Tour Details
Nights
2, 3 or 4 nights
Equipment
Thermal suits and boots
Price
From £1099
Accommodation
Davvi Arctic Lodge
Transport
Return flights and transfers
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
The countdown to Christmas is always a time of great excitement and anticipation, and nowhere more so than in Santa’s very own homeland. From the moment Lapland receives its first dusting of snow, an annual wintry transformation begins: the glistening snow deepens, the starry nights draw darker, and once-flowing rivers and streams are frozen to a standstill. The heralding of the Festive season is crowned by the reappearance of the dancing Northern Lights overhead. Christmas is coming, magic is in the air, and the excitement is palpable.
Of course, Santa would choose to make this his home – this is ‘True’ Lapland, after all. And how ‘True’ it is! Trees bowing under the weight of the snow, the crispness of the cleanest air in the world, and vast expanses of untouched snow which stretch to the horizon. This is Lapland as you imagined it: picture perfect.
At the centre of True Lapland is Karesuando, a quaint little village in the far north of Finland – far away from the mass-market resorts of Saariselka and Rovaniemi. Here, a timeless charm abounds, and curious traditions hold sway. An ideal place, then, to step into a winter adventure involving husky sleds, reindeer sleighs and snowmobiles. Don’t forget to make a visit to Santa on your trip – you’ve travelled a long way to see him! But… how does he remember your name?
What's included
- Return flights with in-flight meals
- Full-board accommodation
- Airport and resort transfers
- Private family meeting with Santa
- Small gift for children from Santa
- Husky sled safari
- Snowmobile safari
- Reindeer sleigh ride
- Loan of thermal suits and boots
- Santa's Wishlist
What we love
- Hopping across the border between Finnish Karesuando and Swedish Karesuando
- Meeting Santa … how does he know our names?!?
- Stepping into this enchanting scene with enough time to indulge in the wonders of Lapland
Departing From
Belfast, Bristol, Humberside, Leeds Bradford, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow
Suitable For
Families, Groups
Included Activities
Your 2, 3, or 4-night break begins with a direct flight from your local regional airport to Enontekio, in the far north of Finnish Lapland – no need for lengthy waits or stressful connections at Helsinki! Your 3.5-hour flight includes inflight meals and 18kg of checked luggage per person.
Following a transfer of approximately 50 minutes, you will arrive in the small village of Karesuando. Although remote and quaint, the village stretches over two countries, Finland and Sweden, and the border is formed by the frozen river which runs through the centre. Karesuando, then, is home to two time zones, two languages, and two currencies (but, to make things easier, your holiday will run on Finnish time and the currency in Finland is the Euro!)
The Davvi Arctic Lodge is situated on a hillside, overlooking Karesuado and the fells beyond. There are various types of accommodation available at the Lodge: hotel rooms and timber cabins for families, and apartment-style Fell Houses for larger families or groups. Your full-board stay includes all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), which are served buffet-style in the hotel’s main restaurant (drinks are available at the hotel’s bar and payable locally).
You may wish to add some additional excursions to make your stay extra special, such as a night in an igloo, but the ‘Snow is Falling’ holiday already includes these thrilling activities:
Snowmobile Safari
Duration: Full length
A snowmobile safari is a must-do part of any Lapland trip. On our Snow is Falling tour, you follow a track through pristine forest under the canopy of towering, snow-clad pines. Children are pulled by a sled following behind.
Husky Sled Safari
Duration: Full length
A team of eager huskies await the sign … and you’re off! What better way to see the wonders of Lapland than on this exciting journey across the Arctic tundra pulled by those who know it best: your newest four-legged friends.
Reindeer Sleigh Ride
Duration: Full length
Santa’s faithful reindeer await to take you by sleigh ride through a wintry wonderland forest to find Santa’s hidden cabin. Gently ride through the snow, meandering through towering pines. Do you know the reindeer’s name?
Family Meeting with Santa
Duration: Variable
Of course, no visit to Lapland is complete without a visit to see the REAL Father Christmas in his homeland. But where is he? Journey through a snow-clad forest until you find a cabin in a clearing. Is he there? Come in and find out…
Accommodation
Optional Excursions & Extras
Puppy Encounter
Duration: One hour Price: £80
Strictly limited numbers are available for this exciting chance to befriend the husky puppies. You will be transferred to the husky camp, where you meet the litter of new puppies and hear stories from some real mushers.
Northern Lights Husky Experience
Duration: One hour Price: £105
Take a night safari on a sledge mushing a team of dogs to a nearby vantage point where you may see the Northern Lights in the sky above (cannot be guaranteed). Those under 18 years old will travel as passengers in a sled.
Northern Lights Snowmobile Safari
Duration: One hour Price: £105
Take a night safari driving your own snowmobile, led by a local guide, to a nearby vantage point where, if you are lucky, you may see the Northern Lights (cannot be guaranteed). Children travel in sleds pulled behind the guide's snowmobile....
