lapland uk day trip

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Lapland Holidays

Why Lapland

What better way to enjoy the magic of Christmas and make your child’s dreams come true than a trip to see  Santa on a Lapland holiday?  Think crisp white snow, reindeers, huskies and elves – it’s a place where childhood dreams can become reality. Father Christmas has put some time aside in his busy December schedule to welcome you into his hideaway Lapland home, with the elves on hand to join in the fun – all you need to do is wrap up warm and bring your Christmas list! Experience the thrill of Husky Sledding, Tobogganing or take a ride through the stunning landscape on a magical Reindeer Sleigh. And at the end of the day look out for nature’s very own light show, the Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights. We can offer Lapland Day Trips throughout the month of December - flying out early morning and returning late at night. Extend your stay on a 2, 3 or 4 night break staying in 3 or 4 star hotels in various resorts, including Saariselka and Rovaniemi, both a short transfer from the airport.

Whether you’re looking for an affordable last minute Lapland break or a luxury Lapland holiday , you’ll find your perfect snowy escape with Hays Travel. To book yours, chat to one of our travel experts today. Alternatively, take a look at some of our other winter holidays . 

Want to know more about our Lapland holidays? Browse our FAQs below to learn more about Santa’s magical home. 

You’ll find Lapland in the northernmost region of Finland, bordering Norway and Sweden. The Arctic Circle crosses into Lapland too, which is why Lapland holidays are known for their magical wintery settings. 

The flight time from the UK to Lapland is approximately 3 hours. Its short flight time is why Lapland day trips and mini breaks are so popular!

Yes! A chance to spot the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, is just one of the things that make Lapland holidays so special. 

A day trip to Lapland for a family of 3 usually costs around £1660. At Hays Travel, we offer low deposits and pay monthly options on all our Lapland holidays to help make your trip as affordable as possible. 

To book your Lapland holiday, chat to a member of Hays Travel now.

Lapland Holidays

Treat the family to the trip of a lifetime with a Lapland Holiday. Meet Santa, take a reindeer sleigh ride and watch your children's faces light up with all the magic this amazing country has to offer.

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We know it's important to feel protected when booking your holiday. That's why all the holidays sold on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme when you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday. Plus we're members of ABTA!

You're Fully Protected When booking a holiday, there's a lot to keep in mind from choosing the best hotels to selecting your travel and holidays extras! One of the most important things to know is that you and your money are protected. That's why Instant Breaks is a proud member of ABTA, helping us to provide a service that guarantees peace of mind to all of our customers.

While it's great to know that you're financially protected, it's good to understand what this actually means and so we're here to tell you just that!

What is ATOL Protection? Let's start with the basics, ATOL stands for 'Air Travel Organiser's Licence'.

When you book a flight or flight inclusive Holiday with us, your money is protected by ATOL. This means that in the unlikely event that we or any of your travel providers go bust, you'll be able to continue with your holiday or a suitable alternative holiday (at no extra cost) or receive a refund of the amount paid to us.

How does it work? All you need to do to become ATOL protected is book a flight or flight inclusive Holiday with us - it really is that simple!

What do I get? You will receive an official certificate! Once you've paid pr made a deposit, we'll issue your Flight Plus ATOL certificate. Make sure you take this with you when you travel, just in case.

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ABTA offers protection for package holidays that don't include air travel but may include rail, cruise or self-drive elements, for instance. If your travel company fails and your holiday can no longer go ahead, you will be entitled to a refund if you're yet to travel. If you are already on holiday, you can carry on enjoying your holiday knowing that alternative arrangements will be made to bring you home through ABTA.

Instant Breaks are proud full ABTA members, so you can travel with confidence! When you make any booking with us, you can be confident that your holiday is protected no matter what. In the unlikely event that something does go wrong, our ABTA membership guarantees that your money will be safe.

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Booking with an ABTA member like us, comes with some big benefits! You'll have peace of mind knowing that your holiday is booked through a reputable company and is financially protected. Holidays are a big investment and it's important to know that, in the unlikely case that something goes wrong with your travel company, your money is safe. ABTA offers round-the-clock support, protection, and expertise, making it easy for you to get advice whenever you need it.

