Lapland Santa break: what to do in Levi with kids

The snow stretched off white into the distance, flakes weighing down the bare branches of trees, reflecting the pinky golden half light of winter – the winter wonderland scene I’d hoped for from our Lapland Santa break in Levi.

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Snooooooooow, shrieked my daughter, scampering excitedly from one drift to another, making footstep patterns in the unbroken carpet of white, grabbing handfuls of powdery flakes in the hope of a snowball.

Cheeks pink, eyes bright, she was in winter wonderland heaven. But the heaped snow all around was just the start on our Lapland Santa break – if you’re considering booking your own and wondering what to do in Levi with kids, here’s what we fitted into our four-night trip to Lapland with Inghams.

Lapland Santa break: meeting Father Christmas

Elves waved, reindeer strolled through their paddock and the scent of hot berry juice came from the ‘kota’, a small hut in the snow where sausages crackled over the open fire.

At the heart of all Lapland Santa holidays is the chance to meet the man in red himself, and our trip started with a visit to Santa’s workshop – and featured a second appearance from Father Christmas when it ended with dinner at our hotel, Levi Panorama.

With a couple of hours to explore before our own meeting with Santa – every family gets a separate time during the two to three-hour excursion – the big question was how to fit it all in.

After spotting the reindeer and a few ponies, and deciding to warm up with berry juice rather than with a game of elf football (complete with giant footballs), we discovered the hidden huts of the elves.

The mouth-watering aroma of spices scented the air of one, as my daughter rolled out gingerbread dough to make cookies, with stars, trees, and even a unicorn cutter shape.

20 minutes later, Mrs Claus handed over the resulting bags of biscuits, freshly cooked in the oven – and my six-year-old, bless her generous heart, kept one to give to Santa.

In between, we made Christmas tree elf decorations, met the yellow dress elf – who astonished my daughter with her apparent mind-reading abilities, by knowing Minnie can be picky about her food – before heading through the carved ice tunnel back to Santa.

On the verge of not believing in the magic, she was struck dumb at the sight of Santa holding the letter she’d written at home before we left, complete with drawings of reindeer, which had been left up our chimney for the elves to collect and deliver.

I won’t reveal how the elves do it, but if she wasn’t entirely convinced by Mr Claus’s impressively long curled beard, there was no doubt left in her mind that the real Santa lives in Lapland.

Incidentally, keep leaving the mince pies out for Santa, he says, but the reindeer are a big fan of mushrooms – carrots are fine too though.

Our visit was part of our Inghams Santa Break but you can arrange your Santa Claus trips with a visit to his workshop in Tonttula Experience Village as well – a half-day visit is around 328 Euros for a family of four/five. It’s around a half hour drive from Levi itself.

What to do in Levi with kids – husky and reindeer rides

One of my favourite memories of my first trip to Lapland, before my daughter was born, there’s nothing like a husky sled ride – listening to the excited chorus of barks as the dogs strain excitedly to be able to run and run through the trees.

Then the silence, only the sound of light paws and the runners of the sled over the snow as you’re whisked through the frozen landscape.

My small animal fan was just as excited to be able to go, especially if there was a chance to see husky puppies as well.

And while they’re not quite as cute and furry, being pulled by reindeer in a sleigh is hard to beat just before Christmas (or after Christmas, for that matter).

Our excursion was also provided by Inghams – an extra rather than included in the Lapland breaks – and featured both huskies and reindeer.

It’s best to consider it as a taster so if you’re expecting to be sledding through the snow on a long ride or having the chance to drive the sled yourself, this isn’t the right Lapland tour for you.

But when you’re with younger kids or if the temperature is very low, a taste is probably more fun as it can get very cold.

We were also a little unlucky that the large group visiting before us had been running late, and despite the best efforts of the staff and reps, it meant hanging around waiting until they were finished.

Fortunately there was enough snow for the kids to amuse themselves, a snowy hill to climb and slide down, sleds to borrow and the occasional sight of the huskies racing past.

Then a chance to see some of the huskies (most of those which aren’t running are paired in pens) and go on a short ride ourselves.

As an adult, it seems very quick, but for my daughter, it was one of the highlights – seeing the huskies, curling up together in the sled and watching them interact before they start to run.

And as you leave the group and the other dogs behind, it feels like you’re being whisked into the middle of nowhere – at least for a while.

After more berry juice in a traditional Sami tent – the name for the indigenous people of Lapland, who herd the reindeer – we discovered a little more about this way of life as we waited for our turn to go in a reindeer sleigh.

I’d been told never to ask how many reindeer someone owned – the equivalent of asking someone how much money they had in the bank – but I’d never realised a single reindeer can cost between £2,000 and £2,500. There are no wild reindeer in Lapland either, as each animal belongs to someone.

And Santa’s sleigh-pulling team? Almost certainly female – the males lose their antlers in the autumn, while the females keep theirs until the spring before shedding them, when they regrow at up to 3cm per day.

Our own reindeer had just one, but as the sun began to set, the gold tinging the sky above the trees, it was like stepping into a Christmas card.

With our Sami guides in their brightly coloured traditional clothes driving the sleigh, watching the scenery as we glided along sedately, it’s a fairytale experience.

Our husky and reindeer excursion was arranged by Inghams but there are longer husky safaris which take two to three hours (plus full-day options, although I wouldn’t recommend 5h in a husky sled for young children!) as well as excursions to a reindeer farm which also include a sleigh ride.

