From Ireland to the Arctic Circle, Our Lapland Journey

As a travel agent, I get asked about Lapland a lot. There are a number of different ways I can book this trip for clients, but generally speaking there are two main styles, a standard option and a more premium, experience.

For our own trip, we chose the premium option. Realistically, Lapland is a once-in-a-lifetime destination for many families, and we felt that if we were going to do it, we wanted to do it properly. No rushing, no hidden extras, no worrying about what was or wasn’t included. Just pure magic from start to finish.

The holiday was a fully inclusive, (apart from drinks and souvenirs), four day experience designed around the famous Search for Santa itinerary. From the moment we arrived, everything was taken care of, which meant I could simply enjoy the trip through my son’s eyes rather than thinking like a travel agent.

We stayed in one of Lapland’s most authentic resorts, set deep within the snowy wilderness. These resorts are small, charming and surrounded by forests and frozen landscapes, exactly how you imagine Lapland should look. Think snow covered trees, crisp fresh air and that feeling that you’re a million miles away from everyday life.

What was included in our Lapland experience

One of the biggest reasons we chose this style of trip was how much was included as standard. There were no unexpected extras and no constant upselling once we arrived, which makes a huge difference when travelling with children.

Over the course of the trip, we experienced:

• A reindeer experience where we fed the reindeer, and enjoyed a magical sleigh ride through the snow
• Husky sledding through the forest, fast, exciting and absolutely unforgettable
• Snowmobiling for both adults and children on a prepared track
• Snow fun and games, including tobogganing, snowball fights and snow angels
• Visits to Santa’s magical post office and toy workshop
• Meeting Santa’s special elves, who kept the children entertained from start to finish. Tricky Dickie was a firm favourite!
• A private family meeting with Santa, which was every bit as special as you’d hope
• A we found Santa party.

All meals were included, with buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, and cosy snow suits and boots were provided, which takes a huge amount of stress out of packing.

The Search for Santa experience

Rather than just visiting Santa, the entire trip is built around searching for him. Each day, the children follow clues with the help of the elves, huskies and reindeer, gradually making their way deeper into the forest.

The meeting itself was private, and genuinely magical. No queues, no conveyor belt feeling, just a special moment that felt completely personal.

The attention to detail was a highlight for me – with Santa being able to show my son his Santa letter which was written weeks before we travelled and Santa giving a present to my son that was on his Christmas list – get in touch for more details on how the magic happens.

Saying goodbye to Lapland

On the final morning, after breakfast, we said goodbye to Lapland and our Arctic guides, who had been incredible throughout. Certificates were given out to mark crossing the Arctic Circle, and then it was time to head home, tired, happy and full of memories.

Lapland is one of those trips that really does sell out early, and with 2026 now open, I’d love to help you secure your family’s place while the best dates and resorts are still available.