Experience. the Arctic Freedom

Transcription

1 Experience the Arctic Freedom

2 The incredibly magical atmosphere of the Kemi SnowCastle, Exciting snowmobile safaris across the snow-covered white ice fields, The mighty Icebreaker Sampo breaking the frozen waters of the Gulf of Bothnia, Once in a lifetime experience of an overnight in the SnowHotel or in the comforts of the new Olokolo, Delicious meals and unforgettable outdoor activities; All this and more, is waiting for you in Sea Lapland! Snowmobile Safari to the Icebreaker Sampo Take a snowmobile safari to the Icebreaker Sampo, and you will experience the Arctic Freedom to its fullest. You drive the snowmobile across the vast ice fields of the Gulf of Bothnia to meet the Icebreaker in the middle of the sea. After boarding the vessel, the journey through the frozen sea begins. A full presentation of the ship and a guided tour from the Captain s bridge all the way down to the massive engine rooms, will give you a good picture of the Icebreaker. A delicious lunch will be served aboard the ship in the elegantly cosy Arctic Restaurant. Before returning to the Port of Ajos in Kemi, the ship will make a one hour stop in the middle of the sea; each visitor will have a chance to participate in a swimming/floating event in an opening (a hole) in the ice, comfortably dressed in an impermeable warm survival suit. After this exciting, truly arctic experience, the snowmobile safari continues. A visit to a Lappish teepee and to a small reindeer village is also included in the safari.

3 All made of a pure white snow Kemi SnowCastle a winter wonderland with a restaurant, hotel and a chapel Dinner in the SnowRestaurant Enjoy a delicious hot meal surrounded by the beauty of professional, skilful artwork made of ice and snow; lunch or dinner fully served at an ice-table. The temperature in the Restaurant remains at about -5 degrees Celsius, regardless of the weather outside, and we do recommend you to dress warmly in layered clothing, in winter caps, mittens, and warm shoes, to ensure a meal full of pleasurable enjoyment in the unique atmosphere. A three-course dinner is available in the Snow- Restaurant. At the IceBar you may enjoy both hot and cold drinks and little snacks. Overnight in the SnowHotel/Olokolo The atmosphere within the SnowHotel rooms, with the snowy white walls, the temperature remaining at about -5 degrees Celsius regardless of the weather outside, is rather unique; you breathe in incredibly fresh air, and you hear absolutely no noise. First when going to sleep each guest will be given a warm sleeping-bag (with an inner fleece bag) designed specifically for arctic conditions. The bed (not of snow) is covered with a lambskin for extra warmth. Recommended clothing for the overnight stay at the SnowHotel are: a ski (winter) cap, woollen socks, and long underwear. Toilets are located in the CastleLounge, the logwood building nearby in the SnowCastle area. The utterly unique, and the first ones ever Olokolo -nests for 1-2 persons, are located in the SnowCastle area. Each Olokolo is equipped with soft lambskins and warm sleeping bags to ensure a comfortable stay. The transparent roof of the Olokolo opens up a view to the sky and if you are lucky, during your overnight stay, you might even see the Northern Lights. All services of the SnowHotel are available for the Olokolo guests; the price includes an entrance fee to the SnowCastle, accommodation in the Olokolo, breakfast in the CastleLounge, and morning sauna & swimming in a nearby Hotel. To sleep in an Olokolo, or in a room in the SnowCastle is like resting in the bosom of the nature.

4 Nature exploration at a Husky Safari A car transfer will bring you to a local Husky Farm. You will be given instructions how to steer a husky-pulled sleigh before starting the husky safari through the beauty of the surrounding winter forest area. Each sleigh will be ridden in pairs. At the Husky Farm you will also have the possibility to pet the huskies and to learn about the nature and training of the dogs. Activities Ice Fishing Ice fishing in the middle of the vastness of the white, frozen sea, can be both a truly relaxing as well as an utterly exciting experience, and even keen fishermen may get lucky to find good fishing spots. In the winter, we first remove the possible snow and then drill a hole in the ice cover, and a special jig or a lure is thus lowered into the water for fishing. In the springtime, ice fishing can be an ever-more unforgettable experience, as the day-after-day increasing amount of sunlight reflects back from the glistening white snow, bathing the fisherman in bright lights. Nature tour on snowshoes Have you ever tried walking on pure white snowdrifts, across vast snowfields and little snow banks? Snowshoes are a naturefriendly and a quiet way to move about and enjoy the beauty of a winter forest, with no pre-prepared trails required. Your guide, during the tour, will give you basic information about Finnish forests and animals living in the forests. Snacks and hot beverages are served during the nature tour safari.

