DESTINATIONS FAMILY HOLIDAYS | FINLAND
ABOVE: Moomin World celebrates the cute characters from Tove Jansson’s series of books; Zac with husky puppy PICTURE: Jenni Virta Iloinen Liftari Oy; Cathy Toogood BOOK IT
Regent Holidays offers a seven- night Finnish Lakeland Family Summer Break. Accommodation is in a log cabin at Lehmonkärki Resort on the shores of Lake Päjiänne, where activities include guided e-biking, hiking or kayaking, a fishing experience and a trip to a husky farm. Prices start at £2,945 for adults and £1,065 for children, including flights to Helsinki and car hire.
regent-holidays.co.uk
The Aurora Zone has a three- night autumn lights tailor-made family break from £695 for adults and £305 for children. The price includes accommodation in a glass-roofed Aurora Cabin at the Northern Lights Village in Saariselkä, all meals, airport transfers, cold-weather clothing and an aurora alert service. Flights are extra.
theaurorazone.com
52 17 JULY 2025
Summer is the cheapest time to visit Levi, though, and is a good recommendation for clients looking for a memorable family holiday away from the crowds and the warmer climate of the Med. Kids might try panning for gold in the river or picking herbs with the elves as part of the summer activity schedule. And, while May and Zac loved the thrill of our sleigh ride with All Huskies safari, the part of our visit they still talk about is meeting more than 70 huskies afterwards, learning their names and stroking an excitable pack of puppies – all of which is still on offer, even when there’s no snow on the ground.
MOOMIN MAGIC Another obvious family draw for Finland is Tove Jansson’s cute Moomins – and this year is the perfect time to recommend a trip for fans, as 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the publication of Jansson’s first book, The Moomins and the Great Flood. There are several celebrations taking place across
the country, including special events and exhibitions at Tampere’s Moomin Museum, autumn dance performances in Tampere, a Tove Jansson exhibition opening in October at Helsinki’s Architecture and Design Museum, and fantastical fun at the whimsical Moomin World theme park 10 miles from Turku. The Moomin books cover the wonder of nature, and as an active family, we loved that we were never
May and Zac still talk about
meeting more than 70 huskies, learning their names and stroking the excitable pack of puppies
far from green space or an outdoor activity in Finland, even when basing ourselves in the cities. In Tampere, we took part in an escape room set in a
forest overlooking Lake Pyhäjärvi with Nature Escape, then tested out the Flou floating sauna with dips in the lake to cool down in between. Families visiting Helsinki can also take a bike ride down the Vantaa River or enjoy downtime on one of the beaches or nearby islands accessible by ferry, such as Pihlajasaari. We returned from our family holiday to Finland feeling thoroughly refreshed and reflecting on the words of northern lights safari guide Heli Alatalo, from Soma Adventures. When I had asked Heli why Finland was consistently voted the happiest place in the world, she relied: “We are very positive because we have space and nature. We don’t get stressed and live in the moment.” In a world where families rush around and screens
are a constant distraction, these are the ideal factors for switching off and enjoying each other’s company.
TW
travelweekly.co.uk
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