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Original poster

Going to lapland, what do we need?

39 replies

BillywigSting · 15/10/2018 09:08

We (myself dp and ds who is 5) are going to lapland at the end of November for three days.

None of us have ever been anywhere colder than Scotland, so have no idea what we really need.

We're going to see santa and go on a husky /reindeer ride, hopefully see the northern lights etc. The place we are staying (in Saariselka) provides boots, socks, gloves and a snowsuit each, but what other clothes do we need? Dp only has jeans or work trousers, I'm guessing those aren't going to be ideal?

Weather forecast is for -4°c to - 15°c

OP posts:
BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 17/10/2018 15:59

When we went we were provided with boots and snowsuits. We took thick hiking socks, thermal leggings, jeans (they were fine), thermal undershirts, long sleeved shirts, “normal thickness” jumpers (ie just the sort we wear under coats when out and about in the UK winter), hats, buffs (a sort of snood thing that won’t come loose/get lost like a scarf) and two pairs of gloves each (so we could change to dry ones after snowball fights or in case of loss) and thermal glove liners.

Despite the heavy snow it want actually very cold and in a lot of our pictures we actually have the top of our snowsuits down and tied at our waists. We got all our thermal gear, gloves etc from Decathlon which we found fantastic value.

Have a great time OP we did our trip about 12 years ago now and it was truly magical.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 17/10/2018 16:02

Oh and we went in late December and didn’t need sunglasses as even at midday it was still no lighter than dusk here. (We were in Luosto).

Take chapstick! We got through lots of chapstick!

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 17/10/2018 16:09

Those asking about ages... DS was 4 and DD was 9 when we went. We went for three nights with Canterbury Travels. It’s not cheap but we’d had an investment that matured and went for it as a once in a lifetime adventure. The children still talk about it now.

ShalomJackie · 17/10/2018 16:19

We went to the IceHotel last year and although yoy have it covered my bwst buybwas furlined leggings from Primark for about a fiver. Also they do great thermals!

Icedgemandjelly · 17/10/2018 17:31

To add
My 2dc were 5 and 8 and very much believers...but they were fairly unimpressed with Santa bit. They loved the huskies and thought they were at north pole. They still talk about that and want to go this year (ha!) so definitely worth it. Only my 5 year old actually believed they were elves. They do look like gap year students 🤣

Magair · 17/10/2018 18:36

We will probably do a two night with Canterbury, I’ve heard they are the best.

Chrisinthemorning · 17/10/2018 18:44

We went to Luosto with Canterbury last year for 3 nights- DS was 5yrs 6 months. It was so magical, we all loved it. Would love to go again. There were little ones age 2-3 on our coach, they coped ok but it was warm- only -5 or so. It’s a very full on tiring holiday.

ForalltheSaints · 17/10/2018 18:51

Imagination.

Rhinofeet · 17/10/2018 19:02

Me again - sorry thought of a few other things (can you tell I've been thinking of Lapland all day now and would love to go back!)

If you go to saariskelsa there is a national park and the walks around there are fab! DS remembers as a highlight, spotting wild reindeer.

As BuggerOff rightly points out, chapstick and hand cream!

Also if there's an option of a gala dinner I really wouldn't bother. We had to trek to another hotel (it was only 20minute walk) but it was rammed and the food was shit. I would stay and have dinner in your usual hotel.

If you do go though, don't be mislead by 'gala' most folk were in fleeces and jeans.

Icedgemandjelly · 17/10/2018 19:04

We just bigged up the magic ourselves. Bullsh*tting the whole time really.. 'oh look there's an elf, oh that must be the road to the toy workshop' etc etc so the kids really fell for it all- coz it is a ski resort otherwise. But its pitch black for most of day in Dec so easy to do! Its only light from 11-2 really and its a funny daylight. It's a blooming amazing place. My dp and I are well travelled and it was genuinely an amazing trip. We plan to go back minus all the santa stuff in a few years. Feeling so nostalgic for the trip reading this and wishing we were going again this year.

On our trip quite a few people moaned about the food. Personally I really liked it. It's Scandi as you'd expect and not huge amount of fruit n veg but it's in arctic circle. There's nuggets n chips for kids, and loads of food...and so many cups of tea etc during cold activities. We thought it was great. But we're not the types to do 5* AI.

Magair · 17/10/2018 19:44

Chips, cheese and tea is all I need!

LoniceraJaponica · 17/10/2018 22:36

Actually, that is a good idea Magair. DD is vegetarian, and the veggie food in Lapland was awful.

strawberrie · 17/10/2018 22:42

We did that same trip with Santa's Lapland in dec 2016, it was fantastic 

My only tip Beyond what's been said is to take some ski goggles, it was actually snowing on the day we did our Search for Santa (apparently that's fairly unusual) and when we went on the husky ride, it was quite blizzardy and hard on the eyes.

I'd be wary of taking kids younger than five - most of those we saw on our trip were struggling a bit with the cold, not to mention the faff of getting out of snowsuits to get to the toilet etc. The search for Santa day is pretty much outside all day (although they do have tipi style tents with fire pits for warming up) but I'd think it's less stressful when they're a bit older. Our two were 7 and 5.

Magair · 17/10/2018 23:14

I think sadly the age gap means it’s next year or DS1 won’t believe.... may take a view on it next summer

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