Lapland Holidays - Compare Prices & Departure Dates

Four different countries claim parts of this province well within the Artic Circle, with Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and Russian Lapland. Most holidays are centred around Finnish and Swedish Lapland.

Lapland appeals to walkers, adventure travellers, nature lovers and even families seeking the ultimate white Christmas visiting Santa and his elves.

And yes, in winter there is no direct sunlight, but the snow reflects every particle of light there is, which gives what the locals call ‘blue time’ – enough light to enjoy the day.

It’s also true that the winters are very cold, but so dry and with very little wind chill factor, that if you have the right clothing, you’ll be as snug as a bug in a rug as you discover this truly unique land.

Most people who visit Lapland hope to see nature’s most amazing natural light show, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). The native Sami people have many legends to explain this incredible phenomenon of multi-coloured lights and sparks that dance across the nightsky, which you’ll delight in discovering. We could tell you the scientific reason why it occurs, but we’ll leave you to ponder that. If you’re lucky enough to experience the lightshow on a midnight safari, it truly is something you’ll never forget.

Of course, you also head to Lapland to lap up a proper white Christmas with reindeer, Santa Claus, huskies, elves and sleigh rides in the snow.

All in all, Lapland is a unique province boasting one of the worlds’ most fascinating natural phenomena in a wilderness land that urges you to explore.

In Finnish Lapland the official language is Finnish and the local currency is the Euro. Over in Swedish Lapland the currency is the Swedish Krona (SEK) and the language is Swedish. In both cases, Sami is the language of the indigenous Sami people. Lapland is two hours ahead of the UK.

Several UK tour operators offer package holidays and short breaks in winter to visit Santa Claus in Finnish Lapland, so there are regular charter flights direct to the main airport at Rovaniemi (IATA code RVA), taking around five hours from London.

Otherwise, it’s a scheduled flight to Helsinki which takes around three hours from London and an internal flight of around one and a half hours to Rovaniemi, or you can take the train.

If you’re headed to Swedish Lapland, most people arrive via either of Stockholm’s two airports Arlanda (IATA code ARN) or Skavsta (IATA code NYO) and then transfer up to Kiruna.

No visa is needed for UK nationals, but your passport must be valid for at least six months after your date of return travel.

Distances are great in Lapland so plan ahead, especially if you’re relying on public transport. Car hire rates are expensive and confusing so if you need a hire car arrange one before leaving home.

Many visitors to Lapland go in the winter months and in particular in November and December to visit Santa Claus.

Just outside Rovaniemi, capital of Finnish Lapland, is the official home of Santa Claus, his elf helpers and reindeers and these can be enjoyed by all the family and most people book these as short breaks via UK-based tour operators.

Rovaniemi isn’t just about Santa though, there are also museums and exhibitions to check out in this modern university city which borders onto seemingly endless plains of pine forests.

As for other unique sightseeing, Finnish Lapland boasts the worlds largest Snowcastle and Swedish Lapland boasts the infamous ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjarvi which is rebuilt every year purely from ice.

In terms of sport there are ski resorts with skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, husky riding and snowmobiling, all of which you can have a go at on your Lappish holiday.

You should also visit the traditional Sami village at Inari. Here you can experience the original Lapp lifestyle, sit in a kota tent made from a reindeer skin, see the reindeer close up and learn about the Sami culture and history.

Laplanders start their Christmas celebrations on December 23rd. This is also the darkest day of the year, but it doesn’t stop everyone having a good party!

If you book a Lapland holiday with a main tour operator or an adventure travel expert, your accommodation will be included. If you’re doing a husky safari, you’ll probably stay in a mixture of hotels and woodland lodges as you discover the country with your team of dogs and sledge.Those arriving to see Santa will probably stay in hotels in Rovaniemi or Pollas.

If you are travelling independently to Laplan, there are many good value campsites that are close to nature, or remote cosy hotels offering the quintessentially Finnish style of hot coal saunas followed by a dive into the ice cold plunge pool alongside. Husky farms have great compact, log-cabin style accommodation and offer exhilarating dog sleigh rides.

For seclusion and relaxation select a holiday house nestled among a pine and spruce forest. Here, through the tourist information bureau, it’s possible to pre-arrange a personal cook to create traditional finnish menus especially for you.

In the resort areas of Finnish and Swedish Lapland there is always a whole host of trinkets and gift ideas available for you to buy.

One thing that nearly everyone ends up buying is Cloudberry Jam. Cloudberry is one of the rarest species of berry in the world and being packed full of vitamin C it’s a local favourite for helping to fight off winter colds.

If you’re heading back home via Helsinki it’s worth stopping off here as this is the best place for shopping with a Scandic flavour with ornately designed glassware, wooden toys and ceramics. The traditional markets offer a quality selection of crafted clothing, textiles and wooden jewellery and contemporary designed sculptures.

If you’re after fur mittens and hats, visit the village markets for better quality and price. Hand crafted Christmas decorations are displayed and well-priced all year round. Reindeer skins can also be purchased, but take great care to check the quality of the fur and the charges of transportation with the airline.

Lapland is the place to try local dishes with reindeer (poro) and snow goose (riakku). Breakfast is an important meal to give you the force for all that sightseeing and husky sledging, with porridge, karelian rye pastries filled with rice, hot hardboiled eggs served with butter and mashed potatoes.

The Scandinavian culture also offers some of the finest freshwater fish in the world, most often served with steaming potatoes tossed in dill.

Traditional smorgasbords are en masse, many are notoriously uninspiring though, so it’s a good idea to ask locals for recommendations. Forest fruits are on many menus and sweet bread ‘poolah’ dusted with cinnamon is well complemented by hot roasted coffee.

In the main towns, Makarra sausages served with mustard and rye bread, washed down with smooth Finnish brewed Kajala provides a light, cheap lunchtime snack.

Despite December being the coldest month and the time when the sun never rises, Lapland welcomes most of its visitors at this time of year for a quintessential Christmas break.

September is the best time for the autumnal splendour of the pine forests. A short spring starts in March and quickly blossoms into summer, bringing the long days of summer and the evenings of midnight sun where the sun doesn’t set.

Patient waiting in any season is rewarded with the unforgettable experience of the aurora borealis (or Northern Lights) exploding across the night sky and eerily lighting the surrounding landscape. On average this can be seen twice a week, more if the skies are clear.

• A chance to visit Santa with the family
• Winter sports holidays with a difference
• Winter adventure holidays and tours especially husky and reindeer safaris
• A unique weekend break in the ICEHOTEL

• Inexperienced or single travellers might feel a little lost here, primarily due to Lapland’s remote areas.
• Those who really don’t like having to wrap up against the cold

Lapland Finland – a simple and informative site offering local insight into everything a holidaymaker needs to know when planning a trip to Lapland.

Lapland offers the ultimate in winter adventure holidays and a real taste of Christmas with reindeers, husky sledging, skiing, the natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights, the infamous ICEHOTEL and the SnowCastle.