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Lapland Dreams2012

E X P E R I E N C E NORDIC

Small Group Father Christmas Adventures

99619 Christmas Bro_Final.indd 1 20/09/2012 15:29

Lapland, the legendary home of Father Christmas

is where in dark days around the Solstice the

sun stays below the horizon and you can see the

Northern Lights swirling and dancing across the

sky. This is a land of myths and magic, dreams and

drama; draped in snow for making snowballs and

snowmen; sledging and snowmobiling; mushing

huskies, and riding reindeer sleighs.

Father Christmas lives on a fell in Lapland called

Korvatunturi, meaning ‘fell ear’ or ‘the hill with ears’

because of its shape. It is from there that he and

his elves listen to wishes from children all over the

world and, if they have been good, try to make

them come true.

Gradually the snow gets thicker and blocks the

trail to Santa’s house so his elves guide him down

from Korvatunturi along with Rudolph, Dancer and

Prancer to special, secret places where he can

meet all the children who come to see him. And it’s

in these secret places that he makes their dreams

and wishes come true.

All the while the elves busy themselves making

things ready for the children who come to see

Santa. They light fires to warm up around, bustle

away in Santa’s workshop making presents and put

up Kotas (traditional Sami shelters) for Shamen to

tell their stories in.

THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

Father Christmas lives high above the Arctic Circle

with his elves, helping to make toys for all the

children of the world. He, and all his elves listen

out for good and bad behaviour throughout the

year and invite those who have been “nice” to

their families and friends. Those who have been

naughty still have a chance to redeem themselves!

Father Christmas can only be seen by those

children who believe in him and who are lucky

enough to be invited to see him at his Arctic

home. Some (much) ‘older children’ have never

glimpsed him because they don’t really believe he

exists, but your visit to Lapland will take you back

to a time where we can all believe in the magic of

Christmas.

Everything else about him is a secret until

December.

As winter draws in, fluttering, falling snowflakes settle over Lapland’s hills carpeting them with a sparkling white eiderdown of snow

scarred only by the reindeer and husky trails that wind through the surrounding pine forests. Elves dress up warmly and walk to the

top of a Fjell and listen to the voices of children all over the world. Christmas has begun.

Lapland –The Land where Christmas Dreams come true

THINGS CAN CHANGE

We may have to change the itineraries

shown in this brochure for either logistical

or climatic reasons. If we do so, it is with

your best interests in mind and we regret the

necessity of having to point out that we do

not accept any liability for compensation in

respect of such changes.

IT CAN BE COLD

Temperatures often drop to minus 30

Celsius or below and although we provide

protective thermal clothing and boots, you

should bring sufficient clothes for wearing

up to 4 layers under our suits, as well as

extra socks, gloves and scarves.

To book your dream telephone 01206 708888 or contact your local travel agent nordicexperience.co.uk2

Nordic AdventuresE X P E R I E N C E NORDIC


WHY VISIT HIM WITH US?

We are a family run company with young children.

We have visited Lapland many times with some

of the other travel companies, and by doing so

recognised what our own children enjoyed, and

decided to share our knowledge and experience

with you in more remote and authentic locations.

We deliberately choose to keep our group size small,

as we know that Christmas is all about family, and

by doing so we are able to offer a more personal

and tailored experience. Your Father Christmas visit

will be unhurried, at your own pace and without

queuing.

We also feel that many families would prefer to stay

in smaller, less commercialised accommodation.

Our properties are all family owned and locally

run, with most experiences taking place in the

surrounding grounds.

Your visit to Lapland will leave you and your

children with memories that will last forever. Whilst

the children will enjoy their meeting with Father

Christmas, Rudolph and the huskies, there is

much more on offer including the exhilaration of

snowmobiling across frozen lakes, listening to the

sounds of silence in the forest, mushing huskies

along forest trails and seeing reindeer in the wild.

3To book your dream telephone 01206 708888 or contact your local travel agent nordicexperience.co.uk

Harriniva Wilderness Lodge 4 Nellim Wilderness Lodge 8 Iso Syote 12 Kakslauttanen Hotel & Igloo Village 16

Iso Syote

Nellim Wilderness Lodge

Harriniva Wilderness Lodge

Kakslauttanen Log Cabin Hotel

ARCTIC CIRCLE

EVERYTHING INCLUDED

service charges.

Festive Christmas as per itinerary.

to visit Father Christmas.

present’ facility.

and all other excursions and activities as per specific location itinerary including any special equipment required.

clothing, inc. mittens, boots, scarf & hat, from arrival in Finland to departure.

guides over Christmas.

MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS TWICE

Nordic Experience is the only company that arranges for children to meet Father Christmas twice. Firstly, they are taken to see him in his cabin home in the forest and then later that same evening he visits them after dinner to deliver their presents.

Nordic AdventuresE X P E R I E N C E NORDIC


The hotel’s rooms are all clad in local pine, simply

furnished with handicraft fabrics, have private WC/

Shower and envelop you in their cosiness. There are

46 configured for 3 or 4 guests (3 beds or twin beds

plus bunk beds), 6 larger rooms with a sitting area

and private sauna and 12 apartment style rooms with

a kitchenette and children’s sleeping gallery.

In the internal public areas there is a bar serving

soft drinks, snacks and coffee/tea throughout the

day; a bar often with informal local entertainment

and 3 dining rooms one with an open fireplace. And

everywhere there is someone, either a Pietikainen or

somebody who has worked for the family for years, to

look after you.

The Pietikainen family’s Wilderness Lodge at Harriniva stands alongside the frozen Muonio River marking the border between

Finnish and Swedish Lapland and is home to the largest husky breeding kennels in Lapland. The glow from the windows

light up the pine the Lodge and its adjacent giant Aurora Kota are built from, and illuminates the snowmen, elves and ice

sculptures scattered around its entrance. Once inside a comforting cauldron of warmth instantly wraps you up with an ‘at

home’ feeling and, with huskies barking in the background, it’s as if Harriniva is saying ‘let the magic begin’.

