Finland family activity centre holiday

Quite simply, we love this place and judging by the feedback, so do our clients. Situated 230kms north of the Arctic Circle, this wilderness hotel combines Scandinavian style accommodation with the warmest of welcomes and a great range of winter activities. Located on the banks of the Muonio River (cross it when it’s frozen and you find yourself in Sweden) the hotel’s unforgettable safari programmes will take you into the very heart of Lapland’s winter wilderness.

Tailormade programmes allow you to design your own winter holiday; simply decide when you want to travel and for how long then match your stay to the activities available below.

All our tailor-made holidays are based on a minimum stay of three nights in en-suite hotel rooms on half board. Also included are flights, transfers, cold weather equipment for the duration of your stay and supervision from highly experienced wilderness guides.

Activities
All activities include tuition where required, supervision from qualified instructors and all equipment. Please note that some activities may only be available on certain days of the week - please contact us for more details.

Cross-country skiing: You will receive ample tuition before trying a short skiing trip. Guiding, equipment and hot drink included.

Hetta village and snow castle: You transfer to Hetta Village (50kms) where you will get a guided tour of the Nature Centre, visit the Snow Castle and have lunch at the restaurant. Transfers, guides, Snow Castle entrance fee and lunch all included.

Horse riding in the snow: Suitable for beginners. Your horseback ride takes you into the silent and snowy forest. Magical!

Snowshoeing: If you’ve tried walking through deep snow you will know that you simply sink up to your waist. Snowshoes may look like tennis racquets but they allow you to walk easily across the snow making your two hour trek immensely enjoyable. A warm drink is included.

Husky safaris
All our safaris include a tour of the Sled Dog Centre where you will learn about the huskies’ lives before setting out on your 'mush'. Guides, instruction and equipment are included. Durations below are approximate.

9km husky safari: A 1 hour introductory safari. 2 people share a sled/dog team.

17km husky safari: A 2 hour safari. 2 people share a sled/dog team.

25km husky safari: A 5 hour safari including lunch by a campfire out 'on the trail'. 1 person per sled/dog team.

50km overnight husky safari: 2 days of sheer heaven as you drive and care for your own team of huskies. 1 person per sled/dog team. Includes 2 lunches, 1 dinner & overnight in a wilderness cabin.

Reindeer safaris
The Lapp people have herded reindeer for centuries and they remain an integral part of life in Lapland to this day. Our reindeer trips aim to illustrate both the importance of these incredibly versatile animals as well as taking you on a reindeer-pulled safari through the snow.

Reindeer safari (Torassieppi Village): Visit the Lapland Manor and learn about the Lappish way of life, followed by a 3km safari with lunch, coffee and cake served in a warm kota (teepee).

Reindeer safari (Liepima Village): Visit a local reindeer farm and learn about the animals, their importance and how to lasso your reindeer. 10km safari, pausing for coffee and cake by an open fire.

Snowmobile safaris
You must be at least 15 years old and possess a full driving licence to drive a snowmobile. All snowmobile safaris include a safety briefing and instruction and are based on 2 people per snowmobile.

20km snowmobile night safari: Headlamps are on full as you enter the snowy forest for a 2 hour safari but with any luck it will be the Northern Lights that illuminate your path. Hot drinks served around a campfire.

30km snowmobile safari: The perfect introduction to the snowy winter landscapes.

50km snowmobile safari: 3.5 hours of exhilaration and fabulous scenery as you drive over frozen lakes and through snow covered forests. A hot drink around a campfire is included.

Overnight snowmobile safari: It doesn’t get more exciting than this. Speeding across the magical winter scenery of Fell Lapland close to the Pallas-Yllas National Park and travelling 80-100km per day. The safari includes two campfire lunches, dinner and a night in a wilderness cabin.

Accommodation
Hotel: Situated 230kms north of the Arctic Circle this family-run hotel has 64 Scandinavian style en-suite bedrooms. Most of the rooms accommodate 2 or 3 people but there are some larger bedrooms suitable for families. The hotel has 3 cosy dining rooms (including one with a log fire) and a recently built pub, ideal for those pre-dinner aperitifs. Naturally, this being Finland, there are two large saunas and a family sauna within the main building. For a bit of pampering, the Aurora Wellness Centre offers therapies such as massages, dry cupping, peat treatments and a variety of facials. On the riverbank there are 2 hot jacuzzis, 2 steam baths, an ice hole (for the very brave!) and a relaxation room. There is even a husky farm just 2 minutes walk from the hotel entrance.

Wilderness cabins: On our winter wilderness adventure with dogs, snowmobiles and reindeer, you will spend a night in a wilderness cabin. Despite being rather basic (no electricity or running water) they are comfortable and cosy, especially once dinner is cooking over the open fire. The cabins are generally so remote that there is little or no light pollution creating the best possible chance of seeing a spectacular display of the Aurora Borealis. Despite their far-flung locations, there is always a sauna in the cabins - after all, this is Scandinavia!