Your Upcoming Trip to Jänkä
Useful Information
Sending Your Child’s Letter to Santa
To make your visit with Santa as magical as possible, we can arrange for him to have your children’s letters when you meet him in Lapland. There are two ways to make sure the letters reach him:
Option 1: Send the letters to us in advance
You can post your children’s letters to us before 15th November.
Please send them to:
Magic of Lapland, First Floor, 1 Des Roches Square, Witan Way, Witney, OX28 4BE
- Include a cover note with the following details:
- Your 5-digit booking reference number
- Date of travel
- Your full name
- Your child or children’s full name(s)
Please ensure the correct postage is used, as letters with insufficient postage may not reach us in time.
Option 2: Bring the letters with you
If you prefer, you can bring the letters with you to Lapland. Please place them together in an envelope clearly labelled with your family name and booking reference number, and hand them to your guide when you arrive in Lapland.
Each child will receive a personal invitation from Santa to visit Lapland. These letters are posted in unbranded C5 size beige envelopes and are addressed to the lead booker.
Invitations will be sent out between mid-October and early November. If you have not received your letter by mid-November, please get in touch with us so we can look into this for you and resend if needed.
Dressing in layers is key to staying warm and comfortable in Lapland, particularly as winter temperatures can vary considerably. The number of layers you’ll need will depend on the conditions each day, and it’s important that clothing isn’t too tight so a little air can remain between layers to help trap warmth. We provide Arctic outer suits, gloves and boots for both adults and children. For full guidance on what to wear and how to layer, please see our Arctic Layering Guide below.
Top Tips
- Layers are much easier to adjust than one very heavy outfit, so you can add or remove warmth as conditions change.
- Hand warmers can also be useful in gloves or boots (always follow the manufacturer’s instructions).
- For exposed skin, a simple oil-based barrier such as Vaseline or an unscented balm can be applied to cheeks and noses to help protect them from the cold and wind.
Fireplace
Fireplaces in Finland can work differently from those commonly used in the UK, so please follow the instructions provided in your villa carefully. A member of the Jänkä Ranch team will show you how the fireplace works, so please wait for this before using it for the first time. Incorrect use of the fireplace can be dangerous and may cause serious injury, fire or damage to the villa.If you are ever unsure, please ask a member of staff for assistance.
Sauna
Please shower before using the sauna and sit or lie on a towel while inside. Avoid applying body oils, lotions or other skincare products before entering the sauna, as these can transfer onto the benches and surfaces. Avoid using the sauna immediately after a large meal, do not drink alcohol before or during use, and make sure you stay well hydrated. Leave the sauna if you feel unwell or light-headed, and follow the instructions provided in your villa.
Hot Tub
Please shower before using the hot tub and follow the instructions provided at the villa. Do not use soaps, shower gels, shampoos, bubble bath or other products in the hot tub, as these can affect the water chemistry and compromise the chlorine levels. Children should be supervised at all times, and we recommend keeping sessions shorter in very cold weather. Avoid using the hot tub if you are feeling unwell or after drinking alcohol, and take extra care when getting in and out as surrounding surfaces may be icy or slippery.
End of October
Santa Invitations Are Sent
Children’s invitations from Santa are sent between the end of October and the first week of November . They are posted First Class in a beige C5 envelope addressed to the lead booker, so please keep an eye out for it.
November
Receiving Your E-Tickets
Once British Airways has confirmed the final flight times, we’ll issue your e-tickets and send them to you by email.
December
Have a Magical Trip!
We hope you have a wonderful trip!
A Magic of Lapland representative will be available at check-in at Heathrow as well as on arrival at Kittilä Airport. After passing through immigration and baggage reclaim, your Jänkä guides will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall.
On arrival at Jänkä, you will enjoy lunch before collecting your thermal clothing and settling into your villa.
Passports
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about our Lapland breaks. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for please do not hesitate to call or email us.
