Which Christmas in Lapland tour suits you?
A practical guide for families, couples and first-timers
- 2027 Released
6 days | Independent | Dec | Ruka
Spend a magical Christmas surrounded by wilderness and pristine snow, with a plethora of outdoor experiences to fill your days. In the evenings, relax with your family in your own chalet with good food and maybe a Finnish sauna. Highlights include a visit to an authentic Reindeer Farm, a magical husky ride through the forests, a tour in the evening in an AURORA wagon.
Ruka is located in the north of Kuusamo, a Finnish municipality that is renowned for its natural beauty and almost untouched wilderness. Ruka, one of the largest ski resorts in Finland, is among the country’s major holiday destinations, due to its excellent snow sports opportunities. Staying in a private resort away from the crowds, enjoy many included activities and a family day at Santa's Cottage on Christmas Eve and a special Christmas Dinner (24th Dec).
Highlights include
- Spend a magical Christmas in Finnish Lapland, staying in a cosy private log chalet or Sky View Villa in Ruka
- Celebrate Christmas Eve with Santa Claus, Mrs Claus and the elves at Santa's Cottage in the forest
- Join festive family activities including gingerbread baking, Christmas crafts, tobogganing and meeting Santa
- Enjoy a special Christmas Eve dinner (24DEC) in a beautiful Arctic setting
- Visit a traditional family-run reindeer farm and help feed hundreds of reindeer
- Experience an enchanting reindeer sleigh ride through snowy forests and riverside landscapes
- Drive your own husky sled through pristine Arctic wilderness on an unforgettable husky safari
- Explore the snowy landscapes of Lapland on a guided snowmobile adventure
- Discover Finnish sauna traditions with an authentic sauna experience, including the chance to roll in the snow or try an ice dip
- Search for the Northern Lights from a heated Aurora Wagon, complete with warm drinks and snacks
- Stay in a remote wilderness location with excellent opportunities to see the Aurora Borealis
- Enjoy classic winter fun including snow angels, tobogganing and snow tubing
- Includes winter clothing hire, airport transfers, guided activities and most meals
- Family-friendly Christmas holiday designed for all ages, with a minimum age of 4 years
- Day 1
- Welcome to Lapland, transfer to Ruka village and make your first snow angel
- Day 2
- Fun Day at Santa's Cottage in the forest
- Day 3
- Morning feeding of reindeer & Authentic Finnish Sauna
- Day 4
- Snowmobiling and Aurora-Wagon ride
- Day 5
- Husky Safari
- Day 6
- Departure Day
- Start/End Place
- Kuusamo, Lapland, Finland
- Country Visited
- Finland
- Duration
- 6 Days
- Start Date
- Scheduled
- Travel Style
- Independent
- Suitability
- Easy Christmas tour
- Carbon Footprint
- 83Kg of CO₂e Average carbon footprint per person?
- Code
- 50DN0170
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this itinerary using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
Through our Climate Action Plan, we measure our carbon emissions each year and set goals to reduce them. But our responsibility does not end when the journey does. A share of our annual profits goes to our Impact Fund, supporting conservation, restoration and the communities we work in.
Details
Transportation
Airport transfers
Included
23-28 Dec 2026 and 2027 departure
- Airport transfers on day 1 & 6 (coinciding with scheduled flights) from Kuusamo (KAO) airport
- 5 nights' accommodation in your private log chalet or villa-apartment (Sky View Villa). Each chalet has different furniture and styles. The villa-apartment has glass windows on the roof.
- Tour Leader service - Assisting the group around activities and transfers
- 1 set of linen & towels per person for the 5 nights
- Final cleaning for cabin
- 5 x breakfast
- 2 x lunch (drinks paid locally)
- 5 x dinner including festive Christmas meal (Festive meal for guests staying the 24th Dec) (drinks paid locally)
- Winter clothing hire: Overalls, boots, balaclava (for snowmobile ride), mittens and one large pair of woollen socks
- Activities: Fun day at Santa's cottage, northern lights search, visit to reindeer farm and sleigh ride, sauna tour, snowmobiling and husky safari. These activities can vary depending on the weather conditions and final schedule closer to departure.
19-23 Dec 2026 departure
- Airport transfers on day 1 & 5 (coinciding with scheduled flights) from Kuusamo (KAO) airport
- 4 nights' accommodation in your private log chalet or villa-apartment (Sky View Villa). Each chalet has different furniture and styles. The villa-apartment has glass windows on the roof.
