articleHero
articleHero

Santa's Summer Lapland 23.-28.6.2025

articleHero

Welcome to summer Lapland!

Embark on the trip to the land of midnight sun to learn how the most famous Finn in the world spends his summer holidays.

By invitation only. Updated 17.04.2025

Quick facts

Flights to / from Finland

Sunday 22.6

US: JFK NY – HEL  22.55 - 14.00 (+1)

JP:  TOKYO HANEDA  – HEL  21.50 - 04.40 (+1)

KR: SEOUL - HEL  21.50 - 05.30 (+1)

 

Monday 23.6

UK: LHR – HEL 09.30 – 14.20 

DE: BERLIN – HEL 08.50 – 11.45  FRA-HEL  11.30 – 14.55  MUNICH – HEL   11.30 – 14.55

FR: CDG – HEL 10.50 – 14.40

ES: MAD – HEL 10.15 – 15.25  BCN - HEL  10.05 - 15.10 

IT:  ROME – HEL  10.40 – 15.05

 

HEL - RVN  16.00 - 17.15 

 

Friday 27.6 

IVALO - HEL  22.10 – 23.45

 

Saturday 28.6

UK: HEL – LHR  11.05 – 12.10 or 16.00 - 17.05 

DE: HEL – BERLIN 11.25 – 12.25 or 1620 - 17.20  HEL – FRA 07.40 – 09.20 or 16.55 – 18.35  HEL – MUNICH 08.00 – 09.35 or 16.15-17.50 

US: HEL – JFK NY  17.15 – 19.05

FR: HEL – CDG 12.15 – 14.20 or 16.05 - 18.10

ES: HEL - MAD 16.40 – 20.05 

JP:  HEL – TOKYO HANEDA 18.30 – 13.50 (+1)  

IT:  HEL – ROME 07.20 – 09.45 or 15.35 – 18.00 

KR: HEL – SEOUL 17.30 – 11.20 (+1) 

 

Accommodation

 

Lapland Hotel Sky Ounasvaara 23.-25.6.2025
Wilderness Hotel Muotka 25.-26.6.2025

Wilderness Hotel Juutua 26.-27.6.2025

Hotel in Helsinki 27.-28.6.2025 

Bring along

Swimming suite, comfortable walking / hiking shoes, summer clothing suitable for outdoor activities.

Rovaniemi, Lapland North Destinations and Finnair

Rovaniemi 

In Rovaniemi, capital of Finnish Lapland and the official hometown of Santa Claus, nights are white throughout the summer from late May until early August. This means there’s 24 hours a day for activities like river cruises, sauna bathing, floating, hiking, horseback riding or visiting husky and reindeer farms and a whole lot more – pretty much anything you can do during the day, you can do in the night. Sleep? Do it later!

Visit Rovaniemi 

Lapland North Destinations 

In the North of Finnish Lapland lies the arctic travel destination of Lapland North. Welcome to enjoy the opportunities for summer travel offered by Finland’s two largest national parks, vibrant local culture, and numerous outdoor activities amid the majestic fells. Lapland North is a unique, family-friendly destination with pristine, unspoiled Arctic wilderness and high-quality services. 

Lapland North Destinations 
 

Finnair 

Finland's national airline and official airline of Santa Claus

Finnair

Preliminary program

Credits : Visit Rovaniemi
Credits: Harri Tarvainen

Monday 23.06.2025

Arrival at Rovaniemi & transfer to hotel

Check-in Lapland Hotel Sky Ounasvaara 

19.00 Dinner at Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara’s scenic restaurant Sky Kitchen & View 

Tuesday 24.06.2025

08.10 Meet Sanna at the hotel reception / Transfer to Arctic Circle

08.30 The magical day begins early with a private meeting with Santa Claus in his office hearing how he spends his summer evenings. This is the red thread of our journey, the Christmas highlight, and an unforgettable experience. We will also experience the Santa Claus Village which is Lapland’s best-known year round attraction. We will have once in a lifetime memory together when crossing the iconic Arctic Circle line, the latitude that runs 66°33′45.9″ north of the Equator.

09.00 We will visit Santa Claus’ Main Post Office to learn that Santa Claus has received almost 25 million letters from about 200 countries and send our very own Christmas cards, stamped by the Post Elves with Arctic Circle Stamp.

