Magic of Lapland - Short Breaks at Christmas (Yllas Saaga) - Trips to visit Santa Claus

Yllas Saaga Christmas Short Break - 4 days - 2011

Christmas is a special time of the year. After a year of long and careful preparations Santa’s sleigh is full of presents for all the children around the world. Father Christmas agreed to see us just before his big world tour. We learned that he will be in his cabin in the afternoon of Christmas Eve and is waiting to see us!

23rd December
0700-0800 flights usually depart for Lapland from London Gatwick. Flight time is approximately 3.5 hours. On arrival to Lapland transfer to Yllasjarvi and Saaga Spa Hotel with a stop en-route to collect thermal clothing (transfer time approximately 35 mins). Light lunch is served in Saaga Spa Hotel.
1730 Depart for a husky dog safari (5km) where you will learn about the lives of the huskies.
1930 Dinner in Saaga Spa Hotel.

Christmas Eve
0800 - 1000 Breakfast in Saaga Spa Hotel.
1000 You will be collected from the hotel for a 20-30 minute reindeer ride (2km) that will take you through the snowy landscape to the reindeer herders' cabins and the Magic Forest. Join in tandem skiing, snow shoe walking and tobogganing. BBQ sausages on open fire. Children can drive mini snowmobiles, make Christmas decorations and ginger bread cookies. Meet Santa on an individual family basis in his cabin in the forest where he has stopped for a rest. Santa reads children's letters and gives them each a small soft toy gift. A simple Lappish lunch is served in the cabin in the forest. Coffee, tea, warm juice and gingerbread cookies are served throughout your stay in the forest. On the way back to the hotel stop for souvenir shopping.
1600 - 1900 Dinner in Saaga Spa Hotel.

Christmas Day

Day at leisure.

Boxing Day
0800 - 1000 Breakfast in the Saaga Spa Hotel. Morning free You may wish to take one of the optional activities or try downhill skiing at the nearby ski centre. Both ski school and equipment rental are available. Alternatively you can just enjoy snow and tobogganing.
1200-1300 Check out ( you will be asked to leave your luggage in the safari house)
1300 After receiving safety and driving instructions you depart for a snowmobile safari. Adults can drive snowmobiles through the Lappish countryside and forests, whilst children and those who do not wish to drive are pulled behind in sleighs. Stop in the forest for lunch in the kota (Lappish tepee). After lunch adults who wish to have a faster ride (without sleighs pulled behind) are welcome to join instructor for a second drive through the forest. Those who stay behind can toboggan and sit around the fire on this authentic and secluded venue. At least one adult must stay with the children. Warm juice, coffee and ginger bread cookies are served throughout the stay in the forest.
1730 Depart for Kittila airport, Lapland
2000 (approx.) - Return flight to UK from Lapland
2130 (approx.) - Arrive UK

	ACCOMMODATION
	YLLAS SAAGA HOTEL

Situated on the ski slopes, Saaga hotel and chalets offer incredible mountain views. Its location on the slopes enables easy access to snow activities, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snow shoeing and tobogganing. The swimming pool and steam sauna are perfect for relaxation after the arctic activities.

Saaga Chalets, linked to the main hotel building by a glass corridor, offer high quality accommodation of studios, and one or two bedroom chalet apartments with saunas.

Studio apartments accommodate 2-4 persons (no separate bedroom), one bedroom (for up to 4 persons) and two bedroom apartments (for 4-6 persons). The floor area of the chalet apartments varies, depending on apartment type, between 32 m2 and 73 m2. All chalet apartments have a small kitchen (incl. refrigerator, coffee maker, oven etc.), sauna, TV (pay movie channel option), free internet access and drying cabinet. The apartments have a balcony or terrace, and the view from the window opens up towards the top of the fell or down towards the Ylläsjärvi village. All rooms are non-smoking.

All apartments have: shower, WC, TV, hair dryer, free internet access, clothes dryer and can accommodate up to 4-6 people.

Hotel Facilities: 84 rooms, 70 chalet apartments (linked to the hotel by the glass corridor), swimming pool, gym, Jacuzzi, 2 restaurants, reception with bar area, free internet access and a computer in reception area. All rooms, apartments and the restaurants are non-smoking.

Outdoor activities: downhill skiing (50 m from hotel)

Dawn, our Lapland Manager starting escorting trips to see Santa in 1993 & has been over 40 times to various parts of Lapland. We are confident that she is the most experienced Lapland consultant around. Please call or email Dawn for impartial and knowledgable advice prior to making your booking with us.