Santa breaks - Lapland

[Busymummy50]

We would like to book a 4 night Santa break over the Christmas holiday. Had anyone been and can recommend or give us some advice? Not sure which area as there are a few.

We are looking for a relaxed break with not much commercialisation. Husky ride, reindeer sleigh ride and snowmobile is on the list and also would like to meet Santa but not the meeting elves/Santa post office ( the whole commercialised option).would just like a sleigh ride through the wilderness to search for Santa.

Has anyone booked this separately and van advise whete to start? How to book the excursions if booked flights separately and also the transfer to hotel?

We went to Ruka on a ski holiday and I organised all those trips with the local tourist information office. It was MUCH cheaper than Canterbury Travel (a common provider - think 6k). We spent 3k, but we upgraded a couple of bits.

We went with Crystal

I did laugh a bit at the 'not much commercialisation' .... and then a long list of stuff that you'd need to purchase , but I sort of get what you mean. It's Finland, not the US though, so much more low key

Santa in Ruka was the nicest man. We made ginger biscuits and sweet buns with Mother Christmas, went tobogganing in his back garden, my daughter sang him a song (in front of everyone) and it was an amazing trip. The toy shop Santa is the one further north I believe.

Did this too, it's quite easy to books flights yourself, we used Charter Travel and purchased seats on a Thomson flight. Organised the trips and experiences before we went.
We did give in to commercialisation and visited Santa Claus Village in Rovenemi and guess what - it was fantastic! It was very quiet when we visited though.

Can recommend @ATO-TOURS for that. They are working with a local agent and sorting everything out. Ice igloo, reindeer experience, dome glamping, you name it.