09.30 The sweet and charming Mrs Santa Claus at mrs Santa Claus Christmas Cottage is the soul of Christmas preparations. She is known for her kindness, wisdom, and a twinkle in her eye that spreads happiness to everyone she meets. Christmas style Coffee & Tea break.

10.15 In Santa Claus Village we will also meet Santas Reindeer. In Rovaniemi there are app. 12 500 reindeer and the reindeer husbandry has been a way of life here for centuries. The local reindeer herders live with their animals through the year, and for most of them the reindeer provide a livelihood.

10.45 Meet & Greet Huskies is experienced at the Husky Park, which serves snow free husky activities throughout Summer and Autumn. We will learn about the huskies’ life in summer time.

12.00 Transfer to Arktikum

12.15-13.00 Lunch at Arktikum

13.00-14.30 Getting to know Rovaniemi! As Lapland’s capital city, Rovaniemi is a fantastic hub for the arts, science, and culture. To get a grasp of local and regional history and culture, the definite place to experience is the museum and arctic science centre Arktikum. Guided Tour in the museum and Science Centre Arktikum highlighting the most important facts about Lapland and the Arctic area @arktikumofficial

14.30 Transfer to hotel, free time

19.30 Dinner at Roka Kitchen & Winebar, which culinary cornerstone is in relaxed Northern Finnish cuisine with a twist of European flavours. Our respect for ingredients shows on the plate: all dishes highlight the natural flavour and appearance of each ingredient. @rokawinebar

21.30 Midnight Sun Photography Tour by Beyond Arctic

During June and July, the Sun does not set below the horizon. On this tour we will take you to the best locations around Rovaniemi to experience and photograph this unique natural phenomenon. @beyondarctic

Wednesday 25.06.2025

07.30 Breakfast at the hotel 

08.30 Check-out from hotel, lobby call 

09.00-11.00 Introducing Private Island Concept of Arctic TreeHouse Hotel. “Aino” is a newly unveiled boutique hotel concept in Lapland, exclusively for adults, designed to offer privacy, stillness, and thoughtful hospitality amidst the quiet beauty of the Arctic.

11.00-12.00 Lunch

12.00 Transfer to Lapland North Destinations

15:00~16:45 Arrival at Kultamuseo (Gold Museum) in Tankavaara, the world's only international museum dedicated to the history and present-day practice of gold panning and prospecting. We'll start with a guided tour of the museum's exhibitions, exploring the fascinating world of gold discovery. Afterward, you'll get hands-on experience learning the traditional art of gold panning. By the end of the visit, you'll have collected your own share of gold—leaving a nugget richer!

Transfer to Wilderness Hotel Muotka located in the peaceful natural setting along a small beautiful stream. Transfer time approx. 20 minutes.

Check-in to your room in Wilderness Hotel Muotka.

17:45-19:15 Unwind in the traditional Finnish sauna at Wilderness Hotel Muotka. With around 3.2 million saunas across the country, sauna culture is deeply rooted in Finnish life—both past and present. No visit to Finland is complete without experiencing this cherished tradition. Now’s your chance to enjoy the soothing heat and, for the full experience, take a refreshing dip in the nearby stream!

19:45~21:45 Dinner is served in Wilderness Hotel Muotka’s restaurant Tuisku.

Thursday 26.06.2025

08:00-09:00 Breakfast is enjoyed in Wilderness Hotel Muotka’s restaurant Tuisku.

09:00~11:00 We will explore the scenic trails of surrounding area and Urho Kekkonen National Park on an eco-friendly e-bike ride! After a brief introduction and test ride, we'll set off into the stunning Lappish wilderness. Our guide will choose the best route based on weather and trail conditions. Along the way, we’ll enjoy breathtaking fell views and the beauty of Taiga forests.

11:00-11:30 Check-out from your hotel room.

11:30 A short transfer from Wilderness Hotel Muotka to Arctic Sky Lapland.

11:45~13:30 At Arctic Sky Lapland we’ll explore the concept of Finnish Happiness, a mindset rooted in the country's deep connection with nature, simplicity, and well-being. Embracing this philosophy, we’ll take part in Forest Bathing, a nature immersion practice designed to reduce stress, enhance sleep quality, and promote overall happiness. Proven to lower stress hormones, Forest Bathing invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and fully experience the serenity of the forest, allowing you to reconnect with yourself and the natural world.

13:30-14:00 Transfer from Arctic Sky Lapland to Luontoloma’s private small Lake Taimenjärvi.

