From the moment our alarm went off in the middle of the night, it was clear this was no ordinary family holiday. By 5 am, our two girls were wide awake and buzzing with excitement as we joined a line of equally giddy children at Dublin Airport, all bound for the North Pole.
Within minutes, we had met our first elves, Sprinkles and Dimples, who turned a sleepy check-in queue into a giggling, glittering prelude to Christmas.
By the time we boarded the Sunway flight to Kittilä for our two-night, three-day Enchanted Escape, the grown-ups had surrendered to the magic, too. After all, this isn't just a trip to see Santa, it's snowball fights, sledging, husky howls, and reindeer bells rolled into one whirlwind of festive wonder.
We are a family of four, with two girls - aged seven and 11 - and we were invited on one of Sunway's first Lapland trips of the season.
My kids are a great age for this sort of adventure, as they could get the most out of the beautiful surroundings (and by that I mean snowball fights and sledging in the snow), while also being able to handle the early starts and long days reasonably well.
The great thing about this Lapland experience is that Sunway does all the hard work. When you book with them, all your meals are included, as well as transfers, tours, thermal suits and snow boots, reindeer and husky rides and the all-important visit to see Santa.
Our trip was the two-night, three-day 'Enchanted Escape' package. There is a lot packed in, and you really just have to make the most of it.
Day One: Arrival in Lapland
The magic begins long before you touch down in Lapland. At Dublin Airport, even though it was only a few minutes after 5am, Sprinkles and Dimples were waiting to greet travellers and set the tone for the festive days ahead. Their laughter and warmth make check-in feel more like the start of a story than a queue for a flight.
Soon, we were soaring through the skies on the three-hour journey to Kittilä Airport, just north of the Arctic Circle. Breakfast is served on board, and the time went really quickly as our Sunway elves really kept the festive fun going with games, sing-a-longs and getting the kids up to tell Christmas jokes.
Stepping off the plane, you instantly feel the chill of the Arctic air.
We all wore base layers and brought big coats with us, but in truth, these are not needed for the flight. We were roasting on the plane, and at Kittilä, we were kitted out with complimentary thermal clothing right off the plane.
We popped through passport control and headed for our assigned buses to drop off our suitcases and then onto a building just behind. Laid out there is all your winter gear: snow suits, boots, socks, gloves and a cosy hat to keep the cold at bay.
From that point on, we were wrapped up warm, so for the plane journey over, there is no need to go crazy on base layers or big coats.
Next is a short transfer to the hotel. On the bus, you meet your Lapland elf for the first time - ours was Hazzle. She was great at giving important information about the activities, when to meet, what to do next, but also how to keep things fun and festive.
That afternoon, we had time to settle in and take in the wonder of your surroundings. Right out our bedroom window, we had a stunning view of a ski resort, and the girls loved going out in the snow before dinner - getting some first snowball fights in and some quick sledging runs.
Dinner is a buffet before an early bedtime, after a long day.
Day 2: Into the Arctic Wilderness
This is the day Lapland feels like the Christmas of childhood imagination. We jumped back onto our 'snowman' bus, played some games with Hazzle, and sang some songs as we journeyed deep into the snowy wilderness for a magical day.
Our first stop was the Elf village, one of Santa's hidden workshops, tucked away in the forest.
Here, we were welcomed into Elf School to discover what it really takes to be one of Santa’s trusted helpers, from hard work and kindness to a good sense of fun. We had about two hours here, and there was loads to explore.
The elves needed a bit of extra help in the wrapping room, where they are racing to get gifts ready in time for Christmas Eve. In the bustling post office, they are busy sorting letters from children all over the world, a scene that brings home the scale of Santa’s operation.
Our kids got to help out at each activity rather than watch, and the elves were great fun as well. I got christened 'Micheal' and was put on the naughty seat on more than one occasion and was held hostage in elf school, with no help from my family to rescue me.
The day’s most anticipated moment is a private family meeting with Santa Claus. Away from the crowds, we went to his cosy cabin for a quiet chat, a chance to share wish lists and take photos.
We even managed to spot some of Santa’s reindeer resting in the snow – and found ourselves guessing which antlers belonged to Dancer, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Donner or Rudolf.
After all the elf fun, we headed off to the next activity, which was about 15 minutes away. Here we got to try out multiple activities - short bursts - but just enough to keep the kids entertained.
Thankfully, it was all arranged in such a way that there were no long queues.
First up was a husky ride that saw us all bundled up into a sled and pulled by huskies at speed! Next stop was a visit to the reindeers, followed by a go on the snowmobiles.
After the final activity, there is a pause for a simple lunch to refuel before heading back out into the snow.
By late afternoon, we returned to the hotel, where you can thaw out in the cosy surroundings, make use of the facilities - or another snowball fight or two.
Hazzle, our Lapland elf, played a blinder on the hour-long bus journey back to the hotel but turning down the lights and playing a few well-chosen Christmas songs as we all got a well-needed snooze.
That night was the festive dinner with a special guest appearance from the man himself.
The next morning, there is a little time for more fun in the snow before the bus back to the airport and back to reality.
The Details
I was invited to try Sunway's Enchanted Escape Lapland package. Everything is booked as part of your Sunway package and was provided for this review. This includes return flights, accommodation, 20kg baggage allowance, snow activities, meals as per your itinerary, thermal suits and boots, husky rides, reindeer rides, snowmobile rides, a festive dinner, a visit to Santa's Secret Hideaway, and a private meeting with Santa.
To book check out - https://www.sunway.ie/lapland/enchanted-escape/ or call (01) 231 1800 for more information.
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
