Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year and with the reindeer population greater than the human population, there is nowhere quite like Lapland to celebrate the magic of the festive season.
Lapland creates the perfect holiday destination for families to make memories that are guaranteed to last a lifetime and as the popularity of the destination grows, so does the magic. In 2019, over three million overnight stays were registered for Lapland* and this number is growing year on year so there’s certainly no shortage of holiday spirit at the festive hotspot.
So, with so many people flocking to Lapland to celebrate the season, what are the top five fun things to do whilst at Lapland?
1. Visit Father Christmas
A trip to Lapland wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the big man himself, Father Christmas.
The magic of Christmas will come to life with a visit to Father Christmas in the comfort of his homeland. During the visit, Christmas wishes will come true as you meet Father Christmas and his cheeky elves inside the warm and cosy Christmas grotto.
As you share your Christmas list with Father Christmas, you may even be lucky enough to receive an early Christmas gift to open early. Make sure to thank the elves who have been working hard all year round in the toy factory too.
Father Christmas’ reindeers are sure to be close by too, getting ready for their big adventure delivering presents on Christmas Eve. Can you spot Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen? Don’t forget Rudolph too. We’re sure he will be easy to spot with his shiny red nose!
Getting a letter from santa each year is a must for any child growing up to make that time of year even more special. For anyone visiting him, it’s a great time to ask! 😉
2. See the Northern Lights
Christmas is all about unforgettable, magic moments and a trip to see the Northern Lights is one way to create a memory that you’ll never forget.
There really is no sight quite like the breath-taking view of the Northern Lights and on a clear night, there’s a 75% chance you’ll be able to see them, so the odds are in your favour.
As the skies will with the beautiful colours, you’ll become lost in the picture-perfect moment.
Find out the best places to see the lights at Lapland here.
3. Go husky sledding
Take in the stunning sights of Lapland in style by taking a husky ride. Husky sledding is a traditional mode of transportation in Lapland and has been used for locals to travel, and transport items, for many generations.
Fully immerse yourself in the Lapland experience and take a ride with your friends or family and be guided by the four-legged companions to experience some of Lapland’s most beautiful views.
You can even have a go at becoming a husky ‘musher’ and guide the sled, and the huskies on the journey.
If you’re lucky, you may even get to meet some of the husky puppies that are born each year. Unfortunately, they’re not quite small enough to sneak in your suitcase, but they are very, very cute.
4. Take a snowmobile safari
For the thrill seekers, the best way to travel around Lapland is by snowmobile.
Designed to navigate the snow and icy territory of the area, the snowmobile can take you to all the best places in Lapland.
Safari tours are available to take a ride through the forest and take in the incredible views of the snow-covered trees and glistening icy lakes. Some safari tours even make stops to enjoy a spot of ice fishing or a cup of hot cocoa by a roaring fire…bliss!
5. Spend the night in an igloo
Experience the 24/7 beauty of Lapland by spending the night in a glass-igloo.
Soak in the beauty of the night as you wind down after a busy day exploring Lapland and enjoy staring out at the clear skies.
Imagine taking in the view of the Northern Lights whilst lying comfortably snuggled up in a warm bed. If that doesn’t sound like perfection, we’re not sure what does.
With so much to do in Lapland, we recommend booking a trip for at least three-four nights so that you can squeeze in as much fun as possible before heading home to celebrate Christmas.
Don’t forget to pack plenty of warm clothing for your trip. The average temperature in Finland in December is
-9°C. Luckily, Father Christmas’ grotto is nice and toasty and there is plenty of hot chocolate filled with marshmallows to help warm you up after playing in the snow.
If a trip to Lapland in Finland isn’t on the cards for this year, the UK also offers a magical Lapland experience that is full of fun for the whole family.
Are you off to Lapland? What fun thing from this article are you most looking forward to?
*https://www.lapland.fi/business/tourism/
