Pallas Holidays

There's just one hotel in Pallas – in Finland's northern fell region – which goes to show how off-the-grid it really is. With its snow-covered landscape of forest and lakes, it’s like waking up in Narnia, and the tucked-away isolation only adds to the magic. And since Father Christmas lives here, there’s every chance he’ll be popping by for a visit.

Pallas sits inside Finland’s third-biggest national park. This covers some 1,020 square kilometres and has the purest air of any national park in the world. It’s a one-of-a-kind spot for hiking – walkers can enjoy around 350 kilometres of marked trails through primeval forest. There’s also plenty of wildlife to discover, including reindeer, red squirrels, arctic hare and – if you’re lucky – the elusive brown bear.

This is the home of the husky-sled ride. Here, you can race through a snowy forest with a head torch to light the way. And if you’re lucky, you might get a cuddle with the puppies afterwards. Snowmobiles, meanwhile, let you zip across frozen lakes, James Bond-style.

Day 1 - The Warm Up

When you arrive at Kittila Airport, Santa’s elves will greet you and take you to your accommodation. Then you’ve got a free afternoon to get a feel for the place.

Day 2 - Winter Wonderland

Indulge in Lappish culture with a short husky sledge ride or opt for a snowmobiling session in the morning. Then you’ll get to see a traditional Arctic Circle Crossing Ceremony, followed by some free time in the afternoon.

Day 3 - Frosty Fun

Those of you on 3-night trips will enjoy Day 4’s activity list today instead.

You can take your pick of things to do today. You could cruise through the countryside on a snowmobile or on the back of a husky-driven sleigh.

Day 4 - Festive Fun

These activities will be on Day 3 for guests on a 3-night stay. Today, you’ll have a day of festive fun. Try your hand at decorating cookies and making Christmas ornaments, and zoom through the snow on a toboggan ride. Later, you’ll tuck into a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.

We try to pack as much fun as possible into these trips, so activities can differ from the order above. Everything will be included at some point, though. If you’re staying at Snowy Wilderness, you’ll have the chance to meet Santa at your Festive Finale. If you want to celebrate Christmas Day in Pallas, book our 4-night trip departing on the 22nd December.