If you’ve been dreaming of a white Christmas in the home of Santa Claus himself, but are unsure whether it’s worth splashing out on, then here’s my honest review of our recent long weekend in Lapland.

Searching for Santa with Canterbury Travel

In December 2024 we travelled as a family of four to Luosto in Finland for the four day ‘Magical Interlude’ break run by Canterbury Travel. At five and eight years old, I felt our kids were the perfect age for this once-in-a-lifetime trip and more than a month on, the magic hasn’t worn off, they’re still talking about it.

Of course, when you plan a trip to Lapland at Christmas time, the main driver is seeing Santa Claus but in the end that was only a small part of our epic experience. Don’t get me wrong, that part was still amazing (more to come on meeting the main man later) but it was the trip as a whole that has left a big impression on our memories, and our camera roll!

How long does it take to fly to Lapland from the UK?

So firstly, it’s worth saying that if you’ve never flown around Christmas before, like me you probably wouldn’t have considered that the terminal itself would be seasonally decorated. Our kids thought this was brilliant and it truly felt like the holiday started the moment we arrived at the airport. The festive feel continued at the Jet2.com check-in desk (who chartered our flight from Manchester on behalf of Canterbury Travel) with a Lapland themed selfie station.

Our flight left Manchester in the morning and the Jet2.com crew did everything they could to make the journey extra special, from festive sing-alongs to elf races. At approx. 3 hours 25 mins, it’s not a very long flight and with all the excitement in the air, it seemed to (excuse the pun) fly by. There was a real buzz onboard (children and parents alike) by the time we touched down at Rovaniemi Airport in Lapland.

What activities are included in the ‘Magical Interlude’ Lapland break?

Day 1

This is arrival day. So, after the festive fun-filled flight, you’re whisked away on a coach towards Luosto. You’re introduced to the ‘Santa Song’ (pretty sure I can still sing it word for word if you asked me) by your Arctic Star - your personal guide for the rest of your trip, ours was the lovely Casserole. The journey only gets more scenic as you cross the Arctic Circle and drive along forest-lined roads, set against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains.

There’s time to settle into your lodge (or hotel) then complete your secret mission (dropping off the presents you’ve brought for Santa to give to your children) which is all very discreet, before enjoying your first evening meal. I think the highlight for our kids was how we transported them to and from our lodge and the restaurant – on sledges of course. With piles available at multiple places in Luosto, it’s the only way for little ones to travel in Lapland!

Our Lapland lodge in the magical snowy setting of Luosto.

Ready to meet the elves at the elf village.

Day 2

The first full day searching for Santa, begins at the elf village where you get your first taste of Lapland elf humour. The elves are what really make the trip in our opinion, they keep the magic going throughout the stay and all the kids, including ours, absolutely loved them. My 5-year-old was mesmerised by the Frozen-esque Snowy Bowy while my 8-year-old found Tricky Dicky hilarious. Next up was a magical reindeer ride through the woods, my personal trip highlight, followed by a visit to the reindeer farm. Here we learnt loads about these beautiful creatures, before getting to feed them.

Mrs Claus invited us to her bakery next where the kids got all artistic decorating cookies for her inspection, before getting to enjoy eating them. After lunch we went out on husky rides, my husband bagsied to be the ‘mush’ for our family, and we all loved this amazing experience. Speeding through the dense forest trail as the darkness was setting in is now a firmly planted core memory. This magical day came to an end at the Santa’s Post Office. It’s fair to say the looks on the little ones faces as they saw mail from all over the world dropping down into different baskets, was worth every penny for the grown-ups. Our son was lucky enough to have his Christmas list picked and read out, much to his (and our) amazement!

Day 3

Today the elves took us for some fun and games at the most picturesque spot after breakfast and then we headed up hill for an hour of sledging. The kids didn’t want this to end but luckily the best part of the day was still to come.

