Travelling to Lapland alone with two children takes courage, and a good plan. The Santa and reindeer day is the one that matters most to the children, and the one the adult most wants to go smoothly.

We will go through the private package, its price and the cheaper ways to get the same magic.

Travelling alone with two children in Lapland

Some of the most capable travellers we know are parents doing the Lapland trip on their own. They are managing passports, coats, snacks and moods, usually while pulling a suitcase over fresh snow. If that is you, this article is written with you in mind, and we will be straightforward about money, because a trip with one adult and two children has different pressure points from a couple's holiday.

The Santa and reindeer experience is often the centre of such a trip. Children remember it for years, and the adult remembers whether it went smoothly. The question is how to get the magic without the stress and without a bill that spoils the rest of the holiday.

What the full private package includes

The Private Reindeer Sleigh Ride & Santa Visit5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is the big one. From the listing, it lasts about two and a half hours and includes a 1 km reindeer sleigh ride, a visit to a private kota, an exclusive 30-minute meeting with Santa Claus, a special gift from Santa for each child, warm berry juice and cookies, and unlimited photo opportunities with Santa. A personal Santa's Elf accompanies your family from pick-up to drop-off.

The cancellation terms are worth noting: free cancellation up to seven days before the activity, and a full fee inside that window. The cut-off for booking is 12 hours before the start. The listing also states that children under 13 must be accompanied by adults paying the full price, which matters for a solo parent: you will be that accompanying adult.

The listing also mentions that if the weather does not allow a sleigh ride, the tour continues in an alternative form, so read the exact wording in the booking window before you pay.

The honest price question

The package starts from €1,490. That is a private-tour price rather than a price per head, and the listing does not spell out the maximum group size in the text we have, so please confirm in the booking window who is covered. For a family of three the cost per person is high, and we would be doing you a disservice if we pretended otherwise.

When is it worth it? When the private time is the point: when you have two children who would be overwhelmed by a crowded queue, when one of them has needs that make a calm, unhurried visit valuable, or when the trip is a one-off that the budget has been saved for. When it is not worth it: when the real hope is simply a photo with Santa and a short reindeer ride, because there are cheaper ways to achieve both.

If you do book it, type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout. The 5% off on a €1,490 package is a real amount, and the code works on every StayLapland tour.

We have gone through the arithmetic for bigger groups in the cost per person for a family of five and for sharing in two families sharing the cost; for one adult the sharing option is worth reading, because two single-parent families can split the same booking if the group size allows.

The cheaper way to get Santa and reindeer

If €1,490 is too much, you can still give your children both experiences separately. The Magical Private Santa Visit5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is listed from €249 for about an hour and a half, with an exclusive 30-minute private meeting with Santa, a gift for each child, berry juice and cookies, and a personal elf from pick-up to drop-off. The Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure5% off · HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 is listed from €159 for three hours, a 2 to 3 km reindeer safari with stories about reindeer herding, winter clothing and cookies.

Please check the live calendar for how these prices are applied to your group; the "from" price is the starting figure and the final price depends on the number of guests and the date. For a solo parent with two children, the combined cost of the two separate experiences can be considerably lower than the full private package, though you lose the single flowing, elf-led afternoon.

The trade-off is simple. The package is smoother and more private. The separate tours are cheaper and let you choose the days and times, which is helpful if your children nap or if the weather changes.

Why the elf matters when you are one adult

Something we notice again and again: for a parent on their own, the real benefit of a well-organised private experience is not the luxury, it is the hand-holding. The listing says a personal Santa's Elf accompanies your family throughout the experience from pick-up to drop-off. That means someone else knows where the next stop is, carries the plan in their head and helps with small things like boots and gloves.

When you are the only adult, you are normally the planner, the navigator, the photographer and the comforter all at once. Handing the first three over to someone else frees you up to be present for the fourth. We think that is worth money, but only you can judge how much.

The same logic applies to pick-up. On a trip with two children in snow, not having to drive or navigate to an unfamiliar site in the dark is a real relief. Check the pick-up area in the booking window, because it is limited to a certain distance from the city centre on some tours.

Choosing the date and time of day

The best time for children is earlier in the day, when everyone is fresh and the light is still available for photographs. Late afternoon visits in December are charming but can fall into a tired stretch. Avoid booking the visit straight after a long journey or on the day of an evening tour.

For busy dates around Christmas, private tours go early. Our article on Christmas Eve in Rovaniemi explains how far ahead to plan, and our booking-window guide covers the rest of the season. If your dates fall in the week before Christmas, we would book as soon as your flights are confirmed.

Given the seven-day cancellation rule, you can hold a slot while you finalise your plans, as long as you decide at least a week before. Do not leave it to the last minute: that is exactly when the best slots disappear.

What to pack and how to prepare the children

Winter clothing is typically supplied for many StayLapland tours, but always check the listing for your product. Bring warm inner layers, thick socks, a hat and a neck warmer for each child. Tell the children what will happen: a drive, a reindeer ride, a quiet cabin, a gentle man with a white beard. Children who know the order of events are calmer at the big moment.

Prepare any questions you want them to ask Santa. Write a short list of their names, ages and hobbies, so the conversation is personal. Bring a charged phone for photos, although the listing says there are unlimited photo opportunities, and keep a small snack for the car.

If one of your children is shy, tell the elf at the beginning. A good elf will take the lead and let the child decide how close to come. We have seen shy children go from hiding behind a coat to sitting on Santa's knee in ten minutes when nobody was pushing them.

When you are ready, use the calendar below and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout. For more activities by age, our guide to activities in Rovaniemi is a good next stop.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the private package last?
The listing shows about two and a half hours.

What is included?
A 1 km reindeer sleigh ride, a private kota visit, a 30-minute meeting with Santa, a gift for each child, berry juice and cookies, photo opportunities and a personal elf.

Is the price per person?
The listing shows from €1,490 for a private tour. Confirm in the booking window how many guests the price covers.

Can I cancel?
Free cancellation applies up to seven days before the activity.

Is there a cheaper option?
Yes. The Magical Private Santa Visit and the Kuoksa Reindeer Adventure can be booked separately. Check the live calendar for the exact prices.

Where do I use the discount code?
Enter HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout for 5% off any StayLapland tour.

Our pick for a solo parent

If the budget stretches, the full private package is the smoothest way to give two children the Santa and reindeer day with one adult in charge. If it does not, book the Private Santa Visit and a reindeer adventure on separate days, and enjoy having a more relaxed trip.

Look at the live calendar, choose the day that fits your children, and type HUNGRYTRAVELFAMILY5 at checkout.