The Mum Space Guide to Lapland.
Hi Mum Spacers, buckle up for the most magical story ever – our incredible trip to Levi in Lapland! Picture this: snowflakes dancing in the air, and us, all bundled up, ready to dive into the enchanting world of Lapland. Grab a mug of hot chocolate, because this adventure was incredible, and we can't wait to share all the magical moments with you!
First things first… what did we book and where did we stay..
We did 3x nights at the Levi Panorama , after much research (Trip advisor, Google, Facebook) I decided that this was the best resort for us. I’ve given the main points below as to why we chose Levi as our destination of choice in lapland.
Northern Lights: The clear, dark skies make Levi an excellent spot to witness the stunning Northern Lights, sadly we didn’t get to see them when we visited but they are regularly visible from Levi (by the lake behind the K5 hotel), we were just unfortunate with our timing. Download the “Aurora” app and it shows you day by day the % of seeing the Northern Lights!
Skiing Paradise: As Finland's largest ski resort, Levi caters to skiers of all levels, with a season extending from October - May. We didn’t ski but it was wonderful to see the activity on the slopes which is right in the centre of levi.
Winter Activities: Levi offers diverse winter activities, including snowmobiling, husky sledding, and reindeer safaris, we did the Husky ride (details below).
Accommodation Variety: From cozy cabins to modern lodges, Levi provides a range of accommodation options for different preferences and budgets. Our choice of the Panorama was purely based on its location, views & food on offer.
Santa's Village: Levi's association with Christmas adds a festive touch, with opportunities to meet Santa Claus and enjoy holiday-themed activities. We did this included in our package with Tui (details below)
Accessibility: Levi is easily accessible, with Kittilä Airport nearby, making it convenient for both domestic and international travellers. We had transfers included.
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View from the top.
On arrival at the Levi Panorama we were awestruck. Levi Panorama is known for its breathtaking panoramic views. Perched atop Levi Fell, it offers a stunning vantage point to admire the surrounding snow-covered landscapes.
The hotel Levi Panorama was very good. For our TUI package, we paid just shy of £3000 for 2 adults one child (aged 5) 3 nights bed and breakfast. With booking Lapland, you have to try and put the ‘cost’ out of your mind and think of the price as you would a week away in the summer. It works out about the same price as a week in a 4* hotel as a summer holiday, but please believe me when I say this is a once in a lifetime holiday that will trump ANY summer holiday you will ever have. You know the butterflies you get in your stomach when you have had a crush -or a really powerful moment. I get those when I think about Lapland. Every. Single. Time. If you can afford to- this is your sign to book.
The husky ride was probably the best thing I have ever done in my life- imagine gliding over a ice lake with snow falling and your child in front of you in your arms.
What did we do?
As part of our trip with TUI we had return flights from East Midlands airport (Be prepared for an early wake up!), a taster session day (from memory this was snowmobiles & huskies) - we decided not to participate in the taster day as we had already booked Huskies and snowmobiles separate.
Huskies- In Levi, the go-to place to is Definitely Tundra Huskies , you can choose from 5km / 10km ride (There were only 5km left when we booked but it turned out that this was more than far enough). The husky ride was probably the best thing I have ever done in my life- imagine gliding over a ice lake with snow falling and your child in front of you in your arms… This was incredible… you get to also go in the Kotas afterwards for drinks sausages around the fire, idyllic.
Snowmobiling- We booked the snowmobiling, unfortunately this was cancelled due to the weather, when it gets too cold we were told children under a certain age cannot go on. To be honest we weren’t too devastated about it as we had such an incredible time with the Huskies which we knew could not be topped.
Santa. The santa village if I remember correctly was Kelokaira, there are many different locations for the Santa trips, if you travel with TUI and download the ‘TUI Lapland’ app you can get a more detailed itinerary closer to the date. It truly was a magical experience.
Other activities are Sledging, the (not so) secret cafe - This is a magical walk through the woods to a little hut with and open fire and drinks available- very simple menu, not a cafe as we would have at home. There are also many shops in Levi- including a supermarket, gift shops, clothing shops and restaurants. We ate at Colorado Grill, Renna (Italian) and on the last night is the ‘Gala Dinner’ (included) the dinner was more a buffet style, very causal dinner, not as good as I expected but the kids loved it it included some entertainment for them, this was followed by fireworks which were spectacular.
What to wear in lapland
Base Layer:
Material: Start with a moisture-wicking base layer to keep sweat away from your skin. Merino wool or synthetic materials like polyester work well. No Cotton.
Top and Bottoms: Wear long-sleeved thermal tops and bottoms to provide insulation against the cold. Delathlon do a great range for great prices. Decathlon Base Layers
Mid Layer:
Material: Choose a thick insulating layer to trap heat. Fleece or down jackets are excellent choices.
Top: Wear a fleece jacket or a down-filled puffer jacket.
Bottoms: Depending on the temperature, consider insulated pants or thermal leggings.
I got the massive fluffy PJs from Primark as my mid-layer. They were perfect. My husband and daughter also wore similar.
Outer Layer:
All outer layers (snowsuits) were provided on arrival. Tip: size up in the boots as you want to take some very thick insulating socks for underneath (2 pairs if possible)
Accessories:
Head: Use a thermal hat or beanie to cover your head. Make sure it covers your ears. we wore Fleece Balaclavas under our hats. (It commonly gets to between -10 to -20 so take the balaclava!)
Hands: Wear insulated, waterproof gloves or mittens to keep your hands warm. Take some handwarmers, we used these
Neck and Face: A balaclava or a fleece scarf can provide additional protection against the cold wind.
Feet: Use thermal socks and waterproof, insulated boots to keep your feet warm and dry.
Adjustable Layers:
Zippers and Vents: Choose clothing with zippers and vents to regulate body temperature as needed.
Adjustable Closures: Look for jackets and pants with adjustable cuffs and hems to seal out cold air.
Overall, If you are in a position to do so, I would HIGHLY recommend lapland as a once in a lifetime trip, we made memories to last a lifetime. There are videos and more photos in the ‘Lapland’ highlight on my personal instagram and feel free to add any questions in the comment box below 🥰.
