Having left the hustle behind this morning you will land at Ivalo, deep in the heart of Finnish Lapland. The contrast could not be greater and once you are on your way to Menesjärvi, you will gain a sense of what a special wilderness this is!

A warm welcome and dinner await you at the Hotel Korpikartano this evening. You can settle into your rooms before trying out your winter clothing and perhaps heading down to the lake in front of the hotel in search of the Aurora.

Included Meals:  Dinner

This morning you will get your first real glimpse of where you will spend the coming week. You can look out across the stunning frozen lake and take in the views of the winter activity playground.

We want to get you out and about in the snow straight away and so you’ll have a fun-filled morning trying out snowshoes, kick sleds and cross-country skis, with tuition from your guide. This equipment is available for you to use free of charge throughout your stay and so it is really key that you gain initial instruction today so you can use it at your leisure throughout the week.

After lunch, you will have the afternoon free to spend together with your family. You can try and hone your new-found skills from this morning and explore independently or you may simply like to take to the sauna and relax after your first snowy forays.

Later there will be a presentation on the Northern Lights and some hints and tips from your local guides on how to capture the Aurora on camera (an excellent family portrait!). You will then take a walk down onto the lake on snowshoes to watch the skies together and see if you can track down a display. You will be out for around two hours.

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Reindeer are synonymous with Lapland – its indigenous Sámi culture, traditions and people and a genuine reindeer encounter is a ‘must’ when in the region.

Today you will be transferred to a local reindeer farm where you will meet with your Sámi host who will give you an insight into the lives of the herders and their animals. From the farm, you will then travel by snowmobile-pulled sleigh to meet the reindeer, feed them, and enjoy a warm drink by an open fire; a great experience for all the family. The activity will last for around two to two and a half hours in total.

After lunch, you have a free afternoon to spend however you would like. As you have free use of the snowshoes, skis, kicksleds and toboggans throughout your stay, you could rent some equipment and explore more of the stunning surroundings.

Dinner will be served tonight in the hotel restaurant. If you would like to spend your night Aurora hunting, see our ‘Personalise’ section for your options. The activity will last for around two to two and a half hours in total.

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Having some basic wilderness skills is a vital part of any Lappish upbringing so today your Finnish ‘Ray Mears’ will take you into the forest on snowshoes to teach you how to navigate using a GPS and traditional compass.

You will do some map reading, learn how to identify animals from their footprints, as well as how to light a fire and safely put a wood knife to good use (under supervision). Lunch will be enjoyed in a Lappish hut around an open fire: a true wilderness experience!

You will have a free afternoon before enjoying dinner in the hotel restaurant this evening.

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Fill up on breakfast because today, you will join a local guide for a thrilling snowmobiling safari. Following a full safety briefing, you will head out on the trails to experience the immense scale of the wilderness. Please note that you must be 18 years old and over, and have a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile. Typically, adults will travel two people per machine and children will generally travel together in a sled pulled by the guide’s snowmobile.

You will drive to a location on frozen Lake Menesjärvi where you will try the popular pastime of ice fishing. The guide will help you drill a hole through the thick, thick ice in order to reach the water below. Then all you have to do is drop your line and wait for a fish to take a bite. Make sure you spend some time admiring your surroundings during this peaceful activity. You will be out for around two hours in total.

After lunch, you can enjoy using the cross-country skis, snowshoes or toboggan equipment independently.

This evening it is possible to add an optional search for the Northern Lights. Please see the ‘Personalise’ section for details. Dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant.

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, you will enjoy a dog sled safari, which in our opinion, is a key element to any winter holiday. After full tuition, you will get to take control of a team of dogs and explore the trails. This is one of those family experiences that you will never forget. You will typically travel with two people per sled, with the adults in control and the children either riding as passengers or travelling in a larger sled which will be driven by the guide. This activity will last for around two and a half hours in total.

You will then head to the village of Inari to enjoy lunch before visiting the colourful Sámi Siida Museum. We know that the word museum strikes fear into the hearts of many children, but this place offers so much. You’ll learn about the fascinating Sámi people, as well as the local wildlife and the Northern Lights. There’s also a great gift shop for some souvenir shopping.

Tonight’s special dinner will be enjoyed in the hotel’s Aurora Kota restaurant, which is a great experience for all the family.

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today has been left completely free for you to decide how to spend your time as a family. You could make use of the snowshoes and skis on site or you could choose another activity, see our ‘Personalise’ tab for more details.

Dinner will be served at the hotel tonight and afterwards, you may wish to head down to the lake one last time and search the skies for the Northern Lights.

Included Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Unfortunately, it is time for your half-term adventure to come to an end. You will be transferred to the airport this morning for your return flights home.

Included Meals:  Breakfast