What is the difference between ATOL & ABTA? ATOL and ABTA both offer protection schemes for the travelling public. The main difference between the two is what is included in that protection. ABTA covers package holidays that include rail, cruise or self-drive transport but does not offer protection for flight-based packages. ABTA also provides advice for people who believe their holiday package has been mis-sold and are seeking compensation.

ATOL covers package holidays that include flights- for example, a flight and accommodation package. If your travel company ceases trading, you will be entitled to a refund if you have not yet travelled. If you are on holiday at the time, you will be flown home with repatriation flights through ATOL. However, ATOL does not cover flights which have been purchased directly through the airline.

Another difference between the two is that ATOL is a compulsory licensing system run by the government, while ABTA is a voluntary scheme that travel companies can sign up to if they meet the requirements.

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Booking a holiday in these changing climate can make you hesitant, but here at Instant Breaks we have you covered with our tailor-made covid cover plus travel insurance cover offering you the flexibility to book now and make should your holiday plans change later - we have can have you covered!

If your holiday is cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, you will be financially covered, along with benefits of a travel insurance policy we can now cover you for the following benefits below before starting your trip.

• Testing positive - You re now covered for cancellation costs if you, a travelling companion or someone you intend to stay with test positive for Covid within 14 days of your trip starting.
• Being hospitalised - You are now covered for cancellation costs if you or a travelling companion are hospitalised because of Covid in the UK within 28 days of your trip starting
• Denied boarding - Cover for cancellation costs if you are not allowed to board your flight, ferry, Eurostar or Eurotunnel as a result of a postive Covid test or raised temperature as taken at the time of departure by a qualified person.
• Covid abroad - Medical cover up to £10,000,000 included as standard if you catch Covid whilst abroad including medical bills, relatives costs and extra travel costs.
• Repatriation - Cover if it is medically necessary to bring you home if you caught Covid whilst travelling abroad in Europe on a single trip basis.
• Cancellation/Curtailment - Cover if your booked accommodation is required to close after you have checked in because of you, a guest or employee being diagnosed with Covid.

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Lapland Day Trips 2023

Winter Wonderland

You and your family will find yourselves amid all the activity of Santa’s homeland in its preparation for the festive season.

Enchanting Lapland

Experience a one day tour to mystical Lapland. Enjoy an exciting sleigh transfer from the airport to a beautiful location in the Lappish countryside before visiting a snow igloo and participating in a variety of traditional arctic activities.

Santa Experience

Fly to the still, white wilderness of Lapland where, as every child knows, a Very Special Person and his elves live.

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

LAPLANDUK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• (0.30 mi) The Royal Foresters
• (2.37 mi) Stirrups Hotel
• (1.68 mi) Lyndricks House
• (3.59 mi) Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa
• (5.42 mi) The Old Farmhouse
• (1.37 mi) The Crown Wood
• (1.85 mi) Las Iguanas Bracknell
• (1.78 mi) Fuego
• (2.42 mi) Rajbhoog

• Terms & Conditions
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The Experience The Experience

Pre + post visit.

• The Invitation
• The Magic Continues…
• The Magical Portal
• Woodland Check In
• Toy Factory
• Mother Christmas’ Kitchen
• The Elven Village
• The Reindeer Pen
• Ambolt’s Forge
• Compass’ Lobby
• Visiting Father Christmas

Plan Your Experience Plan Your Experience

Before you visit.

• Pre-departure Information
• Getting Here
• Food & Drinks
• Accessibility

Behind the Magic Behind the Magic

More about us.

• Producing LaplandUK

Ticket Updates

LaplandUK Ticket Release

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Ticket announcement

Ticket release

Confirmation email

Ticket Details

Description, ticket prices, what’s included.

