A selection of winter activities can be added to your trip at an additional cost. Once you have chosen when you want to travel and for how long (we recommend a minimum stay of three nights) you can select as many or as few activities as you wish from the extensive range on the “Activities” tab and tailor your trip as required. All activities are individually priced and our Travel Experts can assist you with your selection and will then provide a personalised itinerary quotation for you.
Harriniva is a wonderful destination for families who want to tailor their own snow adventure in Lapland. Situated 200km inside the Arctic Circle and four kilometres from the small town of Muonio, Harriniva resides in the heart of Finnish Lapland, with a beautiful winter backdrop and the potential for spectacular Northern Light displays.
This is a family-run hotel which also operates one of the most well-known activity centres in Finland. The range of winter experiences on offer here means that all family members can get what they want from their holiday and you can make things as adventurous or as relaxed as you want. You can determine how long you want to stay when you want to go and choose your preferred activities from the schedule.
The on-site sled dog centre makes a family husky safari almost mandatory here and with snowmobile safaris starting from just beside the hotel there are a wealth of options to choose from. You can opt to include a visit to a reindeer farm to enjoy a tranquil sleigh ride or you can take to the trails on cross-country skis or snowshoes. You are all sure to have great fun sitting down together to make your choices.
Read moreOur tailor-made programmes allow you to design your own family activity holiday. Simply decide when you want to travel and for how long (we recommend a minimum stay of three nights) then match your stay to the activities listed in the ‘Activities’ tab. Our prices include flights, transfers, half board and cold-weather clothing for the duration of your stay. Please note that all accommodation and activities are subject to availability at the time of booking.
Please note: Activity schedules are subject to change. Duration of activity includes transfer times and breaks, and all distances are approximate. Some activities require a minimum number of participants to operate and are subject to availability.
Husky safaris: Children over 15 years can usually drive a husky team themselves but this depends completely on the size of the child and their ability. The activity provider reserves the right to decide the arrangements for children according to the weather conditions and the child’s ability on the day. All decisions are final and in the interest of safety. Children between 5 – 14 years of age sit in the guide’s sled during safaris. We recommend only short husky safaris for young children.
Snowmobile safaris: The driver of a snowmobile must be 18 years old and hold a valid driving licence. Children will travel in a sled pulled by the guide’s snowmobile on selected safaris where this is offered, older children may be able to travel as pillion on the snowmobile but this is at the discretion of the guide.
Single snowmobiles: All snowmobile safaris are based on two people sharing. If this is not possible in your party then the single snowmobile supplement will be automatically applied.
Harriniva offers families a friendly and comfortable base for an Arctic adventure. The hotel is owned and run by the Pietikäinen family who owns four hotels in the area. All their hotels offer the same warm atmosphere and Finnish charm that keeps families entertained every season and ensures they are some of our most sought-after destinations.
The hotel has a small number of room upgrade options available. Please contact us for a quotation and to check availability.
Wilderness plus rooms: these rooms include double/twin beds and an unfolding sofa suitable for 1 adult or 2 children. Decorated in traditional Scandinavian style, all rooms have an en-suite shower room and a hairdryer, as well as a small seating area.
Harriniva’s Riverside Cabins have everything that your family needs for a fantastic and comfortable stay. Ranging in size from 39m² to 47m², each cabin has one bedroom, a loft area (accessed by a steep ladder) and a living room, offering five beds in total. Complete with a kitchenette which includes a stove, dishwasher and fridge, and a private sauna, this is the perfect space for relaxing with the whole family after a day of activities.
Upgrade to a Riverside Cabin: from £62 per night
You can’t get a much cosier Northern Lights hunt than spending a night in an Aurora Dome! This luxury tent overlooks the beautiful wilderness with spectacular views provided by the see-through side wall.
Lay in bed and look out into the natural surroundings and up to the dark skies – if conditions are favourable you could very well see the Auroras as you and the family are tucked up in your duvets!
Toilet, sauna and shower facilities are easily accessible just 100m away.
Minimum age: 5 years old
Available: Every day from 3:20 pm
Complete your winter adventure with a night in a snow igloo. These impressive structures combine an age-old design that keeps the outside elements out with modern comforts such as the Arctic grade sleeping bags to ensure you stay warm all night.
Stay cosy on your soft mattress and take a deep breath of the incredibly fresh air that fills the igloos.
