See Santa In Lapland Before It's Too Late
Updated: May 5, 2019
#santashortbreaks #magicallapland #lateavailabilitylapland
This time last year I was getting ready to embark on a trip to Lapland to see the big fella himself!
My son and I were looking forward to the 3 night break but a little bit nervous and disappointed too as daddy would not be able to make the trip to Finland with us. However, I need not of worried about doing the trip solo as the company whom I work with were and are utterly fantastic. They know the local area exceptionally well and are true destination specialists. All I had to do was cough up, show up and wrap up. They did everything else perfectly, which left me free to relax and indulge my inner child.
There are numerous companies who operate Santa Breaks and each have their own niche/way of operating. There are the search for Santa ones, the day trip ones, the in your face Santa village ones and everything in between but the way this company operate is very natural and authentic. The whole trip from beginning to end was executed to perfection. The accommodations are all of a really high standard, the food hearty, wholesome and moreish and there is plenty of opportunities for mummy and daddy time in the bar or by the fire in your cabin whilst the children play outside in their downtime.
I've booked many trips to Lapland but not having a child myself it wasn't a destination that was actually on my bucket list. Then along came Seth and everything changed. I have travelled a lot and experienced some pretty amazing destinations but I can honestly say that this adventure will stay with me forever.
Let me try to explain why.
I felt that this trip would be for Seth, you know that once in a life time trip that's practically plucked straight out of a fairy tale adventure, the trip that millions of kids Worldwide dream of doing. And, that's what it was. Except, I didn't anticipate that I would love it just as much as he would, me being a sun worshipper and all that. But I did love it, I found the whole experience deeply moving.
Initially, before we arrived in Lapland we were both slightly blaze about this trip and it was only now as we wizzed through the picturesque forests en-route to our hotel that we both decided that this trip was going to be awesome, one for the memory bank.
The landscapes in Lapland are dreamlike, almost like a painting, with candle shaped spruce trees heavily laden with snow and jewel shaped flakes that shimmers like diamonds in the half light of day. From the moment we arrived I felt as though we had stepped through the magic wardrobe and tumbled straight into Narnia, I almost half expected Mr Tumnus to pop out from behind every tree!
My son was equally as mesmerised with the scenery, stating that he had never experienced anything so pretty. Sitting beside him in the coach I could feel the excitement growing inside him minute by minute finally reaching a crescendo when he sunk his feet into the deep, crisp snow. He was like a young buck, galloping, slipping, snorting and skidding around until he was beetroot red.
Not wanting to do things by halves we signed up for all of the optional activities that we could squeeze in, and, the best one by far was the additional husky safari of 9km through the forest at night. Picture the scene-you arrive at the husky kennels to 100 baying dogs, your nostrils and lashes slightly frozen from the snow. Everyone is given head torches so they can guide their team through the pitch black forest. Children sit in the sleigh behind the dogs, they are snuggled up in super warm reindeer skins, the only instructions they receive are to keep their arms inside the sleigh. The only instruction the drivers are given is foot on to stop, foot off to go! And boy, when you take your foot off that break do they damn well go! This activity and the way it was organised was amazing. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
On Santa day we had a ball. We played in the forest racing our sledges side by side and when we were worn out we sat by the fire talking with a Lappish Shaman who blessed us with the burnt offerings from the fire. We made gingerbread men decorations and ate marshmallow off sticks. It was everything a mummy dreams of doing with her child at Christmas but magnified by 1000%
When our time came to see Santa we were gathered from in front of the fire and taken by a sleigh pulled by reindeer to Santa's Cabin which was perched by the side of a frozen lake and set in front of a backdrop of sky high evergreens. As we approached the lodge we could see an elf patiently waiting to greet us. It felt surreal, as though I was re-living a scene from an old black and white Christmas movie.
Now, if anyone has spent five minutes in the company of my son they will know he talks, a lot. Yet when the door opened into that little fishing lodge, my son fell silent. In fact, so did I. I initially felt overwhelmed to "make it count". But I need not have worried because "our" Santa was the real Santa. He was so warm and kind with a twinkle in his eye and big hug for Seth. Whilst we were in the lodge it felt as though time had stood still, we blocked out everything around us and all we focused on was the fire blazing up the back of the crumbling brick fireplace and the lovely tone of Santa's voice which lulled us into a (sort of) semi trance as he regaled us with tales of Lynx and black bear and how he was busying himself for Christmas Eve.
On the way back to the activity hut Seth was silent, all the while looking at his gift from Santa. I, on the other hand, eagerly scanned the scenery and tried to etch it into my memory to recall at my will, maybe in my old age or when I feel that my child's youth is flying by, way too quickly.
Sample 3 night/4 Day Itinerary
Day 1
12.35
Upon arrival at our destination airport we were greeted by the cutest Elves each kitted out in believable, traditional felt and wool clothing. Our elf guides were very pretty and funny with rosy red cheeks and plaited blond hair. In the coach on the way to our hotel the head elf told the children tales of mystical creatures and magical places mostly relating to the local area, Seth sat there listening quietly, eyes wide open.
We were located in a little village close to a frozen lake and after a lovely welcome and a warming drink of berry juice we were each measured up for our snow suits before being shown to our guest accommodation. The hotel was super cute, kind of Little House On The Prairie Meets Ikea, it was toasty warm and very cosy.
Seth quickly found a new playmate and tore off to sledge down a mound of snow that had been shifted from the path. The children squealed with delight at being able to play unsupervised in the thigh high snow. I actually watched him from a distance as I enjoyed a cheeky brandy on the veranda!
14.30-15.30
Following lunch we had free time to either relax or play in the snow with the children. To be honest I don't think that us parents had much of a say in the matter, no sooner had I put down my fork than I had the sledge rope thrust into my hand. Once everyone was out of breath and hot and sweaty (yes even at minus 25 degrees) we decided to retire to the bar for a relaxing drink before heading out for the husky safari adventure. As the adults chatted away the children played board games in front of the fire, each eager to find out what the others had on their Christmas list to Santa.
17.30-19.30
The husky safari was amazing. My son is a dog fanatic so was totally in his element. After racing through the forest at a fast and furious pace we all sat down in front of an open wood fire and warmed ourselves with warm berry juice and cookies. I knew that Seth was tired because we had been up since 4.00 am and as he sat cuddling a husky puppy in front of the fire both of them proceeded to nod off. Too cute!
20.00
A buffet dinner was taken as a group at our hotel however those who are staying in luxury catered cabins will have their food delivered to them. The food was great, the company better but armed with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate we slipped away and off to bed sooner than most. And, when I say slipped that's exactly what I mean. Ice 1 - Me 0
Day 2
08.00-10.00
A fabulous spread was laid on for us at breakfast, there was everything I could wish for including smoked salmon, home made granola, eggs and bacon and much more besides. For those in luxury catered cabins breakfast is taken within your cabin.
10.00-1500
It doesn't start to get light until 10.00 hrs so Seth and his pal played close to our cabin until it was time to leave for a full day of fun in the forest. We were transferred to a stunning wilderness location (approximately 20 minutes by coach) for an Arctic Circle ceremony and snow fun activities which included tandem skiing, snowshoe walking, kick sledging, tobogganing and children's snowmobiling. We made gingerbread cookies and Christmas decorations in a pretty log cabin and were served sandwiches, soup and home made rolls for lunch.
Each family received a personal invite for a private audience with Santa. O