• Entry to LaplandUK at your chosen date and time, with over 4.5 hours of performances and activities for your Small Folk; including helping the Toy Factory Elves make a toy for Father Christmas’ Sleigh, decorating gingerbread with Mother Christmas, ice-skating, and a personalised visit with Father Christmas!
• 1 Invitation parcel per booking delivered ahead of your visit, including your Small Folk's Invitation from Father Christmas.
• 1 beautiful husky soft toy for every Small Folk when you visit Father Christmas
• 1 toy factory toy for Christmas Day (discreetly handed to Big Folk before you travel back to the Human World) complete with a thank you card for every Small Folk
• 1 complimentary souvenir photo per booking
• Free parking

Golden Experience

Become a Golden Explorer for the day! Enhance the magic with our Golden Experience. Enjoy everything from our Lapland tickets, plus: all food and beverage throughout your day, £25 Jingles for every Small Folk in your party, a keepsake Lapland limited edition Christmas bauble, family photo package, priority parking plus a signed Lapland foundation story book – ‘The Untold Story of Father Christmas’.

Superstar Day

Superstar Day is a specifically adapted show, tailored for those with additional needs. We are proud to be the first company in the UK to designate a specific adapted day to allow greater flexibility and support for those with additional needs. Superstar Day differs from a standard day; the day is subsidised by LaplandUK, and all tours operate at a significantly reduced capacity. Tours are, therefore, quieter with improved accessibility and offer the additional support of medics and BSL signers, if required.

Tickets & Bookings FAQs

Where can i book tickets to laplanduk.

Please note: Tickets for 2024 are now sold out!

All bookings for LaplandUK must be made online via our website. B ookings for LaplandUK must include at least one Small Folk and one Big Folk. The maximum number of Human Folk per booking is 8.

When will LaplandUK tickets be on sale?

Ticket release for Lapland 2024 took place on midday on Monday 18th March, 2024. To keep up to date on future ticket news and information, please sign up to our mailing list, here .

What ages are suitable for a child ticket?

Child tickets are for Small Folk between the ages of 1 to 16 years old.

Infants and babes in arms under 12 months old are welcome to visit Lapland on a complimentary infant ticket. Note that infants will count towards your maximum capacity of 8 people per booking.

If you would like your infant to experience LaplandUK as a paying child would, you are welcome to book a child’s ticket for them.

Children attending on an infant ticket will not receive an invitation to help the elves, take part in any of the activities or receive Lumi (a Husky Hero) or 2024’s Toy Factory toy. They will, however, receive an Elflet Card and a small gift from Father Christmas.

We’ve booked two families together, can we see Father Christmas separately?

Due to the capacity limits for each tour, we cannot accommodate separate visits to Father Christmas for different families booked together as one group. Please be mindful that the number of people in your booking represents those who will visit Father Christmas together.

Why can I only book in a group of 8?

Lapland is an immersive theatrical experience. Like any theatre experience, each tour has a strict limit on the number of Big Folk and Small Folk, and this cannot be exceeded. This is because each family requires their own seating, and each Small Folk requires a dedicated workbench to take part in the activities in both the Toy Factory and Mother Christmas’ Kitchen.

How can I make a payment for my booking?

All varieties of Visa and Mastercard, as well as Maestro, are accepted. Please note, we do not currently accept American Express.

Can I pay for my booking in installments?

Unfortunately, we do not support installment payments. All bookings must be paid in full at the time of purchase.

Do you offer payment plans for bookings?

No, we do not currently offer payment plans for our bookings.

What is your refund policy?

Tickets are sold subject to license and are non-refundable, except as specifically set out in these Ticketing Terms. This is also subject to any rights you may have under TicketPlan Protection purchased when you bought the tickets.

You have a legal right to change your mind and receive a refund within 14 days of when we send you your Booking Confirmation Email. You do not have a right to change your mind once you have used the tickets for the Experience, even if the 14 days ‘cooling off’ period is still running. You are not entitled to a refund of your initial payment if you cancel more than 14 days after your purchase.

Full information about our Terms and Conditions can be found by clicking here. We strongly recommend you review these terms and conditions before you make a booking.

Please note all tickets to LaplandUK are also non-transferable to another family or season.

What is Superstar Day?

Our greatest wish is for all Small Folk to be able to enjoy a magical Christmas.

Our Superstar Day is specifically adapted and tailored for Human Folk with additional needs. The aim is to make the Lapland experience easier for those who might require extra time to fully enjoy the interactive parts of the day, and those who may find a large group of people challenging.

