Winter usually begins in mid-October in Lapland and during November in the rest of Finland, though not until December in the southwestern archipelago. Perhaps we should rewind a little. The amazing smoke sauna (& outdoor ice pool!) Lapland gives an astonishing backdrop to a delicious restaurant scene. Winter holidays in Finland offer visitors the opportunity to experience the wonders and charm of a Lapp (or Finnish) winter, and enables visitors to take part in fun winter activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, dog sledding or spending a night in a Glass Igloo, admiring the natural Arctic beauty. After a couple of hours, it was time for us to bid farewell to the reindeer and make our way back to Inari. Yes, it gets cold in Finland in the winter. Cross-country skiing is somewhat of a national sport in Finland. This was a really great, if surreal experience. Again it was surprisingly easy to get used to the snowshoes and they were great for discovering our own quiet and peaceful areas. Hi Carla, that’s great you’re going to Finland! During January and February, there is almost always snow in northern and eastern Finland. This winter adventure holiday in Finland, far north of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland is not only an exciting outdoor experience but also packed with typical Finnish things to do, wilderness being our middle name. Finland is a true winter wonderland and the place where ice skating dreams come true. I was done with the ice pool, in fact if I never see an ice pool again it’ll be too soon. Ice sheets in the vast open arctic Gulf of Bothnia, ‘The bridge’ control room onboard the Sampo, After a fascinating tour of the 1960 built ship, including a special sneak peek into the bridge and engine room, it was time for our dip in the frozen arctic sea…, Taking a polar plunge in icy arctic waters. In Finnish Lapland, the sun sets in late November and generally does not rise until mid-January. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Hi Carla, We’re not familiar with Yllas so couldn’t really give a personal opinion on there, however I notice the official Visit Lapland (http://www.visitfinland.com/lapland/) web page advertises it with great aurora borealis viewing, and of course it is quite far north which is good. The snow season in northern Finland begins in November and lasts at least until May. Despite spending a week in Lapland, and countless hours standing outside in the cold night, the northern lights proved almost elusive, until one evening in Inari where I caught just the slightest of glimmers in the night sky. Finland can be a difficult place to pack for if you are not used to packing for cold weather destinations. What to Wear in Finland in Winter . After enjoying the warmth of a good sauna, it’s traditional in Finland to take a dip into the closest lake or pool (despite it being winter or summer!) The majority of … Your email address will not be published. Lapland experiences snowy conditions from October through May, while southern Finland is a bit more mild, experiencing four to five months of winter. Before I knew it, Laura was out and heading back to the sauna, leaving me to freeze my extremities off. Haha yes we had a love/hate relationship with the ice pool! Hours of daylight: Finland is a country of extremes in that regard. But then something caught my eye directly above me. Explore Finland holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. These images are stunning!! Our Finland Packing List. We managed to capture some GoPro footage of our experience, so check out the video below to see our shocking but invigorating ice pool dips! Round the campfire with the local reindeer farmers. During the festive season, Finns like to take things slow and enjoy the company of loved ones. Lapland is an enchanting and beautiful place. There are around 75 ski resorts in Finland. Despite the cold, it was cosy as we sat on small rugs and listened intently while our hosts explained their labour of love and how reindeer farming works, especially in Lapland. A quick jog along the wooden promenade brought us to our challenge, an icy cold pool of water below us. If you are planning a trip to Finland in winter, look no further. // 2 Days in Kuwait City, Gorgeous photos! This trip looks amazing, I especially love the story about the traditional Finnish smoke sauna. This was her best performance yet. Moments later she was back in the sauna…. A quarter of Finland’s surface – Lapland – is over the Arctic Polar Circle. Soaring over Kitilla, a tiny outpost in the north of Finland, an expanse of spiky trees dusted with shimmering snow sprawled beneath us and the sky blazed a deep blush pink. However there’s no doubt that it’s the beauty and peacefulness of Lapland that makes it so magical. The snow season in northern Finland begins in November and lasts at least until May. Near