winter holiday travel | MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

A new seven-day, six-night Ultimate Christmas Invitation itinerary transports visitors to the Arctic Circle to meet Santa Claus in his home, deep in the Lapland forest (Inari Wilderness Hotel)

(Rovaniemi, FINLAND) A new seven-day, six-night Ultimate Christmas Invitation itinerary transports visitors to the Arctic Circle to meet Santa Claus in his home, deep in the Lapland forest. The Finland-based program includes dog-sledding, a visit to a reindeer farm, and snowmobiling.

The festive journey starts in Helsinki before heading to Lapland with a personalized, handwritten letter and photobook from Santa Claus, highlighting all the ways guests have been “nice” this year and requesting the traveler’s presence at a one-on-one meeting at Santa’s home in Lapland.

Designed to enthrall all ages, the Ultimate Christmas Invitation from specialist travel company Off the Map Travel, creates a personalized experience for each member of the traveling party. Perfect for pre-Christmas shopping and celebrating throughout the festive season, the program is offered from November to January and begins with an overnight in Helsinki in the art deco boutique hotel Lilla Roberts where guests receive a “golden ticket” for the “Polar Express” overnight night train from Finland’s capital city to Rovaniemi, above the Arctic Circle.

“The itinerary builds suspense and anticipation up to the moment of meeting Santa in person. With no queues and a location in the most festive place on earth, the trip is a dream for those who love Christmas and Santa Claus,” noted Jonny Cooper, Arctic travel expert and founder of Off the Map Travel.

Guests can also stargaze and search for the Northern Lights through huge skylight windows in exclusive Aurora loft rooms at Rovaniemi’s contemporary Arctic Light Hotel. The magical city, just above the Arctic Circle is perfect for an immersion into Christmas and for numerous shopping opportunities.

To complete the experience, the tour continues to Inari, a center of winter activities, the birthplace of Finnish Sami, and the home of Santa. There, with winter clothing provided, guests can choose from outdoor programs including dogsledding, a reindeer farm meet-up and sleigh ride, and snowmobiling through the brilliant Lappish landscape.

In Inari, at Santa’s workshop, participants have a personal meeting with Kris Kringle himself with plenty of time to chat about Santa’s feelings about this year’s holiday, his elves and, of course, you. Since no Christmas holiday is complete without a gift, visitors receive something very special before embarking on a sleigh ride to the Wilderness Hotel Inari, an unusual “round” log cabin resort with comfortable beds, a personal sauna in each cabin, and views over Lake Inari or River Nukkumajoki. In the evening, the cabin’s open fire invites you to cozy up and search for the Northern Lights in the clear skies.

The seven-day, six-night Ultimate Christmas Invitation itinerary is priced from $3806 per person (at the time of this writing) including all activities, transfers, one night’s accommodations in Helsinki , one night’s accommodations in Rovaniemi, three nights’ full board accommodation in Inari, and the overnight train to Rovaniemi from Helsinki. Flights are additional. As with any itinerary from Off the Map Travel, this program can be tailor-made to fit the wishes and requirements of the guest.

The team at Off the Map Travel works with experiences and destinations that allow people to explore hidden wonders of our planet. Specializing in Soft Adventure OTMT creates tailor-made holiday itineraries offering authentic experiences not offered by many larger travel companies. For more information on Off the Map Travel itineraries visit www.offthemap.travel; call 1-646-701-0041, email [email protected].

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Busabout offers several trips that allow those with itchy feet to celebrate the holidays in exotic locales among like-minded fellow travelers. These late December adventures combine food, fun, and festivities in European locations steeped in holiday spirit, like New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh, Scotland.

BOCA RATON, Fla.– Free-spirited travelers may well reconsider that old expression “home for the holidays” after hearing about the European feasts and festivals they can enjoy on an end-of-year trip with Busabout.

Busabout, the flexible travel expert, offers several trips that allow those with itchy feet to celebrate the holidays in exotic locales among like-minded fellow travelers. These late December adventures combine food, fun, and festivities in fantastic European locations that are steeped in snow and holiday spirit.

Rise Festival 2018 Ski Adventure: Combine hard rigid peaks with penetrating grooves on this ice cool festival adventure to France and England that visits the one and only Rise Festival. Party in mountain bars after shooting down soft-snowy Alpine slopes, mellow-out with meditation marathons in incredible ice caves, and have the chance to mount husky-sleds, helicopters, and snowmobiles. Then attend the unique festival, which merges dance moves with mountain views.9 days; departs December 14, 2018. Priced from $759 pp.

Eastern Festive Trek: This December, discover all the jingles and bells of Eastern Europe, and show Santa you’ve been a good little traveler. Stuff your stockings in the markets of Krakow and Vienna, get merry under the mistletoe in the parties of Krakow, admire the craggy mountains around Zakopane, and ring in the New Year in Prague. You’ll also visit Budapest, Vienna, and Český Krumlov. Even if you’re a little bit naughty, we’ll make sure Santa’s little helpers give you a good gift! 11 days; departs December 22, 2018. Priced from $1,229 pp.

Mega Highland Christmas (operated by HAGGiS): This is one truly traditional Scottish Christmas to remember. Imagine a Highland setting for Christmas, with lochs, glens and rugged mountains. Then add a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings followed by a ceilidh (traditional Scottish dance party) and a dram or two! A wee bit different to sitting by the TV… eh? Throw in a real Christmas cracker, the magnificent Scottish Highlands covered in a blanket of snow, and have the time of your life with Christmas Day spent in a Highland hotel fit for the royals. Visit Edinburgh, Loch Ness, and Inverness. 5 days; departs December 23, 2018. Priced from $799 pp.
Highlands and Hogmanay: Scotland is simply one of the best places in the world to ring in the New Year! On this trip you’ll celebrate it in so many ways: attend the incredible Edinburgh torchlight procession, participate in traditional Scottish ceilidh dancing, attend the sparkling Winter Festival, and party with thousands at the Hogmanay Street Party amid an eye-popping fireworks displays. On New Year’s Day attend the early-morning Aussie and Kiwi New Year celebration before getting the chance to plunge into the sea during the insane “Loony Dook” in the Firth of Forth. This trip also includes a day trip to the stunning Scottish Highlands. 7 days; departs December 27, 2018. Priced from $799 pp.

Busabout offers a distinctive Hop-on Hop-off bus network across Europe and guided Adventure trips around the world, Busabout and its partner companies Shamrocker Adventures and HAGGiS have been helping independent-minded travelers of all ages see the world affordably and without too much hand-holding since 1998. Their “freestyle” form of travel combines the flexibility that independent travelers crave with the best aspects of traditional tours. Sometimes they show you around, other times you are free to explore. Either way, you get plenty of local knowledge of destinations and the chance to make unforgettable memories alongside like-minded friends.

For more information, visit www.busabout.com or call 1-844-888-0216.

Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands, The TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to help safeguard the planet, wildlife & people for generations to come. To date, TreadRight has supported over 50 sustainable tourism projects worldwide. The Foundation’s guiding principle is to encourage sustainable tourism through conservation, leadership and support for communities. The Foundation’s priorities are set by the Steering Committee. Past project partners include WWF, Conservation International, WildAid, The Travel Foundation and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include supporting various women’s social enterprises, the recently announced Wildlife Conservation Society’s Big Cat fund, WE.org and working with inspiring nature advocates like Céline Cousteau, Costas Christ and Terri Irwin. To learn more visit treadright.org; follow on Facebook , Instagram, and Twitter using hashtag #MakeTravelMatter.