Finland Family Holiday

Finland can be extremely cold at this time of year. Please bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions. Please see the Packing section in the Essential Trip Information document for more details. There may be the rare occasion where your leader has to alter the itinerary and activities due to the weather. In this case an alternative will be offered. Please also note that even though it will be cold, not always will there be snow cover, especially on the departures earlier in the winter season. In these cases snow dependent activities will be replaced with suitable alternatives.

The Northern Lights (also known as the Aurora Borealis) are a natural display of coloured lights in the night sky of the northern hemisphere. While Northern Light displays can never be guaranteed, as they are a natural phenomenon, you have a higher chance of seeing them in locations at high latitudes, such as Northern Finland. Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies during your visit.

FAMILY TRIPS: Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
MINIMUM AGE: Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.
DISCOUNT: A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A single supplement is available to book and is inclusive of all days excluding day 02 (overnight train).  Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Remember - the lighter you travel the better! A soft-sided duffel is the ideal form of luggage. A small or medium-sized backpack or dufel bag (45-50 litres) is another good option.

It can get chilly between October and March in the hills and a warm jacket is recommended.

When you pack your families clothing, consider the climate at the time of year you are travelling and any specific requirements for your trip as at certain times of the year some of the items suggested in the list that follow may not be necessary. Laundry facilities are available in most places we visit.

Below is a list of equipment and documentation that we suggest you take with you. Please use this checklist as a guide when packing for your holiday.

Travel documents: passport, visa (if required), travel insurance, air tickets or e-ticket receipts, Trip Notes
Photocopy of main passport pages, visa (if required), travel insurance and air tickets
Spare passport photos
Money: cash/credit card/EFTPOS card
Money belt
Small first-aid kit
Daypack for use on day or overnight excursions
Torch/flashlight (or your phone's light)
Electrical adapter plug
Toiletries/roll of toilet paper/travel wipes
Insect repellent
Sunscreen, lip balm, sunhat and sunglasses
Earplugs and eye mask (for light sleepers)
Extra pair of prescription glasses (if required)
2 strong plastic garbage bags (for laundry and in case of rain)
Refillable water bottle
Warm clothes - when travelling in cooler months (Oct-Mar)
Wind and waterproof jacket
Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes that you can cycle in
Camera and spare film (or recharge for digital cameras)

Phone and internet access

With the modern world you may want to bring along tablets of smartphones for the children to document their adventure - there are a wide variety of apps out there which we suggest downloading before you depart. There will be opportunities to charge ( just make sure you bring the correct adapter) and there will be wi-fi available on your trip, although it will probably not be at the speeds you are used to at home and it won't be available everywhere., What to pack:
• Waterproof shoes, winter hiking shoes, sports shoes or snow boots (for evening wear)
• Warm (wool) socks
• A warm wind and waterproof jacket
• Suitable warm trousers - windproof ski style, soft shell or fleece lined mountaineering trousers are ideal
• Warm jumper(s) and jacket(s)
• Warm base layer thermals - very important!(Thin technical fibers as Carline or Polartec are extremely efficient)
• Gloves - multiple pairs for under and over
• A warm hat
• Appropriate neck wear like a warm buff
• Swim suit (sauna)
• Travel towel (sauna)

The apartments: shared double or triple rooms with lake views, private bathrooms and sauna access. Sheets, blankets and bath towels are provided- we recommend that you bring a second towel for use in the sauna, WATER BOTTLE
Please bring your own water bottle to refill. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please use the water dispensers which are provided on some of our vehicles and at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water, it is better to buy the largest available and distribute it into your smaller bottle for the day. Some travellers like to bring a bottle with its own filtration system or water purification tablets. If you are walking or trekking as part of your trip, you will need to carry at least 2 litres of water with you., WINTER TEMPERATURES
During the winter months in Lapland, temperatures can drop to well below zero. Winter boots and overalls are available for hire in location for the included activities, however in order to ensure you have high quality equipment with the right fit for your entire time in Finland, we recommend to all our guests to bring these items from home. This includes good sturdy shoes for walking across snow or ice (good waterproof walking boots), warm wind and rainproof jacket and trousers, gloves or mittens, thermals underwear and base layers, extra wool or cotton socks, fleece, good head wear that covers your ears, scarf or other face protection, and sunglasses.