Kiilopää fell centre, positioned within the eastern national park of Urho Kekkonen National Park (the second largest national park in Finland), there are many mapped out routes so we decided to explore by snowshoe – another new experience for us! Being one of the best places to spot the Aurorae, Finland has even received immigration because of them. Finland winter daylight hours … Normally, the country is under a permanent snow cover throughout the winter. This was an absolute highlight from our time in Lapland, and most definitely a top recommendation! By sitting in the wilderness of Lapland, we saw them in their natural habitat, battling each other with their antlers, grazing and sitting in the snow with a quizical watch over us. In the winter, the Finnish weather is cold with snowfalls. Daytime temperatures can be -10°C and sometimes as low as -20°C. Throw in winter magic and irresistible … As the snow falls, the idyllic summer towns are replaced with something completely different, but equally alive with opportunities for a great time. The premise is pretty simple, you grab a couple of skis and sticks, and you head out onto one of the many trails to get some exercise and explore the forest. Note: We were guests of Visit Finland for this latest adventure, however as ALWAYS, all opinions are our own. Freestyle Explorer recently posted…Another taxi with a broken meter? But some hot Glögg was really appreciated afterwards. Usually followed by some locally caught fresh fish or meat for dinner, with reindeer being the staple dish of the Sami culture in Lapland. But no, it was true, my wife is a glutton for punishment. Something we always aim for on our travels are authentic experiences, and this was certainly one of them. In Northern Finland, the temperature can be as low as -30°C. Earlier that day, we’d stepped aboard the Sampo Icebreaker, the only tourist icebreaker ship in the world, at the port of Kemi in Lapland. Hi Laura, thank you for replying my message. Finland Winter Tours. I’ll need to check out your posts too . Sounds simple right? Or so we thought. Hey there traveller! Everywhere we went in Finland there was a sauna, from private ones in our hotel rooms to larger public saunas, there is no shortage to satisfy the locals love of a daily visit. We have been incredibly lucky with weather conditions on many of our adventures that it was bound to run out at some point. Obviously everyone’s interests will vary, so do please adjust it to suit your personal preferences. About Us // Travel Resources // Destinations, 5 Stunning Images Of Stargazing In Scotland. Sleigh riding through the Inari wilderness, When we arrived, we were instantly greeted by many reindeer wandering around the forest. So instead of adding to my post about what to pack for Norway, or even writing a … The enchanting and surreal landscapes of Lapland, Finland. Ours was a shared sauna for men and women Jeff so no separation for us! You may see them there but would probably see them better in a less populated part, such as Inari or Yllas yes. I was initially skeptical too though. This time it was cross-country skiing, and something we were very excited to try when we arrived in Finland. Driving around quiet and enchanting Lapland. You Bet! And so in she went, one last time. We’re Barry & Laura, two travel addicts who love to get out and see the world. They came in their droves, surrounding us entirely in a matter of seconds, their antlers and bodies gently brushing against us as we spun around to capture the scene in our minds. hi! Winter in Lapland Finland, on the other hand, provides only magic and adventurous experiences. As the wood is burned, the smoke fills the room while the fire is allowed to die whilst the smoke ventilates out when hot enough. The dry continental climate here doesnât feel as cold as the damp cold of central Europe. While climbing into the water does require a certain amount of courage, the initial shock and momentary loss of feeling in your legs soon pass – and it is all worth it! The initial impact was the same, a massive shock of cold that felt like it was coursing through our veins. - But there isn`t. The main difference? After our experience of the ice pool with our smoke sauna, you’d think we’d had enough of throwing ourselves into freezing water. We took a moment, relaxed our breathing and took it all in. Downhill skiing and snowboarding are available, plus there are hundreds of acres of maintained cross-country ski tracks. -1 ºC, it was just a little bit of a shock when we tried the famous Finnish sauna routine for the first time…well that’s an understatement! If you find yourself in Southwest Lapland (perhaps already booked on the Sampo Icebreaker cruise from Kemi that we’ve just mentioned! Even if thereâs little snow in Helsinki, thereâs often up to a metre or more on the skiing slopes of Lapland. Everyone knows Santa Claus