You are welcome to book for your whole family on our Superstar Day, and we are proud to be the first company in the UK to designate a specific adapted day, allowing greater flexibility and support for those with additional needs. With a subsidised tickets our Superstar Day operates at a lower capacity and longer tours.

The logistics and management of running our Superstar Day is different from our standard tours and requires a full day to organise; only one tour departs each hour rather than half hourly to give our Superstar visitors twice the time of a standard tour to complete each part of the day trip with additional support of medics and BSL signers available.

Please note: Although our Superstar Day is our only reduced capacity day, you will find that our 8am and 8:30am tours are more suitable for booking groups that require a quieter tour time with reduced capacity.

As the first tours of the day, your tour group are the first to reach the Elven Village, meaning that these 90 minutes spent here, will be quieter than if you attended at a later tour time. Your tour group will also be the first to visit Father Christmas’ woodland home, meaning less families will be in Compass’ lobby, prior to your visit to Father Christmas!

How can I book a Golden Experience for my family?

I’d like to book a golden experience directly. do i need to make a booking during ticket release.

If you plan on directly booking a Golden Experience package, there is no need to make a standard booking during Ticket Release. Instead, sign up to our mailing list – we will be in touch later this year to share all the exciting details with you, including information on pricing and how to book.

Lapland Day Trips 2024

Tucked far away in northernmost Finland lies the magical place that Santa Claus calls home. This is a region deep inside the Arctic Circle; a land of wonder and enchantment that really comes alive with the spirit of Christmas. You never know just who you might see...

Whether you're looking to explore pretty snow-clad pine forests in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, search for Santa and his elves, or indulge in adrenaline-charged activities like snowmobile safaris, we can offer something that will tick most boxes. Lapland is a winter wonderland with a difference.

EXAMPLE 2024 ITINERARY

SNOW VILLAGE Kittila’s Snow Village is home to an ice hotel with igloo-like rooms and impressive sculptures carved from frozen water, an ice bar and an ice chapel. You’ll land in Kittila around midday and pick up your snowsuit and boots. Then, it’s on to the Snow Village, where your action-packed day takes place. Just so you know, lunch and all the activities below are included in the price of your trip. That said, it's worth bringing extra euros for any other food and drink you might want to buy.

HUSKY ADVENTURE Hop on the back of a husky-led sleigh and you’ll be taken on a short tour of the Lappish countryside. There’ll be time to find out how the dogs are trained, plus Santa’s elves have an interesting story to tell about how the huskies saved Christmas.

REINDEER SLEIGH RIDE Climb into a sleigh and let Rudolph and Co. guide you through snow-covered forests on a short ride.

SNOWMOBILING Buckle up for the drive of your life. After learning to manoeuvre your snowmobile, you can head off to explore the winter wilderness. For this activity, you'll need your driving license.

MEET SANTA Get your festive wish-list at the ready because now’s your chance to meet Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas. The elves will help you impress him by teaching you how to say hello in Finnish.

ARCTIC STORYTELLING You’ll get a real taste of tradition when you meet a Lapland local. You can poke around his tent, and listen as he tells age-old stories and legends about the region.

SNOW FUN You can’t come to Lapland without playing in the snow. Start a friendly snowball fight, build a snowman, or learn how to drive a miniature skidoo. Afterwards, warm up by the campfire with hot berry juice.

HOME TIME When your day comes to an end, Santa’s elves will take you to the airport for your flight home.

Lapland Day Trips

Search For Santa

This trip is packed with outdoor adventures from start to finish. Your venue for the day is Kittila’s Snow Village, which is home to an ice hotel, an ice bar and an ice chapel. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the igloo-like hotel rooms and admire the impressive sculptures that have been carved from frozen water.

Lapland Santa Experience

In December, take the kids on the trip of a lifetime, and watch their faces light up when they see Santa in a true Winter Wonderland.

Winter Wonderland

Search for santa on a lapland day trip.

•  > Winter Wonderland

Tour Details

Thermal suits and boots

From £599

Returns flights and transfers

Lapland? In a day? And back in time for supper?

