HETTA, IN THE far north of Finnish Lapland, is the True Lapland and a perfect base from which to go in search of the real Father Christmas. Hetta is a small village, surrounded by miles of forested snowscapes and alongside a dramatic frozen lake.

The vast wilderness expanses of this region have long been traversed by the indigenous Sámi people; and many Sámi families are still resident in Hetta.

The village is proud of its heritage and has a small museum depicting the Sámi way of life. The setting is beautiful, with the village lying alongside Lake Ounasjärvi, with dense forest beyond. The village has an attractive church, with its distinctive, slender belltower.

Since the village remains largely uncommercialised, there are none of the international chain hotels you might find in more crowded Lapland resorts. Instead,this is True Lapland, where old-fashioned values of hospitality hold sway among a small range of attractive, family-run hotels and log cabin villages. 

(information supplied by Transun Travel 2011)