comes from Finland, but thereâs lot more to a traditional Finnish Christmas. It is winter now here in Finland , and there should be plenty of snow and ice . A few minutes passed, and after watching various elderly aged couples take the plunge again and again, I reluctantly headed back into the pool. This was an absolutely brilliant experience of winter in Finland! Which areas are you planning travel to? We found snowshoeing a great way to access parts of the snowy walks we might not have otherwise been able to traverse. Well the air is smooth and whilst still extremely hot, it’s less intense on the skin due to the wood smoked method and therefore extremely enjoyable for much more than 10 minutes! But no! Have a wonderful trip! From delicious soups to light fish dishes and heavier stews and steaks, we loved following up our cold outdoor activities with a hearty warm buffet or gourmet meal! The temperature is usually below 0°C. What’s the result of this special type? Picture perfect winter wonderlands adorn every turn in this wonderful region, and the vast size provides ample opportunities for a variety of activities. And it felt like they were freezing off. The best skiing season in Lapland starts in February and lasts until May. So with a wintertime water temperature of approx. And so here we were, getting suited up in a wet suit on an icebreaker ship in the Gulf of Bothnia, ready to jump into the frozen arctic sea! Thanks in advance. But after a few moments, everything went eerily calm. There’s something strange about floating on your back, in a frozen sea, alongside the hull of a huge icebreaker, but we weren’t complaining, it was a brilliant experience, and if you do take the amazing icebreaker cruise, you have to try the ice dip! Winter in Finland can be really, really cold, so you definitely want to pack accordingly. If there is something that is quintessentially Finnish, it must surely be the sauna. After our lesson, we skied for around 3.5 hours, exploring the many trails around vast Urho Kekkonen National Park in Northern Lapland. with whom did you organise the reindeer experience and also where is the smoke sauna located? Some unique experiences for places to stay in Finland in the winter are snow hotels and ice hotels, which are constructed each winter and last for about 4 months before they began to melt in the Spring. Despite the weather, winter is … This is the guide on what outerwear items to pack to stay warm. A truly enchanting place to visit. Fearing my chances of having children, I launched myself out of the ice pool, along the freezing wooden promenade and back into the heat of the smoke sauna. There’s no better place to visit in Finland in winter than Lapland. There was not a single person with me, I stood on a frozen lake at 11pm all alone, freezing but so excited. The Northern Lights dancing up above is such a powerful and unique natural phenomenon it changes lives down on Earth. Winter in Finland varies in duration from about three to seven months, depending on the part of the country, but regardless of location, it’s cold, dark and snowy. It was an amazing experience, though probably long enough for us with our legs beginning to ache towards the end! The first part was simple enough, we sat in the sauna and we sweated, and sweated a bit more…it was damn hot, just the way the Finns like it. Winter weather in the southwestern archipelago, when the sea is ice-free, lasts about three months (December-February) and in northern Lapland more than six months, from mid … There’s something truly magical about being out in the wintry forested wilderness, able to explore under your own steam, in a quiet and serene way. Easy! But it was moving in a unique way, seemingly remaining in situ but still rippling above me. This can last as long as 50 days in northern Finland. With winter temperatures plummeting to -22°F/-30°C, you’re going to want to keep … Notify me of follow-up comments by email. But those features don’t disrupt life. If you’re looking for something more exotic, try skiing under magical moonlight during the darkest ‘kaamos’ days of December and January. And sadly the weather didn’t cooperate in our time hunting the Aurora Borealis. During my first winter in Joensuu, I often took 2 pairs of tights and my jeans on top. Best regards, Laura. Another taxi with a broken meter? I was cold, once again my extremities began freezing up and I seriously considered going back inside. The Northern Lights are visible on roughly 200 nights a year â or every other clear night â in Finnish Lapland. ), then why not consider this other unusual and totally unique winter in Finland experience! Especially about the part involving jumping into a freezing cold pond! The Finnish winter lasts half the year, so Finns have thought of plenty of activities to fill the time. Winter In Finland. Ski resorts in Finland attract thousands of