Snowmobiling in Lapland with kids

“These switches,” said our snowmobile guide, “are for the heated handlebars. Click them left for medium – right is barbecue!” As I settled myself on my snowmobile, I immediately clicked mine to the right.

If our husky sledding had been short and sweet, our snowmobile safari was a three-hour round trip out into the frozen countryside around the Levi fell. I was bundled up in my thermals and thermal suit, but was taking no chance as we sped over the icy ground.

My daughter, on the other hand, was tucked up cosily inside one of the children’s pods for kids aged under eight and under 140cm tall, who aren’t allowed to ride on the snowmobiles themselves.

Only those aged 18 and over can drive, but older kids can share a snowmobile with parents and adults can also ride with a guide.

Originally I’d thought that I would be pulling the pod behind my own snowmobile – and my daughter’s face wasn’t the only one which fell when we discovered the pod, which holds up to six children, was actually being pulled by the guide.

In retrospect, it’s a good plan: snowmobiling takes some getting used to even without a trailer and she had company through the frozen fields, but it’s worth knowing in advance.

With my six-year-old happily playing games with her new friends, I could relax. Well… as far as you can relax when you’re behind the controls of a snowmobile!

I haven’t driven one for almost 10 years, but they’re not complicated, so once I got over my nervousness of accidentally running over a skier, I could enjoy upping the speed a bit and feeling as if I was in my own little world.

In the stark whites of the landscape, the bare black branches of the trees against the cloudy sky and endless snow, the only splashes of colour were the red tail lights of the snowmobiles in front of me, curving away in a line.

Muffled by my helmet and balaclava (the sight of which had caused my daughter to burst into hysterical giggles and call me a robber), the thrum of the motor quickly became white noise, and apart from the engine, all was silent.

Barely a paw seemed to have broken the snow on the fields, although the ruts in the ice from other snowmobiles were easy to follow through woods and over bridges.

Stopping part-way, we warmed up over cardamon buns and hot chocolate (for me), a jam doughnut and juice for my daughter before heading briefly outside to spy the reindeer lounging nonchalantly in the snow – and try to recall our newly acquired reindeer trivia from the sleigh ride the day before.

Then back on the snowmobile once more, handlebars cranked up to the max and the snowy landscape stretching out ahead of me.

Our visit was arranged through Inghams with Perhe Safarit who also provide the thermal suits for their Santa holidays in Levi. They have a variety of different snowmobile safaris, including one to a reindeer farm and two around the fells nearby. After an initial confusion with numbers booked onto the morning tour and space for children, they were fantastic at rearranging our excursion and I’d definitely recommend them.

More things to do in Levi, Lapland with kids

As well as the main snowy Levi activities, there’s plenty more to fill your days – we had one main excursion every full day of our four-night trip, which worked really well. But you can also try:

Sledging

Pick up a cheap sled for around 10 Euros in Levi and there are snowy hills galore. Don’t leave it lying around though, as they’re usually assumed to be abandoned or free to take.

If you don’t have a toboggan, there are piles of snow swept by the sides of the pedestrian streets in town to slide down as well as pristine expanses once you get out of town, including frozen lakes and snowy woodland near our hotel, Levi Panorama, which seemed straight out of Narnia.

The snow is a little powdery for snowballs or snowmen, but it’s still fun trying.

Skiing in Levi, Finland

Having had my own two ski lessons in Levi years ago, I know it’s a great place to learn: patient instructors with good English, an easy nursery slope and plenty of gear to rent at Zero Point.

As you get more advanced there are plenty more pistes for skiing and snowboarding (plus a mix of ski lifts taking you up).

Children can learn too, and most tour operators can book lessons or taster sessions if you’re on Lapland package holidays, or you can arrange your own lessons directly. You can also try cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

Ice Karting

Basically go karting on ice. There’s no minimum age for kids to try, although they have to be at least 140cm, and it’s guaranteed to bring out your competitive inner big kid.

Visit an ice village near Levi

You don’t need to stay in an Ice Hotel to look at some of the amazing snowy designs created each year. The Levi Ice Gallery has difference sculptures, or for Game of Thrones fans, you can head to the Lainio Snow Village, not far from Yllas.

You’ll find plenty of excursions in Levi if you’re not travelling independently.

Look for the Northern Lights

I’d recommend downloading a Northern Lights app (check out some of my other tips for visiting Lapland with kids here) and it is possible to wander to a less illuminated part of Levi and spot them.

But for the best chance, you need an expert who’ll know where to travel and what to look for.

Normally it means late nights and lots of searching in the cold though so better for older kids – the thought of waking my six-year-old and dragging her on a long cold walk on the off-chance of spotting them wasn’t tempting!

But reading about these Lapland tours from Arctic Frontiers by blogger Mudpie Fridays, it’s something which would definitely be on my list when she’s older.

*First published 2018, updated 2022*

PIN FOR LATER: WHAT TO DO IN LEVI WITH KIDS ON A LAPLAND SANTA BREAK

Disclosure: My trip to Lapland, plus the husky/reindeer tour and snowmobiling, were courtesy of Inghams for the purposes of review. All opinions and wish to keep the magic alive just a bit longer are my own. This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Images copyright MummyTravels

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