A family at a time, we boarded a big wooden sleigh and snuggled under blankets, enjoyed being pulled through the snowy forest by snowmobile until we reached a large wooden house in a clearing. It was time to meet Father Christmas himself, and he chatted through their lists with them before giving them the present we had snuck in on the first day.

It could’ve been easy to go on a bit of a downer at this point, having done what we came to Lapland to do, but Canterbury Travel made sure to keep the excitement levels up with snowmobile rides for the adults (and older kids) whilst the younger ones were entertained by the elves, then got to be pulled along on a more child-friendly version. It was at this point that we were lucky enough to be treated to a Northern Lights display (more on that later) before getting on the coach and heading back to our lodge to warm up with a hot chocolate.

The fun didn’t end there, the last night of a Magical Interlude break is marked with a ‘We Found Santa’ party up at the Kelo restaurant. The kids absolutely loved being able to see the elves for one last time, a great opportunity for them get any missing autographs in their books. While the little ones danced away, the mums and dads got to unwind with a cocktail, chatting to the families you’d got to know during the trip.

Day 4

One last lovely breakfast at Kelo before we had to sadly say goodbye to beautiful Luosto. The coach does a lunchtime stop off enroute to the airport at Santa’s Village at the Arctic Circle. Busy, touristy and not to mention freezing without the warmth of our borrowed snow suits and boots, this wasn’t our kind of place. But it’s a well-timed chance to grab a bite to eat and buy some last-minute souvenirs. Plus, I’ll admit it was worth it just to find the Lapland webcam and give grandad back home a wave before we returned to the airport. Just head for the giant Christmas tree!

Answers to a few Lapland questions that I had before I went!

Will I be too cold?

It’s no surprise that Lapland is going to be chilly, but the temperatures do seem to vary a lot. Before we went, I noticed it had dipped to minus 30 degrees in early December but was a much more bearable minus 8 when we arrived on the 20th, with minus 15 being the coldest it got during our stay. So yes, expect that frosty minus temperatures are a given, however, Canterbury Travel kit you out in the best outerwear to protect you from the elements. You get given full body snow suits and boots straight off the coach, (the sizing up/handing out of these is such a well-oiled machine it has to be seen to be believed!). All you need to bring is your thermal base layers along with jumpers and trousers. And of course, hats, scarfs and gloves. Both of our children absolutely loved the snoods that came courtesy of Canterbury Travel in their little backpacks of goodies.

Getting suited and booted was all part of the fun.

If you’re someone who really feels the cold like me, I’d recommend investing in good pairs of thermal socks (that you can double up on) and thin thermal gloves that you can wear under waterproof ski gloves. It was only on the second day that we remembered to use the handwarmers we’d brought! Popping them inside our gloves and boots made the world of difference when it came to keeping our fingers and toes cosy. On the whole though, we found that once we had the provided snow suits on, it was only our faces that ever got cold, those thick outer layers definitely did their job.

Where do I stay in Lapland?

We stayed in the beautiful ski resort of Luosto, above the Arctic Circle, 90 minutes north of Rovaniemi Airport. Honestly this place is simply stunning, everywhere you looked was a scene straight out of a winter wonderland. Unspoilt and untouristy, it’s a small but perfectly formed resort which has a selection of restaurants, small supermarket and gift shops selling all the essentials you could need (lost your gloves – no problem) and of course a huge choice of Christmassy souvenirs. Our home for the four days was a charming wooden lodge, nestled in the trees, along a snow-covered lane. Traditional and cosy inside, with a kitchen and large living area, we found it had plenty of space to unwind at the end of each fun-packed day. Oh, and the sauna was welcome treat to warm up after a day in the snow.

Alternative accommodation in Luosto is at the Lapland Hotel Luostotunturi which is nicely placed right in the centre of the resort. We spoke to families who were staying there, and they found the rooms modern, clean and although fairly basic, a great base for their Lapland stay. Plus, they got use of the pool there. Just behind the hotel is a frozen lake which we’re told was gorgeous although we didn’t get chance to go and check it out.

What will we eat in Lapland?

