We love Lapland and there’s no doubt that it’s a magical trip to take with kids. We have taken a number of trips to Finland and Lapland now. So how does a package holiday with Santa’s Lapland measure up? Read our Santa’s Lapland review here.
Table of Contents
Setting out – ‘Santa’s Lapland’ review
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Our trip to Lapland started really early and we flew direct to Ivalo airport which is about three and a half hours from the UK.
The children had a colouring competition on board of Christmas scenes which the Captain judged and prizes were awarded to the winners. It was a great way to pass some of the time.
We were amazed by the views as we flew over northern Finland. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but the acres of forest, frozen lakes and snow was amazing to see.
Ivalo airport is really small. As we all gathered around for our bags mischievous elves came riding the carousel and then jumped around trying to take people’s luggage and steal their hats. Our seven year old thought they were hilarious.
Outside there was a reindeer herder in traditional Sami dress with a reindeer for us to pet before we boarded our coach.
On the coach
We then boarded the coach and sang Christmas carols all the way to the town of Saariselka about 30 minutes away.
I was immediately struck by how dark it was. At just after midday we could see the moon in the sky looking really large and the whole landscape was so snowy.
Getting kitted out
Next we stopped at one of the offices to all get kitted out. This is one of the big benefits of going with a company like this, that they kit you out in all the clothes to stay warm in the Arctic in winter.
Really experienced staff sized us all up by looking at us. From our two year old upwards. We received the most amazing kit of –
A snowsuit.
Woollen socks.
Boots.
And gloves.
It was important to ensure we had enough other layers but the kit that you get through ‘Santa’s Lapland’ is brilliant and really helped to keep us warm.
It was super clean, looked brand new and really did the job.
The first afternoon – Santa’s Lapland review
We then had the afternoon to ourselves. We spent the time picking up the numerous sledges that were dotted about and pulling the children around to a few of the local shops.
The Tunturi Hotel
We stayed at the Tunturi hotel which was really well located on the main, very snowy, street. Whilst it certainly wasn’t luxurious it was very comfortable and provided everything we needed.
It had a small kitchen area, dining table, lounge and two bedrooms both with ensuites.
We had a lounge (with skiing on the television, of course).
One of the bedrooms.
We were very comfortable here but there was one night when we woke up feeling particularly cold so it’s worth taking a hot water bottle out with you.
Day to ourselves
If you book a four day trip with Santa’s Lapland your second day is to do what you wish with.
For us this was perfect as we were able to take part in a few independent activities and go out to eat and just spend more time getting acclimatised.
I think the hardest thing was the lack of daylight. The darkness would lift around 11am into a kind of twilight which would last until about 2.30pm.
I really felt like staying in bed in the mornings as it was so dark and cold and really hard to get going.
I kept wondering how people could actually live here. It must be so strange to go for weeks without seeing the sun at all.
Four days was perfect for us to really get stuck in and have some fun.
Meeting Father Christmas – Santa’s Lapland review
Our third day was a trip to “The Arctic Circle Centre”. This was so well organised and it’s great to be able to sit back (a little) and have everything arranged.
You are picked up by coaches and taken through the woods to the location of the events for the day. There is ice fishing, ice hockey, sledges, skidoo as well as the big three – the reindeer rides, husky dog sledging and the “Finding Father Christmas” trip.
There is also a teepee with a fire and hot berry juice and cookies, and then a larger wooden lodge where you can go in to have lunch and also have hot drinks and sit and warm up.
The staff are amazing at keeping everyone warm with little activities to keep everyone moving.
When it came to decisions about what to do first there was just one thing on our seven year old’s mind and there was absolutely no swaying him…well, there might have been but he wouldn’t have been concentrating or enjoying it.
So that said, we headed straight to the main man, the whole reason we had travelled so far in the middle of December.
I have to just explain here that when we were in England our children wrote their letters and wish lists to Father Christmas (our seven year old asked for some real reindeer, a real elf and a flying sleigh…he aims high).
Some people post their letters, some put them up the chimney and we have these special envelopes we put our letters in and hang them on the tree and the next morning they have disappeared. We have always assumed to the North Pole.
So, back to Lapland.
