A Finnish Farm Christmas – Like It Was Before
A quiet Christmas in the Finnish countryside — where traditions are lived, not performed.
A Finnish Farm Christmas – Like It Was Before
3 nights
max 10 participants
professional photos
ADULTS ONLY
Spend Christmas the way it has been celebrated on Finnish farms for generations.
Three peaceful winter days at a small horse ranch near Rovaniemi, preparing traditional food together, sharing slow candlelit dinners and spending time with Finnhorses in the snowy forest.
No Santa shows. No busy schedules.
Just real Christmas traditions, silence and winter.
PACKAGE INCLUDES
- 3 nights accommodation in farmhouse rooms
- All meals featuring traditional Finnish Christmas cuisine
- Participation in preparing traditional Christmas dishes
- Christmas tree experience from the forest with a horse
- Finnhorse experience (sleigh ride or horseback ride depending on conditions)
- Time in the stable with the horses
- Traditional Finnish Christmas sauna
- Ice swimming or outdoor hot tub experience
- Small group atmosphere (max 10 guests)
- Scheduled transfers from Rovaniemi
- Description
- Itinerary
- Meeting points
- Pick-up
Item 1
Christmas in Finland has always been about stillness.
Before tourism, before busy schedules and attractions, Christmas on a countryside farm meant slowing down completely. Preparing food together, heating the sauna, caring for animals and gathering around the fire.
This is the atmosphere we recreate during the Old-Fashioned Finnish Christmas retreat at Ranch Kuulas.
Guests arrive two days before Christmas Eve and step into the rhythm of farm life in winter. The house fills with the smell of wood-fired ovens, slowly prepared casseroles and freshly baked bread.
We decorate the Christmas tree together after bringing it from the forest with a horse. Traditional dishes are prepared gradually over the days — not as a cooking class, but as a natural part of the celebration.
On Christmas Eve, the most important day of Finnish Christmas, the morning begins with joulupuuro, the traditional rice porridge cooked in a wood-fired oven with the famous almond hidden inside the pot.
During the day we spend time with the horses — either enjoying a peaceful sleigh ride through the snowy forest or riding Finnhorses to a quiet hill overlooking the winter landscape.
The Christmas sauna in the afternoon prepares everyone for the evening celebration.
Dinner is shared slowly by candlelight. Traditional Finnish dishes are served around the table, conversations flow quietly and the evening ends by the fire — just as it has on Finnish farms for generations.
Christmas Day is intentionally calm. There are no alarms, no schedules and no pressure to participate in anything. Guests can take a winter forest walk, ride horses, try ice fishing or simply enjoy the rare luxury of silence.
This retreat is designed for travellers who want to experience Christmas as it truly feels in Finland: simple, quiet and deeply connected to nature.
Item 2
23 December – Arrival & Settling Into the Quiet
Arrival at Ranch Kuulas in the afternoon.
Begin your stay by slowly arriving into the calm of the countryside.
Take part in preparing for Christmas together – simple traditions, shared tasks, and a sense of anticipation.
In the evening, enjoy your first slow dinner and a quiet night at the ranch.
24 December – Finnish Christmas Eve
The most important day of Finnish Christmas.
Morning begins slowly with traditional rice porridge and the almond tradition. No rush, no schedule.
Later, spend time with the horses. Depending on conditions and riding level, enjoy either a peaceful horse-drawn sleigh ride through the forest or a horseback ride to a snowy hill with Finnhorses.
In the afternoon, experience a traditional Finnish Christmas sauna. You may choose to try ice swimming or relax in the outdoor hot tub under the dark winter sky.
The evening is a candlelit Christmas dinner, followed by quiet time by the fire, stories, and winter stillness. If the sky is clear, step outside to look at the northern sky.
25 December – Stillness & Presence
In Finland, Christmas Day is meant for peace.
Sleep long. No alarms.
A slow brunch is shared together.
Optional activities are available: a winter forest walk, horseback riding, or trying ice fishing on the lake. Or simply rest.
The afternoon remains free – time to read, write, or quietly enjoy the winter landscape.
