Lapland advice

[Hedgyhoggy]

I have 3 kids, ds (13), ds (10) and dd (6) I would love to take them to Lapland but would really like your advice on how to make the most of it. My 10 yr old has a learning disability and could very likely end up being a little overwhelmed but I want to give them all the opportunity to experience it. Is it worth it? and if so where to go, stay and for how long? any thoughts would be appreciated x

It's amazing, and definitely worth it. We went with Santa's Lapland and did 2 nights/3 days. We loved every minute of it. There are no hidden extras with Santa's Lapland.

We took 2 grandchildren on a day trip 3 years ago . A long day but totally worth it . We were the only plane into the airport that day and it was a very gentle non rushed day .
I will see if I can find a link .

NEWMARKET LAPLAND
Really couldn’t fault them .
Lunch included and hot chocolate was only £1 and gift shop very reasonable . Lovely staff as well.
All outdoor clothing included to borrow .
In fact dgs (9)asked if we were going again this year . I said we might get an invitation next year when his little sister will be 4 .
He might still be a believer !

Go with Canterbury travel - it’s the most magical and beautiful experience. It’s a very sensory experience but Canterbury do it in a private and serene way...the location they use in Luosto is just amazing and the experiences are very private to the family. So cuts down on intrusion - the coach singing and plane singing is a bit wild but great fun 😊 We were there last Christmas and we still talk about it at least every week.

Also the Canterbury trip gives you a quiet day so if you ski, want to snow shoe, sledge, chill you can. We ski and loved the fells and peaceful slopes. My little one loved the sledge and snow slides and ski’s too - other children had lessons too.

We used Newmarket Travel and flew direct from Norwich airport for £499 each for a day trip. A long day, but perfect. An added bonus is the requirement for zero luggage. DS and I had one rucksack between us with hats, scarves and snacks.

Honestly, you don't need more. We didn't feel rushed, and it gets dark at about 2pm so you have the initial "ahhhhhhhhhhh" as all the lights and lanterns come on, but an hour later, you realise, actually we can't really do any activities because it's dark.

From memory, (about 6yrs ago now)

Landed, taken to cold weather outfit cabin and fitter with boots, trousers and jackets.

Sledging and little ski things for the little ones to scoot about on.

Hot chocolate and gingerbread from Mrs Claus.

Husky drawn safari (this was brilliant)

Lunch in the cabins. All decorated in Scandi Christmas style.

Snowmobiles out, went tearing off with DS, he still recalls this as when "Mummy went James Bond"

Getting dark now. All the cabins light up, all the trees light up. Actually stunning. If you're lucky you'll get a bit of the northern lights.

General mucking about in the snow. By now, you'll have made friends with others there and snowball fights commence, the children build snowmen. It's all wonderfully twee and Victorian Christmas-esque.

Reindeer drawn sleigh ride into the woods to Father Christmas' cabin. It's pretty hard to top this. It's done so well, and is the actual Father Christmas, in Lapland, according to DS.

After that, we topped up with some tea and hot food snacks, and had about another hour in the snow before the day ended.

It was quite a leisurely day, I know it sounds like a lot was crammed in but it was quite the opposite, and you need to understand there's literally nothing else to do, you are completely isolated in effectively a snow desert. How people string those same activities out over a 3 or so day trip is beyond me. There were moments where DS was bored, because it's cold and dark, but not many.

We've got more DC on the way, and I will without fail be replicating this trip with them, definitely as the day trip.

I took my DS for the day when he was 7. It was wonderful. A long day (4am start-midnight return) but it was truly magical. Everything was included so unless you want a souvenir, you didn't need to spend anything. Think it was about £500 in total.
Can't remember which company we used but they were great!
The plane was full of children and they had a sing song in the middle! You didn't have to join though. There was a coach journey from the airport through magical wintry woods to a huge frozen lake with everything from husky sledding to reindeer sleigh rides. You dipped in and out according to what you wanted to do and each family had a sleigh ride into the woods to visit the most realistic Santa ever in his cabin!
There was also a free hot juice/chocolate kota where you could get warm/take time out when you needed to and a hot lunch is provided.
The only risk might be sensory overload/tiredness but honestly, it is one of my DS&mine top exciting memories and so worth going.
One tip is although they provide all outerwear, it is worth wearing 'skins' or thermals as it is sooo cold!