New Year's in Finland 6 Days | Starts/Ends: Kuhmo

TRIP NOTES

NEW YEAR TOUR: Make New • Taster horse sleigh, reindeer sleigh and 29 December 2021. Upon arrival at Kajaani Year's Eve one to remember with snowmobile safaris Airport you will be met and transferred to • a week long stay in Kuhmo in Traditional tin casting and fortune teller the Hotel Kalevala in Kuhmo. The transfer is on New Year's Eve approximately one and a half hours. Upon Finland. Go snow shoeing in the • Entrance to Kuhmo Arts Centre and arrival at the hotel you will check in, enjoy a forest, be introduced to husky and concert on New Year's day welcome drink and have dinner. Overnight - horse sleigh riding and head into a • 1 Hour Snowmobile Safari Kuhmo (D) winter wonderland by snow mobile. • Daily evening saunas and jacuzzis Enjoy fireworks and a disco for new • Free use of kick-sledges, toboggans, Day 2 : Try some winter year's eve and take advantage of DVDs, Playstation2 and Nintendo WII activities games, Wi-Fi and board games daily jacuzzis and saunas. What's Not Included HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS • Items of a personal nature and additional meals Trip Highlights • International flights to/from our tour start/ • Spend New Year's in Kuhmo, Finland - end points and visas near the Russian border. Enjoy a gala • Tipping - An entirely personal gesture dinner and fireworks to celebrate the start • Optional excursions of a new year This morning we will have breakfast together • Lots of winter activities including husky, DETAILED ITINERARY with our host who will explain to you how the horse and snowmobile taster sleigh rides next few days will go and introduce you to Day 1 : Welcome to Finland What's Included the optional activities on offer. After breakfast this morning we will get a chance to have a • 5 nights at the Hotel Kalevala (3 star) taster of some of the available activities. You • 4 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 3 lunches and 5 will take a short horse sleigh, Reindeer sleigh dinners (inclusive of a New Year's Eve ride and snowmobile ride. We'll then get a Traditional Gala Dinner) real taste of this winter wonderland as we try • Welcome drink our hand at snow shoeing on a 2 hour snow • Arrival and departure transfer from shoe tour along the Taiga forest and across Kajaani airport on days 1 and 6 the frozen lake before enjoying a cup of hot • 2 hour snowshoeing tour juice.

New Year's in Finland - 6 Days updated on 24-09-2021 11:26:19 www.onthegotours.com This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] this itinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa AUS 1300 855 684 [email protected] requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours. NZ 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 - 1 - USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311 TRIP NOTES

New Year's in Finland

This afternoon is free to try your hand at lots of wellness area. You may wish to watch the Kick different winter activities from Nordic walking Sled competition that will be taking place in to cross country skiing to husky safaris. We the village today. can also take advantage of the saunas and jacuzzi. Overnight - Kuhmo (B, L, D) Before dinner we will head out to the New Day 3 : New Year's Eve Year's Day concert at the Kuhmo Art's Centre - a short bus drive away. Overnight - Kuhmo (B, D) Our partners This tour is operated in conjunction with our Day 5 : Free day for activities trusted partner and you will join travellers Today is at leisure for more optional activities. who booked through different operators, You can also go shopping for some last not solely On The Go. minute souvenirs or just simply relax at the hotel. Tonight we have a farewell dinner The sightseeing group may vary in size from with your fellow guests. You'll also have the 2 – 26 persons. opportunity to take a final dip in the jacuzzi or KNOW BEFORE YOU GO After breakfast this morning we take a 1 head for the sauna. Overnight - Kuhmo (B, L, D) hour snowmobile safari over 15 - 20 km COVID-19 Vaccination heading through the stunning scenery, past Day 6 : Kuhmo snow covered trees. There will be 2 people Requirements 3rd January 2022. Our amazing New Year's in As of 01 November 2021 it is a condition of per snowmobile and thermal overalls will be Finland comes to an end today after breakfast travel, as detailed in our Terms & Conditions provided. Later on we sit around the fire in the and hotel check out with an included transfer that all travellers over 18 years provide proof lobby and watch some tin casting - a tradition back to Kajaani airport. (B) of COVID-19 vaccination. on new year's eve to make little horse shoes as a sign of good luck. There will also be a HOTELS We recognise any vaccine that has been fortune teller on hand to tell you about your authorised for use in the country where future for the following year. Highlighted below are some of the hotels the vaccine was administered. This includes which we frequently use on this tour, though vaccines such as AstraZeneca, Covaxin, This evening there is a New Year Gala Dinner we reserve the right to substitute these Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer- and disco. Just before midnight we'll move hotels to ones of a similar standard. BioNtech, Sinopharm, Sinovac and Sputnik. into the winter garden to enjoy the fireworks Please refer to your Tour Voucher for your In all instances, you must be fully immunised. and the countdown to 2021. The party will confirmed arrival hotel and further arrival This means you must receive the full dosage continue inside in the bar with dancing and a information. of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow a minimum DJ. Overnight - Kuhmo (B, L, D) Hotel Kalevela of 14 days before travelling in order for immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 Day 4 : New Year's Day On the banks of Lake Lammasjarvi sits Hotel vaccine has different dosages and timeframes Kalevela - a beautiful family run hotel with on for immunisation, so please check the related site spa. Guest rooms are comfortable with medical advice associated with your vaccine. modern facilities. The hotel boasts a fantastic Children under 18 years are not required to gourmet restaurant, 4 saunas and 2 hot tubs. provide evidence of vaccination to travel at The hotel can organise lots of activities like this time. husky sledding, snow shoeing, cross country skiing etc. There is a lounge and fireplace for If you are unable to be vaccinated due relaxing by and the hotel also provides kick to medical reasons, you may apply for an sledges, toboggans and children's games to exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on keep the whole family happy. Happy New Year! This morning enjoy a lie in a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must as there will be a late breakfast/brunch served provide supporting documentation from a today. It is a free day to relax and enjoy some medical professional. more optional activities if you wish. Otherwise Proof of COVID-19 immunisation must you can just recover from last night's revelry be provided to us no less than and enjoy the hotel's facilities including the 4 weeks prior to travel. We accept

