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finland | luosto tunturi taster week

family activity holidays / winter adventure / luosto tunturi taster week

Luosto Tunturi Taster Week        pulse rating 7 stars        nights: 7
adults from £1,345
children from £675

what's included:

  • 8 days . 7 nights
  • Flights from Gatwick to Kittila (Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham on request)
  • Return airport transfers
  • 7 nights Spa Hotel
  • Half board
  • Ice fishing . snowmobile safari . Aurora Kota visit . cross country skiing . visit to a reindeer park . husky safari . Aurora snowshoe trek                    
  • Thermo-overalls, socks, mittens, boots and warm hat for the duration of your stay
  • Fully qualified wilderness guides and instructors

  • NB.  A full driving license is required to drive a snowmobile in Finland.

 

overview

This holiday is designed to introduce you to the most popular Nordic activities.  None of the safaris are particularly long so the holiday is suitable for just about anybody regardless of age and fitness.  The choice of mostly half day activities also gives you the opportunity to enjoy Luosto's ski slopes or simply muck about in the snow - a pretty good combination.

Nestling in the fells of Central Lapland is the unspoilt village of Luosto. Located 90 minutes north of the Arctic Circle this small ski resort offers an intimate encounter with the wilderness of Lapland but from a family perspective.

The Luosto Tunturi Hotel & Spa are the ideal place to combine a relaxing holiday with some less-strenuous winter activities. A perfect mix of "downtime" and adventure.

First class activities and accommodation are coupled with a stunning natural environment – a perfect family destination. The local ski slopes are great for beginners and will also provide good entertainment for more experienced skiers.

suitable for

Anybody aged 5 years and over

our opinion

I love visiting Luosto, they always serve me a huge pan fried reindeer steak at the Tunturi Hotel. I know it's Rudolph's cousin and all but despite having very little fat the meat is so tasty, somewhere between steak and venison. A lot of rain last summmer means that the reindeers diet was enhanced by a surfeit of mushrooms. The local herders tell me that the flavour of the steak should reflect their diet. Sorry Rudolph but I can't wait!

agenda

Sunday

Flights, arrivals and introduction

You will be greeted on arrival at Kittila Airport and transferred to your accommodation in Luosto. On arrival, you will meet your representative who will brief you about your stay.

Monday

Ice fishing

You have a free morning to get used to your spectacular new surroundings and enjoy the snow.  For those raring to go there are the downhill ski slopes to keep you busy.  In the afternoon you will be taken in a snowmobile drawn sleigh to an ideal fishing spot to try your hand at ice fishing.  Warm drinks will be served around a campfire.  The perfect introduction to Finland.

Tuesday

Snowmobiles and the Northern Lights

The thrill of riding on a snowmobile through a winter wonderland is not easily forgotten. You will be given full instruction before heading to the top of Lampivaara Fell. This is the home of the Luosto amethyst mine - a real 'gem' of a place! You will learn about the stones and have the opportunity to dig for your very own amethyst before heading back to Luosto.

Tonight you will be taken to a very special place, the Aurora Kota. You will be given an illustrated presentation on the magnificent Northern Lights by a leading expert, in a traditional tipi and if you are lucky the sky will be illuminated by the real Aurora Borealis.

Wednesday

Cross country skiing

Finnish children learn to cross country ski pretty much as soon as they can walk and today it's your turn. You will be provided with all the necessary equipment and tuition before you explore Luosto's countryside on your skis. You will be able to keep your equipment for the remainder of the day so that you can use your new found skills to try some of the many trails Luosto has to offer and explore the wintery landscape on your own.

Thursday

Visit to a reindeer park

You have free time this morning before being transferred by car to a local reindeer park. Reindeer are a vital part of Lappish life and today you will be given the opportunity to learn about their importance and the lives of the herders. You will go for a short reindeer sleigh ride before having drinks around a camp fire. This is a truly Lappish experience!

Friday

Huskies and Aurora snowshoe trek

The highlight of any visit to the Arctic is a husky safari! You will be given full instruction on how to handle a sled before heading off onto the trail and through the snowy forests for an hour long safari. Sausages around a fire will top off this fantastic trip.

By now you will have discovered that the depth of snow here is truly awesome, and very hard to walk on! This is where snowshoes come in. Tonight you will be taken on a guided snowshoe search for the Northern Lights, a magical experience under the star lit sky. You will head to a spot deep in the forest, ideal for viewing the Aurora should they appear.

Saturday

Free Day

We have left today free so that you have the opportunity to try your favourite activity again. Alternatively you can head out onto Luosto's downhill ski slopes, simply relax in the Sauna or soak up the surroundings.

Sunday

Departure, transfers and flights

All good things must unfortunately end and today you will head back to Kittila for your return flight. You will however be safe in the knowledge that you have had a true taste of Lapland and memories to last a lifetime!

accommodation

Luosto Tunturi Hotel & Amethyst Spa

Much of the accommodation in Lapland is built to last. It is always clean and comfortable but often functional rather than focusing on comfort and relaxation. In our opinion, the Luosto Tunturi and Amethyst Spa is one of the exceptions to that rule because it is undoubtedly one of the best hotels you find anywhere north of the Arctic Circle.

The hotel is owned and run by our very good friend Juha-Pekka ('JP') and you're sure to spot him rushing around making sure everything is in order. He and his staff are always there with a welcoming smile and will always go the extra distance to ensure your stay is an enjoyable one.

The standard rooms are spacious and all have an en-suite toilet/shower (with hairdryer and clothes drying cabinet), minibar, digital and pay TV telephone. The two-seater sofa in each room is easily converted into an extra bed making these rooms a very reasonably priced option for three or four (at a squeeze) people sharing.

