Harriniva Santa Break
3 nights in Harriniva
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Itinerary Details
Overview
This magical Christmas break in the Arctic wilds of Finnish Lapland is one children and adults alike will remember forever. You’ll meet Lapland’s friendliest antlered residents and sled through silent forests, mush your own team of eager huskies, and, of course, meet Father Christmas himself. Wilderness fireside dinners and festive baking add to the charm, and days are end with – luck depending – the Northern Lights’ dazzling constellations. It’s all knitted together with a stay in a rustic wood-panelled cabin, private transfers and all-inclusive meals – escorted throughout by your own personal Best Served Scandinavia host.
Harriniva Santa Break is part of the "Small & Personal" collection.
Pre-Christmas Itinerary
Day 1
UK to Harriniva
After your flight to Kittila, accompanied by your Best Served Scandinavia host, you’ll be met by your local guide and taken, via private coach transfer, to Harriniva, nestled high above the Arctic Circle. Your cosy hotel, perched alongside the frozen banks of the river Muonio, awaits, with a wood-cabin aesthetic that's pure Scandinavia. Rooms are reassuringly rustic, their pine-clad interiors completely in tune with the forested Lappish surroundings. Indulge in dinner at the wood-panelled restaurant, enjoying hearty, home-cooked dishes – a wonderful prelude to late-night tobogganing where you'll race through the frozen firs. You may even, with luck, be joined by the shimmering, raking lines of the aurora. You can even subscribe to an aurora wake up service to rouse you for a personal lightshow.
Stay - Hotel Harriniva, Muonio
Meals - Dinner
Day 2
Reindeers & Snowshoeing
This morning you'll meet Lapland’s most emblematic residents after transferring to Torassieppi and Finland's oldest reindeer farm, where they'll be ready and waiting for a ride through the glacial forest. It's a tranquil pace as you feed them and even try your hand with the herder's lasso before enjoying a Finnish lunch in a traditional kotaby an open camp fire – it’s the perfect fuel for your action-packed afternoon. Glide on snowshoes on the thick snow blanket, and for further thrills there’s cross-country skiing, tobogganing, ice hockey and even mini-snowmobiling for children – and everyone's kept toasty warm alongside hot drinks, cookies and marshmallows around the open fire. A festive Finnish Christmas dinner awaits this evening, comprising of hearty, traditional Lappish dishes. After, there’s the chance to head on an optional private riverside sauna and hot tub experience under the Arctic sky – pre booking is a must.
Stay - Hotel Harriniva, Muonio
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3
Snowmobiling, Husky Safari & Meeting Father Christmas
After breakfast, it’s time to head back out into the Arctic playground for a thrilling snowmobile safari. Glide through the ice-slicked forest while children are pulled on a sled just behind, with stops, of course, to play in the deep snow blanket. After lunch, you’ll be introduced to another of Lapland’s most emblematic animals as you head to a husky farm where your eager team await to tow you through the frosty tundra, the silence only interrupted by their friendly yaps. The festive anticipation is palpable with cookie baking and Christmas crafts before it's time for a magical nighttime snowmobile sled journey to the woods, where Father Christmas himself awaits. Indulge in pancakes over an open fire first before a personal meeting with Lapland's most famous man in red. Presents clutched tightly, a final dinner is served in the cosy restaurant before a night of exciting Christmas games – with another appearance by a very special guest.
Stay - Hotel Harriniva, Muonio
Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4
Harriniva to UK
After your final breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
Book for a deposit of
£150 per person
* Balance due 12 weeks before travel
Accommodation Details
Hotel Harriniva, Muonio
Perched on the banks of the Muonio River, this simple yet cosy wilderness hotel comprises 64 comfortable rooms, some with private saunas, whose wood-cabin aesthetic is pure Scandinavia. It's also a convenient base for exploring the very best of the region's wild remotes, with activities ranging from husky sledding to Northern Lights safaris, and, in summer, hikes under the midnight sun.
SLEEP
The rooms at Harriniva are reassuringly rustic, their cosy pine-clad interiors completely in tune with the forested Lappish surroundings. And, while all are en suite, some, including the spacious apartment rooms, come with a TV, kitchenette and even a private sauna, perfect for families.
EAT
Ok, so it's not fine dining, but Hotel Harriniva’s cosy restaurant does serve a mixture of hearty, home-cooked and locally inspired dishes along with a range of international favourites. It's simple but effective fuel for a holiday packed full of activity and adventure.
DO
Santa aside, a winter holiday to Finnish Lapland is, in many ways, about seeing the Northern Lights. And, at Harriniva, staff offer a wakeup service to alert guests as soon as the show begins. In daylight hours, there's plenty of frosty fun to be had, with husky safaris, skiing, ice fishing and snowmobiling among a full spread of adventurous options. Back at base, there are saunas and hot tubs to relax in after all the fun.
Resort Details
Harriniva
Perched on the banks of the Muonio River, this simple yet cosy wilderness hotel comprises 64 comfortable rooms, some with private saunas, whose wood-cabin aesthetic is pure Scandinavia. It's also a convenient base for exploring the very best of the region's wild remotes, with activities ranging from husky sledding to Northern Lights safaris, and, in summer, hikes under the midnight sun.