A Magical Family Trip to Lapland: Our Santa Adventure in Hetta, Finland
On Sunday 14th December 2025 was the day our Christmas dreams truly came to life! The Cheeky Elves delivered the most magical news imaginable to our son that we were off to Lapland! Not only that, but they arrived with matching hoodies for all three of us and had our bags magically packed with everything we needed for a winter adventure beyond anything we could have imagined!
From that moment on, the magic never stopped. We quickly got organized and rang for my parents to come and take us to the airport!
Flying to Lapland from Belfast: The Adventure Begins
Our journey began at Belfast International Airport at check in we were met by an Elf that checked that we were all on the nice list and handed the kids a wee colouring pack. The excitement buzzed through the terminal as we boarded our Enter Air flight to Lapland. Breakfast was served on board, The Airline had an Egg Free option for our son which was great as this was our first foreign holiday and dealing with his allergy!
Landing at Enontekiö Airport felt a little rocky to us, but the pilot handled it brilliantly. As soon as we stepped off the plane into the crisp Arctic air, we knew we had arrived somewhere truly special. The air felt so clean and fresh.
A Warm Welcome from Transun & Our Lapland Base
Straight away, we were met by the Transun reps — and honestly, we couldn’t have asked for better. We were Group 2, and every time a name was called, the entire group shouted a joyful “Ho Ho Ho!” 🎅
Special mention has to go to Leah, our Transun rep, who was absolutely fantastic from start to finish she really made the trip!
We were guided onto coaches and taken just five minutes down the road to get fitted with thermal suits and boots an absolute lifesaver in Lapland temperatures! Then from there, we were driven to our hotel, Hotelli Hetan Majatalo, a beautiful four-generation, family-run hotel that immediately felt warm, welcoming, and authentically Finnish.
After settling in, we headed out to explore, enjoy our first meal, and attend the welcome meeting, where we were given a clear plan and timings for the days ahead something that made the whole experience feel relaxed and well organised. We also had plenty of free time to explore the surrounding area.
That first night, we embraced the snow. Sledding, exploring the local area, and soaking in the magic of being surrounded by Arctic wilderness it was the perfect start to our magical trip!
Meeting Santa in Lapland: A Day We’ll Never Forget
On the monday it was the day to meet Santa! . At 1pm, our coach arrived to take us on a 45-minute drive deep into the snowy landscape to meet Santa himself.
We arrived at a fire-lit forest path, glowing softly against the snow. We were split into groups, and ours began with snowmobiling this was an experience that was exhilarating, exciting, and genuinely breathtaking. (A YouTube video will be linked soon!)
After that, there was time for:
- Tobogganing
- Ice hockey
- Roasting marshmallows
- Warming up with hot drinks
Then came the moment that felt straight out of a Christmas storybook.
A snowmobile pulling a sleigh arrived to take us to the reindeer and they are the only ones who knew the way to Santa’s cabin. We were greeted by elves, all called Snowflake, who led us inside Santa’s cosy, warm cabin.
Inside, Santa spoke directly to our child about their Christmas list, told stories, asked questions, and created a moment so personal and magical it’s impossible to fully put into words. It felt real. It felt special. And it’s a memory we’ll treasure forever. Our son was so taken back he was totally lost for words!
Afterwards, it was back to the fire for more marshmallows (Leah also very kindly made sure everything was egg free and safe!) before returning to the hotel for dinner and, of course, more snowy adventures.
Earlier that morning, we had also visited the local K-Market, and I have to say wandering around a Finnish supermarket was surprisingly fun and fascinating!
Huskies, Laughter & Arctic Cuteness
On The Tuesday it brought another bucket-list experience: husky sledding. After a quick safety briefing and meeting our dogs, we were off laughter, excitement, and pure amazement the entire way. It was one of those moments where you just think, “How is this real life?”
The temperature that day sat around -15°C, so warming up in a cosy hut afterwards was very welcome. After lunch and some free time, myself and our child headed to Davvi Arctic Huskies for husky cuddling and honestly, the dogs were full of mischief, personality, and cuteness. Completely heartmelting. I fell in love with a puppy called Juno! At one point I had all the puppies on top of me cuddling in.
Ice Fishing, Sami Culture & Tobogganing from the Top
The dreaded last day… Wednesday was home time, with hotel check-out at 9am. Thankfully, we could leave our bags safely in the meeting room.
My partner headed off for ice fishing, which included snowmobiling across frozen lakes, drilling through the ice, and cooking Finnish sausages over an open fire an experience he absolutely loved. This Excursion was via a company called Nakkala Adventures who were very knowledgeable.
Meanwhile, myself, our child, and a few other families walked to the Hetta Fell Visitor Centre, where we learned about the Sámi people, the indigenous people of Finland. It was educational, eye-opening, and incredibly well done.
Locals then pointed us towards a hidden gem — a 30–35 minute trek uphill to a breathtaking viewpoint with an amazing slope for tobogganing. The views were absolutely incredible, and there was even a small hut where you could light a fire if you wished.
Tobogganing down from the top was unreal — such a rush, and such a special shared experience.
We walked back to the hotel, stopping for hot chocolate at the lovely Cafe/ Souviner shop called Cafe Koru Laakso silver gallery, We then headed back to the hotel for lunch, and then it was time to return our thermal gear and head back to the airport.
Heading Home — But Taking the Magic With Us
At Enontekiö Airport, we browsed the small souvenir shops before boarding our 3 Hour 30 minute flight home to Belfast, smooth, calm, and reflective.
This trip was nothing short of incredible and magical!
From the authentic feel of Lapland, the Finnish food, the natural beauty, and the thoughtful organisation, to the magic created for children and parents alike it exceeded every expectation.
Would We Do Lapland Again?
In a heartbeat.
We booked through Hays Travel, who used Transun’s Santa’s On His Way package, and the entire experience was seamless from start to finish. A special thank you again to Leah, our Transun rep, who truly made the trip unforgettable. Thank you to the lovely staff at the hotel! Also to the coach drivers and suits and boots staff! Ohh and of course all the airport and airline staff!!
With Enontekio being very remote I would advise packing safe foods if you have a child that isnt great with different foods or has allergies! While the food was lovely there was a limited selection each meal time ( Plenty of food!) Just not many options so the local K Market is handy.
Also we did over pack with clothes although gloves, socks, handwarmers, hats and snoods I would bring etc of those 1 or 2 baselayers each would be plenty then your mid layer the thermal suits are fab. Snow goggles are handy for heavy snow fall out sledding or snowmobiling.
Lapland isn’t just a holiday — it’s a feeling. And one we’ll carry with us forever ❄️✨
