Torassieppi Jerisjärvi

You don’t have to go far from base to get a full snowbound Lapland experience: head into Saariselkä for dog sledding and sleigh rides, snowmobiling, ice fishing and plenty of reindeer to spot, or, if you’re shying from the cliché (but fab) trips, plan an excursion instead into Urho Kekkonen National Park, about 25 minutes’ drive from the site, for more skiing, aurora and outdoor adventures. This is gold mining country too, so rush over to Tankavaara for safaris, trails and the gold museum. Speaking of gold, Hammastunturi Wilderness Area is about an hour and a half away, and is a hugely important area in the history of the Lapland gold rush (not to mention absolutely stunning). Of course, one of the major draws of this part of Finland is the big guy in the red suit. Kids (and adults with a bit of magic left in them) should jingle all the way to Pyhä-Luosto National Park, where the village of Pyha is full of Christmas wonderment, or ho-ho-home in on the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi: both are a bit of a trek (two to three hours’ drive), but worth it for all the happy smiling faces. (And the kids should like it too.)