Hotel Kakslauttanen and Saariselka (Ivalo, Finland)
How to get there:
- Taxi which will costs 90 - 100 Euros
- http://www.taxiivalo.com/english.html
- Taksi Jukka Kumpula in Saariselka - 0400 661935
- You can ask the hotel to book you a taxi
- Otherwise, the hotel provides a coach for 25 Euros pp.
Activities:
http://www.huskyco.fi/
So it seems that the hotel doesn't really allow them to meet you in the hotel since the hotel wants to monopolized activities and any of these have to go thru them. And booking thru the hotel is really expensive.
What you can do is try calling them and arrange some transportation of some sort. You can save like around 50 Euros per person per activity if you just go there and book directly with them than thru the hotel. We looked for Antii, he was great!
And just to share the difference, during 2014: hotel was charging 231 Euros while husky was 165 Euros for Ice fishing ( 9 Hrs)!
I have the list of prices and activities here:
So it seems that the hotel doesn't really allow them to meet you in the hotel since the hotel wants to monopolized activities and any of these have to go thru them. And booking thru the hotel is really expensive.
What you can do is try calling them and arrange some transportation of some sort. You can save like around 50 Euros per person per activity if you just go there and book directly with them than thru the hotel. We looked for Antii, he was great!
And just to share the difference, during 2014: hotel was charging 231 Euros while husky was 165 Euros for Ice fishing ( 9 Hrs)!
I have the list of prices and activities here:
Note: In Jan and Feb, temperature can go as low as -42 degrees Celsius.
Crazy expensive and you seem to pay everything even transfer between the two Villages. East Village seems to be nicer and more people...and West Village is more quiet. If you booked 4-person glass igloo, that will most likely be at the West Village. Transport and shuttle between two Villages are not guaranteed and they don't really have a schedule. If you want transfer, you have to Shell out 5 Euros per person.
Also if you are leaving earlier (before breakfast time), do request for a Breakfast box prepared for you earlier in the morning!
Also if you are leaving earlier (before breakfast time), do request for a Breakfast box prepared for you earlier in the morning!
At the West Village
The Glass Igloo
We rented a 4-person glass Igloo in the West Village #41. It was pretty small and we were really in a very small room with a small shower and toilet. The 2-person glass igloo does not have shower facilities and you need to use the reception showers for that.
How the Glass Igloos look like inside?
Photo Sphere here.
The Reception and Sauna Place in the West Village
The restaurant at night
The Restaurant and Glass Igloo Bar in the West Village
The Glass Igloo Bar but unfortunately, it seems that it was not open yet that time.
The restaurant with beautiful carvings on the post
Sample Food
Santa's Village
During December, you can book a tour of the Santa's Village where they will bring you in the house of Santa, Elf's house, etc. However, you can just walk around the area if you don't fancy paying money to get into those houses.
The Elf's House
The Christmas Celebration House
The cute Elf Red Tower
Towards Santa's House
Santa's House
Reindeer Farm
At the East Village
The Glass Igloo @ the East Village
The Snow Igloo
Looks really uncomfortable and really small, but when you actually try lying in bed, it isn't really that cold. I guess they have good cloth and fur to protect your from the icy bed.
The Snow Chapel
The Glass Teepee
Interesting sites in the East Village
Is this the lost Easter Egg? hehe
Lapland Adventures
Husky Adventure
4-5 hours of Husky Riding. Two people - one's a passenger and another as a rider riding on a sled being pulled by 6 huskies. You can switch halfway with your friend and an hour before, you grab lunch in a teepee.
Time starts around 9.30 am.
The husky farm. The farm has around 160+ Huskies. Unlike Siberian huskies, Alaskan huskies need a doghouse. The doghouse really seemed small and cute.
The huskies are so friendly, that you can just pet them. I initially got scared because they were barking loudly when we were about to ride them. Apparently, they were only too excited to start running!
Trivia: The huskies were Alaskan huskies. They are normally bred based on who has the "genes", the fastest etc etc. Unlike Siberian huskies, which the breeders are "purists" so they only want just pretty Siberian huskies. In a long distance competition, Alaskan huskies would most likely win.
Riding towards the tunnel!
Ice Fishing in Lake Inari
According to the guide, it is around 90 x 40 km wide approximately. We got on a sled and pulled by a snow mobile and went on snowmobiling in the lake for around 45minutes to 1hour. It was incredible to see the lake frozen in April that people can just walk or even drive a snowmobile around. We ended up in a very quiet spot and all I can see was the vastness of the lake .. and the mountains as the backdop. It was a magnificent view. Check out the photosphere here.
The only thing that I prolly can comment on is it would have been better if we were able to cook the fish that we caught.
Snowmobiling thru the lake!
Marco, our tour guide started drilling a hole.. and we started fishing...
My catch for the day.. I got it in the first 10 minutes.. and that was my ONLY catch.. :( I guess I got lucky!
To see a photosphere picture of the Lake. See here.
and more fun pictures....
And seeing a rainbow around the sun!
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