We are rather excited to announce that in December we will be off to Lapland to visit Santa with the fantastic company Santa’s Lapland, clearly I am the kids are rather excited to be heading up to the Arctic to see the jolly man in a red suit. I have visited the Arctic before (Svalbard), but that was during the summer when it wasn’t quite so cold and it was light all day and night. At this time of year it will be mainly dark night and day.
In December the temperature will drop anywhere between -3 and -11, but if you wrap up warm you can still enjoy the weather and take part in lots of activities, even with the younger members of the family.
We are currently getting ourselves sorted with layers of clothing for the Arctic and this is our guide of what to bring with you on a trip with Santa’s Lapland, bearing in mind that they will provide you with a thermal oversuit, socks, boots, gloves and hats.
What To Bring
Base Layers – Thermals are the perfect choice to be right next to your skin. The boys both have thermals from Wet Wednesday’s and Muddy Puddles, giving them the best chance to keep their cores warm and cosy. We also have a set of thermals each, which will be worn as our base layer. It’s best to choose a set that is soft and not a cheaper product that will just be irritable when hugging your skin.
Mid Layer 1 – On top of the base layers we each have a set of fleece lined leggings for extra cosiness and a long sleeved top over the thermal top layer.
Mid Layer 2 – Next we each will wear a thin fleece on our top half, the boys fleeces came from Aldi’s, which are cheap, but still good enough for a mid layer. On our bottom halves will be a pair of trousers/jogging bottoms, something soft and easy to move in.
Mid Layer 3 – This layer consists of a slightly thicker fleece that can go over the other layers and is probably the most likely layer to be peeled off it’s too warm! Our almost 3 year old ( in just over 1.5 months!) will be wearing an a Polarn O. Pyret windproof fleece jacket, which will be great at keeping the wind off him, as he’s the youngest I will probably be most concerned about him getting cold.
Outer Layer – We will each have a the thermal oversuit provided for the outer layer, but in the evenings around town or going to and from the plane we will need a insulated or down jacket which will be the final layer.
Gloves – Although gloves will be provided, we each have a pair of thermal liner gloves to keep fingers toasty.
Socks – Again, socks will be provided, but we will also have our own thermal socks underneath those too.
Head & Neck – The boys both have a thin thermal balaclava to wear, cool hats from Wet Wednesday’s and a fleece wind stopper, which will hopefully keep them cosy. My husband and I have fleece balaclavas or fleece hats, which will, fingers crossed, keep our heads warm enough!
Snow Boots – Although boots will be provided, we live in Scotland and often have snow in the early months of the year, so we will be buying a pair of snowboots for the boys a bit earlier than normal so they can take them with us for getting off and on the plane in Lapland. My husband and I will just use our normal walking boots for the plane.
Rucksack – With all the running around in the snow we might actually get a little too warm in our layers and so a rucksack will be useful to put in any layers we strip off during the day.
So there we have it, lots of thin layers to trap the insulating pockets of air between them and keep you cosy and warm in even the coldest of temperatures.
I will let you know when we return if the above layers were enough or too much and any other clothing tips. If you want to find out more about what to expect then check out Santa’s Lapland here.
Have you any tips on what to wear in Lapland?
J x
* This is a collaborative post.
Sarah Bailey says
Oh gosh I would love to visit Lapland – I get so cold of late though so I would definitely need to follow this advice!
LaaLaa says
What an awesome opportunity. Aw I’m sure you’ll all enjoy this and by the looks of it you’ll be very wrapped up and cosy x
Shannon Bryson says
What would I wear? Thermals! Everything: socks, gloves, tights, tops! Still I think you guys will be more than warm enough!
Planet Jodie says
Wow your kids and you are so lucky! It really brings the spirit of christmas together. I can’t imagine anything much more exciting for the festive period. Look forward to reading all about it 🙂 wear many many layers!!!
Dannii says
Oh I am so jealous. This is somewhere I would love to go, and even more so now we have just had a baby.