Minimum age: 12 years old
Available: Every night from 8:20 pm
You will be transferred by minibus to the wilderness cabin (around 45 minutes’ drive). Far from any light pollution and deep in the forest, this is a perfect location to hopefully catch sight of the Northern Lights. Enjoy a traditional wood-heated sauna, followed by dinner around the fire.
The cabin has shared facilities and you will sleep in dormitory-style accommodation. You will return at around 11 am the following morning.
Minimum age: 12 years old
Minimum group size: 2 adults (including other guests)
Duration: overnight
Available: Saturday at 5 pm
Thank you for your interest in this Activities Abroad family experience.
We have found that this holiday is better tailored exactly to your requirements, so please email our Travel Experts at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact us on 01670 789 991 to discuss the various options available to you.
Our Travel Experts have been to all the destinations we feature and love to share their experiences and insight. We want to match you with your perfect trip, so if you have any questions please get in touch; we will be happy to talk through the destinations and itineraries with you.
Price per person: based on 2 adults sharing a standard double/twin room with 1 child in an extra bed
Activities: please note that the activities are not included in the prices below. All you need to do is select your preferred activities from the 'Activities' tab and our Travel Experts will create a personalised itinerary quote for you.
For our full booking terms and conditions please click here
Minimum 1 and maximum 24 people (approximately)
We always try to provide an approximation of the group size you can expect to be with for the duration of each of our holidays. It may be that you are joined by others for parts of your holiday (such as transfers and particular activities) but the above number reflects those you can normally expect to be with from beginning to end. If group size is something which is particularly important to you, please speak to our Travel Experts and they can suggest the best holidays for you.
Tailor-made holiday group sizes will vary for all activities as will the group size for any additional activities you book.
Some of our holidays require a minimum number of participants to operate (as listed in the ‘Group Size’ section). If your holiday departure has not yet reached the minimum number, you will be told at the time of booking. In the unlikely event that your chosen date is not guaranteed by nine weeks before your scheduled departure date, we will contact you to discuss the available options as per our booking conditions.
The minimum age for this holiday can be found in the ‘Key Facts’ section of the holiday overview.
Younger family members may be able to participate but may not be able to take part in all activities. Please contact one of our Travel Experts if you have any questions.
The order of activities listed in this agenda is provided for guidance only, your final and detailed itinerary will be provided either with your final travel documents (which are uploaded into your online account around a week prior to departure) or upon arrival.
We want our holidays to be accessible as they can be and will do our best to accommodate any special requests and requirements where possible. We have a wide range of holidays and destinations and so our travel experts will help find the best holiday for you.
In order to give us the best possible chance to do this we ask that if you or any member of your party has any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday or has any special requirements, that you tell us at the time of enquiry or booking. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. You may need to provide a doctor’s note and proof of insurance in some cases as the health and safety of our clients is absolutely paramount.
In providing this information you are allowing us to work with our expert local partners to ensure that your whole party can enjoy the holiday. By letting us know in advance we can discreetly work with you to adapt any part of the holiday which may potentially be challenging. Being able to prepare for this in advance makes an incredible difference to what we can offer and minimises any impact on your party and the rest of the group.
Unfortunately, if you choose not to share this information with us in advance then it may limit some or all of the itinerary you have booked, and we cannot be held accountable for any additional costs or missed activities resulting from this.
It is vitally important that you advise us prior to departure of any medical or dietary condition relating to any member of your party so that we may notify our local staff before you arrive. We recommend only drinking bottled water from bottles with unbroken seals and be vigilant about the use of ice in drinks and ice cream.
Insurance is not included in your holiday, but it is a pre-requisite to travelling with us. You will need to ensure that you have cover for all the activities that you will be participating in during your holiday.
It is extremely important that you take out a suitable travel insurance policy at the time of booking. Plans do sometimes change, and you will need this policy should you need to cancel your holiday.
If you are struggling to find a suitable policy then details of our preferred provider, who will cover you for all the activities we offer, can be found on our website by clicking here. Please note that this policy is available to EU residents under the age of 75 only.