In the evening, gather for a final winter dinner and a gentle closing circle with gratitude, quiet conversation, and firelight.
26 December – Departure
Slow breakfast and unhurried goodbyes.
Departure and transfer to Rovaniemi.
Item 2
Our ranch is located Haukilammentie 189, 97530 Yli-Nampa, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.
Item 2
Please note: Transportation begins 60 minutes before departure. For this experience, we offer transportation to the following locations: Apukka resort Halo resort Arctic City Hotel Arctic Light Hotel Hotelli Aakenus Lapland Hotels Ounasvaara Chalets Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna Rovaniemi Rovaniemi Airport Rovaniemi city center Rovaniemi train station Santa Claus Holiday village Scandic Pohjanhovi Scandic Polar Scandic Rovaniemi City
What's included?
- 3 nights accommodation in farmhouse rooms
- All meals featuring traditional
- Finnish Christmas cuisine
- Participation in preparing traditional Christmas dishes
- Christmas tree experience from the forest with a horse
- Finnhorse experience (sleigh ride or horseback ride depending on conditions)
- Time in the stable with the horses
- Traditional Finnish Christmas sauna
- Ice swimming or outdoor hot tub experience
- Small group atmosphere (max 10 guests)
- Scheduled transfers from Rovaniemi
Exclusions
- Drinks and alcoholic beverages
- Travel insurance
- Airport transfers / local transfers
- Extra trail rides or extra activities
Please note:
- Please note that because animal welfare our weight limit is 95kg / 210 lbs.
- This camp is designed for advanced riders who can ride all gaits. Non riders are also welcome, ask more!
- We have liability insurance, but all participants must have their own accident or travel insurance
Add to your experience
- Extra night in farmhouse
- One person room
- Transfer from Rovaniemi
- Horseback archery lesson
- Trick riding lesson
- Photographic session with horses
- Romantic package
- Delicaty kit
What do I need to bring?
- We recommend bringing:
- • riding boots or sturdy shoes with a small heel
- • comfortable warm outdoor clothing
- • rain jacket
- • warm layers (evenings can be cool)
- • gloves for riding
- • personal medication
- • travel insurance
- Helmet is provided if you can´t bring your own.
More Info
- Experience type: Multi day tour
- Booking in advance: Cut off at 4 days
- Duration: 3 days
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Know before you go: The minimum age of participants is 12. Under 18 years old need to travel with their parents.
The Holiday of Your Dreams Awaits
Join us at Ranch Kuulas for steady rides, quiet forests, and simple days shaped by the northern seasons.
Book your holiday at Ranch Kuulas
The Ranch & Our Way of Working
Ranch Kuulas is a working Finnish ranch just outside Rovaniemi.
We welcome guests year-round and share daily life with our Finnhorses.
About us
We are a small working ranch outside Rovaniemi, where we live and work with Finnhorses throughout the year. Our riding takes place on forest trails and open terrain shaped by the northern seasons, using Finland’s native horse breed known for its strength, steady temperament, and long history.
We guide our rides in small groups and match each horse carefully to the rider’s experience. Alongside riding, we prepare meals at Restaurant Loimu in a wood-fired oven and are opening farmhouse-style accommodation in summer 2026 for guests who want to stay longer in a quiet rural setting.
Responsibility
At Ranch Kuulas, responsibility is part of everyday life. We care for our horses, nature and surroundings with respect, following sustainable practices and traditional ways of working. Our goal is to create experiences that feel meaningful while preserving the environment for the future.
Our Horses
Our horses are at the heart of Ranch Kuulas. From Finnish Finnhorses to Arctic horses, each one is carefully trained and well cared for. Known for their calm temperament and strength, they make every riding experience safe, steady and deeply connected to nature.
Contact Us
Planning your visit or have a question? We’re here to help. Whether you’re interested in riding, accommodation or a full holiday experience, feel free to reach out and we’ll help you find the right option for your stay in Lapland.
Plan Your Visit to the Ranch
Join us at Ranch Kuulas for steady rides, quiet forests, and simple days shaped by the northern seasons.
Book your holiday at Ranch Kuulas