Christmas in Rovaniemi

On a partially guided tour, Nordic Visitor books your accommodation and excursions for a self-guided travel experience. That means you’ll enjoy some free time to explore on your own as well as planned, guided day tours.

Each activity is run by a different tour operator, so you’ll get to meet a few local guides throughout your trip.

You can rest assured that Nordic Visitor only works with a small number of handpicked suppliers that meet our high standards. The activities you’ll participate in are all extremely well rated so you’re sure to have a memorable time.

During your tour, we’re with you every step of the way. Plus, you’ll always be able to reach us on your trip by calling our 24/7 helpline.

To find out which dates you can start your trip on, navigate to the "Find your price" section on the tour's page. Under "Tour start date", you'll see a calendar symbol. Select this and you'll see all the available dates to start your tour.

If you can't select a certain day, this means there are no departures available then. In that situation, please get in touch and one of our travel consultants will look into the options for you.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking.

As this package is subject to availability, please wait for a confirmation from your travel consultant to ensure your travel dates and accommodation are available. You’ll then be able to purchase your flights with confidence.

If you like to plan well ahead, you’ll find that it’s possible to book many tours for the following year. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us. 

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, please let your travel consultant know at the time of booking. They'll see what they can do to accommodate you. 

So when do you check in? And what can you expect when you land in Lapland?

After picking up your luggage, you will be greeted by a driver holding a sign with your name in the arrivals hall. They’ll drive you directly to your accommodation.

Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM. 

You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel until check-in. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your trip if you’d like an early check-in.

Transfers between your accommodation and tour meeting locations are not included, and it is your responsibility to get to these locations on time. Your vouchers and itinerary will provide you with all the information you need, so make sure you check these carefully. Thankfully, it’s never far to walk from your accommodation.

The dog sledding tour on this package is a 10-kilometre (6-mile) husky safari.

Each sled is shared by 2 people, meaning you’ll take turns between sitting and mushing. When you’re controlling the sled you’ll need to stand, kick and sometimes run to assist the dogs, depending on the terrain.

If your group has any travellers under the age of 16, they’ll travel with the tour guide on a larger sled.

When you stay at the Arctic SnowHotel, you’ll sleep in a magical glass igloo underneath the starry sky. Also included in your stay is access to a traditional Finnish sauna, a 3-course dinner and breakfast.

And if the northern lights are likely to make an appearance, you can request a wake-up call at your igloo to make the most of the remarkable show.

Please note that from October–December every year there is ongoing construction work to add the final touches to the hotel (as it is rebuilt every year). The hotel re-opens to guests from 15 December.

As well as all that, your stay at the Arctic SnowHotel also includes free entrance to the Snowman World at the Santa Claus Village. The Snowman World usually opens around 6 December each year and is a magical place for families to explore.

Guests travelling between 1 December – 6 January will take a bus to the reindeer farm, while guests travelling between 7 January – 31 March will take a snowmobile instead.

Each snowmobile is shared by 2 guests taking turns driving. To drive a snowmobile, you must be at least 18 years old and hold a driving licence valid in Finland. Make sure you take your driving licence with you for the excursion, as there may be checks while you’re there. It is illegal to drive a snowmobile under the influence of alcohol.

Please note that there is a height restriction for children. If they are under 140 centimetres (4.5 feet) tall, kids will usually be seated in a sleigh pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. Children over 140 centimetres are allowed to sit on the snowmobile behind an adult.

Yes! Wintertime is the best season to visit Lapland if you want to see the northern lights due to the extended periods of darkness. You can watch the magnificent natural light show in Lapland, with peak visibility in the winter months.

You can chase the lights on evening excursions with a local tour guide. These excursions will operate according to a tour schedule, even in unfavourable viewing conditions. Your guide will do their utmost to determine the best possible location for sightings and make this an enjoyable experience for you.

Please note that the northern lights are a natural phenomenon, which means that sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Breakfast is included on every day of this tour. Lunch and dinner are usually not included, but there are some exceptions.

On some snowy Lapland excursions, you'll enjoy lunch, dinner, snacks and/or drinks as part of the experience. You can find out exactly what's included on each activity's description (they're listed beneath each tour day in the itinerary above).

If you're staying the night at the Arctic SnowHotel during your tour, dinner is included at the resort.

There are festive celebration dinners included on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day (that's December 24, 25 & 31 and January 1). These are served at hotels in central Rovaniemi, and always include a drink alongside a delicious selection of local specialities.

Please note that, if you're travelling on any of these festive dates above, the price of 1 festive dinner is included in your tour. If you'll be staying in Lapland for 2 or more of these dates, we'll add an additional dinner fee to your package after booking. The rate per meal is 107 euros per adult, and 58 euros per child.

We recommend that you have moderate to good physical fitness to take part in this tour comfortably. This is because our Arctic tours are considered adventure travel, and can involve extreme weather conditions. Some excursions will also include vigorous activity and animals such as huskies and reindeer.

If you are pregnant, we do not recommend taking part in dog sledding and snowmobiling excursions. If this applies to you or any members of your group, please let your travel consultant know in advance.

As Lapland is a popular family travel destination, our Lapland adventures are suitable for travellers aged 4 years and up.

Adjustments may need to be made for some activities though, for example snowmobile excursions. Children under 140 centimetres (4.5 feet) tall will usually be seated in a sleigh pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. Children over 140 centimetres are allowed to sit on the snowmobile behind an adult, when paying the adult price.

On your Lapland adventure you’ll stay in accommodation that’s been hand-picked by our Lapland travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and have selected hotels and guesthouses in Rovaniemi based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.

