I’M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS BREAK
Winter getaways
Snowshoe shuffle
Strap on your snowshoes on a Finnish Lapland break. Within minutes, you will be walking in the silent, pristine wilderness, putting your footprints where no one else has yet trodden, the metal teeth of the feather-light aluminium snowshoes biting into the snow and ice like the fangs of a ravenous werewolf. From your base in Finland’s Riisitunturi National Park, your guided tour will follow a network of wilderness trails as far as the Russian border and hopefully you’ll see the Northern Lights. One week costs from £1,999pp including flights, transfers, half-board accommodation and activities, with a choice of departures in 2021; Ramblers Walking Holidays (ramblersholidays.co.uk).
Cosy comforts
The idyllic, family-owned Brändön Lodge in Swedish Lapland is located on the shores of Bothnian Bay. You could just enjoy the welcoming atmosphere, curled up in front of the log fire. But if more energetic pursuits are on your to-do list, there’s snowmobiling and husky and reindeer sledding, plus you can learn winter survival skills and take a hovercraft tour over the frozen sea, with likely seal and sea eagle sightings. From £1,776pp for four nights in a detached wooden chalet, flying on the new SAS service from Heathrow to Luleå, including activities, cold weather gear and full board; Sunvil (sunvil.co.uk).
Ice as nice
How about spending the night on a bed of solid ice, snuggled under reindeer skins? The small, remote village of Jukkasjärvi is home to one of Sweden’s most famous attractions: the spectacular Icehotel. Created from huge blocks of ice harvested from the Torne river, the world’s ‘coolest’ hotel has ice crystal chandeliers, an ice bar and an ice chapel (for a truly white wedding?), plus the unique experience of sleeping on a block of ice. Special thermal sleeping bags and reindeer skins guarantee a snug night (at -5°C!), followed by two nights in the adjacent hotel, where there are saunas and a restaurant. Three nights’ B&B over Christmas cost from £935pp including flights and transfers; Regent Holidays (regent-holidays.co.uk).
The sky at night
If you’re after an action-packed Arctic break, head to Finland and stay for three nights in a log cabin, plus one night in a glass igloo for breathtaking views of the constellations and, with luck, the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed. You’ll also explore the snowy forests on snowmobiles and husky sleds, and experience Finland’s traditional Sámi culture, with reindeer rides and village visits. From £1,810pp for five days including flights, transfers, half board and activities; Best Served Scandinavia (best-served.co.uk).
Santa’s home
Young children will love a private audience with Father Christmas, meeting the elves Tricky Dicky, Snowy Bowy, Noisy Nod and Speedy Sam. You can see Santa in a number of places in the Arctic, including Luosto on the edge of a national park, and Suomu, which lies on the Arctic Circle. A three-day package in Suomu, based on a family of four sharing a log cabin, complete with a real fire and sauna, costs £999pp (adult) and £750pp (child), fully inclusive of meals, flights, thermal gear and several activities including an
‘Elf School’ for the kids, with a graduation ceremony on the last night; Canterbury Travel (canterburytravel.com); flights via Fleewinter (fleewinter.com).
Winter wonderland
Iceland is like nowhere else on earth; a hot land in a cold climate, with steaming geysers and freezing glaciers, snow-capped volcanoes and geothermal-powered greenhouses where bananas flourish. A three-night B&B break exploring the Reykjanes Peninsula, with time to have a dip in the naturally heated Blue Lagoon, costs from £693pp, including flights and car hire; Discover the World (discover-the-world.com).