Our clients’ safety is at the centre of everything we do, and our operations team continually assesses and monitors the destinations we feature. We carry out thorough risk assessments and work closely with all of our suppliers to continually follow best practice. For up to date travel advice the UK government offers its Travel Aware website as well as the advice detailed below.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice
We receive all updates from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) with regards to travel advice and we always ensure that we follow this advice in our operations. The FCO issues travel advisories for countries based on a very wide range of factors. They may provide notification about things as simple as a football match and crowds, or they may go so far as to advise against all travel to a region. We ask all our clients to refer to the relevant Travel Advice by Country for the destinations they are visiting in order to make an informed decision on the safety of the destination based on the details provided. It also provides vital information regarding entry requirements, embassy information, local laws and customs as well as specific safety and health. Guests should take responsibility for keeping themselves up to date with this advice. Please also ensure that, if you are transiting through another country, you have read the advice and meet the entry requirements for that destination too.
The FCO travel advice is applicable to British Passport Holders. Most governments will issue their own travel advice for a region and, if you are not a UK resident then you can find some helpful links below:
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade http://www.safetravel.govt.nz/
Canadian Consular Affairs Bureau http://voyage.gc.ca/
The U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english.html
If the FCO deems that there is an unacceptable level of risk for UK citizens then, together with the government, they may issue an advisory against all travel to a region or country. If such an advisory is published, then we will act accordingly, and this may require the cancellation, curtailment or amendment of a holiday itinerary. These decisions are made on the basis of ensuring our clients’ safety and will affect all clients on the holiday, regardless of their nationality.
If one of our local experts suggests an amendment due to a situation which develops locally then we may also take the decision to amend an itinerary appropriately.
If we have to cancel your holiday prior to departure you will be offered the option of an alternative trip (where any price difference will either be refunded to or covered by you) or a full refund of the monies paid.
If we have to curtail a holiday, then you will be refunded for any costs for the elements we have been unable to deliver, where we have been able to secure a refund from our suppliers. If we must reroute a holiday, then any basis for refund is determined on a case by case basis and dependent on whether the central holiday experience was provided or not.
Additional activities can be booked locally in almost all our destinations. However, as per our booking conditions, we cannot be held responsible for any injury or loss incurred through participation in activities which are booked at your destination outside of our holiday itinerary (see our ‘Terms and Conditions’ for further details).
When arranging any such activity please always ensure that safety is your primary concern.
In some of our destinations, you can borrow or hire equipment for use in your free time. You do so entirely at your own risk. You must ensure that you are correctly prepared, have the necessary equipment and knowledge (maps, etc.) and ensure that where applicable, you follow marked routes. We recommend discussing your plans with the local teams who will be able to advise on the most suitable options for you.
Always let the reception/guide know where you are planning to go and take a torch and mobile phone (with the hotel/guide’s phone number stored). It is also a good idea to leave your contact number and the time you expect to return to the hotel should the hotel need to contact you.
On your documentation, we will confirm your flight schedule. Sometimes the flight number, routing and timings might change prior to your departure. If the change is classed as a significant change then we will contact you to discuss this. Please see our booking conditions for details.
Flight schedule changes can impact on your pre and post-holiday travel arrangements if these have been booked separately to your holiday. We strongly recommend that you do not book transport (such as trains or transfers), car parking or non-connecting flights to the departure point for your holiday until you have received your final confirmed travel times when your final travel documents are issued. We are not responsible for the effect of any schedule change on your pre or post travel arrangements. We strongly recommend that you do not purchase non-flexible or non-refundable tickets to avoid cancellation and penalty charges.
If you have chosen to book your own flights, then you will need to wait until we confirm to you that the holiday departure has met the minimum numbers required to run (if applicable to your chosen holiday). Once the holiday is guaranteed to run, you will be informed and you can then make your arrangements.
If transfers are included in your holiday, please ensure that any potential flights will be met by our standard transfers (speak to one of our Travel Experts for advice) otherwise private transfer supplements may be applicable. Once your flights are booked, please send us a copy of your detailed flight itinerary.
Please be aware that most tickets are non-refundable in the case of cancellation. For this reason, we strongly advise you check the rules of the ticket and check the limitations of your cancellation insurance before booking. We cannot be held liable, in the unlikely eventuality that we should be forced to cancel or amend your trip, for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made.
Overnight husky safari
Please note: if you choose to take part in one of our overnight safaris but discontinue the activity for reasons other than emergency evacuation, you will be charged an evacuation fee of €300.
