Our Lapland Adventure: Tips and Highlights

Since returning from Finland, we’ve been battling Flu A and barely able to get out of bed! But I’ve been so excited to share details about our trip. If you’re considering a similar adventure, get ready to screenshot or copy and paste!

We stayed in Levi (pronounced Lev-ee), a charming town in Finnish Lapland. Our trip was organized by Ingham’s, a UK-based travel agency that handled accommodations, meals, excursions, and transfers seamlessly. If Ingham’s isn’t available where you live, here’s everything we did so you can recreate the experience!

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the K5 Hotel Cabins (specifically cabin5A) with a half-board option, which included buffet breakfast and dinner daily. The cabin was spacious, spotless, and even had a private sauna! It was conveniently located—just a short walk to the main lodge (where you can feed reindeer!), the town center, and the ski resort. The dads even built a sledding hill right in front of our cabin, which became the kids’ favorite activity!

Pro Tip: Half-board dining was convenient but repetitive. By day three, we were craving something different, so I’d skip it next time. Our cabin had a fully equipped kitchen and the market was within walking distance with everything you need to make a great home-cooked meal. You also need to have at least one lunch or dinner at Myllyn Aija! Our favorite dishes there were the meat stew, the better reindeer, and the pork schnitzel.

‍Essential Gear

The MVP of this trip? Thermal suits and boots. We rented ours from Perhesafarit. Made in Finland and rated to -30°C, these kept us warm and dry with just thin base layers underneath. Unfortunately, these aren’t sold in the U.S. (I checked because I miss those boots!). If you’re planning a winter trip to Lapland, renting proper gear is a must!

Our Favorite Excursions

Husky Safari

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A 5 km dog sled ride through snowy forests—what an experience! Adults can even drive the sleds after a quick lesson. Note: Kids ride in a professional-driven sled, which I didn’t realize ahead of time but worked out fine. Bring hand warmers and a balaclava (or balaclava-la as Layla called it) because it gets cold with the wind in your face.

Snow Tubing
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We spent Christmas afternoon snow tubing, and it was a hit! For just €15 per person, we had unlimited tubing and a bus transfer. It wasn’t crowded at all, so we had the slopes almost all to ourselves.

Reindeer Excursion

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Visiting a Sami reindeer farm was a highlight. We learned about Sami traditions, fed the reindeer, and enjoyed a magical sledge ride through the forest. This excursion was family-friendly, and the kids could ride alongside parents for this one, and it ended with warm drinks and cookies. Yum.

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Santa Claus Visit

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Tonttula Elves Village was straight out of a storybook. The kids met Santa, saw their letters that they sent from London, and even became certified elves after baking gingerbread cookies and making crafts. We roasted sausages, sledded, and soaked in the festive charm. You couldn't top the smiles from this day. A must-do if you’re visiting Lapland!

Skiing for the Kids

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On our last day, we tried skiing at Leevilandia, a beginner-friendly area designed for kids. Watching them ski under the fire-colored sky was the perfect way to wrap up the week.

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‍Things to Know

• Daylight is limited: In December, you’ll only get about two hours of twilight – the sun never really rises in the sky. On clear days, if you look at the horizon, you’ll see the colors of the sunrise on one side, and the colors of the sunset on the other. Even in the dark, the scenery is magical, thanks to streetlights and floodlights, but it might throw off bedtime routines! The best thing we found was to power through the tiredness and still go to bed around the same time that we normally would at home.
• Pack your moisturizers. The air in Lapland is just as dry as the Sahara Desert! Be sure to lotion up, especially any exposed skin. I used a hyaluronic acid serum with a coating of Vaseline on my lips and cuticles, and the whole family used our Tubby Todd lotion morning and night!
• Northern  Lights aren’t guaranteed: I thought being so far into the Arctic Circle meant we’d see them easily, but it’s more complicated. Light pollution and weather need to cooperate. Download the MyAurora app for alerts, but minimize your expectations so you aren’t disappointed!
• Put  your regular spending to good use. We wouldn’t normally be able to afford these epic vacations, but we started using a Capital One travel card a couple years ago and it has made ALL the difference! We use it for all of our daily expenses like gas, groceries, and even our cell phone and utility bills and earn miles for every dollar spent. For this trip, we were able to get over half the costs covered just from our rewards! Click here to apply for free (if approved, I am eligible for a small bonus!).

Final Thoughts

I never thought I’d enjoy a cold-weather vacation, but Lapland won me over! Next time, I’d choose a destination with better odds of seeing the northern lights, but this trip was unforgettable.

If you have any questions about our Lapland adventure, feel free to message me—I’d love to help you plan your trip!