It’s not enough that Santa’s reindeer mocked Rudolph for his red nose, we’ve learned from a more than reliable source that everybody’s favourite reindeer is hiding a rather unlikely secret.

During a trip to Arctic Norway last week, we met with a Sami reindeer herder who had some startling information for us.

“Rudolph is a girl!” He announced as we gathered around a log fire in his winter lavvu (a traditional form of teepee).

“Excuse me” we spluttered in stunned unison.

Warming to his subject, the herder elaborated. “Both male and female reindeer have antlers but the bulls lose their’s sometime around late October after the rutting season. In addition, after the rigours of the rut, the male of the species are generally too shattered to even pull themselves to their feet yet alone a sled carrying the big fella and thousands of Christmas parcels.

What does Rupolph have?” he enquired.

Ignoring the wholly rhetorical nature of the question, we again spluttered, again in stunned unison……“Antlers!”

“Exactly” opined our informant, “so, Rudolph is?”

Cue more spluttering, cue more stunned unison, “A GIRL!!”

You can meet reindeer of both the male and female persuasiions on any of the following holidays.

Kittila

Alternatively, you could visit Kittila and take part in a holiday which one client stated should be compulsory!

Kittila is surrounded by a seemingly limitless winter landscape. Our base is a family run hotel with a small pool and sauna to aid relaxation after enjoying a fantastic set of winter activities including snowmobiles, huskies, reindeers and the chance to explore this wonderland using both cross country skis and snowshoes.

Again we offer both adult only programmes and family programmes but both are almost, but not quite, full.

Ali, Jane and Amy go to Norway

Three lucky Activities Abroad employees visited Norway last week and, as always, this stunning country far exceeded our wildest expectations.

We experienced a whirlwind tour of huskies, hot tubs, reindeer (both living and delicious), the friendliest hosts you could image and some truly jawdropping vistas combining fjords, breathtaking mountains and even the Aurora Borealis!

The only problem we have now is that we fight over who speaks to potential customers when they want to discuss our Norwegian holidays. By virtue of being the so-called "Boss", Ali usually wins.

Click here to view our holidays in Norway.