Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Finland – Lapland – Nellim
100% customisable for you
Christmas lists finalised, festive jumpers packed and excitement levels officially sky-high: today, you and the family are off to Finnish Lapland.
Head to the airport, whizz through security and settle into the lounge for some nibbles before boarding.
Direct flights to Ivalo run seasonally, whisking you north in four hours, while routes via Helsinki bring the journey time to five and a half hours. Whichever way you travel, spark the youngsters’ imaginations with the thought that, come Christmas Eve, Father Christmas and his red-nosed reindeer will be dashing through these very skies with a sleigh full of presents. That ought to keep the ‘are we there yet?’ chorus at bay for a little while...
When you touch down in Ivalo, you’ll be privately transferred to your lodge in Nellim, a pretty village in the heart of snow-dusted Lapland. Feast on some hearty Finnish fare at the restaurant, then cosy up for an early night – tomorrow promises plenty more festive fun.
Had a whole host of questions fired your way about how Father Christmas reads every letter, fits down the chimney and zips around the world in one night? Well, today the youngsters can ask the man himself...
Bundle up in your fuzziest scarves and mittens, then hop aboard a snowmobile-pulled sleigh into town. Here, follow the jolly ‘ho ho ho’s’ into Santa’s Grotto, where the little ones can share their wishes and leave clutching a gift straight from Father Christmas’s stash.
Nice-list status confirmed (phew), it’s on to your next adventure. Meet an expert musher and head into the wilderness to meet a friendly pack of huskies. Grown-ups will receive the lowdown on sled handling, then it’s ready, set, whoosh: your four-legged team will race across the wintry landscape at exhilarating speed, gliding over glittering snow as pine forests flash by.
Round things off by giving the pups a well-deserved treat, then brace yourselves for a few rounds of ‘can we have a husky?’ on the journey home...
Rudolph and his pals may be Father Christmas’s trusty sleigh-pullers, but there’s much more to Lapland’s reindeer than their Christmas Eve duties.
Today, join your guide and venture into the forest, where a herd of reindeer roams. After the youngsters crown the rosiest-nosed reindeer Rudolph, your guide will share how these hardy animals helped traditional Sami communities travel across their ancestral lands. Offer up some feed and watch the little ones’ faces light up as the majestic deer amble over to happily (and gently) nibble from their hands.
With the children well and truly in the spirit, it’s time for your next moment of magic. Bundle into your guide's snowmobile and race across the remote Arctic wilderness, where dark skies offer prime conditions for Northern Lights viewing.
At the campsite, warm up with hot chocolates piled high with cream and marshmallows, before turning all eyes to the skies. With a bit of luck, you’ll catch those ethereal green ribbons swirling overhead – quite the spectacle for your little Lapland adventurers.
Fuel up this morning with a steaming latte (or a babyccino, for the little ones) – you have quite the adventure ahead.
Then, don your snow goggles and zip up your toastiest thermals for a guided snowmobile safari through this winter wonderland. After a quick lesson for the grown-ups, fire up the engines and set off at thrilling speeds across the icy tundra, keeping your eyes peeled for the notoriously tricky-to-spot Arctic fox.
As for the youngsters? No throttles or brakes for them – they've bagged the rather cushier option of being chauffeured across the frosty wilderness in your guide’s snowmobile-pulled sleigh. Cue high-pitched squeals of excitement as they race ahead, leaving the grown-ups in the dust – or rather, the snow..
With ruddy cheeks and delightfully ruffled hair, head back to your lodge for a fireside thaw-out or a soul-warming stint in the sauna. For your final evening, ask our local Concierge for their recommendations on Finnish dishes to try. All Father Christmas-approved, naturally.
Time flies when you’re having fun and, sadly, your festive Finnish foray has come to an end. Feast on traditional rye bread topped with cranberries and a drizzle of honey for breakfast, before instigating one last snowball fight...
You’ll then be privately transferred back to Ivalo Airport – a 45-minute drive away – for your flight home. Before boarding, squeeze in a final flurry of duty-free gift shopping, stocking up on jolly Christmas cards and stocking fillers.
Depending on the season, you’ll either have a direct four-hour flight back to the UK, or you’ll make a quick stop in Helsinki, bringing the journey time to around five and a half hours. If your little ones are feeling a little teary-eyed that the holiday has come to an end, remind them of what’s waiting back home: Advent calendars to open, mince pies to bake and presents under the tree to unwrap...
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
