Santa Supreme

• The children will love being greeted at Ivalo Airport by a reindeer with its Sami handler, and one of Santa’s elves, presenting a delightful photo opportunity to capture your family’s first few minutes in Santa’s homeland.
• A short, comfortable 25-minute coach-ride transfers you to your hotel in Saariselkä, just enough time to see if you can spot more reindeer or Santa’s cabin or elves through the forests bordering the road.
• Time for your ‘Michelin man’ impersonations, as we get you fitted with your special complimentary thermal over-suits, boots, gloves and hats.
• Fun-time – a chance to explore and get your bearings in this winter wonderland, make snowmen, go tobogganing or just relax in a fragrant Finnish sauna.
• For on our full-board option, a wonderful first night dinner – a chance to meet and socialise with our other guests and build your anticipation for tomorrow!

• Today’s exciting adventure sees us exploring the mysteries of Santa’s winter woodland creatures, as you join us on our Hunt for the Magical Trolls that help Santa look after all the Lapland animals. These are not the ‘scary’ trolls of the Billy Goat Gruff story - Lapland trolls are friendly but shy and secretive guardians of the natural forest. Traditional folklore tells that Santa loves having help from his visitors, so we search the snowy trails and hidden glades of the forest to find the trolls, and help them distribute the enchanted food that the animals of the forest rely on.
• Elf School is also part of today’s fun, and our cheeky Saari Elves will keep order whilst telling stories and explaining some of the time-honoured elfin activities and traditions, with maybe a song or two along the way.
• Lunch is also included, either before or after your Troll Hunt, in one of the cosy local restaurants. This will be a simple 2-course meal with separate options for the children and plenty of hot berry juice, squash, tea and coffee available.
• Our 5-day trip also allows you that welcome extra bit of time to relax and enjoy Lapland life at your own pace, so for the remainder of the day, choose from the many ‘Optional Adventures’ available.
• Full-board guests will enjoy dinner at leisure in your hotel, whilst bed and breakfast guests may sample Saariselkä’s choice of restaurants.

• The highlight of the day is our thrilling 1½ hour Snowmobile Safari Adventure! Adults ride with a partner, taking turns (if you wish) to drive or ride pillion, whilst children are towed in special sledges behind the guides, or older children may choose to ride pillion behind a parent. The memorable trip is broken halfway for hot drinks around a crackling campfire, with toboggans laid on to keep the youngsters happy!
• Lunch is also included either before or after your snowmobile adventure in one of the cosy local restaurants. This will be a simple 2-course meal with separate options for the children and plenty of hot berry juice, squash, tea and coffee available.
• As today also allows you a that little bit of extra time when not on your included adventure why not choose a different ‘Optional Adventures’ to experience?
• Full-board guests will enjoy dinner at your leisure, to set the scene for tomorrow’s excitement, whilst bed and breakfast guests may sample Saariselkä’s choice of restaurants.

• We will pick you up for the ultimate Christmas adventure, enjoying all the following exciting activities at some point throughout the day, all of which are included in our prices.
• Reindeer Sleigh Ride, meet your reindeer and your local Sami guide, learn the Lappish reindeer names, then take a wonderful 7-10 minute ride into the picturesque woods, with the children cuddled under blankets on your knee.
• Traditional Arctic Circle Ceremony, where a Sami guide will introduce you to their traditional culture with stories and maybe a song or two, and every guest receives a special souvenir certificate, to celebrate your intrepid crossing of the Arctic Circle.
• Husky Sled Ride, where the children get to ride with a parent (and shout ‘mush mush!’ at every opportunity!), and grownups can all take a turn at actually ‘driving’ your own sled! Imagine your sled, drawn by five or six eager huskies, straining at the leash and desperate to run, then released and you’re off on a thrilling 20-30 minute adventure, racing through the snow-covered woods - the perfect way to experience Lapland’s winter wonderland.
• Lunch is also included to recharge your batteries for the afternoon. This will be a simple 2-course meal with separate options for the children and plenty of hot berry juice, squash, tea and coffee available.
• A host of snow and ice activities to enjoy such as ice-fishing, snow hockey, kick-sledding (a crazy cross between a scooter and a toboggan!), tandem skiing, mini skidoo rides for the children, tobogganing and snow sculpture – a chance for all budding artists to convert a large block of compact snow into a work of art.
• See your children’s faces light up with wonder, as you fulfil your family’s Search for Santa, and meet Santa Claus himself, in an exclusive private family meeting, in his hideaway log-cabin home, with his helpers on hand to make you welcome and ensure there is magic in the air!
• Refreshments are included too and are available throughout the day, normally located near log-fires for those times when a few minutes warming up are welcomed.
• Finally, back ‘home’ in your hotel, sit down as a family and enjoy a wonderful Gala Dinner (optional in hotels), and re-live every unforgettable moment of your biggest ever Christmas adventure!

• Fun-time again, with the chance to thrill to another big adventure, whether pre-booked in the UK or chosen the night before from our ‘Optional Adventures’. You may have fallen in love with the huskies and want to enjoy the sled ride again, or perhaps experience skiing, Nordic style or downhill - there are plenty of options to choose from.
• If you’ve booked our full-board option, a light packed lunch will be provided from your hotel to be eaten at your convenience. This allows you to make the most of your last morning in Saariselkä, whether for activities or simply to browse the village’s souvenir shops selling traditional Lappish items and Christmas gifts.
• We will collect you from your doorstep by coach and take you to the airport to catch your flight home, to a chorus of fond farewells.

QUICK LINKS
> Saariselka Resort
> Saariselka Accommodation
> Why Santa's Lapland
> Frequently Asked Questions
> Booking Conditions

AVAILABILITY
All the dates above are available as of our last update. However the prices and tours are subject to availability and availability cannot be guaranteed for late bookings made betwen Oct-Dec where availability will be extremely limited with most tours likely to be full. Alternative tours will be offered should this tour be fully booked.

Images © Esprit Holidays