In December 2009, we ventured into the frozen wonderland of Lapland, Finland, where winter reigns supreme and magic feels tangible in the crisp Arctic air. From sleeping beneath the Northern Lights to meeting Santa Claus himself, from crossing into the Arctic Circle to racing across snow-covered wilderness, we experienced a winter adventure that felt like stepping into a fairy tale—one where the cold was biting, the snow was endless, and every moment was extraordinary.

Lapland: Where Winter Dreams Come True

December in Lapland is the essence of winter magic. The sun barely rises above the horizon, casting everything in a perpetual twilight of blues and purples. Snow blankets the landscape in pristine white, forests stand silent and frosted, and the temperature plunges to extremes that make you feel truly alive. This is a place where childhood wonder meets adult adventure, and where nature puts on its most spectacular show.

"Lapland in winter is where the impossible becomes reality—where you can sleep under the stars in subzero temperatures, meet Santa in his true home, and race across frozen wilderness as reindeer and aurora dance overhead."

Our Arctic Adventure

Each experience pushed us further into the heart of this winter wonderland, creating memories that captured the raw beauty and pure magic of the Arctic.

• Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort: Sleeping in a glass igloo at Kakslauttanen was perhaps the most magical accommodation experience of our lives. As darkness fell, we snuggled into our warm bed inside the heated glass dome and looked up at the vast Arctic sky. The thermal glass stayed completely clear, offering unobstructed views of the star-filled heavens. Then, like a gift from the universe, the Northern Lights began their dance—waves of green and purple light rippling across the sky in a celestial ballet. Lying there in our cozy igloo at -20°C outside, watching the Aurora Borealis perform just for us, felt surreal. We stayed awake for hours, unable to tear our eyes away from nature's most spectacular light show.
• Santa's Village in Rovaniemi: Meeting Santa Claus at his official residence in Rovaniemi was surprisingly moving, even as adults. This wasn't a shopping mall Santa—this was THE Santa, in his actual workshop in Lapland, surrounded by elves and Christmas magic. We sat with him in his cozy office, sharing our Christmas wishes and feeling that childlike wonder resurface. The entire village radiated authentic holiday spirit, from the post office where letters from children worldwide arrive, to the workshops where we watched craftspeople create traditional Finnish gifts. It reminded us that some magic is worth believing in, no matter your age.
• Crossing the Arctic Circle: Standing at 66°33'N, we officially crossed into the Arctic Circle—a geographical milestone that felt momentous. We posed for photos at the white line painted across the snowy ground, knowing we were now in a region where the sun doesn't rise for weeks in winter and doesn't set for weeks in summer. Receiving our official Arctic Circle crossing certificates made us feel like true explorers who had reached one of Earth's most remote and extreme regions.
• Reindeer Sledge and Snowmobile: The traditional reindeer sledge ride through the silent, snow-laden forest was peaceful and meditative—the only sounds were the soft crunching of reindeer hooves and the whoosh of the sledge gliding over snow. Our Sámi guide shared stories of Arctic life and reindeer herding traditions that stretch back thousands of years. Then came the snowmobile adventure—and what a contrast! Racing across frozen lakes and through pristine wilderness at -20°C, the cold air stinging our faces despite our gear, our adrenaline pumping as we navigated the white landscape at speed. The extreme cold made everything sharper, more vivid, more real. We felt truly alive, pushing through Arctic conditions that would have seemed impossible just days before.

Our Lapland adventure was transformative in ways we never expected. We discovered that -20°C isn't something to fear but something to embrace, that magic still exists for those willing to journey far enough to find it, and that some of life's most incredible moments happen when you venture beyond your comfort zone into the frozen extremes. From sleeping under the Northern Lights to racing across Arctic wilderness, from meeting Santa to crossing into the polar region, Lapland gave us a December we'll treasure forever—proof that winter, at its most extreme, is also at its most beautiful.