What it lacks in height and length of runs it makes up for in mountain activities.
Levi in the northwest is known as Santa’s official resort, ideal for couples, families, and larger groups, especially those in search of nightlife – the bars open until 4am!
Levi also offers the country’s most comprehensive ski opportunities – from gentle nursery slopes to championship-standard black runs. It hosted both the men and women’s World Cup slalom competitions last year.
Ylläs, a short distance southwest of Levi, consists of seven hills and two original Lappish villages. At 718m, Ylläs is one of the highest in Finland.
With 62 slopes over 53km and 330km of cross-country ski trails, Ylläs has become one of the biggest winter holiday resorts in Finland, without losing any of its Lappish charm.
One of the most attractive places to stay is the Ylläs Saaga Hotel, one of the finest spa hotels in Finland’s ski resorts. Also worth a look while in Ylläs is the nearby Lainio Snow Village, an assembly of buildings constructed entirely from snow.
Further to the northeast and close to Finland’s spectacular Urho Kekkonen National Park is Saariselkä – Europe’s northernmost winter resort. Not far away are the Arctic Ocean and the North Cape.
The area has 8 hotels, 19 restaurants and a spa. Just south of Saariselkä is the igloo village at Kakslauttanen, a perfect place to watch the Northern Lights.
Pyhä and Luosto are two small, separate ski resorts in the middle of Lapland. They are just 30 minutes apart, so you can explore both resorts.
Pyhä’s ski slopes and off-piste opportunities are amongst Finland’s finest, while Luosto is an ideal place for beginners and intermediate skiers.
Ruka, situated just south of the Arctic Circle in Eastern Finland, has long been one of the country’s favourite winter resorts where 29 slopes offer challenges to beginners and advanced skiers alike. For snowboarders there is a well-maintained street with jumps and rails, as well as a FIS-standard super-pipe.