Meeting Father Christmas
As a family we took a private sledge ride, towed by a skidoo through the forest. It was so much fun whizzing about over the bumps.
Through the trees we saw a log cabin and some of the cheeky elves were jumping around and our skidoo stopped outside while the elves threw snowballs at us and rolled about being very funny.
Then, led by the elves, we knocked on the cabin door and were greeted by Father Christmas himself.
This was such a magical moment. He greeted the children by name as we walked in and they sat down, spellbound by him.
He was amazing and we could definitely tell he was the real one with his amazing real beard and his little glasses.
From under his beard he then pulled out their letters…the letters left on the Christmas tree in England.
It was definitely one of those moments to cherish forever and felt really emotional.
We had plenty of time with Father Christmas, could take as many pictures as we liked and had time to chat to him about the Christmas lists.
I can’t believe I have actually seen Father Christmas in Lapland, I will forever be a believer now.
The children each got a present, of a reindeer in traditional Sami dress which is such a lovely reminder of the trip.
And then we bid farewell to those naughty elves, who tried to jump on our sledge with us, and sped back through the trees and over the frozen lake to the main village.
Other activities – Santa’s Lapland review
We warmed up then with a really hearty lunch of pasta or rice with sauce and followed by pancakes and strawberry jam and a big jug of juice.
Then it was off to the husky dogs.
The huskies were my favourite of all the activities, I absolutely loved them. As a family we were able to have one adult on the sledge with the three children while the other drove the dogs.
My top tip – wear a balaclava or snood as the wind in your face is very cold but it is amazing. Whizzing through the trees with just you controlling the dogs. It is an amazing experience and you have a reasonable amount of time to experience it, maybe 20 minutes.
It was really exhilarating.
We then went back and had a go at ice hockey.
Some sledging.
And the children loved trying the skidoo.
Finally it was the reindeer ride. Although a little short it was still lovely to get to be pulled along by these beautiful animals and taken to two amazing igloos.
We didn’t make it into the ice bar (where you could buy drinks and hang out) but we did encounter some more cheeky elves in the second igloo and got to play some games with them.
What we thought of the day
The day was exhausting but absolutely amazing. It was one of those days to remember forever and was just so different to anything we’ve ever done before.
In the evening they have a big gala meal with crackers and lots of food and followed by fireworks. A great end to the most magical of magical days.
The final day – Santa’s Lapland review
The final, fourth day was again left to do as we wanted. There was a toboggan run nearby which you could use, you could book extra activities or, as we did, you could grab a couple of sledges and go for another wander through Saariselka.
And then at lunchtime we were taken back to the airport – spotting elves hanging from the town’s sign posts along the way.
And with a crying seven year old declaring he wanted to move to Lapland forever.
It was the most amazing of trips. Something we really will never forget and an experience that was magical, life affirming and so much fun.
It was certainly hard work at times, particularly with three children and having to wrap up so warm and put on all of the layers constantly, and with the dark and the cold. But that added to the mystery of this place. So remote and so beautiful.
I would say that taking a nearly two year old was particularly difficult and this would be better, in my opinion, from age four and upwards.
We really researched this trip before we took it and there were a number of factors which stood out for us to book with ‘Santa’s Lapland’, particularly.
- You are guaranteed your own, private, family meeting with Father Christmas.
- That they really kit you out with clothes to keep you warm.
- They have consistently great reviews.
If you are taking a trip to Lapland we’ve put together a list of things you might want to take with you, you can read our packing list for Lapland here. We also have a full guide to Lapland with kids which includes our DIY trip to Lapland we took taking the Santa Express overnight train.
Find out more about ‘Santa’s Lapland’ here.
Skiing in Lapland and seeing Father Christmas                     Â
A packing list for Lapland in winter                     Â
Meeting Father Christmas in Kuusamo, Lapland                     Â
A Husky dog adventure at Lammintupa, Lapland                     Â
What a trip to always remember! I love how with ‘Santa’s Lapland’ they kit you out in warm clothes – so much better than having to buy lots of extra warm clothes before visiting and lugging them about in your luggage!
