With the May half term holiday out of the way and summer holidays all finalised, now is the time to book a trip to see Santa in his Lapland home this winter to ensure the best availability for departure dates and accommodation.  With the increase in demand for Santa holidays, these magical breaks often sell out quickly. This winter, independent tailor-made tour operator Best Served Scandinavia offers its widest choice of Santa breaks with four different itineraries available in Finnish Lapland ranging from a luxurious wilderness retreat to the option of a night in a glass igloo.

New this year is a 4 day tailor made break to the Finnish town of Rovaniemi also known as Lapland's Christmas Capital.  Direct flights, transfers, 3 nights at Ounasvaaran Lakituvat in a cosy log cabin, a visit to Santa's Village, husky sledding and a snowmobile ride to a local reindeer farm are all included in this magical break.  Prices this winter with Best Served Scandinavia [0207 664 2241, www.best-served.co.uk] start from £1,360 per adult and £890 per child.  Early booking is recommended with a free husky toy for children under 12 for all bookings made before the end of June.

The quiet village of Luosto in Finnish Lapland is home to Santa's Hotel Aurora, a cosy hotel ideally located for Northern Lights viewing.  This year, the Snow and Santa in Finnish Lapland break includes a magical night in a glass-domed igloo where it's possible to catch a display of the Northern Lights.  There's also a private visit from Santa in the igloo and a guided reindeer excursion.  Prices this winter start from £1,490 per adult and £625 per child and include return flights to Rovaniemi, transfers, 2 nights at the Santa's Hotel Aurora and 1 night in a glass igloo.

For a classic Santa break, Harriniva is the ideal location where everything is close to hand.  The Hotel Jeris offers cosy wilderness-style rooms and back-to-nature cabins in a wonderful setting overlooking Lake Jerisjärvi.  There's plenty to keep the kids busy and entertained including a visit to a local reindeer farm, a guided tour of a husky farm, a husky safari and a 20km long snowmobile safari. Free entrance to the Arctic Spa is also included with its heated pools overlooking the lake and traditional Finnish smoke sauna. For a truly icy experience, plunge in to the 25-metre illuminated ice pool, before recovering in one of the heated pools.  Naturally there's a visit to the great man himself in his log cabin one evening following a sled ride through the forest. 

Prices with Best Served Scandinavia [0207 664 2241, www.best-served.co.uk] start from £1,590 per adult and £1,075 per child and include return flights to Kittila, transfers, three nights in a cabin on a full board basis, warm winter clothing, a reindeer farm visit, lasso lesson and sled ride, husky farm tour, 6km husky sled ride, 20km snowmobile safari, cookie baking, stocking making, snowshoeing, ice fishing, tobogganing, mini snowmobile riding (for children), Santa Claus visit and one free entrance to the Arctic Spa.

Finally the most luxurious Santa break in Lapland and new this year is a 3 night stay at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel.  This new property is Lapland's latest wilderness retreat offering luxurious designer treehouses in contemporary Scandinavian design with floor to ceiling windows hidden away in the magical forest.  Families can enjoy a husky safari, kick sledding, a day with Santa's elves at Elf School learning crucial elf skills such as gingerbread making, forest walks and a private audience with Father Christmas.  Dinner at the hotel's excellent restaurant which serves Lappish dishes with a modern twist is included.  Prices with Best Served Scandinavia for this luxury break start from £2,590 per adult and £995 per child and include flights to Rovaniemi, transfers, 3 nights in an Arctic Treehouse Suite on a half-board basis, a private excursion to Santa's Secret Forest including elf school, gingerbread decoration, elf school diploma, kick sledding, Elf-guided visit to Christmas Command Centre and a private meeting with Santa Claus and a 2-hour husky sledding excursion.

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