Lapland Safaris reacted quickly to the international travel restrictions imposed just before the late winter travel season. The biggest activity event organiser in the Nordic countries provides a selection of popular destinations in Lapland and weekly safari programmes, of which the most popular ones were developed into online stream broadcasts. The online excursions, starting in week 9, offer the participants an opportunity to talk with the guide through a chat service.
Lapland Safaris, a company with 40 years of experience in organising different kinds of experiences and nature activities in Finnish Lapland, firmly believes that real-time virtual safaris are in demand right now during these exceptional times and will continue to be in the future as well. During nature excursions, interaction between the guide and the customer is of essential importance, and the company has invested in interaction on the virtual safaris as well. Enabling the required interaction through remote connections from remote locations has required extensive amounts of planning.
- Product development has been eagerly conducted and our test customers have been amazed by the results. In our concept, the customers don’t have to wear the gear otherwise required for normal nature excursions – all they need to do is turn on their computer or mobile device”, says Director of Operations of Lapland Safaris Rami Korhonen.
The project has required significant investments in equipment and software as well as numerous hours of testing in the midwinter weather of Lapland in temperatures that can sink to -30 degrees Celsius. One of the biggest challenges of the virtual production has been to enable broadcasting of a high enough quality HD-image from a quickly-moving husky safari in the Lapland wilderness. The technical challenges have now been solved.
- Just like during live safaris, unexpected events can take place on virtual safaris, too. A herd of reindeer can block the way of the husky team or a snow burden falling from the tree can restrict the visibility for a moment. All this makes each safari a unique experience”, says the safari guide Sami Lapinniemi.
The online stream safari lasts 20–40 minutes, depending on the programme. During the safari, customers can ask the guide, the husky musher or the hostess of the reindeer farm questions through the chat service. And just like on regular safaris, there are no stupid questions.
- There are loads of people in the world who don’t have the opportunity to travel to Finnish Lapland, even during normal times. Virtual safaris have already been enquired about for the summer season as well. We have thought about organising boat rides under the midnight sun, berry picking activities and campfires by a pond in the wilderness. The concept we have created enables all these plans”, Lapinniemi explains excitedly.
The virtual safaris of Lapland Safaris will be available for booking from week 9 onward. At the first stage, customers will have four different programme options to choose from. The virtual safaris are available for booking in the www.laplandsafaris.com online store, just like the company’s regular safaris.
The first programmes available for the customers are:
● Visit to the husky kennel and husky safari
● Visit to a reindeer farm, introduction to Sami life and reindeer safari
● Snowmobile safari and ice fishing on the Ounasjoki river
● Visit to the Santa Claus office guided by an elf and meeting with Santa Claus
Media inquiries:
Rami Korhonen, COO, Lapland Safaris,
tel. +358 (0)400 561 607
[email protected]
The biggest and most experienced activity event organiser in the Nordic countries, Lapland Safaris has provided tourists visiting Lapland with exciting winter and summer activities and memorable travel experiences since 1982. Authentic, Lappish lifestyle is at the centre of the operations of Lapland Safaris.
The company cooperates with different tour operators and travel agencies around the world and is active in eight locations across Finnish Lapland: Rovaniemi, Ylläs, Saariselkä, Levi, Luosto, Olos, Heta and Kilpisjärvi. All these locations are located within one hour’s drive of an airport. Lapland Safaris adheres to the principles of sustainable development and plans all of the offered activities by taking nature into account. During the high season, the company has more than 600 trained employees and 50 employees throughout the year.
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