THE LAPLAND SERIES, DAY 7
SAARISELKA – ROVANIEMI
Leaving Saariselka at 5 a.m. for a 4-hour drive, I knew today was going to be a long one. But as we neared Christmas, the excitement of visiting Santa Claus Village made every hour of the journey worth it. Finally, we were on the road to meet the three little reprobates Quinn, Drew, and Alba who were ready to experience the magic of Lapland.
CHRISTMAS DAY IN LAPLAND IS JUST AS MAGICAL FOR THE ADULTS AS IT IS FOR THE KIDS
The drive was long and rarely did we see a car. This didn’t surprise me considering the horrendous conditions and were blinded by the torrent of snow every time a lorry flew past us.
Where is Rovaniemi? A Guide to the Christmas Capital of the World
Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus, located just south of the Arctic Circle in Lapland, Finland. If you’re imagining a magical winter wonderland with snow-covered cottages and reindeer, you’re in the right place. For those seeking a deeper immersion into Lapland’s festive magic, Saariselka Santa trips are a perfect addition to your itinerary. Whether you’re staying in Rovaniemi or venturing north to Saariselka, this region offers the ultimate destination to experience the holiday spirit in its purest form.
Rovaniemi
GLASS RESORT
As soon as we arrived, we could tell this resort was going to be the ticket! Everything from the entrance, reception, staff and house keeping was on point! The last thing I wanted to have was the same issue as Kakslauttanen especially when we were all together and it was over Christmas. It might have been more expensive but represented so much better value, well done Glass Resort you were fantastic.
Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi
DAILY INFO….
- DRIVE – Saariselka – Rovaniemi
- MILES COVERED -161 miles
- HOTEL – Glass Resort 8.5/10
- ATTRACTIONS –
Santa Safari
Santa Visit
Wilderness Kota Dinner - MILES COVERED -159.7 miles
- STEPS – 12,400,
Santa Safari: A Magical Experience for the Kids
Our adventure began shortly after we arrived. The Santa Safari was the first big activity on the agenda, and it was pure magic for the kids. The experience started with a cozy story by the fire about a four winds hat. We then visited Santa, which took everyone (especially the kids) by surprise! The journey from Saariselka to Santa Claus Village was filled with excitement as we enjoyed a short reindeer ride and a kids’ snowmobile, which added to the fun.
Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi
SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE
The main area to stay and visit during your time in Lapland has to be the Santa Claus Village. You can see they have tried to retain its authenticity and have tried hard not to over commercialise it (take note America), not easy considering the number of guests and day trippers. There are a host of different hotels, shops and restaurants which to be honest are very sub-standard. We found the lunches during the activities to be so much better.
Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi
WHERE IS SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE?
Santa Claus Village
RELATED READ: PETROL AND FIRE AT MY FIRST FULL MOON PARTY
Meeting Santa: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
One of the best parts of the trip was getting to meet Santa in person. I had spent the last 18 months researching ways to make this trip as special as possible. I even arranged for Santa to visit our room! The kids were already enchanted by seeing him earlier, but when he showed up for a personal chat and some early gifts, their faces lit up with joy. It was one of those moments that made the trip unforgettable.
Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi
FACTS ABOUT SANTA:
- If you would like to send a letter to Santa then you can post your letters to:
Santa/Father Christmas
Santa’s Grotto
Reindeerland
XM4 5HQ
- Santa Claus has lots of different names! UK – Father Christmas or Santa, USA, – Kris Kringle. France – Père Noël / Papa Noël. Poland – Święty Mikołaj. And in Germany, Santa is known as Weihnachtsmann.
- Santa lives in Lapland because the weather suits his reindeers.
- The tradition of him wearing red began in the 1870s with the American cartoonist Thomas Nast, who introduced the red suit and cap, white fur lining and buckled black belt.
WILDERNESS KOTA DINNER
Kota, “a traditional tent of the Sami people, the indigenous people of Finland.”
It turns out the food at the hotel was really good which meant it was difficult to decide on how many times to eat out or not but when you have unique experiences such as a Kota dinner you know you might not get many more opportunities like this again. The food was great and with the help of long exposure on my phone we could see the Northern Lights for the first time. Hoping its not the last!
Arriving in Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi
FINAL THOUGHTS
I have to say there’s nothing that has made me happier today than the accommodation. Knowing we will be staying in quality accommodation at such an important time of the trip will make the next few days so much better for everyone. I can sleep anywhere but when you have a family of 10 with you and you pay a fair amount you want to make sure you aren’t getting shafted twice in a few days.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
158/229
FAQ’s
How much time do you need in Santa’s Village?
You can easily explore Santa Claus Village in a few hours, but for a more immersive experience, a full day allows you to enjoy all the attractions and activities.
Do you need to pay to enter Santa Claus Village?
No, entrance to Santa Claus Village is free. However, some attractions and activities inside the village, like meeting Santa or reindeer rides, may require a fee.
Which is the best Santa trip in Lapland?
The Santa Safari is highly recommended for families, offering a magical journey with reindeer rides, a visit to Santa, and other fun activities for kids.
NEXT UP
Christmas Day in Lapland! 🎄✨ Click here to follow our magical journey.
This post is part of The Lapland Series. Want to read more? Dive into the rest of the series right here for more winter wonderland adventures!
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Question Time
- What is the best accommodation you have stayed in?
- Would you like to visit Santa Claus Village?
- Think you could handle -15C?
Let me know in the comments below . . .
