Porovaara Hill is a private and peaceful place, 20 min drive from Santa Claus Village, where you can feel and experience pure nature in many different ways. One option is to drive by silent electric snowmobile to the deep forest surrounded by the peaceful nature and wild animals. After the ride, head to the reindeer fences of our reindeer farm to feed the animals and learn about herding with your guide. You can also spend your night in the forest in sleeping bags made of reindeer hides and experience authentic Lapland while staying in Laavu under the Northern Lights and the starry sky, with reindeer. Book on line our activities: https://porovaara.fi/book/
Experience the electric snowmobile safari of your life!
The Sukularakka giant’s kettles are located about 30 km south of Santa Claus Village. There are 14 giant’s kettles on the slopes of Sukulanrakka, three of which are incredibly deep and are among the largest in all of Finland. The biggest kettle is located at the foot of Sukulanrakka. It is partially broken, 8m wide and 15m deep. The other two are atop Sukulanrakka, with depths of 9m and 10m. In winter, when the ground is frozen, the site is very difficult to access and visiting the kettles is not recommended.
Giant’s kettles were created approx. 10,000 years ago at edge zones of melting continental ice, as a result of strong meltwater streams. In the meltwater tunnels at the bottoms of glaciers, strongly flowing water carried boulders and stones along, creating the kettles.
The nature of the Arctic Circle Hiking Area is enchanting, just beyond Santa Claus Village. The distance from Santa Claus Village to the hiking area is only 15 km. The stunning rapids of Raudanjoki river, and the Vaattunkiköngäs and Vikaköngäs waterfalls, which run through the area, are just a few steps away. The accessible routes also invite those traveling with prams to enjoy a day outdoors among the rapids surrounded by forest. You can usually walk the trails even in winter. In winter, hikers can also travel via skis or snowshoes to the area’s extensive aapa marshes.
Suitability: well-suited for a day trip for the whole family. Accessible routes.
Auttiköngäs is one of Finland’s most spectacular waterfalls, and the destination offers the peace of a taiga forest. Auttiköngäs’s wonderful day trip destination is about an hour’s drive from Santa Claus Village.
Even the drive along the beautiful Kemijoki river tributary towards Auttiköngäs is an experience. The nature trail that goes to Auttiköngäs takes you over one of Finland’s finest waterfalls. The trail leads you to the peace of northern primeval forests and to an observation tower high on the rock, to look deep into the green of old-growth forests. Auttiköngäs is a great excursion destination, no matter the season. In winter, you can visit Auttiköngäs, for example, on snowshoes.
You can visit the magical Santa’s Forest, full of Christmas trees, following a 2 km guided trail from Santa Claus Village (watch HERE Infomap).
Santa’s Forest was established in the early 2000s, and hundreds of spruce trees of varying age grow there. Planting spruces was originally a Japanese idea.
The nature trail at Santa’s Forest begins at the northwestern edge of Santa Claus Village. Please keep in mind that the path is NOT maintained or cleared after snow has fallen.
During the hike, you will walk along a marked nature trail through mires, marshes, backwoods and dry moorland. Parts of the trail have duckboards. Along the path there are four benches and information boards explaining the surrounding nature. In late summer, an astute and lucky passerby can pick blueberries along the way, which are a common delicacy on this nature trail.
The road ends at the gates of Santa’s Forest. After this, you are free to walk along the undulating gravel path through Father Christmas’s forest. There is a sheltered rest area in the middle of the forest.
In Santa Claus Village at the Arctic Circle, you’ll find the welcoming Santa’s Pets (in Finnish: Tallitontun piha). Visit and feed our kindly reindeer and meet fluffy alpacas, pony, goats, sheep, rabbits, donkeys and different birds or enjoy winter fun by coasting down the little hill on site! Guests can also use our Lapland hut (kota) & campfire / barbecue.
As an extra service, Santa’s Pets also offers nice reindeer walks and alpaca walks in the forests of Santa Claus Village and pony riding with our lovely pony. These activities must be booked in advance from our online shop. More info and bookings on our website: https://santaspets.fi/
Welcome to the official safari booking office in Santa Claus Village – Rovaniemi Safari Center! We are a safari provider and also the Info center, right on the Arctic Circle Line.
Get all information about traveling and safari activities in Rovaniemi, available to book directly with the front desk.
You can also cross the Arctic Circle Line at our office, get your Arctic Circle Crossing Certificate and become one of the fearless explorers! Come visit us and have an unforgettable experience in Santa Claus’ Hometown!