A Guide to Lapland Resorts - By Ashleigh ❄️

Right, let me tell you something. Lapland is not just a holiday. It is the kind of experience that gets into your soul and refuses to leave. I say this as someone who has been more times than I can sensibly justify, and I would go again tomorrow without a second thought❄️✨

As a Lapland specialist, I visit every single year to make sure my knowledge stays fresh and my recommendations stay honest. My team attend regular training and tour operator events, and between us we have helped thousands of families plan the trip of a lifetime. This guide is everything I know, written for you, because I genuinely want your Lapland experience to be everything you are dreaming of.

We are a fully ABTA and ATOL protected independent travel agent, which means we can book most tour operator you find, often at the same price or better, and we will be with you every single step of the way. Not just 9 to 5 either. Always.

If anything in this guide sparks a question, please just ask. Talking about Lapland is honestly one of my favourite things🥰

Levi ❤️

Seven visits. Six of those for a full seven nights. And I am still finding new things to do.

Levi holds a completely special place in my heart and I do not think it will ever let go. The moment I arrived for the very first time, something just shifted. It is one of those places that feels like it exists in its own world, and once you have been, you will completely understand why people go back year after year. I warn everyone, it is so incredibly addictive! 😂

What makes Levi so special is that it is magical AND it has real substance. Stunning scenery, brilliant hotels, gorgeous restaurants, and a genuinely huge range of activities for every age. It is not just beautiful to look at. There is so much to actually do.

I have personally stayed at Crazy Reindeer, Levi Cottages and Levi Spa, and during my visits I have done full agent tours of K5 Hotel, Immoloket Cabins, Levi Panorama, Lapland Hotel Sirkantahti and Levi Suites. I know this resort inside out and I will happily talk you through every single option.

Things I would not miss in Levi: Arcandia ✨, the Hidden Cafe, Kidsland, bowling, Elves Hideaway, Colorado Grill (we tried snails and the kids absolutely loved them, which none of us saw coming 😂), the free sledges on the hills, Waterworld at Levi Spa, the gondola up to Panorama Hotel for cake, the reindeer at K5, and the pancake house.

A little note on Santa 🎅: there are two experiences in Levi that I recommend above all others — Arcandia and Elves Hideaway. Both are truly incredible, and honestly both are worth visiting even if you are meeting Santa somewhere else entirely. Arcandia is wonderful for all ages. Elves Hideaway is pure magic for under 11s and for every believer, whatever age they happen to be.

Rovaniemi 🏙️

Rovaniemi is probably the most well-known Lapland resort, home to the famous Santa's Village, and I want to be honest with you because that is always what you will get from me.

Rovaniemi is a town. A lovely, charming town, but a town. Think of it as a small city with Lapland woven beautifully through it. For the most immersive, untouched Arctic experience, it is not my top recommendation. But for families who fancy a city-break feel alongside their Lapland magic, or those visiting for the second or third time wanting something a little different, it absolutely has its place. I just want you going in with the right expectations, because you deserve that. 🥰

Enontekio 🌨️

I visited Enontekio on a day trip with Transun and it stopped me in my tracks.

Remote. Wild. Completely and utterly Narnia✨ The kind of landscape that makes you feel like you have stepped through a wardrobe and landed somewhere that could not possibly be real. The Santa here was one of the very best I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of Santas. There is not a huge amount of activity infrastructure here, but for families who want pure wilderness, endless snow, sledging, and that completely untouched magical feeling, it is absolutely perfect. You can even cross the border into Sweden. How brilliant is that? 🇸🇪

Saariselka ⭐

I visited Saariselka with Santas Lapland on both the Santas Magic and Santas Aurora packages. Both were wow. Both left me completely speechless.

Saariselka has the most beautiful remote, tranquil feel whilst still having genuine things to do and explore. It is home to the largest toboggan run in Finland 🛷, lovely restaurants, a karaoke bar, bowling, and a pool at the Holiday Club Hotel. The Arctic Star Hotel is absolutely stunning, and the glass igloos for the northern lights experience are something I will genuinely never forget as long as I live. ✨

Now. The Santas Aurora package. I need you to hear me on this. It is by far the most incredible holiday package I have ever done. It is more expensive than some options, but the detail, the thought, the extras, and the overall experience make every single penny feel worthwhile. If you want to do something truly extraordinary, this is it.

Yllas 🌲

Yllas is one of those resorts that just feels right the moment you arrive. Remote and peaceful without being cut off. There is still plenty to explore, great places to eat, and things to do at your own pace, which is exactly what so many families are looking for ❄️

It is also one of the best resorts for log cabin accommodation, with a gorgeous variety to choose from. I stayed in the Yllas Log Cabins on the Akaslompolo side, tucked into a vast beautiful forest, close enough to the village to walk, with access to the Akas Hotel pool included. The cabins are cosy, warm, and have a proper log fire crackling away. They even come with sledges. My top tip? Take one to the supermarket to pull the shopping home. Honestly life changing😂🛷

Do not miss the frozen lake and swing! Absolutely perfect for photos and northern lights spotting🌌 Take the ski bus to the Saaga side, ride the gondola up to the wooden cafe, and order the mint hot chocolate. I am telling you now, you will thank me later. It is worth the whole trip on its own.

Ruka ❤️

Ruka is one of my absolute favourite resorts in the world, and the closest in feel to Levi. It has that perfect balance of authentic, traditional Lapland magic and real things to actually do. Lovely village centre, brilliant restaurants, shops, a great supermarket, bowling, and a real warmth to the whole place✨

And the Santa here? He is THE Santa. I mean it. The whole experience is on another level entirely🎅

For excursions, I cannot recommend Northern Lights Expedition Oy highly enough. It is run by the wonderful Sami and Mia, two of the most genuine, passionate people you will ever meet. Their ice fishing trip is one of the most memorable things I have ever done in my entire life, and the northern lights heated sleigh ride is pure, breathtaking magic🌌 So many of my customers use them trip after trip, and every single one comes home glowing.

Take the ski bus to Holiday Club Hotel for the escape room, pool, bowling, and the indoor Angry Birds play area. There is even an Irish bar for a proper sit-down meal. Make a whole day of it.

Luosto 🌲

Luosto is quiet, remote, and utterly beautiful. A slower-paced resort that is perfect for families who genuinely want to switch off and breathe it all in. If you have watched Gino, Gordon and Fred in Lapland, that gorgeous little coffee shop in the woods is right here in Luosto. That alone makes it magical☕✨

Hetta 🤍

Small, stunning, and completely atmospheric. Most hotels here offer wonderful dining and activities on site, which suits the remote and intimate setting perfectly. I only had a few hours here but I was completely wowed. Some places just have a feeling, and Hetta absolutely has it.

Pallas ⭐

Pallas is the only Lapland resort that offers a hotel on an all-inclusive basis, which makes it a brilliant and genuinely practical choice for families who want everything wrapped up and costs kept beautifully simple. It is very remote, you fly into Kittila, and it is served by just one tour operator. For the right family, it is an absolute hidden gem💎

So there we have it. Every resort, honestly reviewed, from someone who has given a rather embarrassing amount of her life to exploring them all😂❄️

Every single family is different, and finding the right resort for yours is something I genuinely love doing. So if you are not sure where to start, just come and talk to us. That is exactly what we are here for🥰