New Year's in Finland

COVID-19 digital certificates, NHS Covid European plugs, of the two round pin variety. Pass or Vaccination Record Cards e- We recommend that you pack a universal Helsinki in the south has the least extreme mailed to [email protected] or you travel adaptor. You will need a voltage of the daylight hours but still sees a lot more can upload your vaccination history converter, and plug adaptor in order to use than most European capitals in the summer yourself via our traveller login. https:// U.S. appliances. and a lot less in the winter. The earliest you www.onthegotours.com/Login are likely to see the sun rise in Helsinki is Health Requirements about 4am in the middle of June, on top of The information you will need to upload You should seek medical advice before this you can enjoy up to 19 hours of daylight includes: Administering national authority or travelling to Finland from your local health with the sun not setting until just before 11pm. government, document No, name of Vaccine, practitioner and ensure that you receive The winter is obviously a very different story date/s of vaccination. all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a with the latest the sun rises being about guide Tetanus is recommended. The medical 9:30am in late December, early January. The Visas facilities in Finland are good and available for sun generally sticks around for just shy of Please be advised that visa requirements are free to European Union citizens with a valid 6 hours before setting around 3:15pm. After subject to change and that visa procurement EHIC form or its replacement ID card. January the daylight increases slowly until is the responsibility of the traveller and not June and then beings to decrease again until On The Go Tours, therefore it is essential that The water quality in Finland is excellent and it’s December again. you check current visa requirements with the tap water is always drinkable embassy before travel. Please also ensure In Rovaniemi (the capital of Lapland) the story that your passport is valid for at least 3 months Food & Drink is a bit more intense. In June and most of from your planned date of departure from Unsurprising for a nation surrounded by July you’ll be unlikely to see much darkness. FInland, has at least two blank pages and has water, fish plays a very prevalent role in From mid July the sun rises at about 2am and been issued within the last 10 years. Finnish cuisine with salmon and herring often doesn’t set until about 00:45am. Towards the playing a starring role. Meat is also widely end of December the sun doesn’t tend to rise UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and USA eaten with delicacies including reindeer, elk until 11:45am and barely sticks around for an passport holders do not require a visa for a and bear. More commonly found is the HK hour, setting at 12:32 in the afternoon. As with stay of less than 90 days. Sininen Lenkki sausage. Many main meals Helsinki the daylight increases moderately are served with potatoes, berry sauce and from January to June and then decreases Finland is part of the borderless region known gherkins/pickles and rye bread is often the again in the second half of the year. as the Schengen Area and South African bread of choice. residents require a Schengen visa in order What to Pack to enter Finland. This schengen visa must Alcohol is fairly expensive in Finland For an extensive list on what to bring when be submitted at least 15 days before their (compared to continental Europe) however it travelling to Finland during winter see our intended departure for the Schengen member is very easy to find. Local beers like Lapin Lapland Packing List on our Travel Guide on states. Visa forms can be down loaded at Kulta, Karjala and Olvi are easily found in our website. http://formin.finland.fi/Public/default.aspx? local supermarket – they are branded by their · Walking boots or snow boots (avoid wellies/ alcohol content though. I is the weakest and Currency gum boots), woollen socks (Merino if possible cheapest whereas IV is the strongest and no - avoid cotton) The official currency of Finland is the Euro. doubt the most expensive. Anything harder · Long johns (wool or polyester - avoid However please note the 1 and 2 cent coins than beer needs to be bought at Alko – a cotton), jogging/sweat pants and ski trousers are not used in Finland and everything will be government run chain of supermarkets. They or waterprrof trousers. rounded up to the nearest 5 cents. All major hold the monopoly on where you can buy · Base layer (wool or polyester - avoid cotton), credit and debit cards are accepted in Finland. anything pretty much over 4.7% in Finland. fleece shirts, woollen jumper. ATMs are found in every city, major town or · A down parka is ideal but pricey, otherwise a resort and even some small villages. Daylight in Finland down shell jacket or a similar insulated jacket. Due to its location in northern Europe with the Time & Voltage · Hat, gloves and mittens, scarf and balaclava Arctic Circle crossing the north of the country, (optional) Finland works on GMT + 2 hours. It observes parts of Finland experience both extremes · Padded bag for camera daylight saving with clocks going forward at when it comes to daylight. The northern part · Spare batteries and SD cards the end of March and back again at the end of the country (Lapland) that sits above the · Swimming costume/trunks/swimming shorts of October. Arctic Circle has at least one day a year when if you plan to visit a sauna when you are in Standard voltage is 230 volts, 50 Hz. Primary the sun never sets (usually mid to the end of Finland sockets generally require Continental or June) and one day when the sun doesn’t even appear (usually mid to the end of December).