Lapland through the seasons

Lapland is well-known as a magical place to visit at Christmas, but did you know it is also an excellent destination for a holiday during the other seasons of the year? Here’s a look at what Lapland has to offer beyond the Christmas cheer.

Spring is, somewhat surprisingly, the most popular season in which to visit Lapland. One explanation for this lies in the beauty of the country as the cold winter snows begin to melt and reveal its true splendour. The landscape is in the mould of the dramatic; jaw-dropping mountain ranges, pristine lakes and dense forests all combine to take your breath away. The rapidly warming air provides the perfect back-drop to perhaps the best spring activity, hiking. Routes are normally situated in the country’s national parks and holiday resorts, so there are numerous options for accommodation, which range from simple shelters to luxury cabins, so there is something to suit every budget.

Lapland is fortunate to have a climate which provides both snowy winters and mild summers. Temperatures rarely exceed a pleasant sixteen degrees, providing the perfect weather to indulge in outdoor activities such as horse-riding, white-water rafting or cycling. Due to Lapland’s position in the far north, the sun never sinks below the horizon during the summer, resulting in the ‘nightless night’. This only serves to accentuate the countries’ remarkable beauty and the long days make Lapland the perfect location for any number of outside activities.

Autumn marks a drop in temperature and a continuation of the frosts which began in August.  As well as making that hot drink in your cabin at the end of the day all the more rewarding, autumn also marks the turning of the leaves from green to gold and crimson. There are few sights more impressive than a panorama of mountains draped in trees cloaked in the colours of autumn. The locals call this turning of the leaves ‘Ruska’; and the best time to experience it is after the first week of September. Also make sure you enjoy the fruits of the autumn crops, woods will be bursting with berries and mushrooms just waiting to be picked.

Winter is undoubtedlythe season Lapland is most famous for and temperatures can drop to as much as minus thirty during the coldest months of November and December. In the depths of winter you will also experience the opposite of the ‘nightless night’; the sun is so close to the horizon that there are only a few hours of sunlight a day.  However, there are plenty of activities still going on to enable you to enjoy what little sun there is.  The plentiful snow and low temperatures allow you to indulge in some of the best places for skiing and snowboarding in Europe. In winter, Lapland becomes a land of sparkling snow-peaks that you can traverse by husky, reindeer or on skis.

Monarch offer Lapland holidays from £552 for a two night stay, take a look at their website for details.