DARKNESS
We also suggest you bring along a torch/flashlight, as days are short, and street lighting in the village will be turned off in the evening to increase the chance of spotting the northern lights.

RECOMMENDED
- Personal medical kit. Your leader will carry a large kit but we recommend you carry items such as blister relief, mild pain killers and bandaids.
- Water bottle. We recommend at least a 1.5 litre capacity. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
- Swimwear & flip-flops - for visits to one of Finland's famous saunas

OPTIONAL
- Camera with spare batteries. You won't be able to recharge during the day. Keep in mind that cold weather conditions drain batteries much quicker compared to warm weather. Keeping your camera or phone close to your body can be a solution.
- Earplugs and eye mask (for light sleepers)

This trip will raise your heartbeat. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.

Hotel Arthur, Vuorikatu 19, Helsinki, FINLAND, Phone: +358 09173441

Hotel Arthur is located close to the railway station in the heart of Helsinki. The main sights, shopping district and theatres are just a short walk away. The recently refurbished rooms are cosy and brightly coloured. All rooms have a private shower/toilet, telephone, TV, and hair dryer - some also have a minibar. If you choose to arrange additional accommodation at this location you may be required to change rooms for the nights which are not included as part of your Intrepid itinerary.

Alternate Joining Point

From Helsinki Vantaa International Airport (airport code HEL), your best option is to take the train to the main railway station in Helsinki. Alternatively public bus No. 615 or the Finnair Bus go to Rautatientori (railway square). The train/bus journey takes about 35 minutes and both modes of transport depart frequently. From the railway station it's a 5 minute walk to our hotel. Go to the square on the eastern side of the railway station. Take Vilhonkatu Street which leads off the top left corner of the square with the railway station behind you. You will come to a metro station at the corner of Vilhonkatu and Kaisaniemenkatu, Here turn left and head towards Kaisaniemi Park. Our hotel is located on the next corner on the right hand side. Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the airport directly to the hotel.

Pre booked arrival transfer from Helsinki Vantaa International Airport (HEL): If you have pre booked an arrival transfer, your transfer driver will be waiting in the arrivals hall in front of the airport's exit doors, holding a board with the Intrepid Logo or your name on it. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly: +358 50 545 5454.

Hullu Pooro Hotel, Levi, Rakkavaarantie 3, 99130 Sirkka,, Levi, FINLAND

Alternate Finish Point

Breakfasts included: 5

Lunches included: 1

Dinners included: 

Due to the remote northern location of this trip, most meals are included. Generous buffet style breakfasts and dinners are provided at your accommodation and we will have some lunch meals cooked outside on the fire for us. You will have the chance to try some traditional Finnish meals like smoked fish, salmon soup, reindeer stew and traditional cakes, however please be aware that fresh fruit and vegetables are rare in our isolated northern location. Dietary requirements will be catered for however, these must be provided at time of booking.

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.

The winter months in Lapland can be extremely cold. The average temperature between November and March ranges from minus 5 to minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit), but cold snaps of below minus 35 degrees Celsius (minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit) are possible. Heavy snowfalls are common, and snow remains on the ground until the thaw in spring. Please read the 'what to pack' section for information on how to stay warm.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.

For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us

In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

If you have booked an arrival transfer, and you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find to the driver, please contact the transfer operator directly on the number listed in the joining point instructions in the section above.

In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, Intrepid's Europe Operations Team can be reached on the number listed below:

Intrepid’s Local Operator: +49 8024 4679 540

We've sourced our accommodation very carefully and picked the best possible hotels in line with the Intrepid style of travel, but please note that service and accommodation in Europe may be different to the standards you are used to. Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges and in particular destinations, rooms may be rather small.

CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.

PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.