The twelve Tunturi Suites add an extra bit comfort to your holiday and are well worth the additional expense in our opinion. Each suite has a bedroom, a lounge/kitchen area, a sauna & shower, toilet, telephone, digital and pay TV, hairdryer, clothes drying cabinet and balcony. The two-seater sofa can be easily turned into an extra bed for an extra adult or two small children.

The hotel also has three excellent Amethyst Suites with two separate bedrooms. They are a fantastic choice if you are travelling with children and want some additional privacy.  Please contact us for a quote.

Facilities and Amenities at the Luosto Tunturi Hotel and Amethyst Spa

It's highly unlikely that you will ever go hungry in Lapland and with a choice of three different restaurants, the Tunturi offers a very good choice of dishes. The half board option includes a hot and cold buffet breakfast and evening dinner comprises soup, an extensive salad buffet, main course and dessert. It's also worth trying the bistro which serves burgers, pizzas and pasta dishes (everything from reindeer to salmon) but best of all is the a la carte menu. It's not exactly cheap but you'll struggle to find a better pan-fried reindeer steak anywhere in Lapland.

It's warm in the spa and pool no matter what the weather's like outside. The pool has a variety of massage points as well as an amethyst cave jacuzzi. In the sauna wing, the Finnish and Turkish saunas combined with massage, treatment and fitness centre offer both relaxation and the chance for a work-out.

Luosto's favourite nightlife venue is the Karhu Night Club on the lower ground floor of the hotel (away from the bedrooms). If you still have the energy then you can dance into the early hours. Karhu is generally open daily during peak periods and at weekends in the lower season.

  • hotel
  • hotel room
  • pool

prices & availability

To discuss your options with someone who’s been to the destination, or to check availability before you book your flights please contact us on 01670 789 991.

Available     Limited places     Unavailable

tour price (per person) - based on 2 adults sharing

depart fromdepart toadult child (4 - 11) availability
13/12/200920/12/2009£1,465 £725
20/12/200927/12/2009£1,595 £895
27/12/200903/01/2010£1,495 £795
03/01/201010/01/2010£1,465 £725
10/01/201017/01/2010£1,345 £675
17/01/201024/01/2010£1,345 £675
24/01/201031/01/2010£1,345 £675
31/01/201007/02/2010£1,345 £675
07/02/201014/02/2010£1,345 £675
14/02/201021/02/2010£1,495 £845
21/02/201028/02/2010£1,465 £725
28/02/201007/03/2010£1,465 £725
07/03/201014/03/2010£1,465 £725
14/03/201021/03/2010£1,465 £725
21/03/201028/03/2010£1,465 £725
28/03/201004/04/2010£1,465 £725
04/04/201011/04/2010£1,695 £895
11/04/201018/04/2010£1,695 £895

Adult price based on 2 adults (13 & over) sharing.

Child (5 to 12) price is based on sharing with 2 adults.

04 & 11 April 2010 departure dates include scheduled flights with Finnair from Heathrow to Kittila (via Helsinki).

 Flights departing on 20th, 27th December and 14 February will be the Activities Abroad charter flight from London Heathrow.

 All other dates are based on direct charter flights from Gatwick to Kittila.

Supplements:

1 Bedroom Suite (please add) per adult
£95
3 people sharing (please deduct) per adult
£40
4 people sharing (please deduct) per adult
£60
Christmas buffets (24, 25 & 26 Dec 2009) included
Manchester, Bristol or Birmingham departures (subject to availability) pp
£40 (child £40)
New Year's Eve Buffet included
Single occupancy
£225
Single Snowmobile (adults only)
£35

responsible travel

Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main source of employment and income, replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Working within this growth industry in rural and remote areas means that we must take a great deal of responsibility; socially, environmentally and economically. We fully appreciate the impact of tourist visits on local communities and their residents and strive to ensure that we are having a positive effect. We always encourage all of our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc. We have also included activities with a cultural base in our holiday. In addition, we always encourage our clients to get involved in local events and activities which help to sustain traditional values and customs. In all of our destinations we ensure that we use local suppliers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly. Our suppliers in Luosto provide a vital source of employment throughout the whole region. Their restaurant serves as much local produce as possible. Many of our safaris in Luosto also utilise other local enterprises such as the amethyst mine and the remote smoke sauna and restaurant we use in one of our activities is the primary income for a local couple. Through the tourism multiplier effect, this all helps to generate incomes and employment where the drift might otherwise be towards larger employment areas such as towns and cities. In a small and remote village such as Luosto the effects of such a drift could be devastating. The use of small businesses means that the tourism income, generated by our presence, stays where it should, in the local economy. We firmly believe in paying a fair price for all the services provided by our suppliers regardless of where they are in the world. Our holidays rely on visiting beautiful and un-spoilt areas, and they don?t come more un-spoilt than Luosto. Naturally we wish to maintain the natural settings in which we work, not just for the future of our company, but also for future generations. We always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this need. The wooden chalets that we use as accommodation are built using sustainable timbers and are all extremely well insulated to ensure maximum efficiency. We do appreciate that some may feel that snowmobiles should not be included in such itineraries however in areas such as Luosto they are a way of life. They are the only means of keeping in contact with remote reindeer herders and communities as the road infrastructure is not extensive. All trails are well managed. The alternatives to snowmobiles would in most cases be large, gas-guzzling off road vehicles. All snowmobiles are regularly serviced and kept as fuel efficient as possible. Our suppliers also utilise new 4-stroke engines that are less polluting. The snowmobile service industry is also another vital source of employment in these remote areas. We always ensure that all litter is removed from any of our activity sites, we strongly encourage group transfers to reduce traffic volumes and we make our clients aware of their obligation to the environment. We always offset our air travel emissions and would encourage you to do the same.