tourists from Russia, Europe and other regions of the world. Even if there’s little snow in Helsinki, there’s often up to a metre or more on the skiing slopes of Lapland. So that’s it. This is definitely one of those memorable, but once in a lifetime travel experiences! Finland can have a lot of sunlight in Summer. Being the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi is a fairly large city with a lot more light pollution than most other places in lapland so I wouldn’t say it is the best place to see the northern lights. This wasn’t petting a reindeer in a zoo or enclosure, this was a 20 minute drive into the woods from Inari, followed by a 30 minute snowmobile ride through the snow blanketed forests of Lapland! The experience of hunting the aurora borealis is up there as one of the most frustrating of all our travel experiences. Finland is a huge country with a lot to offer and there is soooo much more to discover than the auroras in winter. I turned my camera around to capture it, and suddenly it exploded into green, just hovering above me. I can relate a lot to your experiences from my roadtrip through Sweden and Finland in January last year. Such a good chance of seeing it! Our week of aurora hunting resulted in a 3 minute sighting, but I was thankful I’d had that. So check the aurora forecast every 30 minutes and be ready to run out at a moment’s notice, as I found, the northern lights can be a fleeting experience. One beautiful lone reindeer in Inari, Lapland. And Kourtney Kardashian, 41, was feeling nostalgic this Tuesday for a trip she took to the 'winter wonderland' of Finland last year with her children and ex. Despite this being something of a touristic novelty, we couldn’t resist trying the experience for ourselves for a night and here’s what you can expect. I went to grab hold of the rope, only to find that it had frozen solid. Also, don’t forget that it can be very cold in Finland in winter, with temperatures likely to be well below freezing throughout your visit. But as we found during our time there, there is so much more to winter in Finland, especially around the vast northern area of Lapland! Winter in Helsinki is famous for the amount of snow falling every year and for how long the snow season lasts. It was so exciting and we were already delighted when, all of a sudden, our farmer guide blew on his special whistle and out of nowhere hundreds more reindeer began appearing all around us. Finland can boast a large set of black runs, high mountain slopes and exciting descents, but comfortable, superbly equipped ski resorts with quite affordable … Even if the thermometer reads minus 20 centigrade, it doesnât feel as cold as you might think. Christina recently posted…Traveling Along Mae Hong Son Loop, Thanks Christina! thanks for the inspiring post! Learn how your comment data is processed. Although it might sound like we hated the ice pool, it really was an incredible experience, and one we would recommend you try at least once, perhaps twice. Into the pool we went. Winter in Finland is a fantastic time to visit, but you DO need to come prepared. Sat in a sledge behind a snowmobile, we were hurtled across frozen lakes and through narrow, tree-lined routes towards our local reindeer herders’ farm. I know we should’ve expected it to be cold, but it really shocked our systems. Lapland is an enchanting and beautiful place. But it turned out to be an exhilarating and amazing rush to the senses! After a while we all sat down by a fire, expertly set up by the reindeer farmer in a simple hole in the snow. Temperatures are regularly below freezing throughout the winter months in Finland … Reindeer for the most part have been romanticised in our culture, forever linked to emotions of youth, innocence and, of course, Santa and the most wonderful time of the year. | Finland's fusion of wild beauty, contemporary design and culinary excellence is a beguiling mix. Wishing you a safe trip & good luck with seeing the magical Northern lights! In winter, the mean temperature remains below 0°C, but warm airflows can raise the daily high above 0°C at times. Or so I thought. It’s located on the edge of beautiful Urho Kekkonen National Park. Thankfully it didn’t disappoint! Winter is the most popular time for outdoor activities in Finland. It began with a Soviet invasion of Finland on 30 November 1939, three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peace Treaty on 13 March 1940. We just didn’t realise it would be quite so extreme…. A Lapland Winter Wonderland – Photo Highlights & Travel Tips! I am planning to see the northern light and also want to experience once in my life sleep in igloo. Double socks, and double sweaters under a down coat. Finnish winters are snowy, wet, and cold. Depending on location, winter in Finland begins in November and can last up to five months, with temperatures ranging from a balmy zero