There's a lot more to winter holidays than just skiing down a mountain. If you are looking for something different, then one of the numerous tours to Lapland could possibly be just the thing. Family adventure holidays should be precisely that, an adventure for all of the family and holidays in Lapland tick all of the boxes.

What could be more thrilling than a real winter of deep, crisp snow, and the huge virgin landscape of northern Finland. On one of these tours to Lapland you'll be able to take a snow mobile into the wilds or delight in the more leisurely experience of a visit to Santa. Either way you'll also learn about the Lapp, or Sami, culture as well as return home with a whole new view of how superb winter can be.

You will start your tour in Rovaniemi well above the arctic circle. At your hotel you can have your first experience of a genuine Finnish sauna. For the snow mobile tourers the day stars with some safety instruction and then it is off into the country. You will eat a picnic in the open on the way to that night's hotel where you can enjoy another sauna and also go for a walk to perhaps to see the northern lights.

The Northern Lights

This incredible phenomenon occurs here about 200 times a year therefore, it can't be guaranteed but you will have a very very good possibility of seeing it.

The following day's tour is going to be broken by a change of activity at a frozen lake where you're going to try your hand at fishing via a hole in the ice. What you catch is going to be cooked over an open fire making a tasty lunch. You will then set off for the log cabins where you are going to spend the night.

Finnish Lakes

There's no difficulty finding a lake in Finland as there are roughly 190,000 of them formed as huge glaciers scraped the earth during the ice age. One unusual thing about Finland is that it is still bouncing back up after being pressed down by the huge weight of the ice during the ice-age. It is actually growing in size by several square kilometres a year as it rises from out of the sea.

Santa Claus

The following day there's only one place to go. All roads may lead to Rome, but in this part of the world all snow trails lead to Santa Claus Village where you can send postcards from Santa's post office, do some shopping, and also meet up with Father Christmas himself. Even Ebenezer Scrooge couldn't fail to take pleasure in this part of the holiday.

The Sami

Apart from your tour of the countryside you will find that there are some fantastic experiences waiting for you. You can go to a reindeer farm and find out about the Sami culture. You may take a trip on a reindeer sledge and take part in the special Sami ceremony of crossing the Arctic circle. If the Reindeer ride wasn't enough your next stop might be a trip to a husky farm for a thrilling dog sled ride through the snowy forest.

The Weather

Winter in Finland is very cold. In Lapland, winter months last from October to May with snow falling for much of that time. The temperature, from November to March, can often be below -40 C. The lowest ever temperature is -51.5C.

You, nevertheless, will not need to worry about the temperature. The thermometer will show that it is well below zero, but you won't be feeling cold. You will have to bring warm clothes, but you will be provided with extra things for the outdoor activities. Finnish homes, including your log cabins, are incredibly well insulated so you will always be warm and cosy indoors behind your triple glazed windows. Considering Finns are used to this climate they are very well organised for it and everything works all through the winter weather.All this will make this trip one of the most memorable, amazing adventure holidays of a lifetime.