What it is wish to take a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Finland’s Arctic to see Santa

Childhood strikes shortly. These particular years when youngsters are sufficiently old to understand thrilling adventures however nonetheless younger sufficient to lean into the magic of all of it are restricted. When my youngest daughter was 6 years outdated and my oldest was 11, we determined to embrace that second by taking a once-in-a-lifetime winter journey to seek out the actual Santa in his house above the Arctic Circle.

Tucked beneath snow-covered timber in northern Finland, you will discover reindeer-led sleighs, elves, kid-size snowmobiles and glass domes made for viewing the northern lights. When you look nearer may additionally spot Santa’s cottage.

From the second the playful (and generally naughty) elves greeted us in Ivalo, Finland, and led us in Christmas songs on the bus trip to the Lapland area, this journey embraced all issues Christmas in a method that even Ebenezer Scrooge would admire.

The journey to seek out Santa in snowy Finland was certainly a once-in-a-lifetime expertise for my youngsters — and one which I’ll cherish without end.

If heading to the Lapland area of Finland to fulfill Santa in individual appears like a reminiscence you’d like to make with your loved ones, listed here are 5 issues you’ll want to know.

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It is breathtakingly stunning

This a part of the world could also be distant, harsh and unforgiving, however additionally it is actually magnificent in a method that takes your (frozen) breath away.

Throughout the winter holidays, it by no means will get actually brilliant, however the noon twilight shining on a blanket of white snow is one thing straight out of a storybook. You must see it for your self.

Whether or not you go in the hunt for Santa or need to expertise a spot that appears so magical you will discover it laborious to imagine it is actual, you will love exploring this a part of the Arctic.

We discovered it each bit as mesmerizing as we might hoped. From reindeer sleigh rides to canine sledding, we noticed and did issues that took us far outdoors our consolation zones … in a great way. It was like residing in a fairy story flanked with fur and elves.

You may go to by yourself or by a packaged tour

It is doable to go to one of many cities or villages that Santa frequents within the Lapland area of Finland with out being on an organized tour. Nevertheless, if you wish to hit the simple button on planning, a tour often is the easiest resolution.

We went with Santa’s Lapland, which presents three- and four-day journeys from the U.Ok. to Finland.

These packages are fairly costly — put together your self for sticker shock earlier than you value it out. Nevertheless, the journey does embrace constitution flights from the U.Ok., lodging and floor transfers in Finland, all meals (apart from a number of lunches), the usage of thermal snow gear, and a number of other winter actions (comparable to canine sled rides, reindeer sleigh rides and snowmobiling). Most significantly, you will even have the prospect to hunt for Santa’s hidden home.

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You may ebook a few add-on actions, comparable to northern lights-viewing excursions and snowshoeing, to reinforce your expertise. Given how busy your journey shall be with all of the inclusions, although, you could need to chorus from packing your go to with many additional adventures. We added a number of actions to our journey; they had been satisfying, but when I needed to do it once more, I might solely tack on a number of hours of a snowboarding session for the reason that slopes are shut by.

Whereas costs differ, our three-night “Santa’s Aurora” journey for 2 adults and two youngsters price round $7,000 earlier than we added additional actions; these price between $30 and $130 per individual. To chop prices a bit of, take into account selecting one of many extra reasonably priced two-day packages, which begin at round $1,300 per grownup and have decreased charges out there for youngsters.

If shelling out hundreds of {dollars} for a package deal would not sound like the correct possibility for you, know that planning your individual journey can be an possibility. That is what I might do to economize the subsequent time round.

Quite than ebook a package deal, I might seemingly join by Helsinki and goal Rovaniemi, Finland, as our last vacation spot.

Like final time, I might use All Nippon Airways miles to fly enterprise class to Europe and again for 88,000 miles per ticket. You may switch miles to ANA from American Categorical’ Membership Rewards program, making this selection doable for these with playing cards like The Platinum Card® from American Categorical.

Do you have to determine to take this route, you possibly can then hop aboard the in a single day Santa Claus Categorical prepare to finish the 12-hour journey from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. Whereas there are extra budget-friendly customary seats out there, I might counsel paying a bit of extra for a cabin as a result of they’ve beds. (Some additionally provide personal bogs.)

As soon as in Rovaniemi, you possibly can pursue whichever winter actions most attraction to you. A number of operators can be found for canine sledding excursions, northern lights outings and extra. They will replenish quick, although, so remember to schedule your most well-liked actions as far upfront as doable.

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The expertise is not like the rest

When you do determine to buy a package deal to see Santa in Finland, be prepared to really go all-in for a number of days. From the second you arrive to the day you depart, you will know what time of 12 months it’s and who you are on the town to see.

Transportation

Once we boarded the included Jet2holidays airplane for our constitution flight to Finland from the U.Ok., it was clear this was removed from an strange flight. Lightning on the airplane was a deep pink hue, and Christmas carols had been sung at 36,000 toes.

Once we landed in Finland and headed to baggage declare, we noticed naughty elves laughing and spinning round on baggage carts as they sneakily despatched our baggage again on the belt and out of sight.