Our full booking terms and conditions can be found on our website: https://www.activitiesabroad.com/booking-conditions
Please note: our payment and cancellation terms will be unique to each booking – they will be confirmed with you at the time of quotation. The terms listed above are noted as a guide only
Please note that the following cancellation terms supersede in part those mentioned in Section 7 of our general booking terms and conditions.
- Up to balance due date (this is normally 16 weeks prior to departure however some holidays differ. If this applies to your holiday you will be advised at the time of booking) - Loss of deposit (including the full cost of flights or other services where paid at the time of booking)
- Between balance due date and 92 days prior to departure – 50%
- 91 to 24 days prior to departure – 75%
- 23 or less days – 100%
Thank you so much for a holiday of a lifetime it was so amazing we will never forget it.Thanks to yous and all your team for the emails and help especially katriona over there she was great.
This was our first experience of an activities holiday and we were all delighted. Something for everyone and many new experiences for all of us. Lovely memories were made on this holiday. Wonderful location, and friendly helpful people every step of the way. Graham and Dawn - thank you so very much for all of your help and guidance. Professional, knowledgeable and responsive whenever I needed…
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something - excellent service, thank you.
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The husky safari was truly magical, the guides were most helpful and friendly. We saw no one else while on the trail through the pristine forests. All we could hear was the dogs. The memories will last forever. I can't praise the staff at Harriniva and guides highly enough - EVERYONE we ran into contact with was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. Becky the Activities Abroad guide was lovely,…
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taking the time to assist us with our camera when the Northern Lights appeared. She was great with the young children ensuring they were warm and enjoying themselves on the snowmobile safari.
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I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved. The staff at the hotel and on the activities were so happy, friendly and helpful. It made it so easy to relax and enjoy ourselves. Thank you, everyone.This was my second visit to Harriniva. Having been last year with my husband, I had to bring my two children (33 and 29 years old!) Every minute of the holiday, from the second we descended…
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from the coach to look up and see the Aurora welcome us to the very end, it was beautiful. We chose the activities we wanted, and each one had a delight of its own. From gentle ice fishing and the ICEHOTEL visit, to the snow mobiles and of course the beautiful huskies, the days were full but always relaxed, never rushed.The food is perfect - wholesome and nourishing. The whole atmosphere is a feel of well-being. Being able to walk a few feet to the expanse of the river to see the aurora is the crowning glory of the experience. We spent many hours taking hundreds of photos, never cold, and always able to nip back in if we did want to warm up.There is space - room to breathe. Even though staying in a hotel, the number of guests is small enough to make it feel homely and once outside there is plenty of room for everyone to feel ‘alone in the wilds’. An experience of a life time. Everyone should get the opportunity to enjoy it (but only a few at a time!)
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Most enjoyable activity was the 5 hour husky safari. The weather that day was lovely so the scenery was spectacular!!!!! (We) just loved everything about it. There was nothing that we didn't enjoy, everything was amazing. I don't believe anything could be done to improve the holiday. It was a holiday of a lifetime but one thing I would say is have you ever thought of running a mini bus to and from…
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Munio
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All four of us had another wonderful trip to Harriniva, so much so that on the way home we began to plan for next year.We enjoyed the activities immensely, although we considered the night snowshoeing party to be rather too large for one guide to handle (with) over a dozen of us of mixed ages and abilities. Our cross country skiing guides had taken parties snowshoeing in other locations and…
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reckoned 6-10 participants were the optimum number. Hats off to our cross country skiing guides who were extraordinarily patient as well as informative and made the experience memorable. Husky sledding was exciting; the tour of the kennels, the interesting talk and meeting the puppies rounded it off nicely.All the staff at the hotel were charming, friendly and helpful. Emma, the Activities Abroad representative, was superb! Always enthusiastic, nothing was too much trouble for her and it was lovely to have someone who showed genuine interest in her clients.The food was excellent. We had enjoyed it so much last year that it had influenced our choice of destination for this holiday and we weren't disappointed. Beautifully presented and truly delicious. If we were to be picky, the coffee wasn't up to much.Of course, having been to this hotel last year, we knew what to expect. The rooms were comfortable and cosy. Next time, we would try to book in sufficient time to secure a room with a sauna. A towelling robe would have been nice for us 'girls' but we managed OK - it's not a complaint, purely an observation.