Harriniva Wilderness Lodge

4

ACCOMMODATION AT HARRINIVA

To book your dream telephone 01206 708888 or contact your local travel agent nordicexperience.co.uk

Harriniva AdventuresE X P E R I E N C E NORDIC


AROUND AND ABOUT

A stone’s throw from the hotel’s front door are Harriniva’s very own husky

kennels, one of the largest breeding kennels there is and so invariably with

puppies available for a cuddle or two.

Down by the river bank that marks the border with Sweden there are a clutch

of out buildings: two open fired Kotas (traditional Sami wooden shelters)

including ‘Mutteri’ in which you may have dinner one night; igloos, a log fired

sauna and, for the brave (or foolhardy), a bathing hole cut in the ice.

Up from the river and around the back of the hotel there’s a toboggan ramp,

snowmen, ice structures and whatever else has taken Kopi Pietikainen’s

fancy to help make a snow playground where you can have fun with the

children, whenever you have a spare moment.

Along a track running by the side of the husky kennels is a reindeer corral

where Rudolph along with Dancer, Prancer, Donner, Blitzen and the rest of

the gang live. It’s here in a Kota where a Shaman tells tales of old Lapland

and how Rudolph learnt to fly.





Our ‘Dancing with Elves’ DreamDAY 1

Fly To Your Dreams Fly from London Heathrow

via Helsinki or Copenhagen to Kittila in Finnish

Lapland. On arrival transfer by private coach to

Harriniva and the heart of Lapland where magical

spirits will make all your dreams come true. At

the hotel make straight for your room where

your thermal clothing will be ready so you can

play in the snow straight away before enjoying a

warming berry juice and buffet supper.

DAY 2

Snowmobiling in the Forest Harriniva is at the

edge of a dense forest and after breakfast you

take to your snowmobile, with children wrapped

up under reindeer skin rugs on a special sleigh

behind your guide, and follow a trail leading to

a Sami camp. Sipping your hot berry juice in a

clearing edged with white spruce, fir and pine

it’s as if you’ve woken up in a different world.

Batteries replenished you continue on across a

frozen lake back to the hotel for a hot lunch.

Mushing Huskies Afterwards it’s time to meet

Harriniva’s very own huskies who live just a few

minutes walk away. Here you meet cute baby

ones, big and not so big ones – all sorts, each

with their own name eagerly waiting to show you

how to mush your way around the fells for the

most exciting ride of your life. Adults mush two

per dog team whilst children ride in husky sleds

behind your Lapp guide.

Supper in a Sami Kota In the evening the

flickering flames of ‘lumberjack’ candles mark

the path to Mutteri Kota with its open fire around

which you have a traditional Sami supper. After

which it’s time for bed and dreams of tomorrow.

DAY 3

Rudolph and a Shaman This morning is a

phantasmagorical mix as you meet Rudolph,

Dancer and Prancer in their corral; reindeer

herders in their traditional tepee and a Shaman

who tells how Rudolph learnt to fly and awards

you a ‘Crossing the Arctic Circle’ diploma. You sit

your reindeer driving exam (pass rate 100%) and

after receiving your licence take a fairy tale ride

in a reindeer sleigh. And there’s more: children

everybody can toboggan down a specially built

snow ramp, learn to snow shoe, tandem ski or try

their hand at ice fishing.

You visit Santa After lunch each family takes a

once in a lifetime journey out into the forest along

a trail marked by lanterns hanging in the trees, at

the end of which you discover the Old Lady of the

Woods in her Kota with some of Santa’s Elves.

She guides you to a giant log cabin where Santa

lives (the rest is a secret until you meet him).

Whilst waiting for your sleigh to arrive you help

collect and decorate a Christmas tree and bake

traditional gingerbread cookies.

Santa visits you Later that evening, after having

tucked in to a traditional Sami Christmas buffet,




Children £1195pp

Adults £1395ppPlease see page 3 for What’s Included

DEPARTURE DATES 16 & 20 December

you hear the sound of bells jingling amongst the

trees and discover an ancient Sami spirit has told

Santa where you are. Looking outside you see

him on his sleigh coming towards you led by a

herder in traditional Sami costume. He arrives,

makes your earlier wishes come true and delivers

a small present to everyone, adults and children

alike. To cheer him on his way as he leaves Elves

arrive to dance with you and sing traditional

carols.

DAY 4

Take Your Dreams Home After breakfast transfer

to Kittila for your scheduled flight to Heathrow

where you arrive early evening local time.




Nellim Wilderness LodgeJust 6 miles from the Russian border on the shores of Lake Inari, Nellim is as quiet and beautifully remote as you will find

anywhere in Finnish Lapland. The village has a petrol station doubling up as a general store and cafe, an Orthodox Church

and Nellim Wilderness Lodge. This is owned and run by Jouko and Mari Lappalainen who have painstakingly converted what

was once the local school into an authentically crafted wilderness lodge reflecting the mixed local culture of Inari, Skolt and

Northern Sami.

The hotel consists of 3 buildings facing in on each other around what was previously the children’s playground: there are 16 simply furnished twin and single

rooms with private WC/shower and decorated with fabrics personally chosen by Mari; 8 apartments also with private WC/shower and configured with varying

numbers of bedrooms capable of accommodating differing family sizes and two privately owned log cabins in the grounds surrounding the hotel exclusively

reserved for our guests. The hotel’s principle public area has a lounge seating area, restaurant and bar hand crafted by Jouko himself.

ACCOMMODATION AT NELLIM

“My wife, daughter (9), son (6) and I travelled

to Nellim the week before Christmas. If you are

looking for a personal touch, complete wilderness,

basic but comfortable accommodation and home

cooked food then Nellim is your place. The staff are

very accommodating, the activities are better than

across a frozen lake and snowmobiling through the

forest were highlights for us. The children loved the

husky puppies, sledging, learning to cross country

ski and ice fishing.

