Lapland Holidays
Lapland – a land of four seasons
When we think about Lapland we conjure up images of Father Christmas and commercialised whirlwind tours. Here at Artisan we want to blow those images into the stratosphere as there is so much more to Lapland. The region offers year-round experiences of the highest calibre and remains home to one of the few remaining indigenous people of Europe.
In winter the list of activities is endless when a blanket of snow covers the landscape and the 'blue light' created by the departure of the sun casts a magical light on the region. Of course this is a great place to enjoy Christmas and New Year but there is nothing commercial about our handpicked destinations and you will be far removed from the Father Christmas crowds.
During the spring the daylight starts to flood in across the snow-covered landscape and the Northern Lights remain frequent visitors to the night skies. The temperatures can be milder and more remote regions become accessible. Lapland is a true activity playground in the spring and you are sure to meet a lot of Finns from the southern regions holidaying here at this time.
The summer provides the phenomenon of the Midnight Sun and the landscape of forests, fells and lakes are bathed in a golden light. Berries and fruits start to grow and reindeer can be seen roaming freely in the wilds. Hiking, biking and kayaking replace the cross-country skis, ice fishing and snowmobiles in the locals' weekend activities.
Autumn offers perhaps the greatest abundance of colour here – with rich berries on the forest floor, the bright colours named 'Ruska' that engulf the canopies of the forest and the night skies are beginning to welcome back Nature's greatest light show – the Aurora Borealis.
About Lapland Holidays
Featured Holidays
The People
Almost all of our clients comment on the amazing people that they meet throughout their holidays. Our local partners and guides are second to none and will provide the warmest of welcomes, no matter what the temperature is outdoors. The benefit of working with the locals as we do is that our guests get the best possible insight into the region that they are visiting. Our partners' enthusiasm and passion for their home is always clear and it is testimony to the relaxed outdoor lifestyle that most people in Lapland enjoy.
In many of our destinations you will also gain an understanding of one of the last indigenous cultures in Europe. Lapland is defined as being the cultural home of the Sámi people and therefore as a region it crosses the borders of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia. To this day the Sámi traditions are very much part of life in the region and the culture is respected and treasured. Traditionally Sámi people were heavily involved in reindeer herding and that remains the case today. Many of the reindeer herders that you can encounter during our holidays are Sámi people and the animals remain an integral element of the region even in the modern day.
The experiences
The multitude of activities available in Lapland is exceptional, no matter what the season.
In winter and spring dog sledding, reindeer safaris, snowmobiling, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, Aurora hunting and nights in snow igloos are some of the principal pastimes. In summer and autumn these are replaced with hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, rafting and fishing with the Midnight Sun above the horizon for much of the time.
We do find that it is some of the smaller things that make Lapland so special and a place that really gets into the blood of those that travel there.
Food is very important to us here at Artisan and so Lapland is a firm favourite of ours. There are many places where the meals served are exquisite and menus throughout the region often feature delicacies such as Inari white fish, local wild salmon, king crab, cloudberries and of course reindeer. Many of our clients join us in saying that the simplest of meals can often be the most memorable. Sitting around an open fire where a guide conjures up a meal of sautéed reindeer and potatoes or glow-fired salmon is just wonderful.
Read moreThe outdoor lifestyle is also something that really captures the imagination. Many people in Lapland spend all of their free time outdoors. From a very young age children will be kayaking and cross-country skiing with their families, stopping at one of the thousands of small wooden kotas (tepees) dotted around the wilderness to light a fire, share stories, grill sausages and drink warm juice. The majority of our holidays, even the most leisurely, will enable you to enjoy some of these simple pleasures and we are sure you will come back wanting more.
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