- Tour Leader service - Assisting the group around activities and transfer
- 1 set of linen & towels per person for the 5 nights
- Final cleaning for cabin
- 4 x breakfast
- 2 x lunch during your activities (drinks paid locally)
- 4 x dinner (drinks paid locally)
- Winter clothing hire: Overalls, boots, mittens and one large pair of woollen socks
- Activities: Fun day at Santa's cottage, northern lights search, visit to reindeer farm and sleigh ride, sauna tour and husky safari. These activities can vary depending on the weather conditions and final schedule closer to departure.
18-23 Dec 2027 departure
- Airport transfers on day 1 & 6 (coinciding with scheduled flights) from Kuusamo (KAO) airport
- 5 nights' accommodation in your private log chalet or villa-apartment (Sky View Villa). Each chalet has different furniture and styles. The villa-apartment has glass windows on the roof.
- Tour Leader service - Assisting the group around activities and transfer
- 1 set of linen & towels per person for the 5 nights
- Final cleaning for cabin
- 5 x breakfast
- 2 x lunch during your activities (drinks paid locally)
- 5 x dinner (drinks paid locally)
- Winter clothing hire: Overalls, boots, mittens and one large pair of woollen socks
- Activities: Fun day at Santa's cottage, northern lights search, visit to reindeer farm and sleigh ride, sauna tour, snowmobiling and husky safari. These activities can vary depending on the weather conditions and final schedule closer to departure.
Not Included
Flight tickets, meals other than described, drinks including alcoholic beverages, juice, soft drinks and hot beverages, travel insurance, visas, gratuities and any other items of personal nature.
It is possible to fly into Rovaneimi and we can individually quote for this.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Welcome to Lapland, transfer to Ruka village and make your first snow angel
Transfer from Kuusamo airport to Rukan Salonki. Free time for relaxing in your cabin: light the fire, make a cup of tea and watch the kids make their first snow angel. Ready to get moving - head out to the huge tobogganing slope, grabbing some free toboggans and snowtubes along the way. You will get your outer winter gear and boots as well this afternoon.
Enjoy your first evening in Lapland. With no light pollution and no noise you can truly feel the beauty of the Arctic night, admire the night sky and hopefully see the Northern Lights. Hear the silence of the wilderness and breathe in the cleanest air in Europe.
Meals
1 DinnerAccommodation
Rukan Salonki Chalets and Villas - each family will have a different accommodation option.Day 2 - Fun Day at Santa's Cottage in the forest
Enjoy some time outside before spending the rest of the day with Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and the elves. Santa’s Cottage is located about 30-minute drive away from Ruka and you will transfer there with your guide and group.
The program begins with tobogganing instructed by Santa’s elves, so remember to dress up warm! After having fun outdoors, we will enjoy grilled sausages, hot soup and hot juice in the kota-hut. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will soon invite you to the house, where Santa tells stories about his life.
All children will be nominated as Santa’s little helpers and their elf skills will be put into a test. We will see how well you master gingerbread and sweet bun baking and Christmas card making. You can enjoy a cup of coffee, tea, glögi or homemade berry juice in the buffet, and eat as many gingerbread cookies and chocolates as you like! Don’t forget to stop by in our small post office where you can buy souvenirs and post cards.
At the end of the program everyone will get together to sing Santa’s favorite Christmas carol to him in Finnish. Santa will reward his hard-working helpers with a small gift. All baked goods will be packed for you to take them with you.
In the evening, special Christmas Eve dinner for guests staying the 24th Dec.
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Accommodation
Rukan Salonki Chalets and Villas - each family will have a different accommodation option.Day 3 - Morning feeding of reindeer & Authentic Finnish Sauna
At your leisure this morning, head to breakfast before meeting the reindeers. A short transfer takes you to a family-owned traditional reindeer farm. One of the reindeer herders will greet you and take you to the corral with hundreds of reindeer, they are waiting for their breakfast. Together with the reindeer herders you get to feed the reindeer and also take pictures of the unique moment when being surrounded by a herd of reindeer.
After the reindeer have been fed, it is time for a sleigh-ride in the gorgeous winter wonderland of the reindeer farm. The 1,5km long
sleigh-ride follows the riverside to the old farm forest. The sledge seats 2 adults and 1-3 children. A strengthening snack is served in the kota, with some hot beverages and as you leave you can visit the little farm shop with local handicrafts.
