Father Christmas Magic at Nellim

DAY 1

FLY TO YOUR DREAMS Leave from London’s Heathrow via Helsinki with Finnair, Santa’s official airline, to Kittila in Finnish Lapland. On arrival your Lapp guide takes you by private coach to Harriniva and the heart of Lapland where magical spirits will make all your dreams come true. At the hotel make straight for your room where your thermal clothing will be ready so you can play in the snow straight away before enjoying a warming berry juice and buffet supper.
 

DAY 2

SNOWMOBILE THROUGH THE FOREST Harriniva is at the edge of a dense forest and after breakfast you take to your snowmobile, with children wrapped up under reindeer skin rugs on a special sleigh behind your guide, and follow a trail leading to a Sami encampment. Sipping your hot berry juice in a clearing edged with white spruce, fir and pine it’s as if you’ve woken up in a different world. Batteries replenished you continue on across a frozen lake back to the hotel for a hot lunch.
MUSH A HUSKY TEAM Afterwards it’s time to meet Harriniva’s very own huskies who live just a few minutes walk away. Here you meet cute baby ones, big and not so big ones – all sorts, each with their own name eagerly waiting to show you how to mush your way around the fells for the most exciting ride of your life. Grown- ups mush 2 per dog team whilst children ride in husky sleds behind your Lapp guide.
HAVE SUPPER IN A SAMI KOTA In the evening the flickering flames of ‘lumberjack’ candles mark the path to Mutteri Kota with its open fire around which you have a traditional Sami supper. After which its time for bed and ‘perchance to dream’ of tomorrow!

DAY 3

MEET RUDOLPH & A SHAMAN This morning is a phantasmagorical mix as you meet Rudolph, Dancer and Prancer in their corral; reindeer herders in their traditional tepee and a Shaman who tells how Rudolph learnt to fly and awards you a ‘Crossing the Arctic Circle’ diploma. You sit your reindeer driving exam [pass rate 100%] and after receiving your licence take a fairy tale ride in a reindeer sleigh. And there’s more: children enjoy special mini- snowmobile rides; absolutely everybody can toboggan down a specially built snow ramp; learn to snow shoe, tandem ski or try their hand at ice fishing.

FIND & MEET SANTA After lunch each family takes a once in a lifetime journey out into the forest along a trail marked by lanterns hanging in the trees, at the end of which you discover the Old Lady of the Woods in her tepee with some of Santa’s Elves. She and they greet you and guide you to a giant log cabin where Santa lives [the rest is a secret until you meet him]. Whilst waiting for your sleigh to arrive you help collect and decorate a Christmas tree and bake traditional gingerbread cookies.
SANTA VISITS YOU Later that evening, after having tucked in to a traditional Sami Christmas buffet, you hear the sound of bells jingling amongst the trees and discover an ancient Sami spirit has told Santa where you are. Looking outside you see him on his sleigh coming towards you led by a herder in traditional Sami costume. He arrives, makes your earlier wishes come true and delivers a small present to everyone, grown ups and children alike. To cheer him on his way as he leaves elves arrive to dance with you and sing traditional carols.

DAY 4

TAKE YOUR DREAMS HOME After breakfast you’ll have time for a quick last toboggan or snowball fight before packing up your dreams carefully and transferring [lunch box on board] to Kittila for your Finnair scheduled flight[s] to Heathrow where you arrive at 17.10 local time.