What it’s like to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Finland’s Arctic to see Santa

Childhood moves quickly. Those special years when kids are old enough to appreciate exciting adventures but still young enough to lean into the magic of it all are limited. When my youngest daughter was 6 years old and my oldest was 11, we decided to embrace that moment by taking a once-in-a-lifetime winter trip to find the real Santa in his home above the Arctic Circle.

Tucked beneath snow-covered trees in northern Finland, you’ll find reindeer-led sleighs, elves, kid-size snowmobiles and glass domes made for viewing the northern lights. If you look closer might also spot Santa’s cottage.

From the moment the playful (and sometimes naughty) elves greeted us in Ivalo, Finland, and led us in Christmas songs on the bus ride to the Lapland region, this trip embraced all things Christmas in a way that even Ebenezer Scrooge would appreciate.

The journey to find Santa in snowy Finland was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience for my kids — and one that I will cherish forever.

If heading to the Lapland region of Finland to meet Santa in person sounds like a memory you’d love to make with your family, here are five things you need to know.

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It’s breathtakingly beautiful

This part of the world may be remote, harsh and unforgiving, but it is also truly magnificent in a way that takes your (frozen) breath away.

During the winter holidays, it never gets truly bright, but the midday twilight shining on a blanket of white snow is something straight out of a storybook. You have to see it for yourself.

Whether you go in search of Santa or want to experience a place that looks so magical you’ll find it hard to believe it’s real, you’ll love exploring this part of the Arctic.

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We found it every bit as mesmerizing as we’d hoped. From reindeer sleigh rides to dog sledding, we saw and did things that took us far outside our comfort zones … in a good way. It was like living in a fairy tale flanked with fur and elves.

We went with Santa’s Lapland, which offers three- and four-day trips from the U.K. to Finland.

These packages are quite expensive — prepare yourself for sticker shock before you price it out. However, the trip does include charter flights from the U.K., lodging and ground transfers in Finland, all meals (aside from a few lunches), the use of thermal snow gear, and several winter activities (such as dog sled rides, reindeer sleigh rides and snowmobiling). Most importantly, you’ll also have the chance to hunt for Santa’s hidden house.

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You can book a couple of add-on activities, such as northern lights-viewing excursions and snowshoeing, to enhance your experience. Given how busy your trip will be with all the inclusions, though, you may want to refrain from packing your visit with many extra adventures. We added several activities to our trip; they were enjoyable, but if I had to do it again, I would only tack on a few hours of a skiing session since the slopes are close by.

While prices vary, our three-night “Santa’s Aurora” journey for two adults and two kids cost around $7,000 before we added extra activities; those cost between $30 and $130 per person. To cut costs a little, consider choosing one of the more affordable two-day packages, which start at around $1,300 per adult and have reduced rates available for children.

If shelling out thousands of dollars for a package doesn’t sound like the right option for you, know that planning your own adventure is also an option. This is what I’d do to save money the next time around.

Rather than book a package, I’d likely connect through Helsinki and target Rovaniemi, Finland, as our final destination.

Like last time, I would use All Nippon Airways miles to fly business class to Europe and back for 88,000 miles per ticket. You can transfer miles to ANA from American Express’ Membership Rewards program, making this option possible for those with cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express.

Should you decide to take this route, you can then hop aboard the overnight Santa Claus Express train to complete the 12-hour journey from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. While there are more budget-friendly standard seats available, I’d suggest paying a little more for a cabin because they have beds. (Some also offer private bathrooms.)

Once in Rovaniemi, you can pursue whichever winter activities most appeal to you. Several operators are available for dog sledding excursions, northern lights outings and more. They can fill up fast, though, so be sure to schedule your preferred activities as far in advance as possible.

Related: The best places to see the northern lights

The experience is unlike anything else

If you do decide to purchase a package to see Santa in Finland, be ready to truly go all-in for a few days. From the moment you arrive to the day you depart, you’ll know what time of year it is and who you’re in town to see.

Transportation

When we boarded the included Jet2holidays plane for our charter flight to Finland from the U.K., it was clear this was far from an ordinary flight. Lightning on the plane was a deep red hue, and Christmas carols were sung at 36,000 feet.

When we landed in Finland and headed to baggage claim, we spotted naughty elves laughing and spinning around on baggage carts as they sneakily sent our bags back on the belt and out of sight.

In the ensuing days, they would throw snowballs, mess with people’s hats and cause a lot of trouble — but it was always in good spirits. As long as you lean into this Christmas chaos, you’ll fully enjoy the experience.