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We had an amazing trip. We were four ladies all looking for an active holiday and maybe see the aurora - we got the active but unfortunately weren't lucky enough to see the aurora. The Lodge is excellent, I cant recommend it enough as are all the staff. Food was plentiful and warming. The forests and snow were extremely beautiful especially at night. We did a night snowshoe walk and the night…
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snowmobile safari. Make sure you spend some time on one of the husky safaris - we did the two hour introductory safari - I wish we'd done a full day with them as it was such good fun.Three of us had a massage which was excellent and we also hired the large sauna and jacuzzi (outdoor) for a couple of hours. Only one of us was brave enough to roll in the snow between the sauna and jacuzzi! We had a small sauna in our room which I highly recommend. Overall a wonderful trip, we are considering going back again, maybe we will be lucky next time and see the lights - if not we'll still have a wonderful time.
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My husband and I booked our trip to Finland through Activities Abroad who were fantastic!!!! We weren't sure which resort to choose but Activities Abroad helped to choose a resort and hotel that would suit our personal preferences and the type of holiday we wanted. We've been on winter holidays before i.e. skiing, but I would say going to a resort just off the Arctic Circle is quite different. AA…
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advised us on the type of clothing we would need for our choice of activities, which is all available to hire at the resort as part of the package, so no need to go and buy expensive equipment. We weren't sure what activities or type of package to book, again AA were right on the money with helping us choose.We decided to book a 'tailor made' package or as the resort called it an 'independent' package. This really suited the both of us, as we wanted to have great experiences, but also wanted to relax and take in the beautiful scenery and enjoy the hotel's facilities. We arrived Sunday evening and stayed at the Harrinniva Centre, which was just perfect. It's warm and cosy and the staff are very welcoming and very on the ball. It's quite a large hotel, but didn't feel like it it was. (It was) a bit like a big 'Three Bears Cottage', everything made of wood right down to the light fittings.The food was excellent, very homely and very tasty. There's a great restaurant for breakfast and evening dinner (included in the package), the restaurant is also open for tasty bar lunches during the day. It has a great little pub to enjoy a few evening drinks. Our double room was very spacious with its own sauna and outdoor terrace, where we enjoyed sipping brandy and taking in the view.The activities we were recommended by AA were:Snow Shoe Walking; a great way to explore and see the scenery on our first day.Evening Snowmobile drive to see the Northern Lights; sadly we didn't get to see the Northern Lights but the ride through the snow at night was just awesome!!Ice fishing; great fun, our guide Thomas was a real character and very helpful throughout our whole trip (don't forget your hip flask).Husky driving; the most amazing thing I've ever done in my life!!! Our last night was spent in the ICEHOTEL; all I can say about this is Wow Wow Wow totally indescribable.We can't thank Activities Abroad enough for the most memorable trip ever, from start to finish they took care of every detail!! The other thing I must point out about this wonderful company is that they visit the resorts and hotels that they are selling and therefore have thorough knowledge and know exactly what they are taking about. They will go above and beyond to provide the best experience ever. Finland is so beautiful, fresh and clean we will certainly be going back hopefully very soon.Thanks again Activities Abroad :)
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The hotel could do with a bigger lounge area where guests can relax and talk. A thoroughly enjoyable holiday had by all. Even my 90 year old father in law had the time of his life, riding a skidoo and driving a reindeer sleigh. The staff at Harriniva were very accommodating and friendly. Mena our activity guide was excellent. Thank you Activities Abroad for organising a fab holiday for us.
Created by families for families
Experience real adventures enjoyed safely
Family friendly destinations and accommodation
Maximising your precious family time
Family time, not screen time
Family memories to treasure
For toddlers, young children, teenagers & adults alike
Enjoy the company of like-minded families
Family owned and run
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We research the holidays so you don’t have to
ATOL and ABTA Financial protection available
Customers rate us 4.8/5 Stars
Award-Winning: Best Travel Company for Adventure Holidays 2023
Activities Abroad, Suite B, 168 Brinkburn Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2AR
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This fantastic 'Pick and Mix' holiday lets you put together the Lapland holiday that your family has been dreaming of. Fond of skiing? Try it Finnish-style and go cross-country. Feed your need for speed with snowmobile and husky safaris. Chase after the Northern Lights and wander the wilderness on snowshoes. Whatever you choose, the Harriniva team are true wilderness experts, so you can be sure that your experiences will be absolutely incredible!
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