AS we speed across crisp snow on a sleigh pulled by a snowmobile, sitting atop reindeer hides and tucked under blankets, my kids Poppy, six, and Raffy, four, are rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
We’re on a short ride from Enontekiö airport, whizzing across the Arctic Circle of Finnish Lapland, less than four hours after leaving a grey, drizzly London.
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We pull into a beautiful spot beside a frozen lake, before an elf gives us the nod to hop straight on to another sledge to meet the main man.
And soon, after a short, snowy trek past glistening pine trees that look freshly iced, we find ourselves outside Father Christmas’ twinkling cabin.
We knock on the door, and the man in red greets us with a huge smile and finds the letters we posted up the chimney at home on his piled-high desk (thanks to a well-prepped mum and one quick-fingered elf), and both kids are utterly entranced as he reads them aloud and admires their, admittedly questionable, drawings.
He also recounts inventive tales of what my husband Andy and I got up to when we were small, before a souvenir reindeer plush wrapped in the shiniest of gift paper is the cherry on the top – and our cue to leave.
Elfing Around
The biggest task ticked off, we’re now free to explore the activity village.
Queues are longest for the husky-drawn sleds, but elves appear by the fire to keep the kids entertained with snowball fights and distracted from the -10ºC air.
Every guest is kitted out with a snowsuit and boots straight after passing through passport control, ready for their day of adventure.
And a welcome pack with personalised invitations, rucksacks, water bottles and a wind buff for the little ones arrived in the post a couple of weeks before.
Still, the freezing cold is quite an endurance test.
Thankfully, unlimited hot soup, baked potatoes and pasta aplenty help to warm us up at the village restaurant, and I quickly become addicted to the freshly made pancakes with ladles of sweet cream and strawberry jam.
Hot chocolate and berry juice help keep our spirits up, too.
Love at frost sight
Back out in the winter wonderland, Poppy zooms around the junior snowmobile circuit several times and we all love careering down the toboggan runs as the sky turns pitch black – this part of the world gets just three hours of daylight in December!
A token reindeer sleigh ride through the trees ticks another box, as does a large ice igloo, home to frozen sculptures and elves handing out toffees.
Our six hours in Finnish Lapland fly by and, before long, we are hopping on a coach back to the airport.
Proudly clutching their “We met Santa” certificates, both Poppy and Raffy fall asleep before the plane meal is even served, dreaming about their most magical day.
Just like Wizzard, they wish it could be Christmas every day.
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FYI
Canterbury Travel offers the Enchanted Lapland Day Trip, including flights, all meals and drinks, plus all activities, from £719 per adult and £639 per child (Canterburytravel.com).
