Lapland March 2019

Claire Summers on 02 May 2019
In March 2019, six of us went to Lapland. I had been waiting for 5 years to go back and although we did exactly the same thing as we did before, it was just as magical and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Last time the Northern Lights didn't come out for us but this time, well, wow! I don't think I will see a display like that again in my lifetime, it was incredible, just how you imagine it to be and how you see in the pictures!

We did Husky Sledging, Snowmobiles, Reindeer Camp and hired sledges from the hotel (only 5 euros each for the duration of your stay) and found the highest slope in the grounds to toboggan down.

We flew from Newcastle to the local airport in Sweden, then took the coach to The Davvi Arctic Hotel in Karesuando, Finland. The staff were friendly and the location was remote and idyllic. The hotel has such a homely feel to it and the panoramic window in the restaurant is amazing. The meal basis is full board so you get 3 big meals a day, all you have to pay for is your drinks at the bar. The food is great, definitely keeps you full all day and caters for all dietary requirements.

We stayed in a double room which had big glass windows so you could see the snow and the landscape, the room came with tea and coffee facilities. The hotel has been renovated since our last stay and now has a sauna and an outdoor hot tub (the hot tub is only available at certain times of the year and chargeable).

The holiday price includes your thermal suit and boots so you just need base layers, hats, goggles, gloves, scarfs, snoods - you need to wrap up warm especially in the evenings outside and hand and feet warmers are my top tip. The hotel itself is really cosy and warm.

The Reindeer Camp involved being pulled along by a Reindeer, learning about the animals and a welcome warm break around the fire. The Husky Sledging was also brilliant, you drive and steer your own pack of dogs and they can really move.

For the snowmobile excursion, you go out in the evening in search of the Northern Lights, you each take turns driving and are out for a good couple of hours across a frozen lake with a pit stop for a warm drink half way through.

In 3 nights you get a fun packed few days with the excursions all carefully timed by the tour operator staff which are posted on the notice board when you arrive.

The Aurora Borealis came out every night so we were very lucky, the first night was just amazing, we took ourselves up to the top of the hill at the hotel and just watched in awe.

As part of the three nights you have a guided trip to the top of the hotel grounds, but you are always welcome to go exploring yourself, which is what we did the first night when we saw an amazing Aurora Borealis display.

The hotel hire out toboggans for just 5 euros for your whole stay which you keep in your room so you can go sledging whenever you like and they have some big hills in the hotel grounds.

You can walk to the nearby country border and place one foot in Sweden and one foot in Finland - how cool is that! On this walk you can visit a beautiful Church and go inside, its rumoured to be the church in the Coca Cola Advert and it is set on a large frozen lake. There is only 1 shop and 1 garage in walking distance of the hotel but that is the beauty of this place, a nice crisp walk in the snow in your snug thermal suits.

Again we had a fantastic time and I cant wait to go back.