The main event, meeting Santa, was magical.

Whisked off on skidoo, just the 4 of us, to find him.

We spent nearly 20 minutes chatting to him before

commercial, well organised and personal experience

then you can do no better than Nellim with Nordic

Nellim AdventuresE X P E R I E N C E NORDIC



AROUND AND ABOUT

In the surrounding grounds there is a Safari House with kick sleds,

toboggans and skis free for you to use; a log fired sauna whose hot,

sap filled air provides the perfect warm up after a day’s adventures; a

reindeer skin tepee and a traditional Kota in which you have dinner one

night. The Kota, a traditional Sami shelter and meeting place is known

to be frequented on occasions by Santa.

Immediately to one side of the main building are the husky kennels

or yelping excitingly in anticipation of pulling their sleighs across the

surrounding tundra.

Alongside the husky kennels is a pathway leads down through the pines

to a frozen lake where an open fire’s embers are kept hot whenever

anybody is playing either on the lake itself or on the bank leading down

to it. This area also serves as the main toboggan slope.




DAY 1

Fly To Your Dreams Leave Heathrow mid

morning on scheduled flights to Ivalo via

Helsinki. Arrive early evening and transfer to the

Nellim Wilderness Lodge. Check into your room,

welcome drink and buffet supper. Your thermal

clothing will be ready for collection on arrival so

you can play in the snow straight away.

DAY 2

Mushing Huskies After breakfast it’s time to

meet Tommi’s pack of Alaskan huskies whose

kennels are just a short walk from the hotel and

whose excited barking slowly magnifies as you

approach.

Adults mush in pairs with their own team whilst

children ride behind your guide in a special

sled. As the dogs pull you away they fall instantly

quiet and the forest silence is broken only by

the sound of sleigh runners cutting through the

snow.

Our ‘Magic of Lake Inari’ DreamEn route, you stop for a warming berry juice by

an open fire in a clearing and marvel at your

dreams of only yesterday having come true.

Lunch back at the hotel.

Meeting Santa In the afternoon, it’s party time

on the frozen lake with tobogganing, ice fishing,

snow shoeing, cross country skiing and other

snow activities. Concurrently, each family travels

individually by snowmobile sleigh to meet Father

Christmas at a secret place in the forest known

only to your guide. Once discovered, a friendly

elf takes you inside and children make known

their wishes which Santa and the Sami spirits of

Inari will try and make come true.

Supper In a Sami Kota In the afternoon children

bake cookies and help decorate a Christmas

tree, before the flickering light from the windows

of Nellim’s Kota beckons you across the snow

covered old schoolyard for a traditional Sami

buffet served in front of a blazing fire.

DAY 3

Snowmobiling in the Forest After breakfast it’s

time for a family wilderness safari by snowmobile

following your guide along a trail amongst the

shoreline of Lake Inari with adults paired together

and children wrapped up under warm reindeer

skins in a specially built sleigh.

Meet Rudolph After crossing a mix of tundra,

ice sheet and forest floor you stop for lunch

cooked over an open fire’s embers before the

phantasmagorical moment when you meet

Rudolph, Donner, Prancer and the rest of the

gang in their Corral and help their herder feed

them. Continue back to the Lodge following a

different trail to your earlier one.

Santa comesbatteries before a traditional Sami Christmas

buffet supper. Santa arrives later to make make

earlier wishes come true and deliver a small

present to everyone, adults and children alike.

DAY 4

Take Your Dreams Home Breakfast and time for

some last minute tobogganing and snow shoeing

down by the lake before transferring to Ivalo for

scheduled flights to Heathrow where you arrive

home early evening local time

10

Children £995/1095pp

Adults £1195/1295ppPlease see page 3 for What’s Included

DEPARTURE DATES 13 & 18 December




DECEMBER 29TH

Fly to your Dreams Leave Heathrow mid morning on scheduled flights to

Ivalo via Helsinki. Arrive early evening and transfer to the Nellim Wilderness

Lodge. Check into your room, welcome drink and dinner. Your thermal

clothing will be ready for collection on arrival.

DECEMBER 30TH

Mush a Husky team After breakfast it’s time to meet Tommi’s pack of

Alaskan huskies whose kennels are just a short walk from the hotel and

whose excited barking slowly magnifies as you approach.

Adults mush in pairs with children riding in a sled behind the guide and,

the Arctic silence is broken only by the whooshing sound of slicing sleigh

runners.

En route, take a break washed down with warming coffee or berry juice

before heading back to the Lodge for lunch.

Spend the afternoon playing grown up snow games on the sloping bank

by the Lodge’s adjacent lake with snow shoeing, cross country skiing,

tobogganing and ice fishing. A log fire is burning all the while for restorative

warming up. Buffet supper in the hotel.

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Snowmobile by Lake Inari After breakfast, climb aboard your snowmobile

for a safari through the pine & birch forests surrounding Lake Inari and a

hearty lunch of soup and hot berry juice in a clearing around an open fire.

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon around the hotel.

Celebrate New Year Sami style New Year’s Eve celebrations begin with a

traditional Finnish medley menu and talk of the days activities.

The evening continues with fireworks after which you leave by snowmobile,

with adults paired up on machines and children in a sleigh behind the

guide, to bring in the New Year with a search for the Northern Lights.

NEW YEAR’S DAY

Meet a Sami Reindeer Herder After breakfast snowmobile over to a nearby

reindeer corral to meet a herder along with some of his herd, help feed

them and listen to Sami stories. Return to the Lodge for an afternoon break.

Search for the Northern Lights In the evening take a snowmobile safari out

to a special spot by Lake Inari and camp out waiting for the Northern Lights

dazzling display.

