Best Lapland trip recommendation

[SchoolMum66]

I have decided I want to take my 7 year old to see Father Christmas in Lapland this December, so am looking for recommendations please from people who've done it.
I want it to be as magical and 'real' as possible. Want more Christmas activities than ordinary snow activities. So things like Santa's workshop, Mrs Claus house, Christmas craft, lots of elves(reps) around and being convincing! You get the picture. And of course meeting FC himself and getting a gift.
I know I have left it late to book for this year, but it is SO expensive! But now decided it has to be this year or it's too late.
So if you have been in the last couple of years and can recommend a trip/operator that would be great, thank you.

Canterbury Travel trip to Luosto was incredible.

Definitely Canterbury Travel

We did if DIY last year. It was incredible and we could choose our own activities. The Search for Santa at the Levi Northern Lights village was amazing. We also did a pony trekking trip to look for elves in a wood that was great.

We went with Inghams for a week and it was brilliant. We also went on a day trip with Transun and I'd not recommend them

I took 8 year old DD with Canterbury Travel many moons ago. I think it was called ‘In search of Father Christmas’. It was magical and I still think of it

I'd recommend Canterbury Travel too!

We took our dds when they were 4 and 6, and now at 12 and 14 they can still sing the Elf Song!

We went with TUI two years ago, to Snowy Wilderness Lodge…picked it as the hotel is in the middle of a forest as didn’t want a resort feel. Whilst the rooms are basic the whole trip was magical from start to finish. Because it’s in the middle of nowhere there’s a kids club, it’s full board…and the elves and Santa are epic. We also saw the Northern Lights. Best holiday we’ve ever had. You can book extra trips (we did the husky’s and reindeers). Enjoy!

I’ also interested in this, for 2026. I had a look at Canterbury Travel’s website. It seems to have a few resorts - can anyone recommend a specific resort/hotel?

DD and I did a day trip when she was 7. It was a long day but really good. We went with Canterbury Travel too! They’re fab.

We stayed in a log cabin in Luosto.

We booked with Tui and they were brilliant, Santa visit is included but excursions like snowmobiling etc is extra and get booked up quick. It is very expensive when you get there also so bare that in mind.

Log cabin in Luosto here too- magical!
with Canterbury pretty much everything is included. No extra charges for snowmobiling, dog sledding etc.

We did our own trip to Rovaniemi for a weekend last November, and whilst it is very commercialised it worked for us, because everything is really easy to get to. We stayed at Santa Claus village and on the first day we walked a reindeer in the forest, on the second day we went to Santa Park (huge cavern) which had lots of different activities (meet Santa, crafts with the elves, elf school, VR ride, gingerbread decorating with Mrs claus) and then we went to Apukka for husky sledding which was the absolute highlight of the trip. We had a car so both nights we drove away into the countryside and had amazing Northern lights views. If it’s within budget Apukka is a great option, my friends stayed in Feb and had the best time, they run lots of different activities. There are lots of facebook groups that can help with planning if you want to DIY. If snow is important then check when the destination you choose usually has snow from, Rovaniemi sometimes doesn’t have proper snow cover until mid December. Including spending money we spent approx £1800 for three of us for 3 days/2nights, which I think is really reasonable compared to some of the day trips.