I totally agree – it was so nice to know that we would have the arctic gear to really make sure we didn’t freeze…they even had hats there is you wanted one. Really great way to do it! Thank you for commenting.
Those views are fantastic! What a magical experience for the children!
It was so beautiful there, an amazing place and incredibly magical – they haven’t stopped talking about it! Thank you so much for your comments 🙂
Oh wow, that sounds totally amazing!!! What an excellent experience. Sigh… something else for my bucket list!
It’s definitely one to experience…really amazing trip! 🙂
What an incredible trip and experience. Especially for the kids. I love the idea of the coloring contest to keep the kids occupied and to have a celebrity judge, wow. Great pictures too.
It was so much fun, from start to finish! Thank you!! 🙂
Thank you, this has been so useful. I’ve always dreamt of going but as it happens my 4 year old has autism and I don’t think he would manage the structure of the trip as yet. Thanks, you’ve made me realise that I’ll put this on the back burner for a few years. It will happen though! Looks amazing! Sam
Hello and thank you for commenting. Only you know your son and what he can cope with. I would say that at times it was cold and the Arctic adventure day was tiring. But you could also take things at your own pace – there were warm places to sit and just relax – my 2 year old fell asleep on the husky ride and we carried him into the cafe and laid him down on a bench and he slept there for nearly an hour while the older two went sledging and on the skidoo!! Also the clothes you get are great at keeping you warm. But the main thing for us were the staff from ‘Santa’s Lapland’ – they went out of their way to make sure that everyone was having fun and if children were looking cold they were brilliant at playing games to get them moving and warming up again. We were so impressed with the care and attention they gave to everyone. Happy planning when you do decide it’s for all of you, it’s definitely a trip to remember!
santas lapland often accomodate children and adults with various different disabilities. if you feel he would be shocked or scared by certain things, doesn’t enjoy loud noises etc you can tell the rangers/reps and they pass along the message to make sure the child is comfortable at all times. if mobility is an issue, they can get a large toboggan with reindeer hides and blankets in to keep them warm for their arctic circle centre day. i should know, i worked for them this year!
Hi Jessica, thank you very much for taking the time to comment and like I said to Jason, a massive thank you to you for making this such an amazing trip for all of us. We did not encounter a single member of staff who wasn’t fantastic – genuinely lovely people who were just out to ensure that EVERYONE had a great time. It was so impressive!! And so that’s great to know that any child can be accommodated and I certainly imagine that to be the case – certainly by the experience we had. Thank you again for commenting…and for helping us to have such a great trip!
This is awesome. What an amazing experience for your kids (and the adults, too!) that they’ll never forget. And, that reindeer is gorgeous-I want it! 🙂
Ha ha, I would have liked to bring a reindeer home too! They are beautiful animals. It really was the most amazing experience. Thank you for your comments!
wow this sounds like such a magical trip for children at christmas, i have never heard of santa’s lapland before!
It was definitely magical and full of those moments to remember forever! I honestly can’t recommend ‘Santa’s Lapland’ enough, they went out of their way to ensure everyone had the best time. Thank you for commenting!
I want to go so badly! There was am ex-pat blogger who lived in Lapland for a few years but she lives in the U.K now.I loved reading abut her adventures on how they coped with things like the lack of light.
I know, the lack of light is the weirdest thing. We spoke to a couple who were running a restaurant and how said it made them really lethargic in the winter…and then in the summer when the sun doesn’t go down sometimes they’d be up until 3am without realising how late (early?!) it had got! Crazy place but so interesting.
I’ve been waiting for this post! it looks incredible! I can only imagine how magical it must have been for the kids! Looking forward to the next posts! xx
Thank you Fritha! It was amazing…SO cold but so brilliant, they all loved it! x
I’d love to go to Lapland with D – looks incredible!
I definitely recommend it…if you get the chance go for it!
How awesome that you don’t have to pack all of that gear! That would be the big plus for me heading there – that and SNOW. How much fun is the snow. Looks like you all had a brilliant time, and that’s the main thing.
I know, so good that they provide you with so much and it’s all as if brand new. You do have to take the extra layers but to know you’ve got a snowsuit that can cope with Arctic conditions definitely helps!! We did indeed have a brilliant time 🙂
Oh I will…should that be on this Sunday then rather than last?