Within the ensuing days, they might throw snowballs, mess with individuals’s hats and trigger numerous hassle — however it was at all times in good spirits. So long as you lean into this Christmas chaos, you will totally benefit from the expertise.

Lodging

The resort included in our package deal was Star Arctic Resort, a higher-end possibility you too can ebook by yourself.

It’s kind of away from city however proper on the slopes of Saariselka — Europe’s northernmost ski resort. Star Arctic Resort is a perfect place for outdoorsy sorts.

There are a number of completely different lodging choices, two of which we tried out throughout our keep.

On the primary evening of our go to, we slept in a spectacular Aurora Glass Cabin with a number of home windows to view the northern lights. Luck was not on our aspect, as the northern lights didn’t make an look for us, however we nonetheless loved waking as much as an unobstructed view of the snowy panorama.

After our transient stint in a cabin, we moved to a set with a sauna for the rest of our keep. It was a bit of tight for the 4 of us, however it did the trick. The personal sauna inside our suite was a terrific place to unwind after an energetic day within the chilly.

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Canine sledding and snowmobiling

After I first heard that our package deal included canine sledding, I assumed we might be passengers driving alongside tucked underneath the blankets with an skilled information on the helm. Wow, was I improper.

As a substitute of being chauffeured round as you’d in upscale winter locations like Aspen or Vail, Colorado, we had been within the driver’s seat … actually. After a quick lesson, I took the reins and steered myself and my daughter down the snowy trails. It was equal elements terrifying and exhilarating.

Different actions listed here are additionally extremely immersive, making them far more enjoyable (and wilder) to partake in.

For our snowmobiling journey, we didn’t merely head out on full-size snowmobiles with the youngsters getting pulled alongside in a separate cart. We had the chance to provide my 6-year-old an opportunity to get in on the motion and drive a miniature snowmobile hooked up to a pole. It was a bucket record expertise I am sure my daughter will keep in mind for the remainder of her life.

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The meals

As a result of we booked a Santa’s Lapland package deal, all our meals (apart from some lunches) had been included. Every was served buffet-style.

Total, the meals was nice, however it was not the spotlight of our journey. Whereas youngsters might have rooster nuggets and french fries at most meals, count on the majority of the choices to be extra conventional Finnish dishes. Hopefully, you want salmon, as it is a common fixture on the buffet.

In case your crew has choosy eaters, double-check the menus upfront, pack snacks, and perhaps make a grocery retailer run to make sure they’ve the whole lot they should keep content material at mealtime.

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The shared expertise

Reserving a packaged tour implies that you will be round different households for a number of days. So, pack a bit of endurance and understanding, as you could encounter a robust persona or two in your group.

For essentially the most half, this wasn’t an enormous deal for us, as we had been thrilled to be someplace so particular.

No matter what language our companions spoke or the place they got here from, it was clear that everybody understood how distinctive of a possibility this journey was. They had been simply as wanting to savor the expertise as we had been.

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You will meet the person of the season

Touring to Finland’s Lapland area won’t solely carry you up near Santa’s home. You will additionally get an opportunity to see Santa for your self.

On the finish of a reindeer-led sleigh trip by the snow on our final full day, we met some elves at an lovely pink hut hidden within the timber.

It was fairly the expertise to be welcomed into his cozy cottage in the midst of a snowy forest.

He was as variety as you’d count on. In some way, he had the letters the youngsters despatched to him weeks earlier — a personalized effect that added an additional little bit of magic to an already magical expertise.

It is actually, actually chilly within the Arctic

Whereas Santa’s cottage is heat and comfortable, the outside is a special story. Regardless of the abundance of snow proven in pictures, it isn’t till you step foot in northern Finland that you simply understand how chilly it’s.

Temperatures hovered round 0 levels Fahrenheit throughout a lot of our late-November go to. It was so chilly that strolling two minutes throughout the parking zone to the reception space’s restaurant was essentially the most we might do with out full thermal gear.

When you could fear about all of the gear required to remain heat, know that some necessities shall be offered when you arrive (in the event you ebook an organized tour).

Make sure you pack good base layers and cozy garments to put on underneath the clunky thermal fits your tour information will present. You will additionally need to carry glove liners, hats, thick wool socks and neck heaters.

Even with the offered gear plus the layers introduced from house, it is nonetheless actually chilly at instances (particularly when the wind will get going) — however do not let it cease you from having enjoyable. As soon as bundled up, the temperatures had been doable for durations of time — even for my 6-year-old.

Nonetheless, know that your hair and eyelashes will really feel frozen (and should look that method in pictures), as something uncovered for any size of time will develop into severely chilled shortly.

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Backside line

We have skied in Canada, visited Alaska and even explored Norway, however nothing fairly compares to the expertise of assembly Santa in his snowy house within the woods.

Each household journey is particular and memorable in its personal method, however visiting the Lapland area of Finland was so completely different and distinctive that it’s without end etched in our collective story banks.

In fact, you do not have to go all the way in which to the Arctic to seek out vacation magic. However in the event you do determine to make the journey, whether or not by yourself or by a package deal tour, you will seemingly stroll away with many reminiscences to final a lifetime.