Igloo Interlude
Duration: Overnight Price: £130
Not many people can say they have spent the night in an igloo, in the heart of the Arctic wilderness. But that is the extraordinary experience you can enjoy (or brave!) during your Arctic Spirit break. Inside, the igloo is surprisingly...
Reindeer Herding Safari
Duration: 1.5 hours Price: £80
You will visit a reindeer corral where you learn about herding and even how to lasso a reindeer. Then venture into the Arctic wilderness on a short safari, drawn through the snow by a reindeer while sitting in a sleigh.
Ice Fishing by Snowmobile
Duration: 1.5 hours Price: £95
This is a great trip for all the family. You travel by snowmobile to a nearby popular fishing site where you can try your hand at traditional ice fishing - you just drill a hole in the ice and lower your baited hook into the waters...
Reviews
From getting off the plane to leaving everything has ran so smoothly. All the excursions were excellent. We will recommend this to our friends.
- Pat Nicholls
Amazing experience, especially the visit to meet Santa. We cannot fault the facilities and services received and have loved our experience.
- Robert Griffiths
We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay. A beautiful setting, food was fantastic. The staff were superb. The Santa experience and huskies were the highlights of our trip
- Lisa Carroll
Staff were amazing. Tour guides fabulous. Santa greeting was magical and personal.
- Stephen Carlisle
I have absolutely loved this holiday, the location is spectacular and has made it even more magical. All the trips have been excellent, well planned and very enjoyable.
- Helen Matthews
We had the most amazing time! This holiday was planned so that I could give my children the holiday of a lifetime. It has exceeded my expectations! The girls faces when they met Santa were just priceless....
Read MoreWe had the most amazing time! This holiday was planned so that I could give my children the holiday of a lifetime. It has exceeded my expectations! The girls faces when they met Santa were just priceless. I will never forget it. Thank you all so much!
Read Less- Rachel Adams
Overall fantastic holiday that I would thoroughly recommend to friends and family to book. Thank you all for a wonderful holiday!
- Julie Levett
The whole holiday surpassed all expectations
- Henri Giller
Very nice location, amazing views and the experience is one in a lifetime
- Sarah Steele
Fantastic holiday – made amazing by the fantastic organised staff. Great food and amazing activities.
- Justine Haddock
Both of us really enjoyed it, a holiday of a lifetime.
- Timothy Hind
We have had the most amazing time. Everything has been wonderful, the trips, the staff, the food perfect!
- Eleanor Townsley
Really loved our stay. Everything was well organised and activities and free time were well balanced.
- Jamie Hoyle
Really great holiday, staff everywhere were brilliant. Best I have experienced.
- Angela Roworth
From start to finish, this was a relaxing magical trip. We weren't overloaded with excursions, and had plenty of free time to have fun in the snow. The excursions were all fantastic, with plenty to do...
Read MoreFrom start to finish, this was a relaxing magical trip. We weren't overloaded with excursions, and had plenty of free time to have fun in the snow. The excursions were all fantastic, with plenty to do while waiting. Staff were great and this really was a trip of a lifetime.
Read Less- Marian Doran
Overall experience for my 3 year old was fantastic. Excursions were great,
- Charlotte Murphy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deposit?
To confirm the holiday, the deposit is £200 per person. The final balance is due ten weeks before departure, though these terms may differ if you have booked through a travel agent.
Is the resort commercial and kitsch?
Far from it! Our Snow is Falling tours operate in Karesuando, in the north of Finnish Lapland. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty with spectacular scenery which is known as ‘True Lapland’ – unspoiled by the ways of mass-market tourism found in Rovaniemi and Saariselka.
What currency should I take?
The currency in Finland is the Euro. Many hotels and establishments in the Nordic countries will not accept cash and only accept card payments. All Transun optional excursions are advertised in Sterling; credit and debit cards are accepted as payment for excursions booked in resort.
What should I wear?
Temperatures can reach as low as -40c in the winter and so it is imperative that you bring adequate clothing for the weather and take extra care to ensure children are safely warm. We provide a thermal all-in-one snow suit and snow boots on arrival in Lapland, but you should wear multiple under layers and bring hats, scarves and gloves (and plenty of pairs of socks!) We give further details of what to wear in our brochure and in the pre-departure booklet in the My Booking section of our website.
Are the excursions and safaris a specified duration?
Lengths given are approximate and can sometime vary dependent on weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our control. For instance, it may be necessary to curtail husky sledding if temperatures drop to -30c since the activity may pose a safety risk for the guests and a health risk for the dogs.
Can I add on additional excursions and activities when in Lapland?
If you wanted to make your holiday extra special, it is possible to add on additional activities to your tour after arriving in Lapland. However, availability of activities and excursions is limited and so we recommend that you book your place before you travel to guarantee your place. The most popular activities added on to the Snow is Falling tour are the igloos, ice fishing, and these are likely to sell out first.
Book Now
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Mon-Fri 9am-6pm & Sat 9am-3pm
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from £1099 per adult
* Please note: All snowmobile activities carry a €980.00 damage deposit which is payable locally. The driver of the snowmobile must be at least 18 years old and be in possession of a valid driving licence.
