In Search of Santa
tours are set in wilderness locations amidst the ancient snow-filled forests & fells of Finnish Lapland; evoking fond memories of a traditional Christmas past. Yet, today it is possible to recapture the magical spirit of Christmas and families and friends can gather together to celebrate the festive season.

Each of our quality tours includes activities such as snowmobiling, reindeer & husky sleigh rides, tobogganing & other simple snow games together with an individual meeting with the real Father Christmas, where children can deliver in person their Christmas letters and receive a present from the great man.

If you wish to travel post-Christmas, then our Winter Wonderland tours, which operate from the UK, could be just for you. Available from January to April, choose a ski or snowboarding holiday based in Luosto, where wide open pistes & generally excellent snow conditions prevail. You can even create your own bespoke package by adding an optional excursion from a selection of husky, reindeer & snowmobile safaris.

A small family company with a big heart; we at Canterbury Travel believe that your holiday to Lapland should be a fun-packed adventure, providing families & friends with the opportunity to spend quality time together. We aim to offer not just a package holiday to Lapland but a magical once in a lifetime experience. Join us in our magnificent Winter Wonderland!

The real Lapland with Canterbury Travel

When purchasing a tour of this specialist nature, we recognise that it’s very important to consider the services you are purchasing. It is easy to appreciate that, in general terms, flight costs to a destination may be similar in nature. However, it is the land content that is the main variant. At Canterbury Travel we believe whether you purchase a 1 day trip or a longer stay, it’s important to enjoy the best standards of service & tour content available. Therefore we try to provide that extra content, such as presents for children, special souvenir licences and other services as shown for each tour. Day trips are full of activity rather than standing around in shopping centres, but to some degree are rushed due to time constraints. Longer tours provide for a more relaxed atmosphere, an enhanced activity programme in wilderness locations and the romance of searching for Father Christmas.

Letter to Father Christmas

You will be asked to follow certain guidelines with regards to children's letters to Father Christmas. You can imagine the delight on children's faces when Santa is able to discuss the contents with them. For day trips, children should take their letters with them and present them to Santa when you meet him. For those on overnight tours, there is a separate instruction and indeed it may be that Santa is even able to supply a gift from the items mentioned!

Special Enhancements

On certain tours, the following Special Enhancements are included.
Please look out for the icons on the individual tour pages.

Limited FREE child places

Free child places are available on selected departures (subject to availability) and must be booked prior to October 2011. Each booking must consist of a minimum of 2 adults and 2 children (aged 2-11 years at the time of return travel) and the youngest child in the party will qualify for the free child place (see booking condition no.23).

FREE Special Souvenirs

On departure from Lapland you will receive a selection of souvenir licences to commemorate your visit to Lapland, including an Arctic Circle Crossing certificate covering the activities undertaken.

Fun for all

Children’s entertainment is available in certain resorts, with details of each days programme available locally. The professional children’s entertainers perform in the late afternoon/early evening except for arrival & departure days. Parents can join in the fun, or may take this opportunity to relax in the hotel. Musical entertainment will be available for adults during the evening.

FREE Souvenir DVD

(Only where this icon is shown).
Canterbury Travel recognises that for many clients this will be a ‘once in a lifetime’ holiday to Lapland. To ensure that your fond memories of Lapland stay with you forever we provide a special souvenir DVD of Lapland. Your DVD will include general footage of Lapland plus 1 or 2 clips of your party meeting Santa. (1 DVD per booking form, additional copies may be purchased separately).

FREE Souvenir CD

Where the duration of your stay is more than 1 night, throughout your stay you & your children will have the opportunity to sing along to our very own special ‘ In Search of Santa & his Elves’ song. We provide 1 souvenir CD per booking form, prior to departure from Lapland.

Our Inclusive Tours

We offer fully inclusive tours with the exception of beverages or souvenirs. Our holiday arrangements are inclusive not only of flights, accommodation, transfers and meals as per itinerary, but outdoor activities as specified using huskies, reindeer, snowmobiles, the hire of snowsuit and boots, plus entertainment & presents for children aged 2-11 years inclusive for day tours and 2-13 years inclusive on overnight tours.

Our representatives

Our experienced personnel will be available to assist you throughout your stay in Lapland and all speak very good English. When you visit Santa he will fully understand your children and provide appropriate answers to questions, befitting your expectancy of Christmas.

Father Christmas

We pay great care & attention to all aspects of our tour operation & when you experience your personal meeting with Santa you will have no doubt that you have met the real Father Christmas.

Your flights

Tours in this programme are undertaken by charter flights. Charter services are on the use of Thomsonfly, Monarch and other carriers from airports specified in the programme. Flight times shown are subject to final slot confirmation by the airport authorities. Your flight duration is on average 3 & ½ hours each way. With this in mind we attempt to make your journey as comfortable as possible. There will be a traditional Christmas sing along onboard, with the cooperation of the airlines & crew.

Infants (free of charge)

Infants (aged under 2 years at the time of return travel) are welcome on our tours. No charges are made for infants travelling on charter flights & cots are provided free of charge, in the family accommodation where appropriate. You will be required to provide suitable over garments, boots & other provisions as required for your infant, for the duration of your tour. Prior to booking, you should consult your GP and receive his/her professional advice about taking your infant to Lapland.

No smoking policy

We operate a strict no smoking policy for our charter flights & coaches to Lapland. Hotels & restaurants used in this programme are non-smoking in all areas.

Snowmobile Driving

Anyone wishing to drive a snowmobile must be in possession of a valid driving licence with the following exception – where all driving is undertaken on private land the minimum driving age is 15 unless driving a children’s snowmobile where the minimum age is 4 years (subject to height restrictions).

CLIENTS SECURITY

Canterbury Travel is a fully bonded tour operator. Clients travelling from the Irish Republic are protected by the Tour Operators Licence no. T096 issued by the Commission for Aviation Regulation. Air holidays from Northern Ireland are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority ATOL no. 0739 includes the current £2.50 insurance levy per passenger in the tour cost. Thus clients booking with Canterbury Travel are fully protected. Canterbury Travel is a full time agency member of the International Air Transportation Association (IATA). Therefore reliability is assured. ABTA member V6364.