During the booking process, you can choose from single, double or triple rooms. Please note that in Lapland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

If you have anything specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options.

Visiting Lapland in the winter season is magical. Expect snow-covered landscapes and a festive, cosy atmosphere.

There are only a few hours of daylight in Rovaniemi at this time of year, which creates a truly enchanting environment. In Kiruna from mid-December into early January, you’ll experience what’s called the “polar night”. The sun does not rise above the horizon, and instead creates a period of soft twilight.

You’ll typically experience temperatures below freezing, often dropping as low as -16 °C (3 °F). This means you’ll want to come prepared with plenty of warm, insulated clothes. You can read more about what to pack in our Lapland Travel Guide.

Please note that sightseeing and tours are dependent on weather and road conditions and might need to be altered at the last minute. If something unexpected occurs, you can call our 24-hour helpline to speak directly with Nordic Visitor staff.

Be aware that there will be snow and ice on the ground, and this may make walking around more difficult. Please note that there is no luggage handling service available in Lapland so you must be able to carry your own luggage in snowy conditions.

Most of the Lapland region lies within the Arctic Circle, so the differences in daylight hours throughout the year is extreme.

In the peak winter months in Rovaniemi, you can expect only a few hours of daylight between 10 AM – 2 PM. The advantage of the snowy surroundings is that the light reflects off the snow making the days seem brighter.

In Kiruna from mid-December into early January, you’ll experience what’s called the “polar night”. The sun does not rise above the horizon, and instead creates a period of soft twilight.

From February on there are usually at least 6 hours daily light, rising quickly to over 13 hours by the end of March.

During Lapland’s winter months you’ll regularly experience temperatures below freezing. For that reason, you’ll want to pack plenty of layers to keep yourself warm and dry.

Essential items to bring with you include:

• Insulated waterproof jacket
• Cosy wool or fleece jumpers
• Snow or waterproof trousers
• Warm gloves, hat and scarf
• Insulated boots
• Thermal socks
• Sunglasses and sunscreen (the snow really reflects the sunlight!)
• Battery packs for your electronic gear and travel adapters
• Your camera! 

But don’t worry if you don’t have all the kit. Your tour package also includes the loan of additional gear when you’re in Lapland, including:

• Thermal overalls
• Gloves, hat and scarf
• Boots
• Thermal socks
• Helmet or balaclava (for select activities)
• Goggles (for select activities)

You could also bring glove liners and hand warmers for extra warmth.

For more guidance on what to bring, check out this Lapland packing list.

Please note that clothing is unavailable for children under the age of 4. We suggest packing plenty of layers for both yourself and any children in your group.

When you travel with Nordic Visitor, breakfast at your accommodation is always included.  For the rest of your meals, the amount of spending money you need will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to. 

In Finnish Lapland, we recommend budgeting between 15-20 EUR for lunch per person, each day. Dinner at casual restaurants might cost between 30-50 EUR for a main course.

In Swedish Lapland, we recommend budgeting between 150–250 SEK for lunch per person, each day. Dinner at casual restaurants might cost between 300–500 SEK for a main course.

These prices do not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.

There are limited laundry facilities in the countryside, though you’ll find laundrettes in the larger cities and towns. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.

We’re here to help make sure your trip goes well – and that includes eating well. Just let us know your dietary requirements when you book and your travel consultant will factor them in from the start. Whether that’s an allergy, intolerance, lifestyle choice, or anything else. Breakfast is included at your accommodation each day, and we’ll make sure your needs are flagged in advance. Typical breakfast spreads include baked goods, cheese, jam, yoghurt, cereal, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee, so there’s usually a good range to work with. For lunches and dinners, most places are used to accommodating different requirements. Just let the waiting staff know when you arrive.

Vegetarian options are widely available, and gluten-free awareness has grown significantly in recent years. Vegans may find it more of a patchwork depending on the destination, but easier in cities and larger towns, patchier in rural areas. If you have a severe allergy, it’s always worth communicating this clearly and, where relevant, having a short written note explaining your needs in the local language. We’re happy to help you put one together before you travel.

Yes, we highly recommend getting travel insurance for your trip.

There are numerous insurance providers online, offering policies with varying levels of coverage. These will protect your finances in the event of illness or other medical emergencies, lost or damaged luggage, flight cancellation, trip curtailment, theft and much more.

If you have a passport from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Finland. This visa-free entry is valid for up to 90 days.

Visiting from another country? You can find out whether you require a visa to enter Finland on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland website. Simply select your home country to view details.

Your passport must also be valid for at least 3 months after your departure from Finland. It’s good to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

We aim to complete bookings within a few weeks. During this time we take care of booking your accommodation, activities, and transport, confirming all parts of your journey. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. 

When we get back to you might depend slightly on how far ahead you’ve booked your travels and other tours running at the time. 

This package is subject to availability. That means we recommend that you wait to book your flights until after we have confirmed your reservation. If there is no available accommodation on your preferred travel dates, your travel consultant will be in touch with information about the next available dates.

After you have booked your tour, we will begin the booking process for your trip. We aim to complete the preparation within a few weeks. This includes reserving your accommodation and confirming all your services in Lapland.

Once your trip details are finalised, we will prepare your personal itinerary and booking overview, and send all of this to you via email. 

Your remaining balance is due 30 days before your arrival date. Apart from the deposit, all remaining payments are managed through our Customer Portal. On this portal, you also have the option to split your payments if preferred.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline. 

During your tour, there will always be a travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

All bookings are billed in Euro (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

Because of inclusions on this tour, it requires a non-refundable deposit payment of 50% of the total price at the time of booking. You can view more about the deposit and cancellation fees here.