Finland resorts - genral info please?

A snowHead

Can't find anything recent on this (forgive me please if that's just my stupidity!)

I can see that at least a couple of package companies do trips out to various resorts (don't fancy the diy route at the moment) but I can't find a lot of photos/info to give me a feel of the places. From what I have managed to find, I'm not bothered by the short nature of the runs, nor the average gradings as it sounds like it'll make for a fun trip. Not really going for out and out ski-ing anyway, but for a bit of a general snow holiday with the usual 'activities' and a hope of seeing the Northern Lights as well.
So - what are the actual main places like in terms of overall facilities? Are they big, tiny, really in the middle of nowhere, terribly 'traditional' (even restricted?) or very modern? Large towns or tiny villages? What's medical/accident cover like?

I ask this because I do want to go and try and see the Northern Lights, as well as playing in the snow in various ways including ski/board - adn it sounds like a real ice place for snowsports, too, in some places - and I understand that you need to be able to get out of the lights of a town/city to have a realisitc chance, so in that sense I want somewhere pretty 'rural' - but I and my travelling companion do have some health issues and a lot of medical food problems, so have to be pretty careful about what we eat (the usual pizzas and spag bol are OK, assume that maybe we can eat reindeer, but not fish, definitely). I know that it sounds terribly sad, but it's just fact and it can make adventurous or less-frequented-area travel a bit of a no-no. Unfortantely, most of what I've seen advertised is aimed at people wanting reindeer-skinned log cabins and real open fires adn traditional gourmet food and the like: and all that's just utter terrifying to me!

Also, on the ski-ing front again, have any got any more chairlifts, etc, or are they still all on drag lifts?

Thanks for any input/pointers which you can give.

A snowHead

Hi Grizzler. No insider knowledge I'm afraid. Hoping someone will answer you. We have just booked Ruka for a week next year, mainly because it's a first time all round winter experience for my mates son, we are hoping he'll fall in love with his skis but we want plenty of alternative activities to keep him happy if not. Transfer is real short and looking at trip advisor posts for the hotels in that area there are plenty of decent places for food.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I spent a winter week in northern Finland some years ago. We did not see the northern lights even though skies were often clear and going with that objective in mind may be setting you up for disappointment. We didn't go for downhill skiing so I can't comment on that. It was a great experience but take out a second mortgage if you are planning on drinking much. You are going to Finland not a third world country but the north is thinly populated and if that freaks you out, you may be going to the wrong place.

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If it's anything like African safari camps you'd pay a lot more to live in a hide shelter than a big boring modern hotel. But I'm not clear what "terrifies" you. If you Google somewhere like Ruka there's plenty of information and images to see. I was contemplating Ruka but went to Tignes in early November instead. I think it looks great but be prepared for very cold weather (which keeps the snow good, I'm told).

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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Being a Finn I can and try to answer. There's plenty of skiing all over Finland but I believe you want to go to Lapland where the fells are situated and the best skiing. The main resorts you want to consider are Ylläs (the most extended range for skiing), Levi (the most 'resort/alpine-like'), Ruka (smaller but popular and actually below the arctic circle) and Salla (the wilderness experience). All of them offer standard rooms etc so no need to stay in iglu or anything reindeer related. Also the food is 'safe' as most Finns usually prefer the cheep and cheerful burger/pizza/schnitzel against the more exotic (=pricy) game meet or anything too fancy. Beer is expensive in bars (5-9e) so you might prefer a supermarket for drinks. Finland is a hi-tech country and generally very clean. When planning a trip the available light is an issue. It's terribly dark in Christmas when sun stays below the horizon but you can enjoy night skiing as the lights are on most of the day. Cross country tracks are also lighted and there's hundreds of km of them. Towards spring it quickly gets very light and sunny. A matter of preference I suppose.
My personal favourite resort is Ylläs.

Here's a site where you can browse the resorts etc: http://www.ski.fi/en/ The english info looks a bit dated but hopefully offers something useful.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Finland is great Cool

I've only Alpine skied in Olos, which is not very big at all, but it was -25degC in January but dry and clear visibility for miles and the snow was lovely and crunchy and grippy. I took my Mum to see the Northern Lights and we stayed in Harriniva - lots to do if you don't fancy Alpine skiing, such as cross country skiing, dog sledding, ice go karts, reindeer rides, ice fishing, skidoos etc.

After all it is free

and what about rolling naked in the snow and beating yourself with birch twigs......

The cross-country skiing is fantastic and a completely different experience to what's offered on the valley floor in Alpine resorts. Just be prepared to be skated past by seventy year-olds who have been skiing since they could walk.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

+1 for Yllas. More of a village than a resort and accomodation is spread out over a wide area. if you plan to stay in a cabin/apartment then check the location first as it could be quite a trek to the supermarket and restaurants in the central part of the village. The ski slopes are a short bus ride away but the cross country trails go right through the village. Its very easy in the evening to get away from the village to view the lights if they are visible. Husky dogs and sleigh rides are also a bus ride away

As I understand it, Levi is bigger with more ameneties/facilities in the village. With Yllas, you do feel like your in a winter wonderland and reindeer regularly roam around the village.

