Frequently Asked Questions

You can pre-book thermal suits and boots which are suitable for most activities in Lapland, as well as all the necessary equipment for downhill, snowboarding and cross-country skiing (see page 10), and we certainly recommend that you do so. We also recommend that rather than bring a few

All cabins are provided with smoke detectors, fire alarms and/or fire extinguishers. It is important to familiarise yourself with their location, and to exercise caution when lighting and extinguishing open log fires. Duplex cabins, with beds on the first floor, normally have steep, narrow wooden stairs. Although they are all provided with safety gates at the top it is important to ensure that all children are cautioned and supervised whilst using these stairs. Most of the cabins in Luosto are individually designed and built. Therefore, the cabin layouts, sizes and facilities may differ slightly from the descriptions included in this brochure. Importantly all cabins have log fires and saunas as well as being centrally heated.

Accommodation in Lapland is not officially graded, and therefore to assist in your selection we have included our own classifications of each property.

Surprisingly the answer is yes!! For overnight tours most staff at Olos speak good English. Similarly our day tour personnel are equally conversant in English.

Naturally you are visiting an environment where temperatures regularly fall to -15

We all know that the real Santa Claus is compassionate, loves children and is full of kindness. By tradition he always has presents for all children (up to 11 years inclusive for day tours, up to 13 yrs for overnight
tours) visiting him here in his Lapland Home. Yes therefore for sure, we know we will find him, but when and where that is the question.

For British/Irish citizens a full 10 year passport for entry into Finland (3/5 year passport for children, when not included in accompanying parent's passport). Other passport holders should seek advice from the nearest Finnish Embassy. Passport should be valid for at least 6 months following the return date from Finland. There are no vaccination requirements imposed by the authorities, but nevertheless when travelling overseas it is prudent to advise your doctor of your destination and secure the latest professional advice as to any precautions that may be necessary.

Not much different from home really. For participants on tours involving overnight accommodation,
a Finnish buffet breakfast is provided, lunch by the very nature of being supplied outside is warming
but simple in nature, and dinners are of course more substantial catering to Irish taste. All dinners are buffet style, with special children's choices, like hamburgers, chips etc. if children choose not to eat the adult menu. For our day tours please refer to the particular brochure page where a sample menu will
be specified. For our day tours food is served on a continuous basis throughout the stay at your
activity venue. As non commercialised venues are used for our day tours and food service is continuous throughout the day it is not planned or anticipated that the entire flight will eat at the one sitting. Indeed the size of the Kotas cabins etc. would simply not permit this.

Euro is the currency used in Finnish Lapland. This currency can be ordered from your bank, building society etc. There are no banking facilities at Kittila or Enontekio airports, and only limited facilities
at Rovaniemi.

Of course is the simple answer. Adults very much enjoy snowmobiles, reindeer and huskies and the romance of the location.

Perfectly, provided you follow the instructions of our arctic guides. You will appreciate that you are visiting an area where arctic conditions prevail. Provided you are sensible and accept guidance when given no problems will arise. We do stress that parents and guardians are responsible for the supervision of their own children and those within their own party for the duration of the tour. At all times your guides will alter the scheduled tour content in the interest of safety.

An average Lapland day will provide 4.5 hours of what is termed Graylight (generally between 10.00hrs and 14.30hrs daily Finnish time, although this will vary up to one hour based on location). When the sky is clear this can be clear blue skies with the most amazing colours. Outside of these times it will be as night-time in Ireland, with the exception that as the area is covered in snow, there is a good level of reflection making it possible to see where you are walking. Venues for our day visits to Lapland are accordingly lit naturally using roaring fires and Lappish outdoor candles providing an attractive setting for the events taking place. Indeed if you are particularly lucky you may see the Northern Lights (Aura Borealis) which appear as if a storm in the sky with white red or green lights dancing through the atmosphere.

The currency in Finnish Lapland is the Euro. These should be obtained directly from your Bank/Building Society etc. prior to your departure as Rovaniemi airport has very limited exchange facilities and time does not allow for this activity. There is no bank or bank machine in the resort of Luosto although the Luostotunturi Hotel can offer limited currency exchange facilities. The nearest bank to Luosto is 40kms away in the town of Sodankyla.

Most Certainly not!! If you are seeking commercialisation, lots of artificial electrical lighting, these are not the tours for you. We try to keep everything natural. Lighting, for example, is by fire and candle, and activity programmes where possible are not at touristic centres, and we try to provide a total lack of commercialisation providing the opportunity for fantasy to merge with reality.

We know for many ill and disabled children that a visit to the real Santa is a dream often beyond reality. Since commencement of this tour programme many years ago we have carried numerous children suffering from cancer, blindness, paraplegia, cystic fibrosis and most other disabilities. Our only promise to you
is that we care enough to try and ensure that their every expectancy and dream is fulfilled. Please note
that in respect of disabled parties we do not provide special assistants, specially adapted vehicles, sleighs, disabled harnesses etc within the normal tour cost. If additional services are required these should
be requested and quotation obtained. Within the normal tour cost our local staff will be pleased to help
and assist but they are not trained either in the technical style of paraplegic lifting or specific
disabled assistance.