I feel so inspired and compelled to go that my son’s special needs didn’t even occur to me. Will have a chat with hubby and see what he thinks because this must be the greatest gift you could have given to your children at that age. Thank you for sharing.
What a lovely comment…and what a great way to look at life! We knew we had a window of opportunity to go and we really wanted to seize the moment when it would still be really magical for our oldest. My dream would be to go again in a few years so my youngest (who has only just turned 2) will also remember it. But to see their faces when they met the real Father Christmas…and they haven’t stopped talking about it since…has made it all worthwhile. I know we’re lucky to have been able to do it, it’s not a cheap trip, but it was so worth it. (And Mr Globalmouse and I both LOVED the husky dog rides…that was a real treat for us and our life-affirming moment!!) Thank you again for the great comments!
Wow! This trip sounds absolutely incredible from beginning to end. What a wonderful post. I shall save it for when our toddler is a little bigger. She was 3 on Christmas Day and at the moment just thinks Father Christmas fishes 🙂
That Father Christmas fishes?! That is so sweet!! For the longest time mine called him ‘Farmer Christmas’ and even now they will occasionally slip back into calling him it…I quite like it so I don’t correct them! Thank you for the lovely comments though, it was an amazing trip and I’d definitely recommend it!
I am chuffed to say that I went here when I was a teenager and also to say I know someone who used to work in santa’s grotto as their childhood Saturday job. Your pictures are great, such an in depth post and really show how much there is to enjoy there. Ah, the memories are coming flooding back!
You went here as a teenager, wow!! We really had a great time and it’s brilliant you have the memories from the trip too. Thank you for commenting!
Oh my goodness, this looks incredible! This HAS to go on my list of things to do, I love how into it the locals are and how organised they are to make it so magical. What a wonderful thing to remember 🙂
Thank you so much for your comments and DEFINITELY add it to your list of things to do!! This is one of those ‘can’t be replicated anywhere else’ experiences – it really was so different from anywhere I’ve ever been. We have planned for this for a long time and I’m so pleased we were able to make it a reality. An amazing experience for all of us! Thank you again for the comments 🙂
Oh how fantastic! I’ve never done this, and I’m wondering now if I’ve left it too late – my girl will be 10 next year. what do you think?
I honestly think it’s a magical experience whatever your age. When we were riding the husky dog sledges through the forest I felt so alive and it just made me open my eyes again to how amazing the world is. There is so much to do there and actually with older children you could do longer rides…there are 4 hour reindeer rides for example which would be fantastic but too long (in my opinion) with very small children. And also I would love to have done some snowmobile rides which looked so much fun but again aren’t really for very small children. I know there are adults who go (without children) and still do the whole Father Christmas thing and there were plenty of older children on the trip. So I would say if you can then go for it, I am positive you will all have the most amazing time!
What a fabulous thing to do with your kids. It sounds like an excellent company and what a lot of experiences you packed in to your trip.
Thank you! It really was an amazing trip and those 4 days felt like 2 weeks as we didn’t stop but it was the best way to see and do as much as we could. Thank you for the comment.
I would have absolutely DIED for this vacation as a child. Especially the sledding and the reindeer! ohmigosh.
I know, the reindeer were amazing and the husky dog ride was definitely a highlight. The children were completely in love with the elves!! Thank you for your comment 🙂
That looks sooo fun! Your kids look like they had a blast, I miss sledding and playing in snow sometimes. But the reindeer? How cute!
They really did have an amazing time! And I agree the reindeer are so sweet! Thank you for your comments 🙂
glad u enjoyed it
i worked at santa’s lapland this season as one of the loves to sing rangers who took you on the coach journeys and played with your children all day everyday
hope you book with a sister company like esprit again !!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment Jason, and more importantly thank you for helping my children to have the best experience they could’ve!! It really was the staff at Santa’s Lapland that took the whole experience from being amazing to SERIOUSLY amazing!! So a big thank you from us all!!
Oh my goodness, this is SO COOL! Even though my kids don’t really believe in Santa (they do St. Nikolaus because we live in Germany), I still think they would absolutely love to do this. We’ll have to keep this company in mind. Thank you for such a great post!