After lunch, in the afternoon, you will be assigned time to do a 'sauna tour'. Finnish sauna is an institution, something very essential in life and a must-have. But why do the Finns love their sauna baths so much, is it not just sitting in a hot room? Your authorized sauna guide will tell you about the Finnish sauna and its health benefits and traditions. The sauna guide will advise you on how to make the perfect "löyly" happen, that is the steam in the sauna and also advise you to the use of a body scrub made of Lappish wild herbs. Between the heats you can cool off by taking a dip in the refreshing lake, or ice-hole if winter or even rolling in the snow!
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Lunch
1 Dinner
Day 4 - Snowmobiling and Aurora-Wagon ride
After breakfast, familiarize yourself with snowmobiling, a favourite hobby of the locals. This tour gives you good basic skills for snowmobiling and the guide will give you a full safety briefing and instructions on driving. The safari goes through the stunning snow-covered forests and two persons share a snowmobile where there is an opportunity to switch places halfway through the tour. Children ride in a sledge pulled by the guide's snowmobile.
After dinner, buckle up and relax in a heated AURORA-Wagon as you are transported to the best vantage points for witnessing the breathtaking Aurora Borealis. You´ll be gliding over frozen lakes, through misty forests, and deep snow, and with a little luck all beneath a sky shimmering with moonlight, stars and maybe even Northern Lights. Along the way, you´ll have some warm drinks and a lovely snack in a lovely lantern-lit kota while the guide will tell you more about the Northern Lights as well as help you use your own camera how to capture them.
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Dinner
Day 5 - Husky Safari
Today it is time to meet the huskies. Transfer to the husky farm, and on your arrival at the lakeside husky camp you are greeted by the enthusiastic barking of the huskies. The small-scale husky camp is located in lovely forest terrain and after the careful instructions on driving and safety you will take off into the landscape with your own husky team. The team carries two persons, one musher and one passenger and you can change places during the safari. After the thrill and speed of the start, you soon start to relax and enjoy the surroundings and the co-operation with these lovely arctic runners. Once you return to the camp, you are invited to the Kota for a strengthening snack and some information on huskies. You can also visit the huskies in the fenced area where they have their “homes”.
Meals
1 Breakfast1 Dinner
Day 6 - Departure Day
After breakfast, transfer to the Kuusamo airport for departure.
Meals
1 BreakfastDates & Prices
Family triple and quad applies when 2 adults and 1 or 2 children (between 4-11 years old) sharing a Sky View Villa. Large cabins are available on request for bigger families.
IMPORTANT: 19-23 DEC 2026 IS A 5 DAY ITINERARY AND DOES NOT INCLUDE SNOWMOBILE
Dates
Start Date
End Date
From Price
Status
Accommodation
19 Dec 2026
23 Dec 2026
23 Dec 2026
19 Dec 2026
23 Dec 2026
USD 11,322
Closed
Family Triple Total
19 Dec 2026
23 Dec 2026
23 Dec 2026
19 Dec 2026
23 Dec 2026
USD 13,221
Closed
Family Quad Total
23 Dec 2026
28 Dec 2026
28 Dec 2026
23 Dec 2026
28 Dec 2026
USD 12,744
Fully booked
Family Triple Total
23 Dec 2026
28 Dec 2026
28 Dec 2026
23 Dec 2026
28 Dec 2026
USD 14,800
Fully booked
Family Quad Total
18 Dec 2027
23 Dec 2027
23 Dec 2027
18 Dec 2027
23 Dec 2027
USD 12,876
Available
Family Triple Total
18 Dec 2027
23 Dec 2027
23 Dec 2027
18 Dec 2027
23 Dec 2027
USD 14,924
Available
Family Quad Total
23 Dec 2027
28 Dec 2027
28 Dec 2027
23 Dec 2027
28 Dec 2027
USD 13,295
Available
Family Triple Total
23 Dec 2027
28 Dec 2027
28 Dec 2027
23 Dec 2027
28 Dec 2027
USD 15,446
Available
Family Quad Total
Important Information
Meal Description:
Breakfast: Breakfast buffet includes a selection of breads, croissants, eggs, cheeses, cold cut meats and fish, bacon, sausages, fruits and vegetables, cereal and muesli, yogurt, jam, sweet cookies, juices and coffee/tea. Daily variations to the breakfast menu.
Dinner: Buffet dinner is made from local ingredients and made in Kultala’s own kitchen and includes selection of salads, fish and meat, soup, one main course, dessert, coffee/tea, still water. Further beverages available on spot and charged by consumption.
