Things to do in Lapland

Christmas markets around the world might try and summon up the magic of winter annually, but there is nowhere other than Lapland to which the term ‘winter wonderland’ truly applies. The region’s major appeal lies in the fact that it’s vast – a huge snowy expanse of frozen Arctic tundra, spectacular lakes, dramatic mountains and dense forest – all a playground for winter activities where space is plentiful and people are not.

Nothing screams classic Lapland more than a husky-pulled sleigh gliding through Christmas card scenery with only the soft padding of paws and the satisfying swish of the sled runners to break the sacred silence. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing allow you to get up close and personal with the local landscape, their tracks criss-crossing natural nooks that you couldn’t access by road. Local reindeer herders are keen to share their tales as you experience a sleigh ride, and when you start to feel the chill, jump in a proper sauna – a cultural institution across Lapland and a relaxing way to warm yourself through.

There’s an imagined picture of wilderness and then there’s Lappish wilderness, which takes that blissful picture and multiplies it by about a million.

Just as the geographical borders across Lapland aren’t recognised within the Sámi heritage, so too the unbelievable wilderness of each far northern destination blends into one giant sweep of heavenly space that extends further than the eye can see. It’s easy to imagine this in endless stretches of white snow punctuated only by frost-capped trees – a real Narnia – and this is absolutely true of winter, when everything is bathed in a bright blanket of crisp white and shimmering light. But Lapland’s sensational wilderness factor is as well illustrated by summer too when the snow lifts revealing a playground of mountains, lakes and fjords all framed by a vibrant palette of glowing green.