There actually is not any journey extra magical than visiting Lapland – the snowy landscapes, the possibility to satisfy Santa, to go husky sledding. However which means most of us have by no means taken a visit fairly prefer it earlier than – which is why I’ve pulled collectively my high suggestions for visiting Lapland with youngsters.
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I’m all ready for seaside breaks however have spent fewer holidays within the snow, and this was my first with my daughter. And whereas packing lists for Lapland holidays are at all times useful, there’s extra to it than merely remembering your thermals, as I found on our four-night break in Levi.
So right here’s what we discovered and my high suggestions for Lapland with youngsters, to make sure you have a magical journey.
Suggestions for visiting Lapland with youngsters: earlier than you go
Select your dates rigorously
The sooner you go, the extra gentle you get and the hotter it’s prone to be. However you do threat there being much less snow than typical, if it’s a 12 months with increased temperatures (like in 2018) – whereas that isn’t but frequent, the climate will at all times fluctuate through the six week season.
Journey later and also you would possibly match it into faculty holidays (we needed to request a depart of absence to get away earlier) or you possibly can even journey over Christmas Day itself, however will probably be darker and doubtless colder.
The placement could make a small distinction too: Saariselka is the furthest north of the principle Santa Break resorts, so it has extra probability of early snow. Rovaniemi – the official dwelling of Santa Claus – is the furthest south – with Yllas and Levi within the center, though all are within the Arctic Circle.
Examine what’s supplied
In the event you’re travelling on a Santa break package deal vacation, as we did, you’ll get a thermal swimsuit included which makes an enormous distinction.
We additionally had boots included – however keep in mind that you simply’ll be strolling down snowy steps from the airplane to the airport and onto a switch earlier than you get the boots, so that you’ll want one thing to deal with snow as quickly as you land (the identical goes for having gloves, hat, ski jacket and heat layers on the airplane).
My very own pair had been additionally hotter and a greater match than those supplied, though my daughter wore her two pairs interchangeably.
Take into account what’s included
With a number of essential exercise suppliers and tour operators in areas like Levi, Yllas and Rovaniemi chances are you’ll discover that the excursions are related whether or not you’re travelling on a package deal or independently.
For our Santa Break with Inghams, we had a go to to Santa’s Workshop on the Santa Claus Village and a gala dinner with Santa Claus on the finish; you may e-book every other excursions individually, though our husky sledding and reindeer sleigh rides, and snowmobiling had been each organized by way of the corporate too.
Different corporations embody extra excursions, whilst you can at all times e-book your personal if there’s time free. In the event you prepare any independently, don’t neglect you might also be chargeable for your personal transfers (both at an additional value or hiring a automotive to drive within the snow).
Learn extra about our actions on our Levi Santa Break right here
What age is greatest?
Lapland is magical at any age (I used to be in my 30s once I first visited) however when the main focus is on visiting Santa in Lapland, it pays to time it proper if you happen to can.
Most corporations advise you journey with youngsters aged 4+ and thermal fits and boots aren’t often included for under-threes. However wait too lengthy and the Santa magic could also be gone as soon as they’re too outdated.
Age 6-7 is good, though having stated that, we noticed households with toddlers and youths too.
How lengthy to go for?
It relies upon partly on how a lot you need to slot in – there’s something from someday journeys to Lapland to week-long breaks.
Most have a tendency to fall someplace within the center with three or four-day breaks being the preferred: shorter is cheaper however you’ll should be ready for busy days or fewer excursions and any flight delays may have a much bigger impression.
We went for 4 nights, which felt excellent – it gave time for an tour each day in addition to time for ourselves, and we by no means felt rushed (plus we received again on Sunday slightly than midweek), though you possibly can nonetheless have fitted every little thing right into a three-night break.
Personally I feel a one-day journey could be very full-on with younger youngsters and dangers drained meltdowns as you lastly arrive and get to satisfy Santa – flights to Finnish Lapland are three and a half hours, so that you’ll have an early begin and an extended day.
In the event you’re planning to ski in addition to the excursions, otherwise you wished to enterprise additional afield or attempt a Northern Lights tour, you may want longer to benefit from the ski resort services.
Suggestions for Lapland with youngsters: what to pack
Select merino wool
It goes with out saying that you simply’ll want thermal layers to maintain out the chilliness within the Arctic Circle.
We took two units of long-sleeved tops and leggings every, principally of merino wool, which was improbable – it’s skinny and light-weight, dries shortly but additionally retains you superbly heat.
Pack a number of layers
Take a number of layers to remain heat slightly than one thick layer, because it’s simpler to adapt to the totally different temperature.
On our first day, the temperature was round -6C, by the tip of the journey it was all the way down to -15C and buddies who visited the 12 months earlier than had been met with -32C, so this manner you may layer up or down relying what awaits you.
