 Poster: A snowHead
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Looking at doing a 5 day trip to Levi in mid December. We will be wanting to start on the easiest slopes - does this mean taking the skibus round to the other side of the 'mountain'? I read about a traversing route on the top but the map is not really clear. I did a search but I think previous reporters may well have been happy on the red slopes near the town and we will be wanting blues - especially easy ones to start with.
And we realise daylight is a bit limited - is that almost none at that point?
Any views on accomodation also welcomed! Will be just the two of us and happy to think about self-catering or catered tho Mr LS has a number of dislikes....... 
Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| We will be wanting to start on the easiest slopes - does this mean taking the skibus round to the other side of the 'mountain'? |
Yes. We didn't find it much of a problem though. There is a restaurant on that side. It may also be possible (I'm not sure though) to leave skis etc in lockers around there to avoid carrying them on the bus if you prefer.
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| And we realise daylight is a bit limited - is that almost none at that point? |
Yes see here then select your travel dates
Have you looked as Yllas? IMHO it's better for beginners in regard to skiing. You will still have to catch a bus each morning but IMO there's a greater choice of slopes for those who are nervous. The resort is much smaller though and the slopes more exposed (less trees)
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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There's no real traversing route on top, but you can get around to south slopes (5 or 6 lifts if going clockwise, or 3 going counterclockwise). Most of courses on this route around the fell are easy red. But you can actually avoid most of this if you choose to descent one a bit more difficult but pretty short red course (after taking 2 t-bar lifts from Levi village) and you end up on bottom station of World Cup gondola. On top of gondola, you just descent on blue run to south side t-bar lift.
But if you want to avoid red runs completely, only option is bus from Levi village to south side. It's only about 10min ride, so it's not much of a problem.
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Or even have a look at Ruka. No need for ski bus. Accomodation either hotel, appartments or log cabins right by the side of the slopes. Some lovely wide slopes there. Ski hire, lockers etc right by appartments, hotels etc.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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peura, Ah! We are curious to see what this is like but any more comments would be great - never tried this far north before! rosemary, Flights are not so easy for a short break and Kittila seems better served than other airports for the dates/times we can do and the good thing was the short transfer. We may well look at experiencing cross country or snow shoeing. Catching the bus doesn't sound too difficult have lugged skis on buses before- think am more anxious about skiing in the dark tho I know some of the slopes are lit. Would love any more info anyone can offer 
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I skied for a few days in Levi, in February 2006. I don't think the runs there, apart maybe from the FIS slalom piste by the gondola, should cause problems for an intermediate skier (primoz's description is good). I enjoyed my days in Levi but, to be honest, I wasn't convinced that it is the best place for real beginners. It can be cold and windy and it will be dark much of the time (although the runs are all floodlit, so skiing is possible). I would think that some alpine village would be more comfortable for beginners (but maybe I'm biased). It would be interesting if anyone who had learned skiing in Levi could comment.
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espri, Thanks. Neither of us is beginners but neither are we yet happy on red runs! We will be celebrating Mr LS's birthday and we don't always ski - he gets to choose the place and is curious about the arctic circle! As a short trip if we don't love it it is not crucial - it is the experience we are after but before I book want to get a feel for it in case we really are making a big mistake 
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I'm pretty sure you will love it. It's far from best resort on World, even though with Yllas they are by far best resorts in Northern Scandinavia, but it's nice one. And kaamos (days with just blue twilight, no sun), together with all that snow and ice is something you just have to experience yourself. It's really beautiful time. I don't consider Levi or Yllas as my favorite ski places, as far as pure skiing goes. But for everything else they are one of my favorite places. Especially in middle of winter it's just unreal... peaceful, nice, dark... perfect place to disconnect from anything and enjoy snow and winter
Tracks are not really hard. Even if they are marked red, they are pretty easy ones, and sometimes I wonder if they mixed colors "a bit". My wife is far from experienced alpine skier (considering she's Finn, she was born with xc skis not alpine skis  ), and she was fine on all but 2 tracks... WC course and that short a bit steeper red one leading toward WC gondola, I mentioned before. Even WC course is not really something special except for 200-300m of quite steep section. Everything else on WC course would be considered as pretty easy one, as long as it's without gates set on top of quite few rolls they made there
Conditions for xc skiing up there are pretty much best one you can get anywhere on World, and just Levi has more then 200km of xc tracks. So if you decide for xc skiing, you couldn't wish for better place. But put some extra clothes... quite few tracks go over frozen lakes, and when temperatures are around -20c or even -30c, it's pretty cold when going over the lakes. Everything else is just fine, and -30c doesn't really feel all that cold with quite low humidity they have.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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primoz, Thats really helpful, thanks. I think we will be going! Am now looking at accomodation - any thoughts would be good but Moonlight apartments are looking good?
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Yes, I would say that Levi (or Finland generally) is certainly worth a visit for the experience. As well as skiing, there are plenty of other interesting things to do: visit reindeer, skidoo driving, langlauf, tours through the forests, etc. And as Levi is the capital of Santa Claus Land, I assume there will plenty going on in December. Take your warm woollies!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Dont forget to try the snowmobiling safari's. Fantastic fun, hurtling down fells and speeding over frozen lakes. Best thing I have ever done.
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You know it makes sense.
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Late starter, I've uploaded a bunch of pictures which might give you an impression of Levi as I saw it in February. First one of the village
Then a view of the slopes near the ski store and ski school, not too steep
And then the FIS race piste, looks ok from the bottom ...
... but does seem steeper looking down from the middle
However, the piste does provide all conveniences (is that what you meant when you said WC course, primoz )
I stayed in the Hotel Levitunturi, a rather large complex.
There was a rather cavernous dining room
but the accommodation was fine
However, you can probably find cosier places, like a typical log cabin
But the main thing about Levi is that the area is very beautiful; here a picture taken near the top of the fell
and another as evening approaches
Though you can ski on in the dark, if you want to
So, I am sure you will enjoy the place and its atmosphere!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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espri, Many thanks
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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It is advisable to carry battery-powered boot warmers to ski in Scandinavia countries, especially during Christmas.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Oh meant to say, we'd not had need of boot warmers yet but nose/face warmers are also useful and sold in all the sports shops 
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| Late starter wrote: |
| Catching the bus doesn't sound too difficult |
I took the bus from Kittila to Levi (with skis) and that worked fine. For me, it stopped right outside the Hotel Levitunturi but I think it pretty well drives round the village.
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How does the levi resort works on december with the day time beeing only 374 hours? Is it opened full time?
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FAQ
. Yllas is about 45/60 minutes from Kittila so not as close as Levi (15 min) but not far and a straightforward drive. Also Akaslompolo is less of a town and more chalets in the woods which appeals to us but not to all 