You’ll receive your confirmed itinerary once you arrive in Lapland. Please note that times and/or the order of activities may differ from the sample itineraries online, so it’s important to follow the information provided by your guides once you arrive. A sample itinerary is available on the short break page.
Please make sure you are at the agreed meeting point at least 10 minutes before your scheduled activity time. Safaris run to a carefully planned schedule and may include other guests, so unfortunately they cannot wait for late arrivals. Please remember that getting dressed for an Arctic activity can take longer than you expect, particularly with children, so allow plenty of extra time to put on layers, outer suits, boots, gloves and hats before you need to leave. We also recommend allowing plenty of time for breakfast or lunch before your activity so that you are ready to leave at the scheduled time.
If you miss an activity, it may be possible to arrange an alternative safari, subject to availability, but please note that this would be at an additional cost.
For safety reasons, guests must not take part in activities while under the influence of alcohol. Our guides reserve the right to prevent anyone they believe may be affected by alcohol from driving a husky sleigh, snowmobile or taking part in another activity where this could present a safety risk.
We therefore recommend avoiding alcohol at lunchtime if you have activities planned later that day.
Our itineraries are carefully planned in advance and, unfortunately, cannot be changed either before departure or during your stay. December is an exceptionally busy time in Lapland, and fixed timings allow us to ensure that every family can enjoy all of the included activities without affecting the experience of other guests. The welfare of the animals is also very important to us, so their designated rest periods must be carefully built into each itinerary.
Yes. Once you arrive in Lapland, you’ll be given a list of optional activities that can be booked locally, so there’s no need to arrange these in advance.
To drive a snowmobile, you must hold a valid full car driving licence and have it with you at the time of the safari. Snowmobile trails operate like roads and are monitored by police, who may carry out random breathalyser tests. Children do not drive snowmobiles and instead travel safely in sledges pulled by the guide’s snowmobile. Children will usually have the opportunity to try specially designed children’s snowmobiles under supervision. Please make sure you bring your driving license with you as it will need to be checked before the snowmobile safari.
All activities are entirely voluntary, and you’re welcome to opt out at any stage if you feel uncomfortable. In very cold temperatures, we may adjust some activities for safety reasons. This most commonly affects the snowmobile safari, as it involves longer periods outdoors without the opportunity to warm up and can feel particularly cold for children.
Daylight in Äkäslompolo is very limited in December. At the beginning of the month, there are around 2-3 hours of daylight, but by the middle of December the area enters polar night, when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all. Even during polar night, it is not completely dark all day – there are several hours of soft blue-grey twilight around the middle of the day. By the very end of December, the sun begins to return, with around an hour of direct daylight again.
The currency in Finland is the Euro. Card payments are widely accepted in Äkäslompolo, including in shops, cafés, restaurants and at the ski resort, so you are unlikely to need much, if any, cash during your stay. Contactless payments are also commonly used. You may wish to carry a small amount of euros as a backup, but there is no need to bring a significant amount of cash with you. There is also an ATM at the supermarket if needed.
We recommend travelling in your normal winter clothes rather than wearing all of your Arctic layers for the journey. Airports and aircraft can be very warm, so dressing too heavily can quickly become uncomfortable. You’ll spend very little time outside between Kittilä Airport and your transfer to the accommodation, and once you arrive you can change into your thermals and additional layers as needed. A warm coat, hat and gloves are sensible to have easily accessible for arrival.
For Euro Traveller (Economy), the standard British Airways allowance is 1 checked bag up to 23kg per person. You can also take 1 cabin bag up to 56 x 45 x 25cm and 1 smaller handbag/laptop bag up to 40 x 30 x 15cm on board per person.
For Club Europe (Business Class), the standard allowance is 2 checked bags per person, with each bag weighing up to 32kg. Club Europe passengers can also take the same 1 cabin bag plus 1 smaller handbag/laptop bag on board per person.
Baggage allowances can occasionally vary by ticket or route, so the allowance shown on your e-ticket should always be treated as the final confirmation.