A Winter Fairytale in Finnish Lapland: Our Family Stay in Pyhä

Staying in an aurora cabin as a family is something truly special. The large heated glass roof positioned above the bed meant that we could lie back and gaze straight up at the Arctic sky. For the boys, it felt like the ultimate sleepover. For us, it was just magical.

After long days spent out in the snowy tundra, there was nothing better than returning to the cabin, thawing out in our private sauna, and then curling up together as the sky slowly darkened overhead. In winter, it gets dark by early afternoon, which made the cabin feel especially cosy. We often spent that time by the fire, enjoying steaming hot chocolate and relaxing together. Evenings were calm and unhurried, shaped by the natural rhythm of the Arctic rather than the clock.

Temperatures dropped as low as -36°C during the day, yet it never felt as extreme as we had expected. Wrapped in layers, and wearing the exceptional polar suits and boots provided by the hotel, we were warm, comfortable and free to enjoy being outside without rushing back in.

With the aurora app quietly running in the background, we waited for the aurora alarm to sound, lying beneath the glass roof in hopeful anticipation. Waiting for the Northern Lights became part of the magic.

The outdoor adventures were incredible. Gliding quietly through the forest in a reindeer sleigh, wrapped in warm layers and listening only to the soft crunch of snow beneath us, was mesmerising and timeless. The boys were utterly captivated, asking endless questions and soaking up every second. A particular moment that stood out was the reindeer named Veeti, and his fascination with the bobble hats both my seven year old and I were wearing that day.

Equally magical were the huskies. Excited, friendly, and full of energy, they reminded the boys of our much-loved German Shepherd, Suki back home. It was clear how loved these dogs are and how much they enjoy running. Seeing them dash across the snow, eager to pull the sleds, brought pure joy to everyone.

The snowmobile safari offered a very different kind of thrill, a proper adventure across frozen lakes, forests, and wide-open fells. Exhilarating, beautiful, and surprisingly peaceful. We were very grateful for the heated handlebars! The boys travelled in a heated sleigh towed by one of the guides while we followed on our own snowmobiles. A warm berry juice at the halfway point was especially welcome. Later that day,  the boys were able to drive their own (smaller and less powerful) snow mobiles which was both thrilling and nerve wracking in equal measure!

We also had access to sleds, snowshoes, and skis, and next time I would love to stay longer to take full advantage of these. When we weren’t out doing activities, some of our favourite moments came from slower hours: exploring woodland trails, racing down small hills, and simply playing together in the snow.

Meeting Santa was a special moment, too, though only a small part of the trip. Watching the children experience that kind of belief-filled magic in a place where it genuinely feels possible was a pinnacle moment. More than anything, this trip reminded us that Lapland isn’t just about Christmas. The true magic lies in the vast, untouched landscapes, the quiet of the forests, the frozen lakes, and the sense of being completely immersed in nature. This is possibly its best kept secret.

From the moment we landed in Rovaniemi, the pace began to shift. We were collected at the airport and driven deep into the Lappish wilderness, leaving the noise of everyday life behind as snow-laden pine forests stretched endlessly in every direction. The air felt crisp, pure and utterly still. It’s the kind of silence that instantly relaxes you.

It’s a difficult feeling to describe, it’s not even comparable to the feeling you get when skiing. This is something quieter, more grounding. And somehow, even better.

The journey to Pyhä was around 90 minutes by (an almost entirely straight) road. As the landscape grew wilder and more remote, excitement built steadily in the back seat. By the time we arrived, our two boys could barely contain themselves. Snow underfoot, toboggans waiting to be claimed, and a sense that adventure was quite literally everywhere they looked.

Each evening ended with hearty, comforting food in the cosy onsite restaurant, the windows framing the snowy landscape outside. With full board, everything was taken care of; no planning, no rushing, just time to be together.

After dinner, we would return to our cabin. Sauna on, hot showers, pyjamas. The boys would fall asleep quickly, exhausted from the cold air and the day’s adventures, while we lay quietly beneath the glass roof, hoping for a flicker of green light across the sky.

This is the kind of luxury I love most: not flashy or forced, but immersive, relaxing, and entirely in tune with the pace of life around you.

There are some trips that stay with you long after you’ve unpacked the bags. The kind that slow everything down, gently pulling you out of the everyday and grounding you in a moment in time. A full reset in the truest sense. Our New Year adventure to Finnish Lapland, deep in the Arctic circle and snow-covered wilderness of Pyhä, was exactly that.

Travelling as a family of four, with our two boys aged 7 and 9, we weren’t searching for just another holiday. We wanted an experience that felt meaningful. Space to breathe. Time together without distraction. And, if we were lucky, the chance to watch the Northern Lights in the Arctic sky from the comfort of our own aurora cabin. Lapland delivered, and then some.

This trip reminded me why I do what I do. Why experiences matter more than things. And why travelling with children, even somewhere wild, remote and wintery can be not just possible, but profoundly special.

If Lapland has been quietly sitting on your travel wish list, consider this your sign to get in touch.

Our home for the next few nights was a glass-roofed aurora cabin with a private sauna, tucked quietly among the trees. There was no television. No screens. With the Arctic cold outside, it was simply too cold for either me or my husband to linger on our phones or stay connected to work; a rare and unexpected luxury in itself.

Beautifully designed and wonderfully warm, the cabin struck that rare balance between luxury and authenticity. A place that felt indulgent yet entirely in tune with its surroundings, the perfect base from which to experience Finnish Lapland, while still having the space to slow down, reconnect, and simply be together.