Winter in the land of the midnight sun
But Finns, who have nearly six months of cold and very dark winter, have thought of much better ways of dealing with the inevitable.
The seventh-largest Western European country, Finland is neatly nestled between Sweden, Norway and Russia, with the Baltic countries to the south, separated by the Gulf of Finland. Its borders stretch from its capital city of Helsinki on the southern coast, up to the expansive and sparsely inhabited tundra landscape of Lapland above the Arctic Circle.
What can make a winter holiday in Finland truly unforgettable is the amazing range of activities these outdoor folk have prepared for their visitors. When tired of the typical skiing, which, mind you, includes alpine, cross-country and telemarking, a tourist can indulge in anything from snowmobile, reindeer and dog-sled snow safaris, to snowboarding, skating, ice-fishing, trekking and horse riding. And when all this gets too much, you can always spend a relaxing evening in the sauna, gently whipping your aching body with some birch twigs.
Ylläs - a cross-country paradise
The Ylläs ski-resort, located in Kolari, in western Lapland, can easily be called a cross-country skier's paradise. It has the largest network of cross-country trails in Finland, totaling 320 km of mechanically prepared trails of which 43 km are fully illuminated. There are also the so-called 'warm tracks' where it might be as much as fifteen degrees warmer than down in the village. A variety of ski-cafés along the tracks as well as campfire and rest stops make cross-country skiing in Ylläs an unforgettable experience.
But the fun does not end here. Ylläs also boasts the longest downhill runs in Finland with a total of 43 slalom slopes and 21 ski lifts. The resort's internationally recognized half pipes, a snowboard park and snowboard streets make it a snowboarder's dream come true. There are two ski-schools, one in each village, that provide skiing lessons for the beginner and seasoned veteran alike.
And for those who aren't into skiing, there's always a husky, reindeer, Icelandic pony or snowmobile safari through the Lappish landscape, as well as snowshoe hiking and kick-sledging. Ice fishing is another typical Finnish outdoor activity, with the most usual catches being perch, white fish, grayling, brown trout, arctic char and rainbow trout.
Other resorts such as Levi, Muonio, Pallas and Hetta are within easy reach of Ylläs, thus giving fans a trail network of nearly 1,000 km of cross-country skiing in total.
Rovaniemi - the home of Santa Claus
Despite rumors to the contrary, Santa Claus is actually a resident of one of Finland's best-known winter holiday destinations-Rovaniemi. The city, which lies on the Arctic Circle, is a must for anyone venturing into Finnish Lapland. One could easily spend their entire winter holiday in the city itself, not running out of attractions to keep them amused for days. A visit to Santa's Park-Santa's Home Cave deep inside the Syväsenvaara Mountain, is an experience that is particularly unforgettable for the youngest family members. In Santa's Park the Christmas spirit is in the air all year round and who would want to miss a picture opportunity with the big man himself!
As with Levi, Rovaniemi provides many opportunities for cross-country enthusiasts as the season starts in October with the use of artificial snow on selected trails. The town also plays host to many of Finland's wilderness safari outfits, with guided snowmobile excursions being their biggest hit. Reindeer are another all-time favorite. Reindeer herders in colorful traditional costumes will show you how to lasso yourself a mount and take you on a reindeer sleigh ride. They will even grant you your very own reindeer driver's license, for a fee of course. And where else in the world can you have a reindeer steak?
Kemi - icebreaker cruises and a snow castle
Sampo, the world's only tourist icebreaker, operates in the Gulf of Bothnia out of Kemi, an industrial town in Finnish Lapland. This curious vessel has been taking tourists on Arctic adventures since 1988 and sails from the middle of December to the end of April. Each trip lasts about four hours, including a guided tour of the vessel. Halfway through the excursion visitors are encouraged to leave the ship and experience walking on solid Arctic ice. The more daring participants can also try swimming among the flotilla of broken ice dressed in a watertight thermal suit.
Kemi's annually built snow castle is one of Lapland's most famous attractions. Its Snow Restaurant features tables chiseled out of ice, seats covered in reindeer fur and incredible ice and snow sculptures as decorations. Staying overnight at the Mammut Snow Hotel is another unforgettable experience. The temperature in the rooms remains constant at about -5°C, so the sleeping bag provided by the hotel does come in handy. There is also an ecumenical snow chapel seating 50 people, where many have said their wedding vows.
