Lapland is within the Artic Circle, so you can expect a winter trip there to involve cold and dark. But just how extreme and how much do you need to take?
On a day trip, you will be provided with boots and a ski suit. When we visited the changing area was full of 1 or 2 plane loads of people, each with different ideas of what was needed. Unfortunately, after the first set of activities there were children crying about the cold – and that was at the warmest time of the day.
Cheap thermal long johns and thermal long sleeved t-shirt are an essential base layer. Not only do they keep you warm, but they also help to remove sweat away from the skin (yes, you will at times sweat – just wait for the tobogganing!), which would otherwise make you cold.
We saw a lot of people dressed just like that under their snowsuits, but my preference was to be fully dressed. Jeans or trousers on the bottom half, then another long sleeved t-shirt and a fleece for the top. We "only" had temperatures down to –16c, it can go a lot colder, and I was just a nice temperature. But I would also recommend taking a jumper or cardigan to wear under the fleece.
My recommendation from personal experience would be to make some of the layers on your top half zipped layers. When you are moving around a lot or going into buildings you can then have the fleece and other base layers unzipped. Otherwise you would need to remove the snow suit to remove a layer – not the best idea when it's snowing!
The only problem I did suffer was cold feet. We had taken ski socks, but when we saw the cosy snow boots decided that normal socks would be enough. The others were fine in just normal socks, but mine must have been particularly cold as my toes began to freeze! In hindsight, thermal socks of ski socks, or at the very least good walking socks, are essential.
A good warm hat and skiing gloves are absolutely essential. Your hat should cover your ears and mine was a wonderfully warm woollen hat with fleece lining. Gloves have to be waterproof – one fall or thrown snowball and as others discovered you have very wet and cold hands for the rest of the day. Some lip cream to prevent the cold drying them out would also be a great benefit. Not so much whilst you are there, but it will prevent you suffering dry lips when you get back.
As for other bits, a torch is useful depending on what order you do the various activities. A camera must have a good flash and plenty of batteries. Keeping the camera protected from the elements will help to prevent the batteries going flat too quickly, but think how many you might need and take at least double that number. Also be aware that the camera will fog over at times, so take care when going from cold to hot and vice versa.
Keith travelled to Lapland with Cosmos. He writes and works for ClickRentStay holiday villa rentals.
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