embark on the Luxury Lapland Winter Escape, a four-night festive experience through Swedish and Finnish Lapland that blends tradition, culture and creature comforts with exhilarating adventure.
Crafted by Off the Map Travel, experts in crafting bespoke, unforgettable, luxury experiences in the Nordics, this cross-border adventure balances luxury and authenticity with plenty of festive spirit for your best Christmas yet.
This December, Off the Map Travel is offering an Arctic holiday straight out of a snow globe, a 5 day journey through frozen forests, glassy lakes and northern lights skies. This specialist itinerary has been designed for those seeking something extraordinary this Christmas. Whilst arrivals are set for 23rd December and departures on 27th December, as with all Off the Map Travel experiences, this itinerary is fully tailorable to individual desires and requirements.
Day 1: Your Journey Begins
The adventure starts at the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, the world’s first ice hotel where everything from walls, beds and decor is sculpted from ice from the Torne River. You’ll stay in an artfully carved Cold Suite (complemented by additional warm rooms for comfort) and dine on a five-course ice menu served atop crystal-clear plates of ice. Nights are best spent sipping cocktails at the Ice Bar, wrapped in reindeer hides, watching for the first flicker of the Aurora Borealis above the Arctic wilderness.
Day 2: Christmas Eve Wonder
The day begins with a private transfer to the Cahkal Hotel in Kilpisjärvi, a boutique hotel located 400 kilometers above the Arctic Circle, the northwesternmost point of Finland. Guests are greeted with personally selected welcome gifts and local delicacies before settling into a Cahkal View Room with sweeping Arctic views. Embrace the magic of the season by baking Christmas cookies, decorating a real Christmas tree and getting your own decorations to take home as a memento of your Finnish Christmas.
Christmas Eve at Cahkal Hotel feels like a scene from a Nordic fairytale. Candlelight, fireplaces and a four-course festive dinner at the hotel’s Aika restaurant make for a cosy festive evening. The grand finale is a magical visit from Santa himself, with reindeers in tow arriving next to the restaurant’s vast windows to delight the guests inside. There is plenty of time to meet Santa before the Christmas carols begin before gifts are given to every guest to commemorate the special evening.
Day 3: Arctic Splendour on Christmas Day
Christmas Day begins with a delicious breakfast before a thrilling three-hour private dog sledding excursion. After meeting the eager husky team, you will learn to mush your own sled through quiet pine forests before ascending into the pristine white mountains, offering unforgettable views.
Guests can spend the afternoon relaxing in the panoramic sauna and after a cosy dinner, will embark on a snowmobile sleigh ride nighttime adventure. Comfortably nestled in a warm sleigh, an experienced guide will pull you deep into the quiet wilderness in pursuit of the spectacular Northern Lights.
Day 4: An Action Packed Boxing Day
The activities continue into Day 4, where guests can look forward to snowmobiling adventures through the breathtaking Kilpisjärvi region up to the Three Country border where Finland, Sweden and Norway converge. The day’s cuisine is also inspired by the three countries, with dishes celebrating the very best of Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian ingredients. Later in the afternoon, guests can enjoy a fascinating cultural experience with a visit to a local reindeer farm. Here, you’ll meet a local Saami reindeer herder, learn about this essential livelihood and have the opportunity to feed these iconic Arctic animals.
Day 5: Departure Day
Enjoy your final breakfast and soak up the Arctic atmosphere before your private transfer whisks you back to the airport for your return journey. The three-hour drive to either Tromsø or Kittilä airports provides one last opportunity to admire the vast, untouched beauty of the Lapland wilderness.
From the moment you arrive, every detail is thoughtfully curated for you by Off the Map Travel to ensure your Christmas escape is both effortless and extraordinary, leaving you free to focus on what matters most, making memories together.