- Maria Laitalainen
The seventh-largest Western European country, Finland is neatly nestled between Sweden, Norway and Russia, with the Baltic countries to the south, separated by the Gulf of Finland. Its borders stretch from its capital city of Helsinki on the southern coast, up to the expansive and sparsely inhabited tundra landscape of Lapland above the Arctic Circle.
What can make a winter holiday in Finland truly unforgettable is the amazing range of activities these outdoor folk have prepared for their visitors. When tired of the typical skiing, which, mind you, includes alpine, cross-country and telemarking, a tourist can indulge in anything from snowmobile, reindeer and dog-sled snow safaris, to snowboarding, skating, ice-fishing, trekking and horse riding. And when all this gets too much, you can always spend a relaxing evening in the sauna, gently whipping your aching body with some birch twigs.
Ylläs - a cross-country paradise
The Ylläs ski-resort, located in Kolari, in western Lapland, can easily be called a cross-country skier's paradise. It has the largest network of cross-country trails in Finland, totaling 320 km of mechanically prepared trails of which 43 km are fully illuminated. There are also the so-called 'warm tracks' where it might be as much as fifteen degrees warmer than down in the village. A variety of ski-cafés along the tracks as well as campfire and rest stops make cross-country skiing in Ylläs an unforgettable experience.
But the fun does not end here. Ylläs also boasts the longest downhill runs in Finland with a total of 43 slalom slopes and 21 ski lifts. The resort's internationally recognized half pipes, a snowboard park and snowboard streets make it a snowboarder's dream come true. There are two ski-schools, one in each village, that provide skiing lessons for the beginner and seasoned veteran alike.
And for those who aren't into skiing, there's always a husky, reindeer, Icelandic pony or snowmobile safari through the Lappish landscape, as well as snowshoe hiking and kick-sledging. Ice fishing is another typical Finnish outdoor activity, with the most usual catches being perch, white fish, grayling, brown trout, arctic char and rainbow trout.
Other resorts such as Levi, Muonio, Pallas and Hetta are within easy reach of Ylläs, thus giving fans a trail network of nearly 1,000 km of cross-country skiing in total.
Rovaniemi - the home of Santa Claus
Despite rumors to the contrary, Santa Claus is actually a resident of one of Finland's best-known winter holiday destinations-Rovaniemi. The city, which lies on the Arctic Circle, is a must for anyone venturing into Finnish Lapland. One could easily spend their entire winter holiday in the city itself, not running out of attractions to keep them amused for days. A visit to Santa's Park-Santa's Home Cave deep inside the Syväsenvaara Mountain, is an experience that is particularly unforgettable for the youngest family members. In Santa's Park the Christmas spirit is in the air all year round and who would want to miss a picture opportunity with the big man himself!
As with Levi, Rovaniemi provides many opportunities for cross-country enthusiasts as the season starts in October with the use of artificial snow on selected trails. The town also plays host to many of Finland's wilderness safari outfits, with guided snowmobile excursions being their biggest hit. Reindeer are another all-time favorite. Reindeer herders in colorful traditional costumes will show you how to lasso yourself a mount and take you on a reindeer sleigh ride. They will even grant you your very own reindeer driver's license, for a fee of course. And where else in the world can you have a reindeer steak?
Kemi - icebreaker cruises and a snow castle
Sampo, the world's only tourist icebreaker, operates in the Gulf of Bothnia out of Kemi, an industrial town in Finnish Lapland. This curious vessel has been taking tourists on Arctic adventures since 1988 and sails from the middle of December to the end of April. Each trip lasts about four hours, including a guided tour of the vessel. Halfway through the excursion visitors are encouraged to leave the ship and experience walking on solid Arctic ice. The more daring participants can also try swimming among the flotilla of broken ice dressed in a watertight thermal suit.
Kemi's annually built snow castle is one of Lapland's most famous attractions. Its Snow Restaurant features tables chiseled out of ice, seats covered in reindeer fur and incredible ice and snow sculptures as decorations. Staying overnight at the Mammut Snow Hotel is another unforgettable experience. The temperature in the rooms remains constant at about -5°C, so the sleeping bag provided by the hotel does come in handy. There is also an ecumenical snow chapel seating 50 people, where many have said their wedding vows.
- Maria Laitalainen