JANUARY 2ND

Take your Dreams Home Time for some last minute tobogganing after

breakfast before transferring to Ivalo and your return flight to Heathrow via

Helsinki, arriving early evening local time.

Our ‘Sami New Year’ Dream

Children £1095pp


DEPARTURE DATES 29 December



12 To book your dream telephone 01206 708888 or contact your local travel agent nordicexperience.co.uk

Iso Syote Fjell Cottages

with breath taking views of a landscape littered with snow laden conifers and frozen mires, the product of centuries of

view restaurant, swimming pool, saunas and bar. Both the hotel and our selected cabins offer welcoming warmth and comfort

at the end of each day’s adventures by husky, snowmobile, reindeer and your meeting with Father Christmas.

Recently built to a high standard and

set alongside the hotel proper there is a

collection of unusually spacious 2 storey

Fjell Top Loghouse Cottages. Each has

a spacious living room, fireplace, private

WC & shower room, private sauna, drying

cupboard and open plan kitchen equipped

with coffee maker. There are three twin

bedrooms, one on the ground floor and two

on the second, where there is also a second

shower/WC. A safety gate is positioned at

the top of the stairs.

ACCOMMODATION

(interconnecting cottages are available)

Iso Syote AdventuresE X P E R I E N C E NORDIC



AROUND AND ABOUT

Outside the hotel is a wonderful snowy playground waiting to be explored by both adult and child

alike. Situated near the hill top summit, the slopes and surrounding ski tracks allow for hours of

endless exploration with the added benefit of knowing that the warmth of the hotel is only a short cut

away.

Try your hand at snow shoe walking, Nordic or downhill skiing or simply frolic in the snow with a

toboggan and the endless energy needed to drag yourself back up the hill before tumbling back

down at breakneck speed to where you started from.

If the snow is too much for you then there is always the opportunity to take a sauna and dip in the

refreshing swimming pool. Alternatively why not relax in the bar area with a hot drink or something

stronger before settling down for the night.

Iso Syote AdventuresE X P E R I E N C E NORDIC


Fjell Fun with Father ChristmasDAY 1

Fly to your Dreams Leave from London Heathrow

on scheduled flight via Copenhagen to Oulo on

the edge of the Gulf of Bothnia. On arrival your

local guide takes you by private coach to Iso

Syote (the big fjell) a snow clad fjell on the edge

of the Syote National Park touching on Lapland’s

southernmost border. On arrival make straight

for your Cottage where your thermal clothing will

be ready so you can play in the snow straight

away before a buffet supper in the hotel’s glazed

restaurant with panoramic views down the Fjell.

DAY 2

Mushing Huskies and Father Christmas After

breakfast take to your snowmobile with the

children wrapped up beneath reindeer skin rugs

on a special sleigh behind your guide. Serpentine

down the fjell across frozen mires and lakes to a

clearing in the forest alongside which stands a

Kota with a welcoming open wood fire.

Barely visible through the forest’s standing pines

alongside is a log cabin where Father Christmas

and his accompanying Elves (who have come

down from Korvatunturi for the weekend specially

to meet you) are staying.

Dismount from your snowmobile before making

friends with a pack of excitedly barking huskies.

After the customary cuddling, mush your way

along a trail marked out on a pure white blanket

of snow with only the sound of your sleigh’s

runners to break the silence of the winter air.

On your return each family in turn makes a

pilgrimage along a candle lit track to Santa’s

cabin to meet him and make known their wishes.

Concurrently there is the simple art of kick

sledding and snow shoeing to master and mini–

snowmobile rides for the children. Lunch by the

Kota’s fire before a short safari back to the top of

Iso Syote.

During the afternoon you can toboggan on the

slopes, take a sauna or splash in the hotel’s pool.

Traditional buffet supper in the hotel’s restaurant

with the possibility of an aurora display.

DAY 3

Reindeer and a Shaman’s Magic Breakfast in

the hotel restaurant after which your train of

snowmobiles is ready to take you to a nearby

reindeer corral. The animal’s herder greets you

and tells of his life and times and explains the art

of reindeer husbandry as it was it taught to his

ancestors by the Sami. He introduces you in turn

to Dasher & Dancer, Prancer & Vixen, Donner

& Blitzen, Comet & Cupid and the most famous

reindeer of all. Afterwards take the reins of a

sleigh and sit your reindeer driving exam (pass

rate 100%).

14 To book your dream telephone 01206 708888 or contact your local travel agent nordicexperience.co.uk

Oulo AdventuresE X P E R I E N C E NORDIC


Celebrate your success over a mug of warming

coffee before snowmobiling through the forest

during which you will catch the sound of drum

beat breaking the silent air before coming across

a Shaman in his Kota. He formally greets you

with a demonstration of his centuries old mystical

powers, the details of which are a carefully

coveted secret.

During the afternoon you can toboggan on the

slopes, take a sauna or splash in the hotel’s pool.

Traditional festive buffet dinner during which

Santa will unexpectedly join you and dispense

presents.

DAY 4

Take Your Dreams Home Time for some last

minute tobogganing after breakfast before

transferring to Oulo for your flights back to

Heathrow arriving back early evening local time.

Children £915pp


DEPARTURE DATE 16 December


Oulo AdventuresE X P E R I E N C E NORDIC


16

Kakslauttanen IgloosJust 100 metres from the hotel, Jussi creates each year his

very own igloo village with a magnificent ice gallery at its

centre. There are snow igloos with an inside temperature of

reindeer skins in expedition grade sleeping bags. The other

half of the village has 20 thermal glass igloos with comfortable

beds, WC and a panoramic view of the night sky. In these the temperature is a

Kakslauttanen Log Cabin Wilderness Hotel

Jussi Eiramo came to Kakslauttanen as a young man for a

restaurant and adjacent ice gallery and igloo village are all

testimony to Jussi’s passionate attention to detail.

