EXPERIENCE REAL WINTER IN LAPLAND

What is Lapland all about?

• Santa Claus wishing you welcome
• Thick blanket of snow ensuring several months of excellent skiing conditions
• Northern lights colouring the sky
• Quiet, powerful nature: 100% stress free environment and holiday
• Rich local culture and heritage to explore
• Reindeer strolling in the wilderness

Travel website Tripadvisor listed recently the 10 most peaceful places on Earth and Finnish Lapland landed on number two spot. It is a unique destination. On a same holiday you can enjoy wholesome tranquillity, but also explore the surrounding nature by taking part on the wide range of outdoor activities on offer. Winter season activities are plenty: cross-country skiing and downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoe walking, ice-fishing, husky safaris, sledging…

Rovaniemi is the gateway to Lapland. Rovaniemi is not just a home to Finland’s most northern university and Hostel Rudolf, but it also boasts being the ‘the Official Hometown of Santa Claus’!

Hostel Ahopää is part of Fell Centre Kiilopää in Saariselkä. It is an outdoor enthusiast’s heaven. They offer plenty of guided trips every day in the neighbouring Urho Kekkonen National Park. And if you are a beginner in cross-country skiing, you can take part in the skiing school at Kiilopää.

If an exciting dog sled ride sounds like your thing or even a longer safari, you should stay at either Guesthouse Husky or at LumiNenä Holiday Resort. LumiNenä is also very close to the Pyhä Ski Resort.

Ruka Ski Resort is close to the town of Kuusamo. It hosts some of the best slopes in Finland. In Ruka you can stay at Ski Hostel Ruka, which is literally by the slopes.

For those of you looking for peace and quiet, it epitomizes at Hostel Jokitörmä and Hostel Visatupa. These hostels are perfect getaways from hectic everyday life. They are great places to explore the surrounding nature by skiing or snowshoeing at your own pace.

Hostel Jokitörmä in Kaamanen Village in the Inari Municipality

Hotel Inari and Hostel Kemijärvi are located in the centre of their respective municipalities, which by the way are geographically huge in Lapland! Despite their central location, these hostels are also just a step away from the nature and skiing tracks.

Environment is vulnerable also in Lapland and should be respected. Please don’t leave any rubbish behind you in the nature. Leave No Trace – Center for Outdoor Ethics has great tips for those going out in the wild.

Lapland can be an exotic adventure of a lifetime. Make it yours!

How to get there?

If you arrive at a local bus or train station or a bus stop, then do enquire if the hostel of your choice has a pick-up service from the stop.

You can take a coach from south of Finland with Eskelisen Lapin Linjat or with Matkahuolto’s services.

Train will take you to Rovaniemi or Kemijärvi. See Finnish Railways online. See also TrainBus connections in Lapland.

If you fly, Rovaniemi, Ivalo and Kuusamo Airports are the most useful.

Renting a car makes it easier to move around. With a valid HI Membership you get a 10 % discount with Sixt Rent a Car company when booking through HI Finland’s website www.hostellit.fi. When driving in Lapland remember that reindeer wander about and don’t care about our traffic regulations!

More winter photos from Lapland on our Facebook page!

More information online:
www.visitrovaniemi.fi
www.laplandpyha.fi
www.ruka.fi
www.outdoors.fi