How to find the best trip to see Father Christmas in Lapland
Take the festive trip of your child’s dreams – from Santa to snow, our experts have it covered. These extraordinary trips are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but they are not cheap (expect to pay an average of £1,000 per person for a three-night trip), so you want to be sure that you book the right option for your family. Father Christmas makes an appearance in all, but trips vary in their emphasis on ski, huskies, reindeer or elves.
Sophie Butler, our consumer expert, explains the range of Father Christmas trips on the market, giving practical advice on everything from location to accommodation. And Sally Peck and Henry Druce put two of the best Lapland trips to meet Father Christmas to the test. Spots book up quickly, and most tours are full by mid-October.
What is the best way to meet Father Christmas?
Tony Slatter writes
I want to take my six-year-old daughter for a Father Christmas experience in Finland in December. Is it better to stay near Rovaniemi and visit Father Christmas Village or SantaPark, or go further north to Levi or Yllas for a traditional Finnish experience? My concern is that the first option will be too commercialised and busy because of all the day trips. But on the other hand, I am worried the Christmas experience further north won’t be full enough.
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Sophie Butler, consumer expert, replies
Finnish Lapland is a good place to visit for a magical, festive atmosphere but you are right to be wary of over-commercialisation. There are new programmes introduced every year but some of these can suffer from being impersonal, so you need to book well in advance for the best, small-group trips (our experts test two of the best trips, below).
The trick is to examine every detail of the itinerary, from how long you spend with Santa, which activities are included and how the gifts are organised. Before unveiling the idea to your children, bear in mind that these holidays can be expensive. Expect to pay at least £2,500 for a family of four on a two- or three-night stay in a log cabin or hotel, including flights, transfers and meals, though many trips cost around £1,500 per person.
Specialist tour operators offering private meetings with Father Christmas and a more authentic experience generally base their itineraries in more remote parts of the region. Alongside the obligatory visit to Father Christmas, you can find Christmas-themed packages that usually include a variety of snow-based activities (sleigh rides, snowmobiling) either included in the price or as an extra. Inghams has four-night Father Christmas breaks to Levi or Yllas, while Santa’s Lapland (reviewed below) uses family-friendly hotels or log cabins near Saariselkä (Europe’s northernmost holiday resort). Try also Nordic Experience, Transun and Canterbury Travel (reviewed below).
Remember that the climate can be harsh. Throughout the seven-month winter, you can expect little more than five hours of sunlight with temperatures dropping well below freezing and sometimes as low as -20 to -40C. But during daylight hours the sun often shines, the air is still and very dry, so as long as you dress properly, the cold is perfectly bearable.
Make sure your insurance covers you for winter sports - particularly riskier ones such as snowmobiling (if you decide to have a go) and, although operators will provide thermal over clothing, ensure you take plenty of warm layers.
For the most competitive prices, look at the programmes offered by the big tour operators. TUI and Thomas Cook offer Santa tours and often have deals available for specific departure dates, free child places or for last-minute availability.
Our experts' favourite trips to meet Father Christmas
Why every family must visit Father Christmas in Lapland - before it's too late: Sally Peck heads to Finnish Lapland with her daughter for a fairytale adventure involving mischievous elves, reindeer sleigh rides and lots of singing (read here for a full review of Canterbury Travel’s Magical Interlude trip).
How to combine a visit to Father Christmas with a family skiing trip:For slightly older children, or those more focused on the winter sports, follow Henry Druce’s family and opt for a Santa’s Lapland trip.
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