Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Holiday Hack
- Day Trip Details
- Arrival and Experience
- Meeting Santa
- Activities and Food
- Conclusion
TAKING your children to meet Santa in Lapland is a dream for many parents seeking a truly magical Christmas experience as a family – but it can be quite costly.
However, I've discovered a holiday hack that saved me thousands on a trip to the Christmas village in Finland, provided you're okay with an early start.
Helen (pictured with her son, Finn) chose to visit Lapland in Finland for just one dayCredit: Helen Wright
You are greeted at the airport in a sleigh and transported to Santa’s villageCredit: Helen Wright
Canterbury Travel offers fully inclusive packages that include flights, husky sledging, and meeting Santa.Credit: Canterbury Travel
This destination is a popular choice for a festive getaway, and for my kids, Finn, 6, and Isobel, 4, the highlight was meeting Santa.
However, these trips, especially around Christmas, can cost as much as £10,000 per week when booking a holiday package for a family of four, including hotels, flights, and activities.
That’s when I found out that you can visit Lapland for just one day.
Canterbury Travel offers day trips to Enontekio in Finland, departing from the UK in the morning and returning home the same evening – which includes a meet with Father Christmas.
We wanted to be as close to Christmas as possible, so we booked our trip for December 22, but the lead-up was just as thrilling.
The holiday provider not only organizes everything but also sends a special package in the mail, inviting the children to come and visit Santa at his home in Lapland.
Of course, the big day requires a very early start, waking the kids at 4 am. Thankfully, we live just a short drive from London Stansted Airport, making our 7 am flight manageable.
The fun began as soon as we arrived at check-in. All the staff were dressed in Christmas jumpers, tinsel adorned the area, and festive songs played in the background.
What I appreciated most was the effort made to create a magical atmosphere for families.
The staff referred to it as ‘Santa’s magical plane,’ and even the information boards were set up to tell the story, designating the destination as Lapland instead of the usual airport codes.
Helen’s children found their letters from Santa in the fireplaceCredit: Helen Wright
The package also includes an activity bundle and some extras to make it special for kidsCredit: Helen Wright
Even onboard, we enjoyed coffee and breakfast, with the kids receiving activity packs as Christmas songs and games played over the intercom.
Although the flight was only 3 hours and 30 minutes long, the sun was already beginning to set, as there are only about six hours of daylight in this region at this time of year.
It was still magical – we landed on a snow-covered runway with a stunning pink sky that looked like a scene from a Christmas card.
With this package, everything is included: meals, drinks, and the rental of your snowsuit, socks, and boots.
Prepared for our six-hour day in Finland, we were taken into a barn to get fitted for our gear, leaving our own clothes and shoes behind until it was time to go home, as we donned thermal leggings, tops, and full suits.
The weather in Lapland was -13°C during our visit, but we were comfortably warm, and despite my concerns, both of my kids were cozy with all the layers.
Then came the exciting part. We were transported to Santa’s village on a sleigh, which was exhilarating.
The setting is breathtaking, nestled in a forest that resembles a winter wonderland.
Once at the village, everything is included, and activities ranged from learning to drive a snowmobile, tobogganing,