Miracle Max says
I actually went to Lapland in December 2008 and it was -17, so cold. Luckily I took plenty of layers so I was well prepared. Jo x
Sam says
Oh wow, this is on our list to take the boys. Think little k is a bit young so maybe in a few years time. I’m sure you will keep warm with all your layers on. X
Joanna says
Some useful ideas here we would love to take our son to Lapland it was a dream of mine as a child to go.
Leah Lander-Shafik says
Look at all that snow! Layering is definitely the key to keeping warm x
Lottiee says
Wow I’d absolutely love to visit Lapland! What an incredible trip. I’m sure the cold weather is definitely worth it.
Rhian Westbury says
I’d love to go to lapland in December but I’m sure the cold weather will be worth it. Thermals are the best idea x
Rachel says
I detest snow in any form but for Lapland, I think I would forgive anything, from those who have visited, it looks truly magical x
Plutonium Sox says
Oh my goodness I’m so delighted for you all that you’re going to be there over Christmas. That really is the adventure of a lifetime and the boys will remember it forever. It looks like you’re going to be plenty warm enough, layering is always a great idea.
Nat.x
Mellissa Williams says
Layers are perfect for cold weather. How exciting that you are off to Lapland! Such a fab adventure, have fun!
Nayna Kanabar says
Gosh so many layers but I am sure you will need them all.
baby Isabella says
We’re heading to Lapland….well, LaplandUK but totally agree with the advice above, especially using base layers – we swear by them when we go camping too!
Claire says
What an awesome opportunity – I hope you have a super time (and stay toasty warm, too!).
Anosa says
I don’t have kids but I am jumping for joy at the thought of visiting Lapland and Santa lol. Hope all the layering will be enough
Melissa Major says
Lapland looks like a very nice place to visit, very helpful advice on how to keep warm
Elizabeth says
I am intrigued to hear that it only goes down to -11 in Lapland. Growing up in Canada I distinctly remember much colder temperatures – at minus 11 it’s not too bad. Loads of layers. Have a lovely time!
Natasha Mairs says
Oh wow!!! I would love to visit Lapland. But I would have to wrap up extra warm as I hate the cold
Kirstie Melville says
What an amazing opportunity for you and the kids, I bet it’ll be absolutely magical! I hope you enjoy your break and wrap up warm, it certainly sounds like you’re well prepared!
Stephanie Merry says
I’d love to visit Lapland, it’s definitely on my bucket list! x
Lubka Henry says
Wow, it looks so freezing cold to me! Not sure I can deal with it outdoors 😉
MELANIE EDJOURIAN says
I have a friend who will be visiting Lapland with her daughter for the first time she will find this post very useful.
Ellie says
Such an exciting adventure! I can’t wait to hear all about it.
Sarah says
Oh wow Jenny! How fantastic – everybody must be so excited! I’d love to visit the arctic and see the Northern Lights. Have fun (and of course stay warm!) Sarah x
Jacqui Paterson (@JaxFortyNorth) says
What an AMAZING trip! I was in Finnish Lapland about 10 years ago and – without trying to freak you out – it reached -25 degrees. The funny thing was, it was SO cold it almost didn’t feel cold, if that makes sense?!? Anyway, have a blast – can’t wait to see the pics! xx
jemma says
Lapland must be a wonderful place to visit at this time of year.
The Breastest News says
Oh my goodness, just seen this. What an amazing opportunity for you and the kids 😀 I hope you all enjoy yourselves and get lots of nice photos with the main man 😀
Louise says
We went 4th December and it was -27 !!!!! In case of those kind of temperatures I would highly recommend taking lots of the disposable hand warmers. People told us after that they were using them under the inner sole of the kids boots and in their gloves. I wish we’d had them or that they had been on sale in the hotel gift shop.
Jenny Eaves says
Eek! Yes, that’s definitely a lot colder than us! We had brought a whole pack of the handwarmers, but they didn’t get used. A good idea that they could be available in the gift shop.