Bucket List Destinations – December – Lapland

Liz Penn on 11 February 2021
As the nights draw in some of us might be tempted to head for warmer climes, as per November’s New Zealand blog but others might want to make the most of the cold and go searching for all things winter – whether that’s snowmobiling and husky-sledding, visiting Santa at home or seeking out the elusive Northern Lights. Lapland is the perfect place to combine all of these and there’s even downhill and cross-country skiing if you want to squeeze more out of your trip.

Lapland is actually an area covering the northern part of Finland although you will find some trips in bordering Sweden and both countries have a mix of fantastic scenery, great activities and unusual accommodation.

As the majority of the trips to Lapland last no more than five nights, to make the most of your time I would recommend pre-booking all of the experiences you want to do, especially if you are travelling during school holidays. Most of the suppliers I work with offer a pick ‘n’ mix so you can choose from a selection of ways to have fun. By December there should be plenty of snow, so now’s your chance to try out something new!

Even if you’re not over-excited to go on safari the huskies will be – it’s clear they love what they do and after a little instruction you’ll get to steer through the snow following trails through the trees. You might find one of your destinations is a nearby reindeer farm, where you can speak to the local Sami people who rely on these gentle giants for their livelihood and learn all about this traditional way of life.

If that’s not enough adrenaline for you there’s always the chance to go snowmobiling – if you don’t fancy being in charge you can always ride pillion. Amp it up a notch by taking the snowmobiles on an evening safari in search of the Northern Lights! Being located north of the Arctic Circle gives you the best opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis in all its splendour – try to time your visit with a new moon for even less light pollution and a greater chance to see the magic.

If you’re determined to maximise your chances of seeing the Northern Lights then it’s worth considering spending at least part of your stay in specially designed accommodation, such as glass igloos, Aurora cabins or hotel rooms with glass ceilings. While you’re at it, many hotels offer a wake-up service if the lights come out so there’s no chance of missing them. Glass igloos aren’t your only unusual accommodation option – what about the real thing? If you’re visiting for a few nights you can often combine a more conventional hotel stay with an overnight stay in an igloo, a treehouse or, of course, the world-famous Ice Hotel in Sweden. Unsurprisingly this now isn’t the only hotel built from scratch every winter, so you can expect to find an option close to you, wherever you are staying.

However, if you’re travelling with children there is bound to only be one thought on their minds and that’s meeting Santa, naturally! You might be relieved to know that there are plenty of ‘normal’ accommodation options including hotels and cosy log cabins, often with their own saunas, that can accommodate families of all sizes. Centrally located, these stays ensure lots of fun-filled family activities so the younger members don’t get too bored or cold, with cheeky elves on hand to make sure they are having a great time and, of course, a chance to meet the man himself.

Whatever your perfect Lapland break is, trying to find the right combination of activities, length of stay and type of accommodation can be a little daunting, so let me help you put together just the right trip!