Exceptionality is the basis of all adventures. Journeying to a new place and living the stories to be told is all part of the fun - and a Winter Wonderland day trip to Lapland is certainly exceptional: it’s a family adventure for the festive period.

From the moment the early morning alarm clock rings, there is great anticipation: a trip to Lapland to visit the REAL Father Christmas is no ordinary day! After descending from the clouds and seeing the sprawling snow-capped vastness of Lapland below, the excitement continues to build. This is a land of jolly snowball fights, perfect snow angels, and spritely tobogganing – and who can wait to get going?!

Of course, no trip to Lapland would be complete without calling in on Santa himself – you’ve travelled a long way to see him. Don’t forget to bring a letter, he’d love to know what’s on your Christmas wish list! But it’s not time to head home yet, not without trying your hand at the winter experiences that Lapland is famous for: husky sledding, snowmobiling, and a reindeer sleigh ride are all waiting to be sampled!

What an adventure! What memories! What fun!

For overnight stays in Lapland during the countdown to Christmas, you may like to consider our Snow is Falling holiday, or our Wonderful Christmas Time holiday for stays during the festive period itself.

What's Included

• Return flights with hot meals onboard
• Private family meeting with Santa
• Small gift for children from Santa
• Taster husky experience
• Taster snowmobile adventure
• Taster reindeer sleigh ride
• Warming lunch
• Loan of thermal suit and boots
• Government air passenger duty

What we love

• Fitting so many winter activities into one day!
• Seeing the children’s faces when they meet the REAL Santa
• Spending quality family time surrounded by the magical Arctic wilderness

Departing From

Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Teesside International, Exeter, Glasgow, Humberside, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich

Suitable For

Families, Groups

Included Activities

Our one-day Winter Wonderland trips run throughout December until Christmas Eve, with convenient departures from regional airports across the UK, from as far north as Aberdeen, to as far south as Exeter – making Lapland easily accessible to all.

Upon arrival in Lapland, you’ll be taken to collect your all-in-one thermal snow suits and winter boots – essential to keep warm in the Arctic climate, where temperatures can drop to a chilly -30C! And then, into the crisp snowscapes which Lapland is famed for.

All of our Winter Wonderland day trips take place in uncommercial, wilderness locations, unspoiled by mass-market tourism or crowds of Santa pilgrims. It’s an outdoors day, filled with Lapland’s favourite activities: snowmobiling, husky sledding, and a reindeer sleigh ride. Activities take place around a frozen river or a frozen lake – your base from which to set off on a search for Santa!

A warming lunch is included, and provides much needed energy for more playing in the snow. Hot inflight meals on both flights are also included, usually a breakfast on the outbound flight and a dinner on the return to the UK.

Family Meeting With Santa

Duration: Variable

You’ve travelled a long way to see him! Every family has a private meting with Santa, where you can tell him of your Christmas wish list!

• Snowmobiling

Duration: Taster Session

Dash through the snow on a snowmobile – propelled by engine and excitement! A driving licence is required for drivers; children are pulled in a sled.

• Husky Sledding

Glide through the snow on a sled pulled by an eager team of huskies. Each family shares a sled, led by your newest four-legged friends!

Reindeer Sleigh Ride

A gentle, peaceful ride, meandering through crunched paths of pristine snow in a sleigh led by Santa’s faithful reindeer!

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone. We have had an epic experience with so may memories made.

- Peter Smith

Went to Lapland on Christmas Eve, and got the truly magical day we were hoping for.

- Fleur Tedstill

Well done to the whole team for a truly magical experience and making our Christmas extra special.

- Wendy Hodge

Winter Wonderland was fantastic! The food, the snow, the husky rides, Santa, the reindeer.... Everything you could wish for to get you into the Christmas spirit. We all had the best time and made some...

Winter Wonderland was fantastic! The food, the snow, the husky rides, Santa, the reindeer.... Everything you could wish for to get you into the Christmas spirit. We all had the best time and made some wonderful memories. I would highly recommend this experience.

- Alexandra Readman

Frequently asked questions, what is the deposit.

