Northern Lapland is plenty to do
Northern Lapland's nature and unique culture gives an opportunity to try out activities which do not have access elsewhere. Here you will find different activities for each day of your stay. In Saariselkä almost anything is possible, whether you want to enjoy on your own, or use the local program service professionals.
Downhill Skiing
Experience the thrill of downhill skiing and snowboarding in Finland’s northernmost ski centre. Having two fells, Saariselkä provides ski slope lovers with a total of 15 slopes of varying difficulty, a Freestyle Park for snowboarders and five ski lifts. While enjoying the slopes, you can fuel up with energy in one of the slope restaurants, not forgetting the after ski party following your day on the slopes.
Cross-Country Skiing
The skiing season of Northern Lapland is kind to skiers, as the skiing season normally lasts from October to May. The winding fell terrain and national parks facilitate a variety of skiing hikes for each day of your holiday. Within the Saariselkä area alone, there are 200 kilometres of well-maintained cross-country skiing tracks, 34 km of which are lit.
Snowmobiling
The thrill of speed and the glistening snowscapes beckon visitors to Lapland to try snowmobiling! In the Inari Municipality alone, there is 1000 kilometres of snowmobile tracks and routes. Local enterprises hire out snowmobiles and arrange guided safaris, allowing you to learn snowmobiling safely.
Reindeer Safaris
Savour a good helping of exoticism in a sleigh pulled by a reindeer and explore Lappish culture at the local reindeer farms. A number of companies arrange reindeer safaris of varying lengths, which are unforgettable lifetime experiences!
Husky Safaris
Experience the thrill of speed and fall in love with the spectacular passing snowscapes and cute huskies. There are a number of enterprises in the area that provide professionally organised and experience-rich husky safaris. Riding a husky team through the fell regions is an experience that gives plenty of memories to take home with you.
Ice and Snow Karting
Try speeding around on snow and ice, quick braking and tight bends. Become enthralled by winter driving, as well as snow and ice karting on a safe track, with the help of a professional guide. There are a number of winter driving alternatives to choose from, providing exciting activities for the whole family, as well as being a great team spirit building experience for company groups.
Snowshoe hiking
A good alternative to skiing is traversing the snow using snowshoes. This is a fun activity in the wintry Lappish terrain that can also be a good form of keep fit. Snowshoe hiking can be done almost anywhere, but you can find marked trails from at least Saariselkä and Kiilopää. Many companies in the region offer guided excursions and provide snowshoe hire.
Curling
Curling is a team game played on ice, where the main aim is to get your team’s stones closer to the circular target marked on the ice, called the house, than the opposing team. In Saariselkä, you can try curling at the Curling Center Jääseita.
Spa
The spa in Saariselkä is Europe’s, and probably the world’s northernmost spa. The spa is the perfect place to relax after a day full of outdoor activities. The pleasant pool area offers plenty to do for people of all ages, even enough for a full day of fun. Enjoy your time with the Jacuzzi and aqua massage, experience the wonderful pampering treatments and relax in the soothing warmth of the sauna.
Hiking and Excursions
The well-marked routes of Northern Lapland ensure hiking is a successful experience, so you can concentrate on relaxation. There are countless hiking routes throughout the area, a few of which are presented here.
Mountain Biking
You can also travel the fell regions on a bike. There are plenty of routes in the terrain to choose from, ranging from more difficult rocky trails to easy forest roads. Naturally, you don’t need to bring your own bike along, as the local activity programme companies provide bicycles for hire and good advice for selecting the best route.You can also travel the fell regions on a bike. There are plenty of routes in the terrain to choose from, ranging from more difficult rocky trails to easy forest roads. Naturally, you don’t need to bring your own bike along, as the local activity programme companies provide bicycles for hire and good advice for selecting the best route.You can also travel the fell regions on a bike. There are plenty of routes in the terrain to choose from, ranging from more difficult rocky trails to easy forest roads. Naturally, you don’t need to bring your own bike along, as the local activity programme companies provide bicycles for hire and good advice for selecting the best route.
Boating and Canoeing
A peaceful canoeing trip on a calm lake, or shooting the rushing rapids at the mercy of the whitewater – the varying waterways of Northern Lapland beckon you to step in your boat. Canoeing and boat trips in the national park landscapes are definitely meaningful experiences. The best waters for canoeing can be found on Lake Inarijärvi or River Ivalojoki, with the latter having good canoeing routes.
Fishing
Ahti, the God of the Sea and Fishing, is very generous in Northern Lapland, as the wide range of waterways facilitates a variety of different fishing styles, offering a catch of River Tenojoki salmon to the sizeable grayling and whitefish in Lake Inarijärvi. Explore the fishing opportunities the region offers and find the best fishing spots. Please remember to purchase fishing permits and licences before your trip! The activity companies in the region also arrange guided fishing trips. In Northern Lapland, you can purchase fishing permits from the Metsähallitus customer service points in Saariselkä, Ivalo and Inari.
Birdwatching
Thanks to the numerous national parks and wilderness areas, the bird populations of Northern Lapland are very wide ranging, which makes the region a real paradise for birdwatchers. Easygoing day trips can be enjoyed in the Saariselkä terrain, also giving you plenty of opportunity to explore the species of the fell tops and riversides. Birdwatching towers can be found from Ilmakkijärvi in the Municipality of Sodankylä, in Inari, along the E4 highway at Peurasuvanto and the shores of Lake Sompiojärvi. The Arctic Ocean is located only about a three-hour drive away, a place where unique scenery opens up with unique bird species.
Gold Panning
The first gold rush was experienced on the Ivalojoki River in 1869 – 1900. The Tankavaara gold area was discovered in 1936 by Aleksanteri Peltovuoma, or Sauva-Aslakki. Gold panning on the Lemmenjoki River began in 1945.
In these areas, you will be able to experience gold panning with the right equipment and taught by a guide, while at the same time learning the interesting background to the search for gold in this way. In addition to a gold pan, you will need to have a bit of treasure hunter attitude – it could be you who finds the next big nugget of gold.
Toboggan run
Finland's most thrilling toboggan run starts from the summit of Kaunispää. There's plenty of time to enjoy speeding down the hill, as the distance to the bottom in the centre of the Saariselkä resort is 1.2 kilometres. You can borrow toboggans from many of the hotels and businesses in the resort.
Santa´s Resort
The unique Santa’s Resort Kakslauttanen in Lapland in Finland is now open. Santa’s resort offers an unforgettable destination with appealing winter and summer programs.
