A Truly Finnish Christmas: Escaping the Crowds for an Authentic Arctic Adventure

There's something magical about the idea of visiting the "real" Santa in Finland. Still, when planning our family Christmas adventure in 2018, I knew I wanted something beyond the commercial Santa's Village experience. With our kids aged 7 and 8, I chose On The Go Tours' "Christmas in Finland" package, seeking authentic Finnish culture away from the tourist throngs.

From Tropical Heat to Winter Wonderland

Our journey began with what might be the world's most dramatic climate change—departing Singapore's sweltering 40°C heat and plunging into Finland's bone-chilling -26°C. Packing for this temperature swing was a logistical puzzle!

The kids were absolute champions, sleeping at Changi airport and throughout our Singapore-Helsinki flight. During our connection, we splurged on airport lounge access—worth every penny for the shower facilities alone—where we performed the great clothing transformation from summer shorts to thermal layers.

Our Winter Wonderland Home

What makes this tour special is the intimate setting. Rather than massive hotels catering to thousands of Santa-seekers, we stayed in a cozy lodge with genuine Finnish charm. Our most delightful surprise? Two reindeer in a pen right outside our window. Thanks to persistent jet lag, the kids and I were up at 3am daily, bundling up to feed moss and grass to our antlered friends whom I'd named Frank and Christmas (the latter being pure white and absolutely magnificent).

Adventures in the Arctic Circle

Every day brought new winter adventures:

• Tobogganing became our twice-daily ritual, with the kids perfecting their sledding techniques on perfectly powdered slopes

• Horse-drawn sleigh rides through snow-laden forests, complete with jingling bells that made everything feel straight out of a Christmas card

• Snowmobiling expeditions across the pristine landscape, the rumble of engines contrasting with the profound silence of the wilderness

• Reindeer-pulled sleighs that moved with surprising gentleness across the snow

But the unexpected highlight was our husky sledding adventure. We joined a group of British tourists who, despite hailing from a relatively cold country, struggled with the Finnish winter and abandoned the expedition early. Their early departure became our good fortune—the dogs needed their exercise, so we were invited to captain our own sleds, taking the enthusiastic huskies across frozen lakes and deep into forests where few tourists venture. The exhilaration of gliding through absolute wilderness with only the sound of panting dogs and runners on snow is an experience I'll treasure forever.

Meeting the Man Himself

Of course, no Finnish Christmas would be complete without visiting Santa's workshop. The kids were enchanted meeting his elves, exploring the toy room, and baking cookies in his kitchen. In a particularly special tradition, we ventured out to cut down our own Christmas tree, hauling it back to the hotel where all the children decorated it together.

Santa's visit the following evening brought that perfect Christmas magic. I'd smuggled a T-Rex toy all the way from Australia for my son's special gift. What I hadn't considered was removing the batteries—explaining why my suitcase occasionally emitted mysterious roaring noises during the days leading up to Santa's appearance required some creative storytelling!

The "Authentic" Experience (Perhaps Too Authentic?)

If there was one minor challenge, it might have been the very authenticity I'd sought. The traditional Finnish breakfast of kippers and smoked fish wasn't exactly my ideal morning starter when battling jet lag. The kids happily devoured what I casually described as "game stew," not mentioning it was actually reindeer. Four years later, when I accidentally revealed they'd been snacking on "Rudolph's cousin," their horrified expressions suggested some cultural experiences might be better appreciated with age!

Worth Every Frozen Moment

Despite numb fingers and the occasional too-authentic culinary encounter, I'd rate our Finnish Christmas adventure a solid 9/10. For families dreaming of a true white Christmas, this off-the-beaten-path experience delivers everything you could want—genuine winter magic without the commercial overlay of more popular destinations.

The kids still talk about Frank and Christmas the reindeer, the exhilaration of husky sledding, and the surreal beauty of the Finnish winter. Sometimes, the best travel experiences come from stepping away from the obvious choices and embracing a bit of adventure—even if it means explaining to your children years later why Rudolph wasn't available for Christmas delivery that year!