“I appreciated the silence, and the chance to reconnect as a family.”

“On our first night, we got our snowsuits on and laid out by the lake in complete silence for about half an hour, just taking it all in – followed by fun on the sledges! We haven’t laughed that much together in such a long time. It’s a memory I will cherish forever.

“The excursion that surprised me the most was the trek to the iced waterfalls – the most spectacular frozen waterfalls in Finland. We booked this excursion before we arrived as part of a group trek, but this can also be booked as a private excursion. Our guide took us through the forests to the very best spots to admire the spectacular ice formations. Refreshments and a typical Finnish campfire snack are also provided.

“And of course, no trip to Lapland is complete without a visit to see Santa (who is there all year round) at the world-famous Santa Claus Village! You can visit the elves’ workshops and join an Arctic Circle crossing ceremony, enjoy the gift shops and snow activities, and indulge in the local cuisine at the many restaurants and bars. I personally enjoyed a few glasses of Glugie, which is a delicious traditional drink of warm gin and apple juice. 

“We went to Finland, like many people do, in hopes of spotting the infamous Northern Lights. Every night, we were waiting to see the Aurora, but sadly it was too cloudy. However, on our last night we saw on the My Aurora Forecast & Alerts app that there was a slight chance they would appear. All of a sudden, through the gaps in the clouds, we could see flashes of lights! To the naked eye, it was hard to make out, but through our camera lens, we could see a greenish tinge – I would say we witnessed a northern glow! So, now we have a good excuse to go back again to see them properly. But, we made sure that we planned a Lapland holiday that would be satisfying with or without the aurora – it’s sadly not a phenomenon that can be counted upon!”

Louise’s recommendations for the perfect Lapland escape:

• It’s best to stay somewhere outside of the city, where you can appreciate the quiet, and you are away from all the light pollution for the best chances to see the Northern lights 
• Download an app to track the Northern lights
• Snowmobiling is a must-do in Lapland. You do need to be over 18 with a driving licence to drive them.
• Take the trek to Korouoma Canyon Frozen Waterfalls
• If you are visiting Santa Village in December I would recommend a VIP booking as queues can be up to three hours to meet Santa
• Three nights was good, but I could have done with another night, so I would recommend staying for four
• Don’t overpack – you will be given the snowsuits when you arrive at your accommodation, along with boots, hats, gloves and hand warmers
• Try out the local cuisine, reindeer meat and mash with lingonberry jam, alongside a glass of Glugie
• Book your trip a year in advance for the best choice of accommodation, flights and activities
• Don’t pack too much in, make the most of doing nothing!

Contact Louise to learn more and start planning your Lapland adventure: call 01491 575 987 or email louise@savilerowtravel.co.uk