I've always fancied trying Saariselka but not got round to it yet. Could be worth a look as well

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

I skied Ruka a few years ago in November. Organised it all by ourselves and it worked out pretty cheap. Go some great accommodation on the hill which included a sauna. Self catered but ate out most nights. Not to expensive eating out but we were there at the start of the season. Got a flight to Helsinki and then a connecting flight to Kuusamo.

In terms of skiing, most of it is pretty easy and a little limited. I seem to remember there being 3 chairs and a very expansive park if that's what you are into. We were there for 4 days skiing and that seemed to be the right amount for what we were after. There are lots of things to do in and around the area including northern lights tours, skiddo safaris and lots of cross country trails.

The one thing i would say though is that it is cold, and can get very cold. When we were there only one chair lift had a protective cover on it, so on a -20 day every 2 runs we would be dashing into the local huts or local cafe.

Certainly an experience, but a long way to travel if the weathers no good.

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You know it makes sense.

Many thanks everyone. Sounds like it's do-able and I think that I'll be giving it a go next year. It seems pretty cheap at least, and I'm not too bothered by the limited ski-ing as long as I can enjoy it. Pootling around is fine, and lack of altitude also a bonus for me. (And I'll be off to Austria in January and possibly another Austria/Italy trip in March as well - this is an extra treat.) It's certainly a much cheaper way of trying to see the Lights than the Aurora-specific holidays and tours (which don't appeal anyway) and I fancy the snowmobiles and huskies and snowshoeing etc (prefer to be doing it in the Dolomites, but that's another plan...).
That web link (ski.fi) seems to have some useful pointers.
Cold is not a particular issue, I think; do have a fair load of appropriate clothing and I'm quite keen on going 'Arctic'. Alcohol prices also not too much of an issue: come across that in Norway, too.
The word "supermarket" is very reassuring to me (if I can read the ingredients lists!). I have seen that there's self-catering apartments, so that looks a lot less scary, too. The words "cheerful burger/pizza/schnitzel" are again music to my ears, the word "exotic" and "restaurant" not so much. It's not that I'm afraid of "third world" countries (having been to and lived in quite a few - and not at all to say that Finland is in any way), nor that many very upmarket places (including the UK) can't be just as scary and dangerous for us: it's just that when something inhaled, touched or put into your mouth (i.e. allergies, as one example) can potentially kill you, you want to know what you're letting yourself in for and how you can protect against it or get around it, if possible. Maybe the 'wilderness' areas should be left for another year until I can find out a bit more about what's available there. Dtto the diy route: think that I'll do it organised for the first time and then if I want to go back I'll have more confidence and know where to look.
If I go, I'll post a report back.
Thanks again.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@pam w, +1 on the XC. I loved it when I tried it last year in Norway, but surprisingly easy to fall over, especially if descending and/or turning.

A snowHead

I really quite fancy XC - though looks exhausting. Would be useful to learn for when we get some white stuff on the home 'fells' too (see quite a few people round here out playing on the odd day when it's possible). Came across a few XC places when I was in Norway too, and the people there (Brits often) were loving it. My sister had a go a few years ago on a 'touring' holiday and managed to break her ankle pretty quickly (then again, daft as I thougt it was, they'd let her go on the holiday without her even having ski-ed at all before!).

Trouble is, my travelling companion, suffering from some deep-seated trauma in his past, obviously, refuses to contemplate an activity with the word ski in it. Not fair: I even tried to learn to snowboard to experience it from his side, too... (ouch!) Maybe he could drive the snowmobile and drag me along on the uphill bits?

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Don't worry about Finland - my daughter has just gone there to study and most people will speak English very well and the food in the supermarkets is easily recognizable. Book it all up yourself, the transport system is very well organised. you ill enjoy it ( apart from the cold though ).

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and it's much more enjoyable doing your own thing. I flew to Oslo in June then travelled round Oslo, Trondheim and to Bodo where I met my boat, all on public transport (or foot, as I travelled light). Train travel from Oslo to the Arctic was memorable, comfortable and inexpensive. Even the least adventurous traveller ought to be pretty relaxed about DIY holidays in Scandinavia. I used the Lonely Planet guide for cheap (ish) accommodation.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Thanks all. I've booked for a week in Pyha (with a tour package) in early Feb in a self-catering apartment - looks like it could be fun, and finges crossed for the non-ski/board bits and the lights. If I like it, I'll try the DIY route next time. Cold weather clothing is being checked and topped-up (as is the credit card!) rolling eyes

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I love Finland. I lived in Helsinki and rode all the local hills there, but at the time the Alps were cheaper to get to from Helsinki so I didn't get north in winter.

Finland is not at all difficult or scary, and although the culture is subtle and different, the people are hugely friendly (especially if you're not morose or drunk). They "party" in a really civilized manner I've never seen anywhere else - all ages of people dancing together without being stupidly drunk (stupid drunks exist but they tend to be quiet, not rowdy).

Help!!

Finland resorts - genral info please?

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