Vuokatti - Half-Term Winter Adventure
Having travelled from the UK where winter is generally grey and uninspiring, I was spellbound by the blankets of winter snow covering the trees and the vast sea of white which stretched out as far as the eye could see. The landscape awoke the child within me and I was just so eager to get out and explore. Fortunately, the range of activities available in Vuokatti is fantastic but you don’t have the higher numbers of guests that can be found in areas of Lapland. The guides were amazing and really looked after us, ensuring that we had the best experience possible. I would certainly recommend Vuokatti as a firm family favourite.
Overview
Key facts
- Duration:7 nights
- Key Facts: Saturday departure
- Suitable for: Anybody aged 4 years or over. The minimum age for participation in some activities does vary and so please see the individual activities for details. For further information, please see the terms section.
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What's included?
- Flights: return flights from London to Kajaani (via Helsinki). Flight routes subject to change
- Transfers: return airport transfers
- Accommodation: 7 nights in a Lake View Suite
- Meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 7 dinners
- The following activities are included in the holiday: husky safari, snowmobile and ice fishing, Northern Lights snowshoe, daytime snowshoe, visit to Finnish farmhouse and reindeer sleigh ride, Vuokatti Spa tickets (the order of activities is subject to change)
- Fully qualified guides and instructors during activities
- Cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay
Nestled in the centre of Finland, the village of Vuokatti is an ideal spot for families. Finns travel here from the south to rekindle forgotten childhood memories of winter and consider it something of a hidden gem for family holidays.
The landscape is transformed into an activity playground in the winter months and the focus here is on getting outside and exploring. Our holiday includes a fantastic range of activities which are operated by knowledgeable and expert guides. We’ve included our favourites, along with some time for you to tailor your holiday and perhaps take to the nearby downhill ski slopes or try some additional activities. Of course, relaxing and spending family time at the hotel is also an option.
Your week will begin in the best possible way with a 2-hour husky safari into the winter forest. There are no better companions than a team of eager sled dogs, they’ll be super excited before you set off but after the safari, there will be time for some husky hugs.
It’s all about exploring the wilderness in Vuokatti and one of the most effective ways to do this is by snowshoe. You can all enjoy the deep snow and pristine surroundings whilst breathing in the fresh winter air. Our winter holiday includes a daytime snowshoe and an adventure under the dark northern sky during which you will search for the Aurora Borealis.
Read moreThe long winters in Northern Europe mean that the traditions and culture here are quite unique. Reindeer are a huge part of this and a visit to a nearby farm will introduce you to these famous local animals. The tour will include short safaris in sleighs pulled by reindeer and there will also be the chance to meet the other animals such as horses, dogs and goats. This holiday also includes a thrilling snowmobile and ice fishing tour, both of which are family favourites.
The holiday will be enjoyed from Hotel Vuokatti and Suites which combines modern comforts with a picturesque setting. There is a range of facilities but we imagine Mum and Dad will particularly enjoy the cosy bar and the three hotel saunas.
This holiday takes full advantage of all that is on offer in this relatively undiscovered area of Finland.
Image credits: Vuokatti Safaris
Agenda
Agenda
Show full agenda-
Day 1 Arrival and Welcome
After arriving at Oulu Airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Vuokatti which is approximately a 2 hour and 30 minute drive away. There is an entire week of fun winter activities to enjoy, so you may want to relax after check in and take advantage of your spacious suite which has a stunning view of the frozen lake. The kids can get straight out to enjoy the snow and there are sledges available for them to enjoy at the hotel.
A delicious three-course dinner will be enjoyed in the hotel restaurant tonight.
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Day 2 Husky Safari
What better way to start your holiday than a 2-hour husky safari. We are not sure who will be more excited, the parents, the children or even the huskies, but it is certainly a favourite activity here at Activities Abroad.
You will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to the husky centre which is about five minutes away. Your guide will then introduce you to the dogs who love nothing more than to pull their sleds.
After learning how to harness the dogs, you will drive 2 per sled on a 6km trail towards the Vuokatti hills. The excitable barking of the huskies will swiftly be replaced by the gentle pattering of doggie feet as you glide along the trail. Hot drinks will be included during the activity.
