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Saami Village Christmas and New Year Experience
Overview
What makes the perfect Christmas break? Pinewoods? Warm fires? Or reindeer sledge rides? With this tour, you won’t need to choose. Discover the revived customs of the Saami people through festive dance, games and banquets. If you are looking for that fairy-tale Christmas spirit, then this is the tour for you.
Komi folk ensemble performance
Riding a reindeer sled across the frozen lakes
Time to relax in a Russian sauna
Visit to the local ethnographic museum
Visiting the local Christmas fair
Itinerary
Murmansk
The most Northern city in the Russian Federation, Murmansk has a long history as a naval port strategically located on the Kola Peninsula. Murmansk is primarily an industrial city, however growing interest in major tourist attractions such as the Northern Lights and better transport links between St Petersburg as well as to Norway and Finland are making the city an up-and-coming tourist destination.
Day 1
Arrival in Murmansk
After arriving in Murmansk, your driver will take you to your hotel where you will check-in and have some free time to rest and relax.
Arrival Transfer
Free Time
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Travel to
Krasnoshchelye village
A rural village settlement situated in Russia’s Northern Murmansk Oblast, Krasnoshchelye Village stands 157m above sea level beyond the Arctic circle, on the Kola Peninsula. The settlement is primarily home to the native Izhma Komi and Saami people and has a distinct culture from those of the nearby Russian settlements. The village is best known as the filming location of “The Tundra Race” by German director René Harder, which portrays the village and its inhabitants.
Day 2
Reindeer sled ride around Lovozero
After breakfast, your driver and guide will meet you at the hotel before setting off on the 2 ½ hour journey to Lovozero. Once you have arrived in Lovozero you will stop for lunch before changing into some warmer clothes for a sled ride pulled by a snowmobile to nearby Krasnoshchelye. On the lakes outside the village of Lovozero, we will stop near the Komi family chum where the hospitable Komi will offer you a ride on reindeer sleds.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Transfer
Snowmobile sled ride
Reindeer sled ride
Cultural Immersive Experience
Russian Banya
Food & Drink Experience
Star gazing around campfire
Day 3
Relaxation day in Krasnoyschelye village
After a leisurely breakfast, you will enjoy a relaxing stroll around the village where you will get to visit the local historical museum.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Free Time
Historical museum
Sauna
Food & Drink Experience
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Day 4
Ice fishing with the locals
After breakfast, you will head over to the nearby lakes for a spot of ice fishing, before learning how to build a national dwelling “Kuvaksa”, to make a campfire, and start a samovar. You will stop for lunch in the kuvaska where you will get to hear the stories of local fishermen.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Ice fishing
Kuvaksa building
Samovar
Sauna
Food & Drink Experience
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Day 5
Visiting a local Komi village
After breakfast, you will visit the Orthodox School and Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov before enjoying some free time cross-country skiing in a nearby forest and stopping for a late lunch.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Orthodox School
Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov
Free Time
Ethno-cultural centre
Komi folk ensemble
Scenic Surrounds
Souvenir Shopping
Star gazing around campfire
Day 6
Visiting the Saami Museum in Lovozero Village
After breakfast you will have time to pack up your belongings and get dressed up in your warm clothes before saying your goodbyes. Enjoy a final sled ride pulled by a snowmobile back to Lovozero village where you will get the chance to make a few stops to take any final photos along the way and get some lunch. After arriving in Lovozero Village, you will visit the local Saami Museum and have lunch before being transferred to Murmansk by minibus.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Transfer
Snowmobile sled ride
Prominent Landscape
Scenic Surrounds
Saami Museum
Day 7
Departure from Murmansk
After breakfast, you will have time to pack up your belongings and get dressed up in your warm clothes before being transferred to the airport. You will be able to enjoy a short sightseeing tour before arriving at the airport where this tour will end.
Breakfast
Departure Transfer
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More information
What’s included
Accommodation as part of the tour- All tours are COVID-19 secure and offer flexible booking options. Visit our Covid-19 information page to find out more
- Car transfers to/from Murmansk to/from Lovozero
- English speaking guide (other options available)
- Entrance tickets to the local museum and ethno-cultural centre
- Russian Tourist Visa Invitation
- Transfer to/from Lovozero to/from Krasnoschelye on a sledge pulled by a snowmobile
- Transport as part of the tour
What’s not included
Additional food or drink- International flights / transport
- Laundry
- Meals, unless specified in the itinerary
- Optional excursions and activities
- Personal costs (souvenirs, additional snacks etc)
- Tips for drivers/guides/in restaurants
- Travel / medical insurance
- Visa processing
Travel Tips
All travellers are asked to check the vaccination requirements before travel. Visit our Vaccines and Health page to find out more- Any dietary or allergy requirements will need to be disclosed before the start of the tour
- Carrying a water bottle with you is recommended
- Medication should always be taken with you and kept on your person
- Please ensure that you keep any personal documents and valuables on your person at all times
- This is a group tour which requires a minimum number of passengers to join the tour. Click here for more information about group tours.
- WIFI will be available at most of the hotels, although mobile coverage may vary in rural areas
- Your local guides will recommend stops where you can go souvenir shopping during your tour
Special notes
Please note that this tour requires a minimum number of passengers in order to go ahead. Please ensure you have suitable clothing with you including thermowear, several pairs of warm socks, sweater with high sliver, warm cap and gloves for evenings. You will need to bring your own swimwear in order to use the sauna. As you will be visiting a remote location, you should also make sure that you have packed any essential medicines and prescription medication before you leave.
Suggested reading
Enrich your travel experience with our list of top recommended books from specialist travel guides to compelling novels. Whether you are looking for something to pass the time on the train, or want to get to grips with the local history, reading is essential to turning your trip into a fully-fledged experience.
Russia: Lonely Planet
The ultimate guidebook to Russia that no tourist can go without! Lonely Planet’s Russia is packed full of almost everything you need when travelling to this vast country from how to get around, the best places to eat in its most popular cities, what you need to see while you are there, cultural highlights, currency and more. In addition to its noteworthy insider tips about key attractions such as the Moscow Kremlin, Lake Baikal and the Romanov sites, this guide includes detailed maps that are invaluable to even the most seasoned traveller.
Arctic Requiem: The Murmansk Run (The Quiet Captain Book 2)
Set during the turbulent times of World War II after the fall of France, Poland and Belgium, Arctic Requiem is a gripping tale that follows the lives of Captain McKnight and their dangerous mission to cross the Arctic Ocean in an effort to deliver precious war relief from President Roosevelt to help England and Russia turn the tide in the war. Aaron and Hunt effortlessly detail the struggles of the crew from the punishing conditions of the Arctic climate to the constant threat of German saboteurs working to stop them in their tracks.
Visa Information