14:00~16:30 First we will enjoy a delicious wilderness lunch, prepared and served by an open fire in a cozy wooden Kota-restaurant using locally sourced ingredients. Then it’s time for us to uncover the secrets of pole fishing at the private, small Lake Taimenjärvi, nestled in a beautiful and peaceful setting in the heart of the Nordic wilderness. With a bit of patience, we might reel in trout or Arctic char!

16:30~17:30 Transfer from Lake Taimenjärvi to Wilderness Hotel Juutua.

Check-in to your hotel room.

19:30~21:30 Dinner at the Award-Winning Restaurant Aanaar. We will enjoy a memorable dining experience at Restaurant Aanaar, where a deep appreciation for Lapland’s nature and heritage is reflected in every dish. The kitchen crafts unique creations using organic, locally sourced ingredients from regional producers and foragers. After dinner, we’ll take a short transfer to the shores of Lake Inarijärvi.

21:45~00:00 We hop on board Visit Inari’s Ukko-boat for a memorable cruise on the legendary Lake Inari, the largest lake in Lapland, home to over 3,000 islands. During this journey, we’ll experience the magical nightless night and the Midnight Sun. Along the way, we’ll pause to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine in celebration of the Midnight Sun.

Note: The cruise is weather-dependent.

After the Midnight Sun Cruise transfer back to the hotel for overnight.

Friday 27.06.2025

08:00-09:00 Breakfast served in Wilderness Hotel Juutua’s restaurant.

Check-out by 09:10.

09:15 We’ll start the day with a transfer from the hotel to our first exciting activity: river rafting.

09:30–13:00 River Rafting on River Juutua. Get ready for an exhilarating rafting experience on the River Juutua! Our adventure begins at the beautiful Lake Solojärvi, where we’ll launch our rubber raft. We’ll paddle along the lake and into the river, known for its trout and as a home river for the Inari Sámi people. Along the way, we’ll navigate two major white-water rapids and several smaller streams. We’ll pause for a lunch break by the Ritakoski Rapids, taking in the stunning surroundings before continuing our journey. After the river rafting experience, we’ll head to meet Tuula’s reindeer!

14:00–16:00 Visit to Tuula’s reindeer. Our local host will greet us and take us to the reindeer corral, where we’ll learn about the traditional practice of reindeer herding, an important livelihood in Lapland for centuries. We’ll have the chance to feed the reindeer and take memorable photos with them. Afterward, we’ll visit the hostess's home, where she’ll share insights into Sámi handicrafts, such as the making of traditional reindeer-hide boots, and teach us how local plants are used to dye wool in the vibrant colors of Lapland’s summer and autumn. These dyes are then used to create beautiful handmade blankets, socks, and mittens. From Tuula’s place we’ll transfer to Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida.

16:20–17:35 Guided Tour of the Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida, named European Museum of the Year 2024 and Finland’s Museum of the Year 2024. During our guided tour, we’ll gain a deeper understanding of Sámi culture and how it’s intertwined with the natural world in northern Lapland. Afterward, you’ll have some free time to explore the outdoor museum or visit the museum shop, which offers a wide variety of local Sámi handicrafts. A short transfer from Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida to Wilderness Hotel Inari.

17:45–19:45 Farewell dinner at Wilderness Hotel Inari’s Restaurant Ukko.

19:45–20:30 Transfer to Ivalo Airport

22:10 Flight departure to Helsinki 

23.45  Arrival to Helsinki-Vantaa airport, check-in to XXXX Airport Hotel 

Saturday 28.06.2025

Breakfast at the hotel

Helsinki program to be announced. 

Flights back home according to flights schedule 

 

Regional contacts

Your local hosts: 

Visit Rovaniemi

Sanna Kärkkäinen

+358 40 576 3414

sanna@visitrovaniemi.fi

 

Lapland North Destinations

Mervi Tahkola

+358 40 726 0995

mervi.tahkola@laplandnorth.fi

 

Finnair 

Suvi Aaltonen 

+358 40 5707179

suvi.aaltonen@finnair.com

 

 

 

Visit Finland contacts

Sergei Shkurov 
+358 40 769 0154
sergei.shkurov@businessfinland.fi

 

 

Useful links

Latest press releases

Finland crowned the world’s happiest country

For the seventh year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world by the annual United Nations World Happiness Report*, holding the top title since 2018.