Pre-Christmas in Iso Syöte
An incredible journey full of sensations, experiences, nature, and magic. Travel to Lapland, a magical destination where you can meet Santa Claus in person and enjoy incredible excursions in the Arctic Circle in search of the Northern Lights.
Iso Syöte is located in a unique area, 150 km from the Arctic Circle... If you are looking for untouched nature, this is the place to visit in Lapland. Syöte, which means "blessed" in the ancient Sami language, is primarily known for its ski resort, famous worldwide for the massive amounts of snow you can find, to the point where it becomes difficult to distinguish the shapes of trees. Swamps are characteristic of the Syöte area, representing a quarter of the total surface area of the national park, even on hills 300 meters above sea level. You won't find anything like it anywhere else in Finland, and it's a perfect destination to experience the authentic Lapland. Santa Claus in Lapland, in collaboration with Catai Tours, invites you to travel to the "blessed" area of Iso Syöte in Lapland.
Day 1. Spain / Kuusamo / Iso Syöte
Arrival at the airport. Meet with Catai staff who will assist you with the simple check-in procedures. Departure on a special direct flight to Kuusamo. Snack on board included. Meet your guide and transfer to the Iso Syöte resort (approx. 1h 25min). Arrival. Once settled, we will enjoy a delicious dinner at the hotel restaurant. Accommodation.
Day 2. Iso Syöte. Snowmobile Safari and Reindeer Farm
Buffet breakfast. Collection of thermal equipment that you can use throughout your stay in Lapland. We will start our adventure in Lapland with a snowmobile excursion. Local guides will explain how they work (it's very simple) and the basic safety rules before we begin our ride. Children will ride in a special sled pulled by the guide's snowmobile. We will enjoy landscapes of great natural beauty until we reach a nearby reindeer farm, where the Sámi herders will tell us about the way of life of these friendly animals. They will share various interesting facts, and we will take a reindeer sleigh ride. Each sleigh is pulled by a single reindeer, and each reindeer has its own name. The sleigh ride is ideal for enjoying the snowy scenery, taking photos, or capturing the moment on video. We will return to the hotel on snowmobiles. Light buffet lunch at the hotel's panoramic restaurant. Return to the resort, where we have access to the Arctic Spa with a pool, cold-water baths, Finnish sauna, Turkish sauna, and jacuzzi for free use. Dinner at the "Hilltop" Restaurant. Accommodation.
Day 3. Iso Syöte. Husky Sled Ride and Snowmobile Safari
Buffet breakfast. It's time to put on the thermal clothing again to enjoy an incredible day outdoors. Transfer by snowmobile to a husky farm. After visiting the farm, it's time to start the husky sled ride. These friendly animals will be waiting for us, jumping and barking, ready to pull the sleds. During this ride, each adult will have the opportunity to drive their own sled (2 people per sled, alternating the pilot position: while one person drives, the other sits in the sled). Children will sit in the sled. This is undoubtedly one of the best experiences to enjoy in Lapland. Light lunch at the farm around a campfire. After lunch, return to the Iso Syöte hotel on snowmobiles. In the afternoon, we can enjoy the different activities offered by the hotel. We will have a movie session in one of the hotel's theaters! You can also try "tobogganing" in Iso Syöte... Sliding down the natural slopes on snow sleds can be great fun for both children and adults. Dinner at the "Hilltop" Restaurant. Accommodation.
Day 4. Iso Syöte. Visit to Santa Claus
Buffet breakfast. Transfer to Ruka. The moment that all the children have been waiting for has arrived. We will be transferred to the secret home of the Claus family in the forest, where Santa will be waiting for us. Upon entering, we will be greeted by an elf, Santa's helper, who will lead us to the living room where we will meet Santa himself. We will spend a good time with him, listening to stories and learning a song or two. Light lunch at Santa Claus's house. After the visit, Santa will personally give each child a gift. With the unforgettable memories of this visit, we will say goodbye to the Claus family and head back to Iso Syöte. Special dinner at a restaurant where we will enjoy a cheese and reindeer meat fondue. Accommodation.
Day 5. Iso Syöte. Ice fishing and snowshoeing
Buffet breakfast. Departure to a frozen lake in the middle of the forest where you will try your luck at ice fishing. The guide will provide you with the fishing gear and instructions on how to make a hole in the ice and enjoy the experience. Return to the hotel and lunch at the restaurant. After lunch, the fun continues. We will take a snowshoe walk to enjoy the spectacular snow sculptures and discover the animal tracks on the ground. We will take a break during the tour to enjoy a hot drink and some cookies. Upon returning to the hotel, you can once again enjoy the Arctic Spa to relax after an active day in the outdoors. Dinner at the "Hilltop" restaurant and accommodation.
Day 6. Iso Syöte / Kuusamo / Spain
Buffet breakfast. Free time until the indicated time for transfer. We can't leave Lapland without experiencing a relaxing sauna. Sauna is a tradition in Finland. Although the Finns didn't invent it, they are the country with the highest number of saunas per inhabitant, with almost one sauna for every 2 inhabitants, and they are the ones who use it most regularly. Departure to Kuusamo airport. Check-in procedures and departure on a direct flight to Spain. Snack on board included. Arrival and end of our adventure in Lapland.
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