The most popular pre-Christmas treat for children — with parents who can afford it — is to head for Lapland in search of Santa Claus and an early present

Few who have made the trip to the Arctic return disappointed after days in bright light and deep snow and grown-ups are just as enchanted as their offspring. With Christmas only three weeks away, opportunities to fly north are becoming limited but Cosmos still has availability on three trips leaving from Gatwick on the next two Saturdays and on December 17. Prices start at £639 for a three-day adventure and include full board in a four-star hotel, snowmobile, toboggan and reindeer sleigh rides and a visit to Santa’s house and post office and, of course, a present. Lastminute.com has a few trips still listed on its website, lasting between two and four nights with prices ranging from £700 to £900 and flights from Gatwick. They all include meeting Santa and various Arctic forms of transport but some also feature a carol concert in the Northern Lights Chapel, a visit to Europe’s only amethyst mine and a magical Lappish ceremony. Canterbury Travel is one of the long-established operators to Lapland and offers tours lasting from one to five days. The holidays are based at Luosto, a small ski resort in the middle of nowwhere, and the entertainment includes night-time tours in search of Santa, using reindeers, huskies and snowmobiles plus plenty of daytime activities for young and old. Warm clothes and snow boots are provided to protect against the Arctic cold. Ebookers.com offers a slightly different adventure: a Father Christmas trail deep in Central Finland and close to the Russian border and a husky safari.