Summer isn’t over yet, but TUIis already anticipating the holiday season with the release of its ‘ultimate’Christmas day trip’.
Announced in the 2026 winter lineup, the travel company’s ‘Search for Santa’ package is returning, and this year, visitors fromCardiff Airportcan also join in the fun.
The ‘extreme’ day tour — priced at £750 per person and operating from 11 airports throughout the UK andIreland— gives families the opportunity to travel to Lapland, meetSanta Clausand return to their bed by nightfall.
Travelers arrive in Kittila inFinlandAround noon before traveling to the Snow Village, home to an ice hotel with igloo-style rooms and an ice bar. After that, it’s time to take a sleigh ride, guided, naturally, by Rudolph.
There will be rugged sleigh rides, snowmobile adventures, and tales to come before the main attraction: greeting Santa and his elves in the snowy forest.
Flights depart from London Gatwick, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol, East Midlands, Cardiff, Glasgow, Birmingham, Stansted and Dublin.
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A route from Bournemouth Airportto Lapland will also restart in Winter 2026 following its pause in 2019.
It’s a fast-paced winter journey, but these short excursions have faced some negative feedback.
Although a short trip could offer an opportunity to take a break without affecting your annual leave, there are environmental impacts to keep in mind.
What effects do intense short-day excursions have on nature?
A Facebook group named ‘Extreme Day Trips,’ with more than 240,000 members, serves as a center for guidance on flights and travel plans, as well as discussions about whether it’s feasible to go there and return within 24 hours.
Some travelers from the UK have reached Dubai and New York within 48 hours, while others have rushed to Cairo to visit the pyramids in under a day. Many others have used Britain’s close location to Europe for a short trip.
But Matt Phillis, travel expert at Polarsteps, had previously statedMathHotels.comThat trend is not without danger.
“A plane produces 100 times more carbon dioxide each hour than a train or bus journey,” he stated.
However, flights that cover fewer than 1000 miles generate a significantly higher amount of carbon emissions. This is due to the high energy consumption during takeoff and landing.
For a more environmentally friendly option, Matt recommended traveling by train or bus rather than flying.
“Taking the train from London to Paris instead of flying reduces your CO2 emissions by as much as 90%,” he stated.
You might be amazed at how simple it is to take a day trip to Brussels or Amsterdam if you board an early Eurostar from London.
If you’re traveling by air, he suggests conducting your research and choosing an environmentally responsible airline. He mentioned, ‘British Airways is the top UK-based airline because of its plan to achieve net zero.’
When discussing short-haul airlines, Easyjet is at the top, with its emissions intensity being nearly 18% less than the global average.
Are intense short excursions worthwhile?
MathHotels.compreviously communicated with extreme day trippersregarding their quick flight turnarounds and heavily scheduled itineraries.
Lauren Brogan unintentionally turned into an extreme day tripper when she realized a short visit to Geneva would cost less than spending the night at a hotel in Glasgow, where she resides.
Lauren discovered inexpensive airfare to a Swiss city through Skyscanner and only spent £52 for a round-trip from Edinburgh, staying at a hotel located along the lakeshore in Versoix.
She mentioned she appreciated the ‘spontaneity’ of the journey, noting: ‘It was a city I had never considered visiting before, but there was a lot to explore and experience, and it’s truly breathtaking.’
She planned a complete schedule that featured a visit to the United Nations Building, Botanical Gardens, The Flower Clock, Favarger Chocolate Factory, the Broken Chair monument, Mont Blanc Bridge, and Lake Geneva.
Lauren mentioned that she would suggest an intense day trip to anyone. She stated, “It’s an excellent method to make the most of your annual leave and explore more locations around the globe without spending much.”
Nevertheless, there are certain drawbacks, the most noticeable being the amount of time required.
Lauren mentioned it was “challenging” to include everything in the trip, acknowledging that there wasn’t sufficient time to see anything and that she “still needs to return to explore more of the city.”
Do extreme day trippers prioritize number over quality?
Eloise Skinner, author and psychotherapist, cautions that with intense experiences, ‘individuals may care less about the quality of the journey and more about showcasing it online’.
She stated, “Another possible element might be the feeling of accomplishment or the rush of adrenaline in general—short journeys can seem exciting, exhilarating, and constant—emotions we may desire, particularly if our everyday routines become monotonous and expected.”
These journeys, she mentions, may lead to adverse health consequences. She stated, “Fatigue and a feeling of being depleted could stem from intense day trips.”
We could feel slightly confused because we don’t stay in one location long enough to find our way around or feel at ease in the surroundings.
Eloise suggests that investing time in research could help ‘alleviate sensations of being overwhelmed and tired.’ She also recommends ‘discovering methods to remain centered during hectic journeys’—like planning periods for rest or ‘slowing down the pace.’
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