5 Enjoy a luxury Olokolo ride across the frozen sea Enjoy a luxurious ride in the comforts of an Olokolo-nest, pulled by a snowmobile across the frozen sea! The 1,5 hour safari allows you to merely lay back and relax, while watching the open sky through the transparent roof of the Olokolo; during the day you may see some sunny views with fantastically coloured sunsets, in the afternoon you might enjoy the peace of the blue of the twilight; later in the dark of the evening and the night, if the skies are clear, you may admire the bright starry skies of Lapland, or perhaps you even get lucky to see the Northern Lights. Shorter safaris, directly from the SnowCastle area, are also available. See the world-renowned Kemi Gemstone Gallery The exhibition of the Kemi Gemstone Gallery, with more than three thousand gems, is one of the best and largest in all of Europe. The display also includes the genuine Royal Crown designed for the would-be King of Finland, as well as a few exact copies of some of Europe s most famous crown jewels, with their historic explanations included. A good variety of the rarest gemstones from around the world - from Arizona to Brazil, from China to Finland to Russia, are on view in the showrooms of the Gemstone Gallery located close to the Kemi SnowCastle area.

6 Hotel Cumulus hotellikuva Accommodation Hotel Merihovi Hotel Cumulus, Kemi Comfortable rooms, friendly, unhurried yet quick service, are trademarks of the Hotel Cumulus located in the centre of the city of Kemi. In addition of a cosy restaurant for dining, the Hotel has three different saunas and an indoor swimming pool for the convenience and enjoyment of guests. A richly atmospheric town pub, right at the corner of the Hotel, is popular for local artists, reporters as well as for Hotel guests. Hotel Merihovi, Kemi The 60-year-old nostalgic, newly renovated Hotel in the centre of the city, offers an accommodation experience to be remembered! Right upon entering the Hotel Merihovi, you take a step back in time, to the era and architectural beauty of the 50s. Café & Bar Ankkuri, a popular luncheon place amongst local people, and the Á la Carte Restaurant on second floor, provide choices for great dining and pleasurable enjoyment. Haparanda Stadshotell, Haparanda, Sweden One of the most famous turn-of-the-century Hotels, restored to its former glory, with authentic character according to the city s number one establishment; red plush, crystal chandeliers, stucco ornamentation; is located right next to the city of Tornio in Finland, merely at 20 minutes distance from the Kemi centre by car. The historic setting of the Hotel offers efficient conference facilities with all the modern equipment required, as well as several different Restaurants for great dining, of which the Game Cellar with its cellar-vault provides a perfectly suitable background for a meal of local specialities. Kukkolaforsen Tourist and Conference Centre Kukkolaforsen, the Rapids of Kukkola, 15 kilometres north from the city of Haparanda, are beautifully located by the River Tornio. The tourist centre, tightly situated on the riverbanks, on the historic

7 Haparanda Stadshotell hotellikuva Kukkolaforsen fishing area, provides an interesting tour into the history of the region. People still fish by the river, using the same type of longhandle nets used in the seventeenth century, catching whitefish, the delicacy in the area, and in the Restaurant. The cosy, atmospheric cottages offer a pleasurable overnight stay right at the riverbank and before going to sleep, you might enjoy a delightful moment in one of the many saunas by the Kukkola Rapids. a natural park. The Kivalo scenery, crowned by steep treecovered hills and green primeval forests, provides a truly arctic experience of adventuring through Finnish winter forests. The cosy, atmospheric cottages of the true Lappish spirit, the logwood Restaurant and sauna, provide an event to be remembered. hotellikuva Kivalo 42 km from the centre of Kemi is the Kivalo region. Kivalo is situated in a beautiful natural environment in the middle of Kivalo

8 How to get in Kemi? By airplane: The Kemi-Tornio Airport is located about 6 km from the centre of the city of Kemi. Flybe operates daily flights to Kemi. For more information visit: Approximate flight time: Helsinki - Kemi Helsinki - Oulu Helsinki - Rovaniemi 1,5 h 1 h 1,5 h Approximate driving time from the Airport to Kemi centre (please note the varying weather conditions during the winter season) Kemi-Tornio Airport - Kemi centre 10 min Oulu Airport - Kemi centre 1,5-2 h Rovaniemi Airport Kemi centre 1,5-2 h Luleå Airport - Kemi centre 2 h KEMI TOURISM LTD. tel sales@visitkemi.fi Luleå Rovaniemi Kemi Oulu Helsinki Experience the Arctic Freedom