Dinner will be served at the hotel this evening.
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Day 3 Snowmobile and Ice Fishing
The Finns love ice fishing and you’ll find that to get to the best locations, many locals use snowmobiles. Following breakfast, you will join your local guide to see what all of the fuss is about during a snowmobile and ice fishing tour.
After instruction on how to drive the snowmobile, you will travel two per machine - at the halfway point you will swap over, so each of the adults has an opportunity to drive. Drivers must be 18 years and over with a valid licence and children will ride behind a guide.
Once you arrive at the lake you will assist your guide in drilling a hole into the ice. Trout, perch and pike are native to this area so drop your lines into the icy water and see who can catch the largest fish. Hot drinks are included and the activity is approximately two hours in duration.
The remainder of the afternoon will be yours to enjoy as you wish and a delicious dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant tonight.
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Day 4 Vuokatti Katinkulta Spa and Northern Lights Snowshoe
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel restaurant during a leisurely start to the morning. Today we have included tickets to the Vuokatti Katinkulta spa which has a wonderful swimming pool with a speedy water slide and numerous Jacuzzis. A free ski bus leaves from the accommodation approximately every two hours between 9 am and 4.30 pm so you can choose when you would like to visit and return.
During the evening you will enjoy a meal in the hotel restaurant before your snowshoe hunt for the Aurora Borealis. You will strap on your snowshoes and follow an expert guide who will lead you to areas which offer the best opportunities for viewing the Northern Lights. The tour will last for approximately two hours, and following the walk, you will enjoy some hot drinks and snacks.
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Day 5 Snowshoeing
Following breakfast, you will join your guide and begin a wintery snowshoe adventure. If you step off the trails without snowshoes you may find yourself knee deep in snow, but with the snowshoes on you can enjoy walks in the deeper snow. It’s really a wonderful way to explore and your guide will tell you all sorts about the local plants and animals.
The tour will last for approximately one and a half hours with hot drinks and snacks included as well as tuition on how to use snowshoes.
The remainder of the day will be yours to spend at your leisure. During the evening you will enjoy a delicious hot meal in the hotel restaurant. You will then have time to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities.
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Day 6 Visit to Finnish Farm and Reindeer Sleigh Ride
After breakfast, you will join a local guide and visit a nearby coaching inn and farm. The inn was a popular stopping point for travellers with horses and is located within the picturesque Vuokatinvaara fells.
You will be introduced to what life is like this far north and will all get a better understanding of how the local people have adapted to these colder climes.
Reindeer are hugely important to this region, and you will get to meet these furry nosed animals at close quarters when you enjoy a 300m safari around the grounds. There will also be the chance for you to meet the other animals, including horses, dogs and goats. At the end of the four-hour tour, you will enjoy a delicious country lunch at the farmhouse.
Following the tour, the remainder of the day will be yours to spend at your leisure. Dinner will be enjoyed at the hotel restaurant.
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Day 7 Free Day
We have left your final day in Vuokatti free for you to enjoy at your leisure. If you wish to make use of our local, expert guides and explore the landscapes further then we have a number of additional activities which you can add to your holiday. Please see our personalise section for details.
Another popular option is to take the ski bus to the nearby slopes where you can enjoy some downhill skiing (all equipment can be hired locally).
Alternatively, you can take the bus to the Angry Birds Park if you fancy something completely different (payable locally).
Simply mucking about in the snow and making use of the sledges available at the hotel is also a great option for families but the choice is entirely yours.
Breakfast and dinner will both be enjoyed at the hotel restaurant.
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Day 8 Departure
Following breakfast, your half term winter adventure in Vuokatti will be at an end. You will be transferred to Oulu Airport with an array of fantastic family memories of a traditional Finnish winter.
Accommodation
Accommodation
Included in price
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Vuokatti Hotel and Suites
Nights: 1-7
Hotel Vuokatti enjoys a prime location close to Lake Nuasjärvi in the Kainuu Province of Finnish Lakeland. This small hotel has 18 spacious rooms and 29 modern suites which offer a high quality, peaceful environment from which to enjoy your holiday. It is a wonderful location for children and free use of the hotel taboggans will provide endless amounts of wintery fun whilst you enjoy a drink in the bar.
