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Recently, we enjoyed the most mesmerising trip to Lapland. Think Northern Lights, open fires and smiley huskies... yes it is exactly what you dream it will be... and more!
With Lapland breaks flying off the shelves I thought I would attempt to write a 2 part blog on our family experience to Lapland.
The 1st of December and our trusty elf Bernard appeared in a heap at the bottom of the fire place with a very special letter in his hand from the big guy inviting the children to visit him in Lapland. The children jumping for joy were instantly googling everything Lapland related.
We arrived at the airport at an ungodly hour with 3 very excited children. Ushered on to the plane by very jolly Christmas jumper wearing flight attendants handing out singing sheets. Once in the air we were supplied with full English breakfast…………..the kids thought this a treat in itself after many Easyjet no meal flights.
Next, time for a sing song but unfortunately when my youngest son steps on a plane he has instant bladder failure and we spent most of singing time in the toilet or in the queue for the toilet but I am told it was great fun.
On our decent into Enontekio and the plane is now full of thermal wearing excited santa followers. The airport is more of a ski chalet than airport and we are greeted by more Christmas jumper wearing jolly people. Ushered off to find our snowsuits and boots, this was all very well organised and just our plane had the whole ski chalet/airport to ourselves. I had bought an endless supply of foot and hand warmers, battling with trying to stick them to the kids socks I stuck them to their feet for extra warmth. I was determined not one of us would be cold on this trip.
Once dressed up like Michelin men we went in search of our snowmobile sleigh to transport us across a frozen lake to Lapland.
We were tucked in with fur blankets, given helmets and were on our way. WOW and what a magical experience. It was the calmest most peaceful experience I could ever of imagined, so crisp white and still.
We arrive a short time later in our Lappish magical fairy tale like village……………….
First impressions are WOW it beats anything I had imagined. Its just so peaceful and with short daylight hours the dusky atmosphere just adds to the magic.
First stop Santa……. we just couldn’t wait. The friendly elves guide you towards a sleigh to take you to Santa’s log cabin in the woods. No queue just straight in and yes he had a real beard phew. The first thing he said was “I remember you” which floored me and I didn’t know what to say. We had a lovely chat in his cosy log cabin, well he chatted and the kids just stared at him with open mouths.
Back out into the magic and a little star struck we decided to head to the reindeer's for a sleigh ride. This is just a short ride round a little track but still lovely. The beauty of this village is that everything is so close to walk to and if one area has a few families you can just choose another activity.
Having not eaten for at least an hour the kids were starving so we headed for the restaurant a beautiful wooden chalet in the centre of the village. A buffet was laid out a selection of minced meat, a vegetarian option, pasta and potatoes and for pudding pancakes with jam and whipped cream. You can go into the restaurant as many times as you like and we found a table easily.
Next for the snowmobiles……….. they have a track with children’s snowmobiles which my kids loved and went on until they got dizzy and again……no queues at all. For the adults on the full size snowmobiles you follow a guide into the forest and was a great experience as they went faster than I thought……
The kids favourite activity of our trip - the snowmobiles!
The kids spotted the sledging hill and it was grab a sledge and go, this was great fun and we spent quite a long time just playing in the snow and flying down the hill.
Back into the restaurant for hot chocolates and cookie stop.
A tour around the ice igloo was beautiful and the kids sat on the ice bed with a cup of hot berry juice.
We saved the huskies till last and there was a small queue but the kids just played happily in the snow. We all managed to squeeze onto a sledge and were whisked off into the forest for our ride shouting mush to encourage our trusty huskies. Our sleigh driver was very friendly and answered all our huskie related questions.
A quick stop in the gift shop and then time to hop on the coach to go back to the plane, no chance of a delay as our plane had just sat waiting for us since the morning.
I didn’t clock watch at all and we had enough time to do everything we wanted twice over. The village felt very peaceful and never crammed with other guests.
We had the most amazing time with such special memories to last us a lifetime.
Just a reminder, please don’t stick foot warmers to feet as I found out when we were being whisked across the frozen lake and Archie was frantically pulling his boots and socks off.
Sarah x
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