Click on right here to see what we packed for Lapland and to get my downloadable packing listing
Pack totally different weight layers
There’s a restrict to only how a lot can match beneath a thermal swimsuit (and selecting a much bigger dimension would have swamped my daughter totally), so I shortly realised that there was no probability that we may zip it up over each her ski jacket and thicker hoody (plus thermals).
As a substitute, we had some thinner jumpers which went beneath the ski jacket or may put the thermal swimsuit excessive (once more with thermals beneath).
The identical went for my very own swimsuit, so having a range meant there was at all times one thing which labored.
Double layer your gloves
If potential attempt them on collectively before you purchase. We had thermal gloves and waterproof ski gloves for my daughter to layer up.
However the authentic thermal gloves we received had been too thick to suit contained in the ski gloves, and the replacements nonetheless wanted some tugging to squeeze the second pair over.
As my daughter’s fingers barely got here up half-way the ski gloves, a much bigger dimension wouldn’t have labored any higher.
Certainly one of my very own high buys for Lapland was some silk glove liners to go beneath my very own thermal gloves – I used to be continuously having to drag my proper glove off, to take pictures, to fish tickets out of a pocket, to drag my daughter’s gloves again on (once more!) and easily couldn’t do any of it with the thermal layer on.
Having the glove liner meant my hand wasn’t continuously within the freezing air however it was skinny sufficient that I may (principally) even use the touchscreen on my telephone.
I purchased this pair last-minute from Amazon though if you happen to’re close to a Decathlon retailer, these are touchscreen suitable.
Pack spare gloves
Having rigorously thought by way of the totally different glove layers, I managed to neglect that my daughter has a expertise for dropping gloves.
Setting out the primary morning to discover, we realised her thermal ones had been already lacking…
Fortunately they’d simply been dropped within the resort foyer at check-in and scooped into misplaced property, however I used to be kicking myself for not having a number of back-ups!
Double layer your socks
Surprisingly, the low temperatures don’t at all times really feel that chilly , particularly while you’re bundled up in layers and thermals, because the air is so dry and we had no or little or no wind.
So it’s your toes and fingers which really feel the chilly first. I layered atypical socks with thermal socks for each of us, inside heat ski boots, however nonetheless wished for thicker socks myself a number of occasions.
Purchase extra handwarmers
We had two units of reusable handwarmers with us, which labored superbly the primary time we used them (simply bend to snap the steel disc they usually warmth up immediately).
I then managed to drop one in a snowdrift the place it vanished totally, and when making an attempt to warmth them in boiling water to reuse them, one popped, and the opposite two flatly refused to go squashy once more.
Subsequent time I’d take much more and go for disposable air activated ones as a substitute like these.
Get a gaiter
I’ve additionally heard them referred to as buffs, gaiters and snoods, however no matter title you fancy giving this handy piece of clothes, be sure to’ve received one!
The circle of cosy materials is loads much less faff than a shawl, simpler to snuggle beneath a jacket and simple to drag up over your face and nostril, particularly if you happen to’re husky sledding once we felt the chilliness of the air way more.
My daughter’s was fleecy and albeit I used to be jealous sufficient to attempt it on to see if it fitted (it did, simply – click on right here to take a look at the fluffiness) so whereas my multicoloured snood did the job, I had my eye on an identical fleecy neck hotter subsequent time.
Be certain your hat covers your ears
Or contemplate a balaclava (though once I wore one beneath my helmet for snowmobiling, I believed my daughter would explode with laughter).
And in case your youngsters are like my daughter, who can lose hats as simply as gloves, take no less than two. Tassels can are available in helpful to tie it beneath their chin too, though it’s value understanding huskies wish to play with longer tassels…!
Yow will discover conventional trapper-style hats in addition to some very cute animal variations – every little thing from a unicorn to a fleecy fox and furry wolf.
Slip in some slippers
Or some cozy sneakers. I had my very own ski boots and was additionally supplied with one other set however there’s nothing like pulling on a comfortable pair of slippers after a day clomping round in heavy boots.
Thermal socks might be heat however usually tight so I used to be glad to peel these off and this saved me heat with out underfloor heating.
My daughter had her slipper socks (together with some fleecy tracksuit bottoms) for a similar cause – I used to be tempted by this fox pair for her as properly and this fleece-lined pair for me!
Have a sizzling water bottle
The apparently skinny duvets on our beds had been impressively heat, so we may actually have managed with out our sizzling water bottles.
However there’s nothing fairly so comforting as curling up with one while you’ve been chilly – I packed this 1 litre sizzling water bottle with a fleecy cowl for me, and a dinky 0.5 litre model for my daughter.
I additionally threw on this fleece journey blanket simply in case: ultimately we by no means wanted it, however for a fiver it was nice as a back-up.