Delicious food and package holidays don’t always go hand in hand, but we found that the meals as part of this Canterbury Travel trip were better than we’d imagined. Each day started with a buffet (at the hotel itself or at Kelo Restaurant for those in lodges like us). After a snowy walk through the resort from our lodge, layered in our cosy gear, we had always worked up an appetite by the time we reached the large woodland cabin Kelo. Luckily breakfast didn’t disappoint. We could choose from warm pastries and cakes to hot English breakfast favourites like eggs, bacon, beans and hash browns, or make our own medley of yoghurts, granola and berries. Of course, plenty of fresh juice and teas and coffees were available too. Lunch was back at the Kelo for all Canterbury Travel holidaymakers, and the choice was good all round. Meats varied from meatballs to sausages with a fish option that was accompanied by mashed potatoes or pasta. And yes, chips were always there too so those with kids that are fussy eaters didn’t need to worry. As a vegetarian I was always catered for with an alternative option too. Plus, there was a good salad bar and delicious breads to pick from at each meal.

In the evenings, we ate at the Vaisko restaurant, having upgraded to the a la carte package. Not only was it nice to have a change of scenery, it gave us the chance to enjoy some more local delicacies. Reindeer was an option but having been at the reindeer farm that day, even my carnivore husband couldn’t bring himself to order it! The menu at Vaisko is small but the focus is clearly on quality, local produce and it still had enough choice for me as a vegetarian and for both kids who have very different tastes. One night they played it safe with burgers which they wolfed down and the next they tried some fennel soup. The food was delicious, my favourite being the beetroot and quinoa starter, my husband’s - the rainbow trout main, and the chocolate, raspberry and liquorice dessert was a winner all round. We felt it was well worth the upgrade for the Lappish delicacies and the friendliest staff. The place itself has a cosy, laidback ambience and I can also vouch for the cocktails – the Vaisko Royale in particular – yum.

Will I see the Northern Lights?

An amazing experience in Lapland is guaranteed but sadly one thing cannot be and that’s spotting the Northern Lights. We got lucky and on the last night, just as we’d finished the snowmobiling activity, the aurora borealis came out to say hello. Our whole coach party stood in awe as we watched the colourful rays dancing in the sky. We honestly couldn’t have wished for a better way to end our magical trip.

Worth freezing our fingers to get a few snaps of the amazing Northern Lights.

Any top tips for a Lapland trip?

Heated hand warmers are your friend, take extras to slip in your boots, you can thank me later for that one!
Pack snacks! Especially for little ones, there are not loads of places to buy some once you’re there and they come in handy on the (short) coach trips between activities.
Remember to bring the backpacks that Canterbury Travel post out to your children before the trip. All the other kids take theirs (and use their activity books to get autographs from the elves!) plus the water bottles come in handy.
Take a battery pack for your phone, not just because you’ll be snapping loads of photos but as the extreme cold will quickly drain smartphone batteries. You don’t want to miss out if the Northern Lights appear…
Go with Canterbury Travel, I honestly can’t imagine a slicker operation than theirs. With everything thought of and organised down to a tee, all you have to do is enjoy your holiday!

If like me, Lapland has been on your bucket list for a while now then my advice would be just book it! You won’t regret it! And if you’re wanting to go to Lapland for Christmas 2025 then you’ll need to get your (ice) skates on as places will be booking up fast and accommodation choices will be less. We booked in February and found we were lucky to get one of the last lodges (our preference over the hotel) for December.

Just FYI, I’m not affiliated with Canterbury Travel, but I can’t sing their praises enough. Their Lapland trips run like a dream, and you can tell that customer satisfaction is top of their list. Everything is meticulously planned to make sure everyone has the most amazing time. If we could go back every Christmas, we would! We’re left with the best memories from our once-in-a-lifetime family trip.

I’m Christie, a freelance copywriter with a passion for travel. I’ve written destination guides, online articles and blogs for many well-known tour operators and airlines. Need copy writing for your travel company? Get in touch – christieforcopy@outlook.com.