The deadwood log cabins of varying sizes are all equipped with shower,

toilet, kitchenette, open fireplace and sauna and set apart from one another

amongst trees around a central building. This has a fully licensed restaurant with an open fireplace

around which local specialities such as Arctic char and sautéed reindeer are cooked and a small

handicraft gallery/souvenir shop.

small fee. For larger families and small groups there is a log fired sauna and three restaurants: Kota,

Snow and Sauna.

MEET FATHER CHRISTMAS

For families who’d prefer to visit

Father Christmas privately and

spend time together as a family, we

have two four day tours and a five

day Christmas tour to Kakslauttanen.

DAY 1

Fly To Your Dreams Scheduled flight(s) from

London via Helsinki to Ivalo in Northern

Finnish Lapland. Arrive early evening and

transfer to hotel. Settle in to your private log

cabin and dinner at the hotel.

DAY 2

Snowmobile through the forest After

breakfast its time for a wilderness snowmobile

following your guide along a trail amongst the

magnificent fells, broad mires and backwoods

lying at the edge of the Urho Kekkonen

Nation park with adults paired together and

children wrapped under reindeer skins in a

specially built sleigh. Lunch en route by an

open fire in the nomadic Sami manner before

continuing snowmobiling back to the hotel.

An evening with Father Christmas A twenty

minute ride brings you to Santa’s home where

you are welcomed with hot chocolate and

gingerbread cookies by one of Santa’s Elves.

He then escorts you across a bridge once

Bridge Keeper Elf has granted you special

permission to cross over secret sunken bog





Our five day Christmas tour to Kakslauttanen follows the same programme

as our 4 days tours with the exception of the addition of the Christmas

festivities on December 24th, which is the traditional day of celebration in

Finland.

Day 1 & Final Day as per the four day trip.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Find and Meet Santa After breakfast you set off by snowmobile for a twenty

minute ride to Santa’s home where you are welcomed with hot chocolate

and gingerbread cookies by an Elf. You will also meet the Gold Elves who

strike gold nuggets in their forge which fly with messages all over the world.

Then you are greeted by Santa in his home with a hot berry juice and, after

making known your wishes, visit Rudolph and the other reindeer in their

corral and take a sleigh ride. You can also toboggan down a special magic

hill before returning to Kakslauttanen by bus for lunch at the hotel.

Carol Singing and a Visit from Santa In the late afternoon there is an

optional carol service at Tieva Chapel, a simple wooden chapel 2km away.

Afterwards there is a traditional Sami Christmas Eve Dinner served in the

main log house before Father Christmas arrives on his sleigh and delivers a

small present to everyone, adults and children alike.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Snowmobile through the forest After breakfast its time for a wilderness

snowmobile following your guide along a trail amongst the magnificent fells

with adults paired together and children wrapped under reindeer skins in a

specially built sleigh. Lunch en route by an open fire in the nomadic Sami

manner before continuing snowmobiling back to the hotel.

DECEMBER 27TH

Mush a Husky Team After breakfast, start your days of Lapland magic with

a husky safari through and across the enchanting wilderness. Adults mush

their own team of dogs and children ride in a sleigh behind your guide. En

route stop for a snack lunch cooked over an open fire. Dinner at the hotel.

13 & 18 DecemberAdults £1495pp

Children £1195pp

23 DecemberAdults £2099pp

Children £1899ppPlease see page 3 for What’s Included

under the snow. Once on the other side you meet the Gold Elves who strike

gold nuggets in their forge which fly messages all over the world. Then

Santa greets you and invites you into his home with a hot berry juice and,

after making known your wishes, you meet visit Dancer, Prancer, Comet,

Cupid and the most famous reindeer of all in their corral one of whom takes

you on a sleigh ride. You can also toboggan down a special magic hill before

returning to Kakslauttanen.

DAY 3

Mush a Husky Team After breakfast, start your days of Lapland magic with

a husky safari through and across the enchanting wilderness. Adults mush

their own team of dogs and children ride in a sleigh behind your guide and,

as the dogs pull you along a snow carpeted trail, the Arctic silence is broken

only by the sound of the whooshing sound of the sleigh’s runners slicing

through the snow. En route stop for a snack lunch cooked over an open fire.

Dinner at the hotel.

DAY 4

Take you dreams home After breakfast you’ll have time for a last play in the

snow before carefully packing up your dreams carefully and transferring to

Ivalo for your Finnair scheduled flight(s) to Heathrow where you arrive early

evening local time.




BROCHURE DESCRIPTIONS

The descriptions of areas and hotels in this brochure have been compiled as a result of inspection by our staff or agents and checked to ensure they are accurate. However, changes may occur after the date of publication. In addition there may be occasions when accommodation owners, proprietors of facilities etc. may decide to withdraw some of the facilities. These are regrettably beyond our control and we therefore reserve the right to change the particulars at any time before we confirm your booking. We will inform you of any such change at the time of booking, or, if you have already booked, you will be contacted before your departure if there is time. Public holidays particularly Christmas, New Year and religious festivals may also affect the availability of centre and hotel facilities.

MINIMUM NUMBERS

Certain tours require a minimum number of people to enable them to operate. We will check whether these minimum numbers have been reached no later than 6 weeks before the relevant tour departure date. We shall inform you immediately if the minimum number necessary has not been reached for your tour and in that event we reserve the right to cancel your holiday and refund all monies which you have paid to us.

CORRESPONDENCE

If you make your booking through a travel agent, all communications between you and Nordic Experience must be through that travel agent. If you book your tour direct with us we will send all correspondence direct to you. Please quote the reference number shown on your invoice in any communication.

HEALTH, VISAS AND DOCUMENTS

a) You must ensure that you and all members of your party have a valid passport and visas and any inoculations and health certificates for all countries to be visited. Your passport must be valid for at least six months following your arrival at your foreign destination.

b) We will offer reasonable assistance and advice as to how to arrange such items, but we cannot in any circumstances

be responsible if any member of your party is not permitted to enter any country. You should therefore make necessary arrangements well in advance of your departure date.