Thank you!! If you get the chance then go for it!! The Father Christmas side of it is wonderful for the little ones but there really is SO much more than just that, in fact it’s really a fairly small part of the trip…with all of the other rides and experiences I’m sure any child or adult would have a magical time!
I was welling up just reading this – truly magical. I am so doing this when Monkey is a few years older. A memory for a lifetime.
Aw thank you!! I know, it was such an emotional trip!! It was definitely one of those “remember forever” holidays…enjoy planning it when you decide to do it, you won’t regret it. Thank you so much for taking the time to write 🙂
What an amazing experience for you all! I bet the kids were so excited!! It is something they will always remember.
It really was the most amazing experience…for all of us, I think we got as much out of it as the children…especially riding the husky dog sledges…that was such a highlight. Thank you for your comments!
Now that looks absolutely amazing. Next year the kids will be 6, 4 and 3. Would you reckon the company you went with could cope with us? Or would do you think it would be best to wait another year?
Hello! They can definitely cope with you!! Ours were Just turned 7, 4.5 and just turned 2. My advice would be as soon as you can make it happen do it as it’s such an amazing experience. I know we have already said we’d like to go again in a couple of years so that the youngest can really remember it but for the 7 and 4.5 year old they got so much from this trip. I would say the oldest definitely got the most out of it but our 4 year old really loved it too – particularly the reindeer ride…and they all loved just being in the snow. Thank you for your comments and please come back and let me know if you do go!
Hi can you please explain how the letter arrives to the man himself and how he knows the childrens names when they walk in please? I love the sound of your trip and want to book with santas lapland for this year also. Thanks x
Hello! It’s all in the magic! I cannot give away Father Christmas’s secrets 😉 I hope you get to visit, we had a wonderful time and really hope to return.
What a great review. We’ve just booked the four day trip for 18 Dec with our two children who are 6 and 4. I am so excited.
Thank you so much Sarah, you will have an amazing trip – and how brilliant to go so close to Christmas. Please do come back and let me know how you get on….it’s like no other trip!! I hope you have a great time.
I am also going on the 18th December I am so excited. My little boy doesn’t know we are going either!
Can I ask who you booked independent trips with?
Oh you’ll have a lovely time!! When are you going to tell him…and how?! Here are all my posts about Lapland https://www.globalmousetravels.com/category/europe/lapland/ – and the details are there but it was with Lapland Safaris. I hope you have an amazing time!
He there,
I’m currently researching companies to go to lapland with and have come up with Santa’s Lapland too, and also Canterbury Travels. My question is, was there much queuing involved with Santa’s Lapland? As you pick which experience’s you do when, I wondered if some got quite busy and you had to wait a while? Many thanks.
Hello, I don’t remember there being many queues at all – I remember we waited in line to get into the sledge to go and see Father Christmas and the staff were brilliant at singing songs and getting everyone jumping up and down to keep warm but I would say the waiting times were pretty minimal…we could easily see everything we wanted to do on the activity day and that’s the only day that there would be any queuing. I hope that helps? Best wishes, Nichola
Your review has made me feel extra excited now! I’ve booked through Santas Lapland for 3 night 4 days (just after xmas so we’ll be spending NYE there!) for me and my 3 children. I was a bit worried that my daughter maybe too young (she’ll be 3 when we go) but I didnt want to leave it until next year as theres a good chance that my eldest will be a non-believer by then (my boys are 7 and 8, the 8 year old is already questioning but my 7 year old has autism and has only recently started to understand the concept of santa).
This is the 1st review I have seen with a younger child so I feel a bit more relaxed about it now and I’ll be filling my amazon basket with your recommendations for clothing etc.
Thank you 🙂
Aw thank you so much for your lovely comments. Have the best time! My youngest was only just two when we went and it was quite hard work with all the clothes coming off and on but it was SO worth it for the older two. I think you’ll be absolutely fine with a 3 year old and like you say, sometimes you just have to go for these things when you know the time is right for the older ones (and then get to go back in a few years when the youngest is a little older!). I hope you enjoy it 🙂