Pack transportable snacks
Chocolate biscuits, fruit leather-based, cereal bars… I got here armed with loads of snacks for each of us which may simply be slipped right into a bag once we had been out for the day, at any time when my six-year-old wanted a high-energy enhance.
Taking part in in snow is big enjoyable, as had been all our winter actions, however it may be tiring so a number of treats had been perfect to maintain her going and Finland just isn’t the most affordable place to purchase meals.
Follow your personal favourites, though the fruit Bear Nibbles and Cadbury Animal Biscuits labored wonders.
You may by no means have an excessive amount of sizzling chocolate
Ticking the excessive vitality field and ideal to heat us up as we relaxed after a day within the snow, I feel I misplaced depend of the variety of sizzling sweets we had between us. So considered one of my high suggestions for Lapland with youngsters is to be sure to carry loads!
As we had been in a resort slightly than self-catering, I grabbed a handful of various sachets which solely wanted boiling water – Cadbury, Galaxy, Wispa – and sipped by way of all of them. Yum.
For a bit of additional luxurious, a whole lot of fancy sizzling sweets should be made with sizzling milk however the Basic sizzling chocolate from Resort Chocolat might be made with boiling water.
Deliver wine
The bottle of crimson wine I picked up in Obligation Free at Gatwick was just a few kilos greater than a small glass in a single Levi restaurant (and barely lower than a big glass in our resort).
You should purchase wines on the Alko store however the one in Levi is slightly stroll from the centre of city and you’ll’t merely choose up a bottle in a grocery store in Finland.
Take a rucksack
You most likely gained’t have an enormous quantity to hold however when you’re in a thermal swimsuit, you have got restricted accessible pockets, so one thing to stash the necessities in and hold your fingers free to fiddle within the snow is helpful.
I took my Osprey daylite backpack which had loads of room for every little thing, sufficient pockets to maintain all of it separate, plus a useful compartment on the again to stuff gloves and hats in once we went inside.
Take into account the right way to carry your telephone
Even with my glove liners on, my chilly fingers managed to fumble my telephone and drop it right into a snowdrift on day one.
Fortunately the powdery snow meant it emerged unscathed (though the battery degree dropped immediately to three%) however I regretted not taking the waterproof case I personal, which hangs round my neck.
Utilizing the telephone with glove liners by way of the skinny case may need been difficult however it could even have made me really feel safer holding it on our husky sled.
This case is suitable with any telephone as much as 6.8 inches, together with a Samsung S23 and iPhone 15, this bigger case for handsets as much as 7.5 inches like a Samsung S30 or iPhone 14 Plus.
Bulk purchase batteries
Even if you happen to handle to not drop your telephone right into a snowdrift (extremely suggested!), the chilly temperatures drain batteries a lot sooner.
Plus you’ll be snapping away on the attractive surroundings loads, in addition to capturing some improbable household reminiscences.
So if you happen to’re utilizing a digicam, it’s value having a second battery charged and prepared. In the event you’re utilizing a telephone, hold a charged transportable battery handy.
This slimline Anker energy financial institution is good because it’s not too cumbersome however can shortly and utterly cost a telephone (with energy leftover)..
Or hold your telephone in the identical pocket as handwarmers if it’s beginning to get chilled.
Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise
The dry air would possibly imply you don’t really feel the chilly as a lot as you count on, however your pores and skin actually will.
My fingers felt as dry as paper, so a number of hand cream is important – I had my Neutrogena Norwegian Formulation hand cream (apt for a visit to Finland!) and super-moisturising L’Occitane Shea hand cream for an added enhance.
Be sure to’ve received loads of lip balm too: my Elizabeth Arden eight-hour cream was additionally nice for any notably sore spots on my fingers from pulling stiff zips.
Lapland suggestions: the place to stick with youngsters
Resort or self-catering?
There are self-catering residences and chalets in addition to accommodations in locations like Levi, so you may select which fits you greatest (together with each half-board and full-board choices within the accommodations).
It’s value allowing for that meals in Finland isn’t low-cost, so self-catering might not be as low-cost as different locations – and that whereas I’ve had some completely good meals there, you don’t actually go to Lapland for the delicacies!
With chips and little one favourites like hen nuggets on the buffet at our resort, Levi Panorama, there was one thing for my daughter each night, plus a few stand-out grownup choices together with salmon with dill and a melting beef stew.
In the event you’re planning to eat out, two huge pizzas with drinks at Basic Pizza in Levi value us round 40 Euros. You may eat extra cheaply or simply spend extra although.
How far is it to the restaurant?
One factor that’s value contemplating is how shut your rooms are to the restaurant – some shall be in a separate constructing within the resort so on chilly evenings or if it’s various minutes stroll, you would possibly want thermal fits on the way in which.
