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Best Served Scandinavia – Finnish Lapland
by claire
Friday 17th March
I had a very early start this morning as my flight with Norwegian Airlines from Gatwick to Rovaniemi was the first departure of the day – 05.50.
We arrived on time in to a snow covered Rovaniemi airport after a flight of 3 hours 20 minutes, the airport is very small just 2 departure gates and 1 luggage carousel so we were through the airport in no time.
After meeting our local guide we were driven 20 minutes into the centre of Rovaniemi where we were then walked to Aitta Deli for an amazing Lappish Brunch – Highlights include smoked and cured meats, cinnamon rolls, blueberry smoothies, smoked reindeer on toast with poached eggs, baked cheese with red onion and lingonberry marmalade and the most amazing egg butter for your wide selection of rye breads. All made on the premises with locally sourced ingredients…. Plenty of energy to fuel you up for the next adventure.
We headed to the local offices of Safartica who were arranging our excursions for the day; here we were given our snow suits and boots and then headed off to the local Reindeer & Husky farms.
We spent the afternoon learning about the local reindeer herdsmen and their way of life and of course had the obligatory reindeer safari, followed soon after by a short 5 km Husky Safari from the Husky Farm located next door.
We headed back into Rovaniemi for a site inspection and dinner at the Scandic Hotel, after this we headed back out on a snowmobile safari for 3 hours in search of the Northern Lights – unfortunately it was too cloudy so nothing was visible. We headed back just before midnight to our home for the night – Santa’s Igloos at the Arctic Circle. The igloo was very cosy and warm with a double bedded room beneath the glass canopy and a separate small twin room so a family can stay overnight together. Breakfast is provided in a hamper ready for the next morning.
Saturday 18th March
The morning was spent visiting Santa’s Village at the Arctic Circle, this is a short walk from Santa’s Igloos. We were shown around Santa’s office, Santa’s Post Office, the Snow Hotel & the Snow Bar.
Both the Snow Hotel & Snow Bar are left to completely melt away from April and then they re-build a brand new hotel from October, every year the design changes slightly.
After lunch we travelled to Iso-Syote, which is 2 hours by road south of Rovanieni, travelling up towards the resort which is very popular with skiers, snowboarders, fell walkers and cyclists. We were staying at the Fjelltop Cabins at the Iso-Syote Hotel, within the Syote National Park.
We were scheduled to go ice fishing late afternoon but when we arrived it was snowing so heavily it was decided that we would just get too wet and cold just sat fishing so instead we headed out on a snow-mobile safari for a couple of hours. When we got back to the hotel that evening we had dinner at the Panorama Restaurant which has stunning views down over the slopes.
Sunday 19th March
After breakfast we headed down the mountain, about a 45 minute journey to another husky farm where we had a 12 km husky ride, not my best experience and one that I wouldn’t recommend!
Iso-Syote Hotel do not normally operate excursions during the weekend as most people tend to be there for skiing, his trip was arranged especially for us as agents and personally I didn’t like the Husky Farm or the lack of attention from the guides.
After lunch back at the Iso-Syote hotel we headed back towards Rovaniemi, stopping to visit and have dinner at the Arctic Snow Hotel. The Arctic Snow Hotel has both glass igloos and rooms in the snow hotel. We had dinner in the ice restaurant served with warm spiced drinks.
Our final night was spent at the Ounasvaaran Likituvat Chalets
We spent the late evening at the adjacent hotel, the Sky Hotel , as they had a viewing terrace on the roof overlooking Rovaniemi, we managed to see the Northern Lights over the lights of Rovaniemi – by the naked eye they looked like grey wispy clouds but through the camera lens the green lights were much more visible. After about an hour stood watching them at -15 it was time to call it a night.
Monday 20th March
We headed back to the airport after breakfast. With the airport being so small, we only arrived to check –in about an hour before the flight departed.
Norwegian Airlines currently have this winter 2 direct flights each week, but they are planning on adding an additional flight for next winter.