Tervetuloa! Welcome to Rovaniemi, Finland – the capital of Lapland and the official hometown of Santa Claus. Your family adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 2 pm. Rovaniemi is full of culture and stunning scenic hikes, so if you arrive early, you might like to take the family to the nearby rapids and aapa mires or stay in town and visit the Arktikum, the Museum of Finland. After your welcome meeting, it’s time for the kids to write their list and check it twice as you head off to meet Santa Claus himself at Santa Village. Cross into the Arctic Circle along the way, showing just how far north you’ve come. Later, enjoy an optional group dinner at a local restaurant and toast to the magical adventure that lies ahead.

After breakfast, bid farewell to Rovaniemi and head to Hossa National Park, located in the Kainuu region of Finland. Hossa translates to 'a distant place' in the Sami language (Huossa), and with its many lakes, rivers and canyons, this truly is a place like no other. Check into your eco-lodge accommodation in the heart of the national park, then enjoy a free afternoon with the family. Hossa will be your home for the next few days, so take your time to really soak in the scenery. The kids might be keen to try out snowshoeing or test their balance with some Nordic skiing.

Make sure you rug up for today’s adventure, as you head into the wild taiga on dog sleds! In the morning, meet your guides and dogs for an introduction to basic mushing techniques. Then, two per sled, you’ll head off across beautiful white lakes and into the forest. These incredible huskies are doing what they love most – making a lot of noise before rushing along sprawling trails. After, the young ones might get to give the dogs a pet and a cuddle – just be sure to ask the sledmaster first! Return to your accommodation in time for lunch, then the rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you like.

Get a taste of the Lapland lifestyle today as the family spends time with a local trapper. You’ll learn the art of the trapper lifestyle and the essential skills the local people need to know in order to survive and move around this pristine and remote region. The kids will feel like true adventurers as they follow tracks in the snow, identify flora and fauna and even build an igloo! Return to your accommodation in the evening, making sure to keep an eye out for any hint of the Northern Lights.

This morning, it’s time to say goodbye to your home in the Finnish wilderness and make the journey back to Rovaniemi. On the way back, stop at a local reindeer farm and get up close to these amazing animals. Arrive back in Rovaniemi in the early afternoon, where your adventure will come to an end.