Lodging

The hotel included in our package was Star Arctic Hotel, a higher-end option you can also book on your own.

It’s a bit away from town but right on the slopes of Saariselka — Europe’s northernmost ski resort. Star Arctic Hotel is an ideal place for outdoorsy types.

There are a few different lodging options, two of which we tried out during our stay.

On the first night of our visit, we slept in a spectacular Aurora Glass Cabin with several windows to view the northern lights. Luck was not on our side, as the northern lights did not make an appearance for us, but we still enjoyed waking up to an unobstructed view of the snowy landscape.

After our brief stint in a cabin, we moved to a suite with a sauna for the remainder of our stay. It was a little tight for the four of us, but it did the trick. The private sauna inside our suite was a terrific place to unwind after an active day in the cold.

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Dog sledding and snowmobiling

When I first heard that our package included dog sledding, I assumed we’d be passengers riding along tucked under the blankets with an experienced guide at the helm. Wow, was I wrong.

Instead of being chauffeured around as you would in upscale winter destinations like Aspen or Vail, Colorado, we were in the driver’s seat … literally. After a brief lesson, I took the reins and steered myself and my daughter down the snowy trails. It was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.

Other activities here are also incredibly immersive, making them much more fun (and wilder) to partake in.

For our snowmobiling adventure, we did not simply head out on full-size snowmobiles with the kids getting pulled along in a separate cart. We had the opportunity to give my 6-year-old a chance to get in on the action and drive a miniature snowmobile attached to a pole. It was a bucket list experience I’m certain my daughter will remember for the rest of her life.

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The food

Because we booked a Santa’s Lapland package, all our meals (aside from some lunches) were included. Each was served buffet-style.

Overall, the food was fine, but it was not the highlight of our trip. While kids could have chicken nuggets and french fries at most meals, expect the bulk of the options to be more traditional Finnish dishes. Hopefully, you like salmon, as it’s a regular fixture on the buffet.

If your crew has picky eaters, double-check the menus in advance, pack snacks, and maybe make a grocery store run to ensure they have everything they need to stay content at mealtime.

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The shared experience

Booking a packaged tour means that you’ll be around other families for several days. So, pack a little patience and understanding, as you may encounter a strong personality or two in your group.

For the most part, this wasn’t a huge deal for us, as we were thrilled to be somewhere so special.

Regardless of what language our companions spoke or where they came from, it was clear that everyone understood how unique of an opportunity this trip was. They were just as eager to savor the experience as we were.

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You’ll meet the man of the season

Traveling to Finland’s Lapland region will not only bring you up close to Santa’s house. You’ll also get a chance to see Santa for yourself.

At the end of a reindeer-led sleigh ride through the snow on our last full day, we met some elves at an adorable red hut hidden in the trees.

It was quite the experience to be welcomed into his cozy cottage in the middle of a snowy forest.

He was as kind as you’d expect. Somehow, he had the letters the kids sent to him weeks earlier — a personalized touch that added an extra bit of magic to an already magical experience.

It’s really, really cold in the Arctic

While Santa’s cottage is warm and cozy, the outdoors is a different story. Despite the abundance of snow shown in photos, it’s not until you step foot in northern Finland that you realize how chilly it is.

Temperatures hovered around 0 degrees Fahrenheit during much of our late-November visit. It was so cold that walking two minutes across the parking lot to the reception area’s restaurant was the most we could do without full thermal gear.

While you may worry about all the gear required to stay warm, know that some essentials will be provided once you arrive (if you book an organized tour).

Be sure to pack good base layers and comfortable clothes to wear under the clunky thermal suits your tour guide will provide. You’ll also want to bring glove liners, hats, thick wool socks and neck warmers.

Even with the provided gear plus the layers brought from home, it’s still really cold at times (especially when the wind gets going) — but don’t let it stop you from having fun. Once bundled up, the temperatures were doable for periods of time — even for my 6-year-old.

Still, know that your hair and eyelashes will feel frozen (and may look that way in photos), as anything exposed for any length of time will become seriously chilled quickly.

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We’ve skied in Canada, visited Alaska and even explored Norway, but nothing quite compares to the experience of meeting Santa in his snowy home in the woods.

Every family trip is special and memorable in its own way, but visiting the Lapland region of Finland was so different and unique that it is forever etched in our collective story banks.

Of course, you don’t have to go all the way to the Arctic to find holiday magic. But if you do decide to make the trip, whether on your own or through a package tour, you’ll likely walk away with many memories to last a lifetime.