FAMILY HOLIDAYS LAPLAND DESTINATIONS


adult and £1,179 per child (with a limited number of half-price child places available), including thermal suits, snow boots and charter flights from regional UK airports.


w VISIT SANTA IN A DAY Clients short on time but big on ambition? Suggest Newmarket Holidays’ day trip to Swedish Lapland, which features a special Christmas-themed chartered flight to Pajala airport, where families are met by a Sami and taken to the rather magical Santa’s village. Snowmobiling, husky sledding and a reindeer sleigh ride through the forest are all on the agenda, as is a private family meeting with Saint Nicholas following a ‘search for Santa’ down a secret path illuminated with twinkling lights. They’ll also get a two-course lunch of hot soup and Swedish meatballs, plus a hot berry


juice to drink and cosy thermal clothes, all in a day’s play. “It’s a great product to


sell to people looking for a multigenerational experience,” says head of trade sales Richard Forde, who says most bookings are for groups of six or more. It costs from £499 for adults and £449 for children aged two to 15.


w GO ON A NEW YEAR BREAK Christmas might be over by the end of December, but the magic doesn’t have to be. Santa’s Lapland offers post-Christmas versions of its Santa’s Magic break, taking families to the mountain resort of Saariselkä – a hub for winter sports, 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Finland – with activities including snow hockey, ice fishing, tandem skiing, mini skidoo rides, kick- sledding and plenty more. Kids will be able to thank Mr


Lapland in luxury


At the heart of Finland’s Christmas scene is Rovaniemi, capital of Lapland and home of Santa Claus Village. Here ice sculptures, snowmobile tours, reindeer rides, restaurants and souvenir shops cluster around the central attraction, the Santa Claus Office, glowing amid a magical, snowy scene that looks like it’s come straight off a Christmas card. There are plenty of places to stay in the region but for something extra special, suggest


the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel, a collection of luxury Scandi-style stilted ‘GlassHouses’ and suites nestled among the trees, offering panoramic views over the snow- covered forest.


Carrier combines a two-night


stay at the hotel with a gingerbread masterclass with Santa, private excursions including snowmobil- ing, aurora hunting and a husky safari, from £20,930 for a family of four, with flights from Gatwick on December 23.


Claus and his helpers in a private meet and greet, stretching out the fun beyond Boxing Day, and round it all off with a memorable gala dinner. The three-day trip costs from £1,209 per person based on two


adults and two children aged two to 10 years departing December 27, 2019, including activities, thermal clothing, half-board accommodation and return flights to Ivalo from a choice of UK airports.


11 October 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 53


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