TUI launches holidays to 'Lapland alternative' that's 'just as magic' for families

TUI will be jetting festive fans to the top of Finland this Christmas.

In recent years, there has been a boom in demand for Lapland, with more and more parents whisking their kids up north for the chance to meet Father Christmashimself.

Given the exact home address of the big man in red is not made publicly available—and the fact that Lapland stretches across Norway, Sweden, and Finland—a number of different snow-caked locations vie for the Christmas tourist pound.

Levi, Pallas, and Ylläs are popular for skiing and winter activities and compete with Finnish Lapland’s capital, Rovaniemi, to be known as the centre of the yuletide-focused region. Rovaniemi in particular has seen its visitor numbers boom of late.

The winter-themed park, located on the edge of the Arctic Circle and famous for its claim as the “official hometown of Santa Claus,” now attracts more than 600,000 visitors annually. During the holiday season, visitors exceed the town’s population by more than tenfold.

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Keen to tap into the trend, TUI has now launched package trips to Finland’s Arctic Lakeland region, served by a twice-weekly Manchester–Kajaani service. TUI said the addition would meet demand for traditional Lapland holidays, which “consistently sell out year after year.”

“Arctic Lakeland offers everything families love about a Finnish Christmas experience, from husky sledding and reindeer rides to personal Santa meetings, but in a more intimate setting from £1,000 per person,” said TUI.

Arctic Lakeland is located in the centre of Finland—south of Lapland—but shares many of the same winter wonderland qualities that make the more northern region so popular.

“You’ll want to bring your camera, because the scenery here’s in a league of its own. The lakes are glassy with a sapphire-tinted glow, and the dramatic mountains that mark the horizon are topped with clusters of pine trees. A thick layer of snow that looks like icing powder blankets the landscape in the colder months, transforming the resort into a winter wonderland,” TUI tempts on its website.

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“As the name suggests, this resort’s an adventure playground for snow sports enthusiasts, with chalk-white pistes, toboggan slides, and snowshoeing routes galore. Vuokatti’s a particularly great spot for skiers—it has 14 slopes carved into picturesque landscapes, and different options for people of all skill levels. You can also chase a glimpse of the Northern Lights when the sun goes down, and have pinch-me experiences like snowmobiling tours and husky sled rides.

“Naturally, Arctic Lakeland comes to life at Christmastime—Finland is the home of Santa Claus, after all. When you visit in the festive season, you’ll have the chance to meet the man himself, along with his helpers and reindeer. Sleigh rides are on the cards too, and you can bake gingerbread cookies and go Christmas carolling. That’s not to mention hours of fun in the snow, making snowmen and snow angels. If anywhere will get you into the Christmas spirit, it’s here.”