Accommodation Description:
There are different accommodation options and price varies per family depending on which accommodation you choose. There are standard log chalets with twin bedrooms, lofts, fireplaces, wifi, living rooms, kitchens, several bathrooms and saunas. There are superior options of these chalets as well. You can also consider a Sky View Villa with bedrooms with sky facing windows, ideal of Northern Lights viewing from your bed.
A valid driving license is required to drive a snowmobile.
ANIMAL WELFARE POLICY:
At 50 Degrees North, animal welfare is a top priority during all our tours and packages. We carefully select suppliers who adhere to strict animal welfare standards, ensuring that wildlife interactions are respectful and comply with local, national, and international regulations. We avoid offering excursions that involve captive wildlife, except where they are properly regulated, and all activities are designed to minimise disturbance to natural ecosystems. Our travellers are educated on responsible, including responsible animal interactions, through our 'Responsible Travel Tips' for travellers, and our guides are trained to lead by example, promoting ethical conduct towards both wild and domesticated animals. By prioritising animal welfare in every aspect of our tours, we ensure that your travel experience is both enjoyable and ethically sound. Read our article on Animal Welfare to learn more.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Weather conditions may occasionally affect certain activities, and as a result, the schedule may be adjusted to ensure the best possible experience for all guests. For multi-activity stays, often the order of the activities will be confirmed locally on arrival. Activities might vary slightly in their duration or location due to the weather and local conditions. Any activities that are unable to be re-scheduled due to weather conditions will be refunded as a general practice, as determined by the activity provider.
Gallery
Interactive Tour Map
Inspiration
Beyond Santa Claus Village: where to spend Christmas in Lapland
Quieter Christmas destinations across Lapland, with private Santa visits, glass-roofed cabins and fewer crowds than Rovaniemi.
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Enquire
Lapland Christmas Holidays
A Christmas holiday in Finnish Lapland combines the chance to meet Santa with snowy forests, reindeer, husky rides and time together in a winter landscape. Families can choose from escorted holidays with a host, independent stays in cabins or glass igloos, and all-inclusive programmes built around Christmas activities.
The right holiday depends on your family, the kind of Santa experience you want and whether you prefer a busy festive village or a quieter stay in the wilderness. You can travel before Christmas, spend the festive days in Lapland itself, or visit after Christmas for a New Year break.
Explore our Christmas and New Year holidays, or read on to compare the experiences and travel styles available.
What can you experience on a Lapland Christmas holiday?
Meet Santa in Lapland
For many families, meeting Santa is the highlight of a Christmas trip. Some holidays include a private visit in a forest cabin, sometimes reached by sleigh, while others include a visit to Santa as part of a stay at a resort.
The experience varies by holiday, so check whether your chosen trip includes a private family meeting, a group visit or another type of Santa program.
Read our guide to meeting Santa in Lapland for more information about where Santa lives, how visits work and when to go. If you prefer a quieter encounter away from the busiest attractions, see how to meet Santa away from the crowds.
Santa waiting for families during ourLapland winter Magic tour just before Christmas week.
Go husky sledding and meet reindeer
Husky sledding and reindeer experiences are popular winter activities in Finnish Lapland. Depending on your holiday, you may visit a husky camp, learn about the dogs and head out on a guided sled ride, or visit a reindeer farm and experience a traditional reindeer sleigh ride.
The activities included, their duration and any minimum-age requirements vary by program. Check the itinerary carefully when choosing a holiday for younger children or teenagers.
Stay in a log cabin or glass igloo
Accommodation is an important part of the Lapland Christmas experience. A private log cabin gives families space to relax together after a day outdoors, while a glass-roofed cabin or igloo offers views of the surrounding landscape and, when conditions allow, the night sky.
Some holidays include private kitchen facilities, saunas or all meals, while others are based at a hotel or resort. Think about how much independence you want, the sleeping arrangements for your family and whether you prefer included activities or the freedom to organise your own days.
Enjoy the snowy landscape and winter activities
Christmas in Lapland is about more than Santa. Depending on your destination and travel dates, you may be able to try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tobogganing, snowmobiling or other guided winter activities.
The Northern Lights are another possible highlight, particularly in areas away from artificial light. Sightings depend on solar activity, darkness, cloud cover and weather, so they cannot be guaranteed.
When should you travel to Lapland for Christmas?
The best dates depend on whether Christmas itself is essential to your trip, how busy you want your holiday to feel and which activities matter most.