To confirm the holiday, the deposit is £200 per person. The final balance is due ten weeks before departure, though these terms may differ if you have booked through a travel agent.

Is the day trip suitable for infants?

The majority of the day is spent outdoors in the snow and temperatures can plummet to -40c. Given the extremely cold weather conditions, we generally do not recommend the day trip for infants under the age of 2 since children feel the cold most.

What happens if there is a delay on the flight?

If there is a delay leaving the UK on the outbound flight, we will endeavour to delay the return inbound flight by the same duration, so you do not lose time in resort. A delay of the return flight is at the discretion of the operating captain and cannot always be guaranteed. If the delay to the outbound flight is likely to exceed three hours, it may be necessary to cancel the departure since we may not be able to provide a full day’s activities in resort, but such an occurrence is very rare.

What currency should I take?

The currency in Finland is the Euro. Many establishments in Nordic countries will not accept cash and only accept payment by debit or credit card. Please note that additional drinks throughout the day are not included.

What should I wear?

Temperatures can reach as low as -40c in the winter and so it is imperative that you bring adequate clothing for the weather. We provide a thermal all-in-one snow suit and snow boots on arrival in Lapland, but you should wear multiple under layers and bring hats, scarves and gloves (and plenty of pairs of socks!) We give further details of what to wear in our brochure and in the pre-departure booklet in the My Booking section of our website.

WE CAN HELP YOU START PLANNING YOUR NEXT TRIP

Book online today.

* Please note: All snowmobile activities carry a €980.00 damage deposit which is payable locally. The driver of the snowmobile must be at least 18 years old and be in possession of a valid driving licence.

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• Northern Lights 3 or 4 nights from £949
• Festive Lights 3 or 4 nights from £1059
• Aurora Hunter 7 nights from £1439
• Snowmobile Voyager 3 or 4 nights from £1239
• Santa's On His Way 3 or 4 nights from £1199
• Winter Wonderland Daybreak from £599
• Sleigh Bells Ringing 3 or 4 nights from £1399
• Snow is Falling 2, 3 or 4 nights from £1099
• Dashing Through the Snow 3 or 4 nights from £1299
• Glass Cabins
• See the Northern Lights
• Real Snow Igloos
• Visit Santa in Lapland
• The Reindeer of Lapland
• Ski and Snowshoe
• View all experiences

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Winter Wonderland Lapland Day Trip

£592 pp

With Christmas on the horizon, why not make precious memories with your children and get in the festive mood with a fun-filled day in Finnish Lapland?

These magical one-day Winter Wonderland trips run throughout December until Christmas Eve, with convenient departures from regional airports throughout the UK - from as far north as Aberdeen to as far south as Exeter - making it easier for you to spend a day in Santa’s kingdom and still be home in time for your supper! 

Why Book This Offer?

• LAPLAND  DAY TRIP
• £200pp Deposit followed by 7 monthly direct debit payments of £57pp
• Return flights with hot meals onboard
• Private meeting with Santa
• Small gift for children from Santa
• Taster husky experience
• Taster snowmobile adventure
• Taster reindeer sleigh ride
• Warming lunch
• Loan of thermal suit and boots
• Add Travel Insurance for £21pp
• Guests: 2 Adults & 1 Child
• Duration: 1 Day
• Board: Day Trip
• Departing: Selected UK Airports
• Offer Date: 19th December 2024
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With Christmas on the horizon, why not make precious memories with your children and get in the festive mood with a fun-filled day in Finnish Lapland? These magical one-day Winter Wonderland trips run throughout December until Christmas Eve, with convenient departures from regional airports throughout the UK - from as far north as Aberdeen to as far south as Exeter - making it easier for you to spend a day in Santa’s kingdom and still be home in time for your supper! 

From the moment the early morning alarm clock rings, there's great anticipation in the air: a trip to Lapland to visit the REAL Father Christmas is a unique day after all! After descending from the clouds and witnessing the sprawling snow-capped vastness of Lapland below, the excitement continues to build. Upon arrival in Lapland, you’ll be taken to collect your all-in-one thermal snow suits and winter boots – essential to keep warm in the Arctic climate, where temperatures can drop to a chilly -40C! 