Within easy reach of shops and the ski slopes of Vuokatti (both around 500m), it is an ideal base for families who are looking for a combination of winter wilderness and modern comforts. A ski bus stops at the hotel and is free of charge so getting around is nice and simple.
Read more about this accommodation Read less about this accommodationHotel facilities
- You will enjoy your breakfasts and evening meals in the hotel restaurant, which has an impressive outlook over Lake Nuasjärvi. Here a range of local ingredients such as moose, pike and reindeer are served alongside some more international options
- There is also a small café and lobby bar area which serves coffees, drinks and snacks
- For children, there are a number of toboggans provided by the hotel which are free to use
- The hotel has numerous saunas for guests to use. There is even a large sauna with panoramic glass windows looking out onto the frozen lake. NB: the panoramic sauna is not open every day (reception will provide details) and so we cannot guarantee access to this during your holiday
- There is a small but well-equipped gym for guests to use should you wish for some indoor exercise during your stay
- Free Wi-fi is available throughout the hotel
Room Type
Vuokatti Suites: these well-equipped, two-bedroom suites were completed in 2014 and offer a high standard of accommodation. All units have a kitchen with modern appliances (dishwasher, oven, microwave, coffee machine), a spacious living room, a bathroom and a private sauna. Each of the suites has a stunning view of either the frozen lake or the forested hills, which can be enjoyed from the terrace.
Double/Twin Rooms: the rooms at Vuokatti Hotel and Suites are well equipped, spacious and modern. All rooms are en-suite and the bathrooms have a shower as well as hairdryers. The rooms all have a flat-screen TV, a desk, safety deposit box and mini-bar.
Personalise
Personalise this tour
Our pick
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Northern Lights snowmobile
There is something thrilling about zooming over the snow underneath a dark starry sky in search of the Northern Lights. The snowmobiles headlights cut through the trees as you enter the winter forest and drive towards a clearing in the Vuokatti hills. You will then stop for snacks and a hot drink. Keep your eyes on the sky as the lights can dance at any moment.
Read moreYou will travel 2 per snowmobile with children sitting behind the guide. Drivers must be 18 years and older with a valid driver’s licence. Full tuition will be given on how to drive the snowmobile.
Duration: 2 hours
Min group size: 4 people
Availability: Monday to Sunday
Credit: Vuokatti Safaris
From £115 per adult
From £80 per child
Other options
Activities
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Northern Lights husky safari
Combining a search for the Northern Lights with a team of excitable sled dogs is great fun. After the dogs set off, their happy barks and howls are silenced as they focus on their task. You will cross snow-covered, frozen meadows whilst keeping your eyes on the starry northern sky. If there any signs of colour, you will stop and take the time to admire the Aurora.
Read more about this activityAfter the safari, you will return to the husky centre and have the opportunity to meet the dogs and take photographs. Hot soup will then be served in the cafeteria.
You will travel two per sled with full tuition on how to control the dogs. The tour will last approximately 3 hours.
Duration: 3 hours
Min: 2 people
Availability: Monday to Sunday at 5pm
Credit: Vuokatti Safaris
From: £186 per adult
From: £115 per child -
Snowmobile to husky farm
Combine two of our most popular winter activities with a snowmobile and husky safari set amidst the stunning winter scenery.
Driving 2 per snowmobile, with children sitting behind the guide, you will travel over snow-covered meadows towards the husky centre. After assisting the guide to harness the dogs you will then enjoy a husky safari into the silent winter forest.
Read more about this activitySled dogs love adventure just as much as our families and it is difficult not to fall in love with their infectious excitement. Don’t worry, at the end of the safari there will be plenty of opportunities to enjoy a cuddle and make some new doggie friends.
Full tuition on how to drive both the snowmobile and husky sled will be given. Drivers of the snowmobile must be 18 years old and over and hold a valid driving licence. Hot drinks and snacks are included.