The identical goes if you happen to’re planning to eat out and shall be strolling out of your resort. After a enjoyable day trip within the snow, I used to be more than happy to take off some layers and simply hop into the raise to get to ours.
Central or secluded?
Levi itself isn’t enormous – and the identical goes for lots of the different essential Santa break locations – however with snow, thermal fits and chilly climate, if you happen to’ve received a 15-minute stroll to get anyplace, you’ll shortly get fed up of that with drained youngsters.
On the plus aspect, if you happen to’re slightly means out of the principle city, you get unspoiled snow to discover.
Levi Panorama is linked to the city by a gondola, and I used to be in two minds whether or not I’d like it or whether or not it could be an added faff.
Fortunately, it was the previous – we had snowy woods to wander by way of, the gondola was solely a minute or so away and left us proper within the coronary heart of Levi, and my daughter and I cherished the views as we had been carried up and down the mountain.
We by no means needed to wait greater than a couple of minute for it to reach and by no means did not get a seat both (and tickets are free if you happen to keep within the resort).
It runs from 9.30am to 9pm which labored properly, as we weren’t out exploring earlier or later.
There are a number of bonuses for Lapland accommodations which you gained’t discover in most lodging – for starters, a drying cabinet is improbable while you’ve discovered your self lined in snow.
Inside a thermal swimsuit, you’ll keep comparatively dry however in addition to soggy gloves, hats and socks, we ended up with moist cuffs and hems at varied factors, which this sorted out superfast.
Some accommodations also have a mini sauna within the room (not suggested for youngsters beneath 12) in addition to communal saunas – women and men’s are separated however you’ll be anticipated to go in bare in Finland.
After a freezing day, it may be blissful (particularly if you happen to’ve received another person to take care of the youngsters as you gently toast).
Even in freezing temperatures a swimming pool can go down properly, particularly when it’s too chilly to go exterior for lengthy or if you happen to’re unfortunate sufficient to not get a lot snow – though my pool-obsessed daughter managed fairly fortunately with out a swim on this Lapland journey.
Suggestions for Lapland with youngsters: while you’re there
Take it gradual
Enable additional time for every little thing right here. There’s no query of merely grabbing a coat and coming out (not that there often is with youngsters!)
In Lapland, you should think about additional time to get into thermal fits, to drag gloves over gloves, then to stroll by way of the snow.
Consider downtime
Having a thermal swimsuit to put on is a big bonus, preserving the snow out and preserving everybody heat, however they’re not light-weight.
Carrying one might be surprisingly tiring, even for adults, not to mention youngsters, particularly while you’re clambering over the snow and becoming in all types of enjoyable actions.
On the finish of the day, as we received again to the resort, I used to be glad to unzip mine, take off my boots and simply sit back. (That is the place the recent chocolate and slippers is available in too).
This Lapland youngsters’s exercise e-book and journal is nice for while you’re kicking again after your day trip, and makes a enjoyable memento too.
Keep in mind the darkish
Once we visited in early December, there’s solely about two hours between dawn and sundown. By mid December, it’s the polar evening and formally darkish all day.
On the plus aspect, we had probably the most stunning gentle in the course of the day, a pinkish gold shade, and the gradual daybreak and nightfall means you do get some daylight earlier than the official dawn and sundown.
There are additionally loads of streetlights and the snow displays to present a half-light later than you would possibly count on. Nonetheless, in case you are heading off the overwhelmed monitor, take a torch.
Waking up at midnight and it being full darkish by mid afternoon positively confuses your physique clock although, particularly on the primary day with a two-hour time distinction and a really early begin for the flight. Be ready to assume it’s bedtime by 5pm!
You may not want all of your layers
I used to be so equipped for the low temperatures and decided the chilly wouldn’t cease us that it got here as a shock to find we didn’t want our thermal swimsuit each day.
On our first day, the temperatures hovered round -6C – not precisely tropical, however thermal layers, a thick hoody, ski jacket and ski trousers, plus ski boots (and hat, gloves and many others) saved us toasty heat.
My daughter’s thermal swimsuit was too heat for the heated pods once we went snowmobiling too!
Obtain an Aurora app
I’ve visited the Arctic Circle 3 times and have nonetheless but to see these wonderful swirling inexperienced Northern Lights.
Sadly the cloud cowl meant I used to be no luckier this time, however to save lots of hours spent exterior staring hopefully on the sky, I downloaded My Aurora Forecast app (click on right here for Android) which helps you to know your possibilities and one of the best occasions to identify them.
*First revealed 2018, up to date 2024*
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Disclosure: My Santa Break was courtesy of Inghams. All opinions are my very own, based mostly on our experiences from our journey, together with limitless faffing with gloves and fumbling with telephones. This put up accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Pictures copyright MummyTravels
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