For FCO advice contact www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo

SPECIAL REQUESTS

If you have any special request, (e.g. dietary requirements or a need for special assistance), please inform us. We will always do our best to meet such requests but cannot guarantee to do so, and in no circumstances will any such request be accepted by us so as to form part of our contractual agreement.

BOARD & TRANSFERS

All our tours include open style Scandinavian buffet breakfasts. These will include cereal, juices, fresh rolls, bread, cheeses and cold meats. Picnic or snack lunches and buffet suppers are provided where indicated in the price panel sub text and itinerary. Transfers are included where necessary or if we can organise them economically. Otherwise they are payable locally and by public transport, fly bus services or taxi, for which we provide detailed information in your travel pack.

ACCOMMODATION

The nature, style and standard of accommodation we use for our tours varies according to country, location and itinerary: please check the thumbnail sketches provided in each case. In respect of hotels we do not endorse any local star rankings since they do not, in our opinion, provide an accurate reflection of style, atmosphere or location. Please note the description ‘twin room’ refers to a twin bedded room and that a shower rather than a bathtub is the norm throughout Scandinavia. Whilst some hotel rooms can take an extra bed this will invariably result in the room being cramped. In some areas/countries single rooms may be inferior in standard to twin rooms.

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Many of the tours in this brochure depend for their successful accomplishment on suitable climatic and weather conditions both prior to and during operation. Air

temperature, sea state, cloud cover, rainfall and terrain conditions are just some of the factors that can effect the operation of excursions, visibility of natural phenomena and sightings of wildlife. Tour validity and excursion/safari dates are given in good faith based on our experience and that of our suppliers. However we, or our agents, may have to change itineraries or cancel excursions at any time prior to departure or during a tour. If we do so, it is with your interest in mind and we regret the necessity of having to point out that we do not accept any liability for compensation in respect of such changes or cancellations.

CLOTHING

Temperatures in the Nordic countries and Northern Europe can vary considerably from day to day or even in a day and conditions can change unexpectedly and rapidly; the terrain is often hazardous and ground conditions frequently difficult. You should take suitable clothing with these conditions in mind particularly good quality wind/rain proof outerwear; strong walking shoes or boots, gloves and sufficient and varied clothes to enable you to ‘layer up’. Many of our tours, particularly in Iceland and Greenland, involve walking or medium grade hiking and you may find it useful to invest in a good pair of boots, broken in well before departure. If you’re in any doubt as to what to take, we’re always happy to talk it through with you.

YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

We will normally send all your travel documents and itineraries to either yourself or your travel agent approximately two to three weeks before your departure. PLEASE check them carefully. In some cases, the timings may have changed from those on your holiday confirmation, and the correct timings will appear on the tickets themselves, or on accompanying documentation.

TOUR PRICES

Full details of what is included in the price of your tour are shown on page 3 and will be reconfirmed on your confirmation invoice. Prices include all appropriate local taxes and any mandatory charges. This brochure was published in 2012 and the details and prices are valid for departures in 2012. The following exchange rates have been used in calculating prices in this brochure: GBP/ EUR

INSURANCE COVERWe have both a legal obligation under legislation covering the travel industry to ensure your travel is covered by comprehensive travel insurance that protects your safety and travel enjoyment. If you already have such insurance or prefer to buy it from a third party then all we ask is that you notify us of the name of your insurer when you complete you booking form. Alternatively, we are an Appointed Representative of NJ Heritage Partnership Ltd and we are able to provide travel insurance covering all the destination and activities featured in this brochure. NJ Heritage Partnership Ltd are specialist Insurance Brokers whose cover is provided by ACE European Group Ltd. The cover includes a 24 Hour Worldwide emergency Medical Service with experts providing friendly and professional emergency help.

Your premium should be forwarded to us with your tour deposit in order to ensure immediate protection under the holiday cancellation section of the insurance. The details below show only a summary of cover; full details of the cover provided are shown on your policy document which will be sent to you upon receipt of payment of premium; please read it carefully to ensure you understand the cover provided which includes certain terms conditions, exclusions and warranties. Should you wish a specimen, a copy will be made available prior to purchase upon request. If the insurance does not meet your requirements you may return the documentation within 14 days of the purchase or prior to travel if this is sooner and, provided no claim has been made, obtain a refund.

TRAVEL INSURANCE SUMMARY OF COVER

(Sums insured are per insured person)A Medical Expenses Inpatient Benefit £200

Personal Liability £2,000,000B Personal Accident £10,000 Permanent Loss of Sight £10,000 Loss of Limb(s) £10,000 Permanent Total Disablement £10,000 Death £10,000 (Limited to £1,000 for persons aged over

C Cancellation or CurtailmentD Delayed Departure or Arrival £100/£1,000

Interruption of Transport £300E Personal Effects

(Disc Collections £200)

Tickets £1,000

F Legal ExpensesG Winter Sports Extension Optional

PREMIUMS (INCLUDING INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX) PER PERSON

Period of cover: up to 9 days £40.00 per adult

Children under 2 years on date of departure are insured free of charge. Children under the age of 18 on departure are insured at half the adult rate. Adults aged 66 or over at the date of departure can be insured at twice the appropriate premium. Winter sports

IMPORTANT

This policy includes certain terms, conditions, exclusions and excesses. In

from which you or any person upon whom travel depends are suffering. If in doubt please contact the medical helpline in confidence on 0844 826 2700, as additional cover may be purchased directly from the insurer’s medical screening

copy will be made available upon request or alternatively a copy is available for download from our website www.nordicexperience.co.uk. The policy contains a 14 day ‘Cooling Off’ Period and details of how to make a claim and who to contact in the event of a medical emergency.