Duration: 3 hours
Min group size: 4
Availability: Mon-Sun at 10 am
Credit: Vuokatti Safaris
From: £150 per adult
From: £88 per child
Dates & Prices
We include more, no hidden costs
Prices based on: two adults (13+) sharing a Lake View Suite with two children
Dates
Terms
Terms
For our full booking terms and conditions please click here
Holiday group size (approximate)
Minimum 8 people and maximum 30 (approximately)
Group sizes and minimum numbers
Most of our holidays require a minimum number of participants to operate. Minimum numbers are detailed on each holiday page and are always approximate. Group sizes for tailor-made holidays will vary for each of the activities. For private departures, you may also be joined by other guests during the activities unless you have discussed specific private activities with us.
If your selected date has not yet reached minimum numbers you will be informed at the time of booking. In the unlikely event that your chosen date has not reached the required minimum numbers nine weeks before your scheduled departure date, we will contact you and discuss the various options available to you. We will always do all we can to operate a holiday and in some cases, we may be able to operate the holiday by combining your itinerary with that of other guests for some activities (this may mean that the maximum group size is increased but this will be discussed in full with you).
If we are unable to operate the holiday then you will be offered the chance to transfer to an alternative holiday or date (subject to availability). If the alternative is more expensive you will be asked to pay the difference, if it is cheaper then you will be reimbursed. You will also be offered the option to cancel and receive a full refund of all monies paid.
See our booking conditions for further information.
Order of activities
The order of activities is always subject to change and you will be provided with your final itinerary upon arrival at your destination.
Single supplement
Please note that some of our holidays may incur a single supplement. Please speak to one of our Travel Experts who will provide you with a quotation.
Medical History and advice
If you or any member of your party is pregnant or has any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday or has any special requirements as a result of any medical condition or disability (including any which affect the booking process), please tell us before you confirm your booking so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements and/or making the booking. In any event, you must give us full details in writing at the time of booking and whenever any change in the condition or disability occurs. You must also promptly advise us if you become pregnant or any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed.
See our booking conditions for further information.
Reduced mobility
If you have a reduced level of mobility, then please contact our travel experts to discuss the suitability of this holiday in relation to your requirements.
Experience and fitness
We offer a vast choice of holidays which range from 'relaxed' to 'active' so there really is something for everyone and our holidays can be filtered by how active they are. Regardless of the chosen holiday, all activities will include tuition from a beginner's level and no prior experience is assumed.
If you are unsure about the physical demands of a particular holiday please contact us and our expert team will be happy to help.
See our booking conditions for further information.
Guides and safety
It is absolutely essential when partaking in any activity that you listen very closely to, and abide by, the instructions provided.
If there is anything that you are unsure of during a safety briefing or that you would like to clarify with the guides please make this clear to them immediately before starting the activity.
Our guides' word on activities is always final and your safety is their principal concern at all times, please respect their decisions. By following their instructions, your safety and enjoyment during each activity will be greatly enhanced.
See our booking conditions for further information.
Suitable for
This holiday has a specified minimum age. In some cases, however, younger children may be able to participate in the holiday but may not be able to take part in all of the activities. Please note that there may also be younger children staying at the hotel. Please speak to our Travel Experts for more details.
Booking activities locally
In almost all of our destinations, you can book and pay for additional activities locally. Please note that we cannot be held responsible for any injury or loss that occurs through any activities that are booked in your destination (see our terms and conditions for further details).
Please always ensure that your safety is your primary concern when arranging any such activity.
Car hire
If your trip includes car hire the named driver must have a credit card registered in their name which they can present when they collect their car along with their driving licence, as a deposit will be held on the credit card. Please see your trip dossier for full details.
Children and snowmobiles
For safety reasons, children under the age of 16 will typically travel in a sledge pulled behind the guides’ snowmobile on any snowmobile tours. From approximately 15 years onwards, children may be allowed to ride pillion on the back of a parent’s snowmobile. The guide will make a decision on the day as to where each individual child shall travel, and this may depend on the child’s height and the guide’s confidence in their ability to travel safely as a pillion for the duration of any safari. The guide’s decisions are final.
The driver of a snowmobile must be 18 years or over and have a valid driving licence. If an adult is unable to share a snowmobile with either a child or another adult in their party, they will be required to pay a single snowmobile supplement as all prices are based on two people sharing.
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