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HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Meet S. Claus Esq at his home > winter activities

Those elves drive a hard bargain, but after months of protracted negotiations, we are proud to present this new trip to meet Father Christmas in his remote home territory of Lapland.

You may think you have seen ‘Santa’ in department stores or high streets, but those are merely people who work for Santa Enterprises Inc. The real Father Christmas lives in the Finnish part of Lapland on a hill called Korvatunturi, which means ‘the hill with ears’, because of its shape. Here, far beyond the Arctic Circle, he spends the year listening to the wishes of children from all over the world and preparing to grant their wishes at Christmas time - if they have been good.

For a few short weeks in December, when the sun barely rises above the horizon, Father Christmas leaves his mountain because of the mid-winter cold and spends time in some of the local villages. This is the only time of year when it is possible for non-elves to meet him, and adventurous children travel from far and wide to do so.

Once you have made the journey to the frozen north, you are issued with special thermal clothing to keep you snug and warm. Accommodation is in small, family-run hotels or cosy log cabins in one of three small villages, one of which is located by the shores of Lake Inari, which was immortalised as Enari in Philip Pullman’s ‘His Dark Materials’ books.

Although the daylight hours are short at these latitudes, there is still time for all sorts of fun winter activities, such as reindeer or husky-sled safaris through the snowbound forests, stopping en route for a warm mug of berry juice by an open fire. Everybody gets lessons in reindeer driving and receives a reindeer driving certificate. There is also a ‘Crossing the Arctic Circle’ ceremony in a traditional ‘kota’ – the tepee-like tent of Lapland’s Sami people. Other activities include snowmobile rides, tobogganing and snow-shoeing, and you can also try your luck at ice-fishing on the frozen rivers and lakes.

At last, it’s time for the main event - each family travels individually by sleigh to meet Father Christmas and his elves at a secret location in the forest. While waiting your turn, everyone can become Santa’s little helpers by making tree decorations and baking gingerbread cookies.

On the last evening, there’s a farewell Christmas supper culminating in a visit from Father Christmas, Rudolph and friends, who deliver a small present for everyone. The next morning, there’s time for a little more fun and games in the snow before heading home for the start of another year of trying to be good…