, a welcome dinner will be served in a stylish, rustic restaurant with breathtaking view on the river rapids. You will talk to your tour leader and learn all about the place and the travel programme. After you settle down, given the right weather conditions we’ll have our first aurora hunt in the surroundings of the cottage.
Throughout the whole stay, you will be able to use our arctic gear, including overall, boots and socks. Please bring your own hat and gloves.

After a buffet breakfast, it’s time to fetch and decorate our Christmas tree. We will wear snowshoes and walk through the wood until we find a suitable tree! During the walk, we will learn to recognize the tree types that grow in this area – many more than you think! We will then cut the tree and bring it to the cottage, where we can decorate it.
All this happens during the fantastic Midday dawn: in this period the sun never entirely sets above the horizon which makes for fantastic light conditions that last many hours across midday: a photographer’s heaven!
Later on, we will be able to have sauna and later on we wait for Santa Claus in front of a great buffet dinner, made with local ingredients and recipes. In case you have been good, Santa will knock on your door and bring your presents – a fantastic experience for all ages! After Santa leaves back to his home in the depth of the Lappish forest, we’ll get time to observe Northern Lights again, given the right conditions.

After breakfast, we take part in a 2-3h snowmobile safari across the unspoiled forest of the Heart of Lapland. The safari includes a break where you can switch drivers and take pictures while you enjoy a warm drink.
The trip ends at the museum village of Kukkola, where you can take part in an old ritual of bread baking around the fire. We will tell you all about the origins of this traditions, after which you can bake and eat your own bread loaf! A delicious dressing will complement your snack.
Afterwards, we will take you to a tour in the museum village, where you will learn all about the fascinating history of this place. The small but fascinating fish museum allows us to learn how fishermen have thrived along Europe’s best fishing river.
A typical dinner is served in the wonderful sauna overlooking the longest rapids of the Nordics. A hot tub will be available for you to enjoy. Sauna will be on and we guess you will linger many hours in the fantastic setting, looking up every now and then to spot the Northern Lights. You are free to return to your room (walking distance) whenever you want.

After breakfast, we transfer to Juoksenki (1h), where we will cross the Arctic Circle and take a group picture. On the way up, we stop to admire the wooden church of Hietaniemi, a real gem in its kind.
We then move back to Matarenki, where we visit a woodcraft workshop. The Korkeaniemi family welcomes us to their shop and lets us take part in the making of a souvenir (in this case, a typical wooden cup called kuksa). The cup will stay yours for life. We will have time for a quick visit to the marvelous 17th century wooden church.
We then drive down to Korpikylä, where we prepare to meet our shaman. Ryshaya Vetma will gather us around the fire and will convey the message that comes from deep inside us. The experience is intense, and a great way to crown your Lapland stay. Dinner is served in the Hulkoffgården mansion, where you’ll taste locally grown organic beef in a traditional recipe – likely the best meat of your life! We then go back to Kukkola (30m drive) and look for the Northern Lights.

Transfer to the airport, end of the tour.

After a hearty buffet breakfast, we reach Honkamaa (1h30) for a Siberian husky sled safari. A fantastic experience amidst untouched wilderness, surrounded by the world’s sweetest dogs. Upon arrival we meet the musher and her staff. The dogs howl and get excited when they see you: don’t worry, as they are only impatient to get started! After a short security briefing, we start a fairy-tale journey in the middle of the old forest that surrounds our farm. The safari typically covers around 5-8 km, depending on snow and ice condition and temperature (dogs perform better with low temperatures). At the end, we gather in the warm kota where you enjoy a hot drink and can talk about life in the Arctic.
A typical dinner is served at the husky farm, followed by a fabulous opportunity to hunt for Northern Lights in the vicinity of the kennel. The remote location of the kennel makes for a unique experience.
Evening transfer (1h30) back to your hotel.