Both NJ Heritage Partnership Ltd and ACE European Group Ltd Ltd and authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. This can be checked on the FSA’s website www.fsa.gov.uk/register or by contacting them

Colchester Travel Ltd who are Appointed Representatives of N J Heritage Partnership Ltd.




1. WHEN BOOKING

When you make your booking you must complete a booking form, accepting on behalf of all your party the terms of these booking conditions, and pay the appropriate deposit. If booking through a Travel Agent all monies paid to that agent are held by them on our behalf at all times. A contract between us will exist when we issue our confirmation invoice, is governed by English Law and both parties shall submit to the jurisdiction of English Courts at all times.

2. PAYING YOUR BALANCE

The balance of the price of your tour must be paid at least ten weeks before your departure date. If the balance is not paid in time we reserve the right to cancel your tour, retain your deposit, and apply the cancellation charges set out in paragraph 4 below.

3. AMENDING YOUR BOOKING

If, after our confirmation has been issued, you wish to change to another of our tours or change the departure date, we will endeavour to make any such change, provided the request to do so is received in writing from the person who signed the booking form or from your Travel Agent at least ten weeks before departure. This must be

Alterations cannot normally be made within ten weeks of departure and any such request for an alteration will be treated as a cancellation of the original booking and subject to the cancellation charges set out in paragraph 4 below. Please note that certain travel arrangements cannot be changed after a reservation has been made and any alteration will then incur a 100% cancellation charge and be treated as a new booking.

4. IF YOU CANCEL YOUR BOOKING

You, or any member of your party, may cancel your tour at any time providing that the cancellation is made by the person signing the booking form and is received by us in writing. As this incurs administrative costs, we will retain your deposit and apply cancellation charges up to the maximum below:

PERIOD BEFORE DEPARTURE AMOUNT OF CANCELLATION WITHIN WHICH WRITTEN CHARGE SHOWN AS A CANCELLATION IS MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE OF RECEIVED BY US THE TOUR PRICE More than 71 days Deposit only 70-42 days 50% within 42 days 100%

5. PROBLEMS

If you have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supplier (e.g. hotelier, excursion operator, etc.) immediately, who will endeavour to put things right on our behalf. If your complaint is not resolved locally, please follow this up within 28 days of your return home by writing to us at 39 Crouch Street, Colchester CO3 3EN giving your booking reference and other relevant information to help us identify the problem(s) you encountered. It is strongly recommended you communicate any complaint to the supplier of the services in question and if possible keep a written account of having done so. If you fail to follow this simple procedure we will have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify your complaint whilst you were on tour and this may affect your rights under this contract.

It is unlikely that you will have a complaint that cannot be settled amicably between us. However, disputes arising out of, or in connection with, this contract which cannot be amicably settled may be referred to arbitration under a special scheme which, though devised by arrangement with ABTA, is administered quite independently by IDRS part of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. It provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on you in respect of costs. Full details will be provided on request or can be downloaded from the ABTA website. The scheme does not apply to claims for an amount

per booking form. Neither does it apply to claims which are solely in respect of physical injury or illness or their consequences. The Scheme can however deal with compensation claims which include an element of minor injury or illness subject to a limit of £1,000 on the amount the arbitrator can award per person in respect of this element. The application for arbitration and Statement of Claim must be received by IDRS within nine months of the date of your return from the holiday. Outside this time limit arbitration under the Scheme may still be available if the company agrees, but the ABTA Code does not require such agreement. For injury and illness claims, you may like to use the ABTA / Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Mediation Procedure. This is a voluntary scheme and requires us to agree for mediation to go ahead. The aim is to help you resolve your dispute in a quick and cost effective way. Details on request or from www.abta.com .

6. SURCHARGES

We reserve the right to alter the prices of any arrangement featured in our brochure or on our website. You will be advised of the current price of any arrangement you wish to book before your contract is confirmed.

Changes in transportation costs, including fuel costs, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports and exchange rates mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked, but there will be no change within 30 days of your departure.

However we will absorb and you will not be charged for any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges. You will be charged for the amount over and above that, plus an administration charge of £1.00 per person together with an amount to cover agents’ commission if applicable. If this means that you

would have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your travel arrangements, you will have the option of accepting a change to another arrangement if we are able to offer one (if this is of equivalent or higher quality you will not have to pay more but if it is of lower quality you will be refunded the difference in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid, except for any amendment charges. Should the price of your arrangement decrease due to the changes mentioned above, (by more than 2% of your invoice paid) then any refund due will be paid to you. However, please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual arrangements.

Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice. The price of your travel arrangements was calculated using

7. CANCELLATION AND VARIATION TO ARRANGEMENTS

It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your arrangements, but we do plan them many months in advance. Occasionally changes occur, but most are minor, and we will advise you or your travel agent at the earliest possible date. Flight timings and carriers in the brochure are subject to change as a result of airline procedures. Final details will be shown on your tickets and/or in the accompanying documentation. If a major change becomes necessary, we will inform you or your travel agent as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before departure. When a major change occurs (such as the alteration of your outward/return flights by more than 12 hours, changes of hotel or a reduction in the standard of accommodation), provided it does not arise from circumstances amounting to force majeure (see below), you will have the choice of either accepting the change, taking another available arrangement from us, or cancelling your arrangement and receiving a full refund. In the interests of our clients, we reserve the right to cancel itineraries, or to substitute alternative accommodation, if the arrangement, unamended, would then in our opinion suffer, or be in some way impracticable. However, in no case will we cancel your arrangement less than six weeks before the scheduled departure date except for reasons of force majeure or failure on your part to pay the final balance (circumstances amounting to force majeure include war, the threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, or withdrawal of suppliers facilities) In circumstances where we are unable to provide the arrangement booked, we will return to you all monies paid, or offer an alternative arrangement of comparable standard

advise you of the airline operating your flight/connecting flight/transfer which we do by detailing this on your confirmation invoice. Any changes to the airline used after you have received your tickets will be

the boarding gate. Such a change is deemed to be a minor change. Other examples of minor changes include alteration of your outward/return flights by less than 12 hours, changes to aircraft type, change of accommodation to another of the same standard.

