Lapland - It’s not just for kids
We stayed for three nights and I would recommend staying for a few nights if you can as it makes for a relaxed experience. We’d had a late night prior to travelling due to a very excited five year old being unable to sleep, then an early fight from Gatwick. Once we had arrived and checked in, we were taken to a traditional Sami Kota, which is a cosy wooden roundhouse. We had a tasty buffet meal and were lucky enough to meet some real elves, who let us into a secret - they had lost Santa’s list! Luckily all the children were very keen to help find it. After a long day we went back to our cabin and had a great night’s sleep, only just waking up in time to make it to breakfast.
Our first full day was free so we took the opportunity to explore Saariselka, the nearest town to our accommodation. Santa’s Lapland provide their guests with all-in-one snow suits and a pair of snow boots so we were warm and comfortable as we wandered around. Our daughter got to run around and make snow angels and we all got to enjoy some freshly baked cinnamon rolls. We had a nice couple of hours chilling out when we got back to our accommodation. We stayed in a Glass Igloo Cabin in the Star Arctic Hotel, which are cosy cabins with a glass roof. Although it was too cloudy to see the aurora borealis while we were there, it was great fun just watching the snow falling on the cabin and getting a wide angle view of the surrounding landscape.
After another good night’s sleep, it was time for a busy day of activities. Everything is on one site and you are free to wander around and get involved with whatever takes your fancy. The exception was the husky sledding which needed a set time slot. Our turn was first thing in the morning and the dogs were full of energy and raring to go. Being in charge of a team of huskies speeding through a forest in the Arctic Circle is a great way to start the day. OK, I’ll own up - when I say, “being in charge,” I think the huskies knew exactly where they were going. It was great fun though and my favourite experience of the trip. The highlight for our daughter was probably the mini skidoos - a bit more exciting than scooting to school in suburban London.
There is, of course, one more little adventure I should mention. One of the activities was a reindeer sleigh ride and would you believe it, as we were gliding through the snow we spotted a couple of elves… and, you guessed it… a gingerbread cottage. Could this really be the home of the actual Santa Claus? It was indeed and he even had the letter our daughter had written to him. She was relieved to find out that she had been good enough that year so went away with a little present given to her by Father Christmas himself.
We had one more activity left for the last morning - a chance to drive some snowmobiles. This is definitely one for the grown ups. We found them pretty easy to drive and just as with the husky sledding, it was great to be out in a landscape very different to drizzly Britain in December.
It was an amazing trip for all the family. Just being there is a great experience in itself, but add in all the activities and it really becomes a trip that will be fondly remembered for a long time.
There are many different options for visiting Lapland so get in touch to start planning your big adventure 020 3292 0515 sarah.coombes@mytc.com