Lapland is a truly incredible holiday destination, as a real-life winter wonderland where adults and children can enjoy unique experiences, from husky sledding to snowman building, exploring the snowy wilderness on snowshoes, skis, snowmobiles or snowboards, visiting Santa in a beautiful grotto adorning with twinkling lanterns to sampling the local delicacies by a roaring fire in the evening.
Alongside the famous Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, and the exhilaration of crossing a frozen lake, walking along glaciers and venturing into the Arctic Circle, there is a huge choice of accommodation, including log cabins, luxury spa hotels, ice hotels, tree-top lodges and glass igloos.
The travel experts from the Baltic Travel Company have some tips and suggestions to ensure you have the complete Lapland experience and create memories you and your family will never forget.
Visiting Lapland for a Holiday of Festive Fun
The first area we’d clarify is that Lapland isn’t one country. Instead, it is a region characterised by pristine white snow, forests, mountain peaks, glaciers and vast frozen lakes, spanning Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Visitors can travel to their chosen resort or destination, book guided tours or packages with organised activities, and plan day trips into the wilderness to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights later in the night, and the extraordinary animals that call Lapland home.
Travelling to Lapland is itself a magical journey, flying over snowbound landscapes that feel like a fairy tale with vast white tundras and icy forests. Once you arrive, there are endless activities, trips and experiences to pick from, with thermal garments provided for most tours to keep you snug before returning to the welcoming warmth of your lodge, cabin or eco-luxe ice hotel.
Lapland Adventures – Meeting Father Christmas and Rudolph
If you are planning a magical meeting with Father Christmas, you’ll find multiple resorts, themed attractions and grottos across Lapland, including the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland. The nearby park completes the experience, and kids, big and small, can meet Santa and his elves, snack on gingerbread and warming hot berry juice, and enjoy a reindeer ride in the snow.
Our Lapland Adventure package is a brilliant option for families, with a private meeting with Santa Claus in his cabin, including a gift for each visitor. This tour provides a number of fantastic experiences, including:
- A husky safari, where experienced guides introduce you to real huskies and steer you through the snowy landscapes. Visitors learn about husky handling and zip along the trails, watching the excitement and joy of these remarkable animals.
- A visit to the superb Ranua Reindeer Farm, with reindeer sled rides included! Herders will happily teach guests how to lasso a reindeer and talk about the lives and personalities of their herds.
- Snowmobile rides, with full instructions about handling, steering, and stopping the snowmobile before a journey through the snow-capped forest. Note that only adults with a driving licence can drive a snowmobile, although other guests can experience the ride as passengers.
To top off your trip, you will travel by snowmobile to the Aurora Camp, nestled in a forest campsite in the countryside where you can watch the Northern Lights in all their glory glistening in the night sky. Guests keep warm around an open fire, with hot drinks to ensure you are cosy.
Lapland Outdoor Adventure Holidays
Finnish Lapland is known for its expanses of open landscapes and forests, and if your dream holiday is one of comfort and relaxation, the Aurora Adventure Short Break is ideal. The Muotka Wilderness Lodge, away from noise and traffic is romantic and peaceful, set deep in the Taiga forest close to the Urho Kekkonen National Park.
Another excellent option is the Aurora Bubble and Winter Wonderland package, which is filled with activities and thrilling experiences. Each log cabin comes with its own private sauna, with dinner served in the hotel’s main building, and you can pick from:
- Husky safaris across frozen Lake Inari
- Snowshoeing to see the Northern Lights during the late evening or night
- An overnight stay in an Aurora Bubble
Based in Nellim, Finnish Lapland, the rustic setting is a chance to watch the Northern Lights far from light pollution as the dark skies draw in.
If you’d love nothing more than to enjoy Lapland activities with your partner or spouse, the Arctic Experience at Nangu Wilderness Resort is great for couples. The adults-only accommodation includes luxury log cabins, thermal clothing rental, gentle snowshoeing excursions, snowmobile rides, and a chance to meet and feed the peaceful reindeer with help from a local herder.
Arctic Bath is also worth a mention – a stunning floating hotel in Swedish Lapland that offers a spa hotel experience like no other. The sustainable, low-carbon footprint hotel is a marvel of environmentally conscious design and construction. It offers warm saunas and cold bathing, along with other wellness treatments to indulge in.
Arctic Wildlife Holidays in Lapland
Our final recommendation is to make time during your Lapland holiday to see the rare, graceful wildlife nearby, including wolves, polar bears and moose. Ranua Wildlife Park is a fabulous place to get close to these amazing animals, whether you’re a keen photographer or simply want an unforgettable trip in this white wilderness.
Within the park, you can see arctic foxes and eagles, meet gorgeous Finnish horses, and relax in a horse-drawn sled. The Norway Arctic Adventure is also designed for guests looking for an outdoor trip, with activities from ice-fishing for the enormous King Crabs, dog sledding across the snow and staying overnight in the Snow Hotel.
Kirkenes, Norway, is positioned to the far north and offers an authentic Arctic experience with English-speaking guides who will steer you through each activity. The Snow Hotel is an astonishing feat of architecture, sculpted from snow, with 20 private suites, stunning ice sculptures and real reindeer living in the resort. Just a short walk from the reindeer safari park at Gabba, there is so much to see and do, or you are welcome to spend your time enjoying the traditional sauna.
Choosing Your Perfect Lapland Holiday
There are numerous packages, trips, tours and itineraries, including outdoor winter activities, wildlife holidays, luxury and romantic couples Lapland visits, and packages designed for families, including the all-important chance to meet Santa.
You can find details of all the featured packages we have mentioned here, alongside our other special Lapland experience holidays, with inclusive trips that cover flights, taxes, thermal clothing, return airport transfers, meals and excursions.
For further information or help to select the Lapland holiday that will tick off every item on your festive wish list for a truly magical experience, please get in touch with the Baltic Travel Company travel consultants at any time or visit our website to submit your enquiry.