8. OUR RESPONSIBILITY & LIABILITY TO YOU

If the contract we have with you is not performed or is improperly performed by us or our suppliers we will pay you appropriate compensation if this has affected the enjoyment of your travel arrangements. However we will not be liable where any failure in the performance of the contract is due to either you or a third party unconnected with the provision of the travel arrangements and where the failure was unforeseeable or unavoidable; or unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised; or an event which we or our suppliers, even with all due care, could not foresee or forestall. Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury or illness will be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to (a) The contractual terms of the companies that provide the transportation for your travel arrangements and (b) Any relevant international convention, for example the Montreal Convention in respect of travel by air, the Athens Convention in respect of travel by sea, the Berne Convention in respect of travel by rail and the Paris Convention in respect of the provision of accommodation, which limit the amount of compensation that you can claim for death, injury, delay to passengers and loss, damage and delay to luggage. We are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitation of compensation contained in these or any conventions.

Although we do not control or operate any airlines, own any coaches, hotels or other facilities mentioned in our brochure, or directly employ staff of those organisations, we do take all reasonable steps to ensure that such organisations maintain standards which are acceptable to us within the bounds of possibility in each locality. No third party has the authority to make, on our behalf, any promise or representation to you concerning our tour or travel arrangements. We do not accept liability for any such arrangements changed without our consent, or make any refund for unused travel, accommodation vouchers or excursion vouchers other than at our absolute discretion.

The texts of the transport companies’ contractual terms, or international conventions are available on request.

Under EU law (Regulation 261/2004) you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from your airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details of these rights will be publicised at EU airports and will also be available from airlines. However reimbursement in such cases will not automatically entitle you to a refund of your holiday cost from us. Your right to a refund and/or compensation from us is set out in clause 6. If any payments to you are due from us, any payment made to you by the airline will be deducted from this amount. If your airline does not comply with these rules you should complain to the Air Transport Users’ Council on 020 7240 6061 www.auc.org.uk

9. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY TO US

In accepting a booking and entering in to a contract with us you are provided with statutory protection under English and European Law and various International Treaties. In providing you with such protection you agree to satisfy our conditions for so doing. In particular we accept no responsibility for any claims for compensation that would have been met under the terms of the Personal Travel Policy we offer in relation to the programmes and tours featured in this brochure or any tailor made variations to them, irrespective of whether you take such policy or not.

When on any tour featured in this brochure you agree to abide by any advice given by our accompanying courier and/or any of our agents locally. You further accept and agree to accept your responsibility as being ‘in loco parentis’ for any children under the age of majority travelling with you and appearing on your Booking Form. In respect of all safaris, excursions and activities you further accept responsibility both for yourself and any accompanying children for listening and/or reading instructions given to you both on usage of equipment (including but not limited to equipment used in connection with animals), health and safety.

10. ASSISTANCE WHILST ON TOUR

If the contract we have with you is not performed or is improperly performed as a result of failures attributable to a third party connected with the provision of the services, or as a result of failures due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised, or an event which we or our suppliers, even with all due care, could not foresee or forestall, and you suffer an injury or other material loss, we will offer you such prompt assistance as is reasonable in the circumstances.

11. LOCALLY BOOKED EXCURSIONS & SAFARIS

For any excursion or safari that you book locally, your contract will be with the operator of that excursion or safari and not with us irrespective of whether the operator is one used by us or not. We do not accept responsible for the provision of any such excursions or tours or for anything that happens during the course of its provision by the operator.

12. FINANCIAL PROTECTION & STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 require us to provide security for the monies that you pay for any tours booked with us and for your repatriation in the unlikely event of our insolvency. We provide this security by way of an

held by ABTA.

financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: http://www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate

We are also a member of ABTA (ABTA number W879X). If your holiday does not include flights, ABTA will financially protect your holiday by ensuring you receive a refund or, if your arrangements include return travel to the UK (other than flights) you are returned to the UK in the event that your holiday cannot be provided as a result of our insolvency. Please go to www.abta.com for a copy of the guide to ABTA’s scheme of Financial Protection

13. OTHER TERMS

The conditions, terms and obligations outlined in this brochure and on our website www.nordicexperience.co.uk under the heading “the small print” shall be deemed to be included within these conditions. Nordic Experience is a trading name of Colchester Travel Ltd with whom your contract is and which is governed by English Law and the jurisdiction of the English Courts.

Booking ConditionsE X P E R I E N C E NORDIC


There is no charge for payments made by Debit Card; Credit Card payments are surcharged at 2.4%; American Express payments at 3.6%. *for security reasons may be telephoned through


39 Crouch Street Colchester CO3 3EN

Tel 01206 708888 Fax 01206 508899

CLIENT’S ADDRESS

CLIENT’S EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Daytime ....................................................................................................

Evening .....................................................................................................

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TITLE FIRST NAME SURNAME DATE OF BIRTH

AGENT’S ABTA NO AGENT’S REF

Confirmation invoice total

Balance 10 weeks before departure

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NORDIC EXPERIENCE

I certify that I am authorised to make this booking on behalf of all those named above and that I am responsible for ensuring payment of all monies due in respect of this booking. I have read and accept

incorporated within the terms of the contract between us.

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£

TOTAL AMOUNT PAYABLE £

Deposits £

I understand that it is a condition governing acceptance of this booking that I and all others named on this form are covered by comprehensive travel insurance. If I decline to take Nordic Experience’s recommended policy covering the arrangements featured in this brochure, I agree to indemnify the Company as to any costs that might arise which would otherwise have been met had such insurance been in place.

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