Before Christmas
Travelling in the weeks before Christmas can be a good choice for families who want a festive atmosphere and a Santa visit without necessarily spending Christmas Day away from home. Some programs offer private Santa experiences and winter activities earlier in December.
See our pre-Christmas holidays for options before the main festive period.
Over Christmas
Spending Christmas in Lapland means celebrating in a snowy setting, with seasonal meals, winter activities and a Santa experience depending on the program. Many holidays include a planned Christmas Eve or Christmas Day celebration, so check exactly what is included rather than assuming every property follows the same arrangements.
Christmas week is a popular time to travel. Accommodation and family-sized rooms can book out well in advance, so it is worth planning early.
Explore our escorted Christmas tours for a hosted holiday with an organised program, or our independent Christmas holidays if you prefer more independence and flexibility.
After Christmas and over New Year
A post-Christmas stay offers another way to experience the Arctic winter. You can enjoy outdoor activities, spend time in a cabin or resort and celebrate New Year's Eve in Lapland. Some of the New Year programs include gala dinners or organised festivities, while others suit families who prefer a quieter stay.
Explore our post-Christmas and New Year holidays.
Note that travelling before or after Christmas week can offer a different pace and more choice of dates. Read our guide to when to travel to the Nordics for Christmas to compare the options.
Photo: Levi Igloos
Which type of Lapland Christmas holiday suits your family?
Escorted Christmas holidays
Escorted holidays are a good option if you value having a host or tour leader, an organised program and activities arranged in advance. Many of our Christmas programs are hosted by 50 Degrees North staff or experienced local hosts, depending on the travel package.
These holidays can be particularly helpful for families who want the main logistics organised, with a program that brings together accommodation, winter activities and a Santa experience.
Explore our escorted Christmas tours to see the available options.
Examples from our existing program include:
- Santa in Lapland, based in Levi, Finland, and hosted by 50 Degrees North.
- Lapland Christmas Magic, with a hosted program by 50 Degrees North and a private Santa experience.
Check current departures and inclusions to see which programs are available for your preferred dates.
Independent Christmas holidays
An independent holiday gives you more flexibility over how you spend your time. You may stay in a cabin, glass igloo or resort, with selected meals and activities included. The amount of support and independence varies by package.
Explore our independent Christmas holidays to compare options for your family.
Examples from the existing program include:
- Christmas at Sunday Morning Resort, a lakeside wilderness stay near Pyhä-Luosto National Park.
- Christmas at Aurora Village, near Ivalo, with glass-roofed accommodation and a family Christmas program.
- Polar Bears & Santa in Lapland, combining a stay in private cabins with visits to Ranua and Rovaniemi.
- Lapland Arctic Christmas, based at Wilderness Hotel Inari.
- Christmas in Levi Glass Igloos, combining a glass-roofed stay with winter activities and a Christmas program.
These are examples from the existing page. Confirm current availability and program details before relying on them as a list of bookable options.
Photo: Ranua Resort
Which Christmas holiday works best for older children?
Lapland can appeal to teenagers as well as younger children, particularly when the itinerary balances Santa with outdoor activities, independence and time to relax. Look for programs that offer activities suited to your children's ages rather than choosing solely on the basis of a Santa visit.
Our guide to Christmas in Lapland with older children offers more ideas.
For help comparing the options, read which Christmas in Lapland tour suits you.
Photo: Sunday Morning Resort
What should you know before booking a Lapland Christmas holiday?
Book early. Christmas departures are popular, especially those with private cabins, family rooms and special Santa programs.
Check what is included. Compare accommodation, meals, transfers, winter clothing, activities and Santa visits. A lower headline price may not include the same experiences as an all-inclusive package.
Choose accommodation for your family size. Check the actual bed configuration, room capacity and privacy arrangements, particularly if you are travelling with older children or a larger family.
Plan for winter conditions. Temperatures can fall well below freezing. Check what thermal clothing is provided and what you need to bring. Our winter clothing guide can help you prepare.
Allow time for the experience. Travel days, changing into winter clothing and preparing for activities all take time. Choose a program that gives your family enough space to enjoy the trip rather than trying to fit too much into each day.
Plan your Lapland Christmas holiday
Whether you picture a private Santa visit, a family cabin surrounded by snow or a glass-roofed stay beneath the Arctic sky, there are several ways to experience Christmas in Finnish Lapland.
Explore our Christmas and New Year holidays, compare escorted Christmas tours with independent Christmas holidays, or contact our Nordic travel specialists for help finding the right option for your family.