Magical Lapland

Magical doesn’t even come close to the experience we have had in Lapland. It is a very special destination but should not be considered exclusive to families with young children in search of the Santa Experience. Whilst it can’t be denied that the Big Man is a motivation for most people visiting one of the resorts of Lapland, there is so much to do here it can appeal to people of all ages. There are several resorts to choose from including Levi, Rovaniemi and the resort we stayed in Yllas. Saariselka and Kakslauttanen are farther north. Yllas is the most picturesque of the resorts. We stayed in the loveliest log cabins which were exceptionally well-equipped for a self-catering holiday. We even had a sauna in the bathroom, perfect for warming up and relaxing after a day out and about. A half board option is also available with meals at a local hotel. We enjoyed many of the local restaurants and all were reasonably priced, and portions were ample. I would suggest pre-booking a thermal suit and boots to wear, temperatures can get as low as -20, however with good base layers and the thermal suits we were still able to get out and about and enjoy all the activities. Skiing at Yllas is perfect for beginners and intermediate skiers or families with younger children. We found the slopes to be uncrowded and the ski school was excellent. My girls had never skied before and did amazingly well in a couple of lessons. This is also a perfect opportunity to get a taste for skiing before booking a more dedicated ski holiday. Some of the highlights of this holiday for my family included the husky farm where we saw many of the racing teams and learned about long distance racing, how the dogs are trained and how the teams are put together for racing. We had the opportunity to drive/mush our own team as well which was a real adrenaline rush. The Elves Hideaway is a fabulous experience with the highlight being a visit to Santa. Other activities to enjoy on this day are gingerbread making in Mrs Claus’ gingerbread house, Christmas decoration making in the Elves’ school, enjoy a game of Elf football before warming up in the Northern Lights Cota where you can roast your own sausages and enjoy some delicious warm berry juice. You can also do snowmobile safari’s, reindeer safaris or take a visit to the Snow Village and Ice Hotel. There were lots of plastic sledges around the resort just for using and enjoying. There were plenty and provided endless hours of fun. If you find one not being used feel free to take it and enjoy the fun. A frozen over lake behind the towns one supermarket provided the ideal place to see the phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. There are lots of cross country skiing trails as well and equipment hire is very reasonable and easy to arrange. The local bus is easy to use and will take you to the ski centre of Y1 or onto the next town of Saaga where you can get the gondola to the top of the slopes and enjoy the amazing views and a hot chocolate in the café at the top. A perfect winter break.