Each Winter Wonderland day trip takes you and your family to a magical location, close to a vast snow-covered wilderness, and unspoiled by mass-market tourism or crowds of Santa pilgrims. It’s an outdoors day, filled with Lapland’s favourite activities - snowmobiling, husky sledding, and reindeer sleigh rides - which take place around a frozen river or a frozen lake. A warming lunch is included and provides much-needed energy for your fun-packed adventures in the snow!

Excitement reaches fever pitch for children and parents alike as you venture in search of Santa’s hideaway cabin - the ultimate highlight of your one-day trip. Don’t forget to bring a letter, he’d love to know what’s on your Christmas wish list! There'll also be plenty of time to pack in a friendly snowball fight and create perfect snow angels, before travelling through the pristine snow by an engine-propelled snowmobile, a sleigh led by Santa's favourite reindeer, or a sled pulled by an eager team of huskies! 

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2024 lapland day trips.

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2024 Lapland Day Breaks!

Magical Lapland day trips for 2024 are now on sale!

Walk through freshly fallen snow , experience exciting winter activities and meet Santa himself in this magical winter wonderland during this unforgettable Lapland experience!

This fantastic 2024 experience also includes a husky experience, snowmobile adventure and a reindeer sleigh ride through the picture perfect Lapland wilderness.

Don't miss out, Lapland holidays are very popular and sell out fast!

From just £630 per adult & £585 per child * , includes:

We have lots of dates, durations and departure airports available. For a personalised quote please call us on 0330 880 5001

*Prices and available dates subject to availability. Please note that Lapland Holidays are not recommended for children under the age of 3.

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My four-day rail and ferry adventure from the UK to Albania

From London to Tirana, via Chambéry’s medieval streets, bustling Bari and Albania’s dynamic capital, this trip across Europe has treats at every turn

M y overriding memories of crossing countries by train, on a trip from London to Albania, are of half-empty carriages and countryside sweeping past windows bathed in the soft orange glow of sunset. I remember cypress trees, red-roofed villages with square churches, farmland in neat strips and row upon row of vineyards.

On my London-Paris-Chambéry-Turin-Bari-Tirana journey over land and sea, there was, for long stretches, little to do. The wifi was patchy. It took a while to adapt to having so much time to simply watch the world go by, travelling through landscapes without having to navigate them.

The biggest stress happened long before I set off, when a landslide not far from the French border with Italy blocked the rail line between Chambéry and Turin, forcing a closure that continues today. Byway, the no-fly operator I had booked with, offered to reroute me through Nice and on to Turin via the Vermenagna valley (with changes in Tende and Cuneo), or book me on the FlixBus service over part of the Mont Blanc massif. I was keen to see Chambéry and the Alps, so I chose the bus.

People seemed surprised when I told them I was travelling overland to Albania. As I gushed about the romance of slow travel by train and sleeper ferry, and my excitement about Tirana, I got comments about being “brave”. I didn’t feel especially brave: all the planning, tickets and hotel bookings were done for me, and friendly help was a WhatsApp call away if needed.

I just had to download the Rail Planner app for my Interrail pass and make sure I was at the right station at the right time (Turin was the biggest challenge: it has four main railway stations and taxis scream between them bearing anxious-looking passengers).

The entire journey took four days. If I did it all again, I’d stay longer in Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot – and remember to buy my Paris Métro ticket from the cafe on the Eurostar.

Day one: London to Chamb éry

First to Paris’s Gare du Nord, then the metro to Gare de Lyon, where I make a beeline for a cafe opposite the station. Noise pervades the pavement tables of Café Terminus, but the cacophony is delightful – an atmospheric place for a citron pressé .

I’m in plenty of time for the train to Chambéry and, excitingly, am on the upper deck. Soon, we break free from the suburbs to trace huge stands of forest. Beyond Lyon begins a ripple of hills, lazy rivers and thickly forested slopes. As evening approaches, it’s all Alpine scenery. I arrive at an almost-empty station and walk to the boutique Hotel des Princes in Chambéry’s old town.

