What it’s like to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Finland’s Arctic to see Santa

24.12.2024 - 17:39 / thepointsguy.com

Childhood moves quickly. Those special years when kids are old enough to appreciate exciting adventures but still young enough to lean into the magic of it all are limited. When my youngest daughter was 6 years old and my oldest was 11, we decided to embrace that moment by taking a once-in-a-lifetime winter trip to find the real Santa in his home above the Arctic Circle.

Tucked beneath snow-covered trees in northern Finland, you'll find reindeer-led sleighs, elves, kid-size snowmobiles and glass domes made for viewing the northern lights. If you look closer might also spot Santa's cottage.

From the moment the playful (and sometimes naughty) elves greeted us in Ivalo, Finland, and led us in Christmas songs on the bus ride to the Lapland region, this trip embraced all things Christmas in a way that even Ebenezer Scrooge would appreciate.

The journey to find Santa in snowy Finland was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience for my kids — and one that I will cherish forever.

If heading to the Lapland region of Finland to meet Santa in person sounds like a memory you'd love to make with your family, here are five things you need to know.

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This part of the world may be remote, harsh and unforgiving, but it is also truly magnificent in a way that takes your (frozen) breath away.

During the winter holidays, it never gets truly bright, but the midday twilight shining on a blanket of white snow is something straight out of a storybook. You have to see it for yourself.

Whether you go in search of Santa or want to experience a place that looks so magical you'll find it hard to believe it's real, you'll love exploring this part of the Arctic.

We found it every bit as mesmerizing as we'd hoped. From reindeer sleigh rides to dog sledding, we saw and did things that took us far outside our comfort zones ... in a good way. It was like living in a fairy tale flanked with fur and elves.

It's possible to head to one of the cities or villages that Santa frequents in the Lapland region of Finland without being on an organized tour. However, if you want to hit the easy button on planning, a tour may be the simplest solution.

We went with Santa's Lapland, which offers three- and four-day trips from the U.K. to Finland.

These packages are quite expensive — prepare yourself for sticker shock before you price it out. However, the trip does include charter flights from the U.K., lodging and ground transfers in Finland, all meals (aside from a few lunches), the use of thermal snow gear, and several winter activities (such as dog sled rides, reindeer sleigh rides and snowmobiling). Most importantly, you'll also have the chance to hunt for Santa's hidden house.

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