Chambéry has an Italian feel – it was the seat of the House of Savoy before the dynasty moved on to Turin – and its medieval alleys, cathedral and pastel-coloured townhouses are quietly impressive. The 1838 Fontaine des Éléphants sits in the middle of the closest square to the old town, and peeking from the end of every street are the Bauges and Chartreuse mountain ranges. My stay is peaceful and easy.

Day two: Chamb éry to Turin

From Chambéry, the train to Turin would take about 2½ hours, but the bus takes double this. I’m on the top deck again, which is worth it for the sight of misty fingers of early morning light breaking across the mountain ridge. Snoozing backpackers rouse themselves to snap pictures of remote Mont Blanc peaks, before slumbering once more through the tunnel to Italy. In Turin there’s perfume in the air from the blossom-covered trees.

Turin’s grid of long, straight boulevards is testament to its development by the Romans – the redbrick Palatine Gate is another Roman relic – and its grand piazzas, royal palaces and graffitied colonnades date from the city’s Savoy heyday in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, the number one attraction is the Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum).

My favourite moments? Ricotta and fig ice-cream on Piazza San Carlo, an aperitivo on off-the-beaten-path Via Sant’Agostino and the towering neoclassical Mole Antonelliana (national museum of cinema). I eat Turin’s famous doughy pizza al padellino (pan pizza) and spend a comfortable night in the eaves of Hotel Urbani in 19th-century residential streets close to the grand Porta Nuova train station.

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Day three: Turin to Bari

The views from my next train are of cinematic Tuscan scenes. Scorched fields, vines and Italian cypress trees. Neat red roofs and shabby-chic farmhouses. Fluffy clouds cling to hills that Google Maps tells me are the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. After hours of soothing golden landscapes, the opal-blue Adriatic wallops into view just north of Ancona. Beach bars whip by and cypress trees are replaced with palm trees: I’ve arrived in the south of Italy.

Bari is hands down my favourite stop. The noise, heat and energy as we step off the train in the early evening are joyous. After Chambéry and Turin, Bari feels brash, a little rough around the edges even; a proper port city. The labyrinthine alleyways of the whitewashed old town are almost cliched in their cuteness. Despite the troupes of tightly packed headphone-wearing Americans following guided tours, it somehow manages to retain a tranquil atmosphere.

Old ladies yawn from the shade as tourists surreptitiously snap pictures and laundry flutters from balconies. I could stay for ever, but after 24 hours (which includes a lot of pasta, a stroll along the posh promenade to the not-so-posh city beach and a night in an elegant aparthotel, Residence Zodiacus , halfway between the station and the old town), it’s time to board the night ferry to Albania.

Day (and night) four: Bari to Tirana

I arrive at the ferry on foot and am escorted through the car deck to jokes about going in the wrong direction (to Albania, instead of from it). In the early morning I spot a pink sky through the cracked window of my comfy en suite cabin, and head to the top deck to see the sun rise over the distant outline of Albania. Disembarking in the port of Durrës is a bit of a scrum and there’s a bus to the capital waiting, but I opt instead for a five-minute taxi ride to the centre of town and breakfast of pastries and espresso on a dazzling white road lined with boutiques and palm trees. I later regret this though, as the aircon on the grubby public bus I eventually take to Tirana is more tired than I am, and drops me in an urban sprawl miles from the centre.

Tirana itself is a revelation. My hotel, Padam Boutique , is a grand villa with handsome rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows, and there’s striking new skyward architecture on every nearby street. A short stroll away is the landmark Pyramid of Tirana , which stands as a symbol and monument to change (and is fun to climb at sunset). Skanderbeg Square – a jumble of buildings erected on a roundabout at the time of the celebrations to mark the fall of communism in 1992 – is now a pedestrianised, glossy public space. There are nods to Albania’s recent, wretched history behind the iron curtain, of course – the Bunk’Art and Bunk’Art 2 museums, in nuclear bunkers are unmissable – but Tirana and the country are more than just the last century. My journey is done, but it feels like Tirana is just getting into its stride.

The trip was provided by Byway , which offers sustainable travel and accommodation packages across the UK and Europe. Its Alps to Albania trip costs from £679pp

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