to a lung-freezing minus 35. Ice-fishing is a much-loved winter activity in Finland. From one classic Finnish pastime to another. December Solstice (Winter Solstice) is on Monday, December 21, 2020 at 12:02 pm in Helsinki. You Bet! Driving around quiet and enchanting Lapland. Here are our top picks for the best places to go skating in Finland. If you think about winter in Finland, I'm sure that northern lights, Lapland or even Santa comes to your mind first. They’re also one of the most popular attractions of the Lapland region second only to the reindeer. Dress warmly and enjoy it. No time to think, there were Finns watching and we didn’t want to disappoint. While Finland is largely a flat country, there are nearly 100 ski resorts to visit, most located in Lapland within the Arctic Circle. In fact most Finns even have one in their home, now that we could get used to! The famous Sampo Icebreaker Ship, docked at frozen Kemi Port. Below are some tips for becoming a Northern Lights Hunter yourself. They also offer a variety of other activities & tours. Finns are also used to this kind of weather, so everything runs smoothly and punctually. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Hope this helps! Description of Winter adventure in Finland Winter 2021/22 departure dates now available. Well it’s the tradition that follows the sauna that shocked us, literally! The season usually starts from the mid of October in Lapland and continues spreading throughout Finland from the month of November, while it spreads out a bit slower in the southwestern archipelago not until December. With keen attention to detail and endless energy for organisation and planning, Laura enjoys scouting out the next exciting adventure activity or more practically, the next bus route and guesthouse! Hi, Your smoke sauna video on youtube brought me to your page! The South is cold too, so you might as well embrace the low temperatures, enjoy the snow and all the winter fun. The contrast of hot sweaty skin and freezing cold water is invigorating, and we can see why it’s a favourite pastime of the Finns. Our Finland Winter Tours offer stays at glass igloos, snow castles, wilderness- and treehouse hotels hidden within snowcovered forests in Northern Lights destinations such as Rovaniemi, Inari and Kakslauttanen. A simpler but still very enjoyable activity around Lapland is exploring some of the many beautiful areas and national parks by foot. Snow can start to fall in November/December and can last right up until the beginning the May! Winter is long and cold throughout the country; it lasts almost five months even in Helsinki, which lies in the far south. Damn it was cold in here! It hovered above me for only 3 minutes, but it was a magical moment. “Let’s go back in the ice pool!” Laura whispered to me. Maybe my ears were full of sweat. White landscapes enshrouded in darkness, only lit by the stars in the sky and ice lanterns on driveways set the mood for a soothingly cosy festive season…. Hope you have a wonderful time! Soups are a Finnish favourite and often accompanied by freshly baked healthy rye bread, so it was a welcome lunchtime staple for us. Such fun though! It was now 11pm and -22 °C. They are elusive, and many people don’t see them. Some said Rovaniemi some said Ylläs. If gazing at the dark sky in crispy winter air is not your thing, you can simply add comfort. (See all my posts on Finland here.) It’s worth setting expectations when it comes to the northern lights. Read more about sleeping under the Northern Lights. Phew. It was just a little bit different from that time we took a plunge into the icy waters of Antarctica! that is a lot of money Could you please reply on my comment and I really appreciate it guys. There is so much to see and do around this vast area, and it would be easy to fill weeks rather than days. These are some of the best resorts throughout Finland not only for skiing, but also for family holidays and other winter … Winter. I saw there is quite expensive to have tour agency …. We’re absolutely no experts but cross-country skiing turned out to be one of our favourite experiences in Lapland. Again the cold brisk air hit us as we jogged along the wooden promenade, and this time there was no delay as we launched ourselves into the icy waters. Picture perfect winter wonderlands adorn every turn in this wonderful region, and the vast size provides ample opportunities for a variety of activities. Laura braving the ice pool….for a 3rd time!! A speckle of green and a glimmer of hope! During the long days of March and April in Lapland, you can ski or sleigh for 12 to 16 hours under a brilliant sun. The vast construction and intricate sculpting, all made from real snow and ice was fascinating, but don’t come expecting a cosy and warm night’s sleep (obviously!). It seems like winter is a long way off right now, but it will be here before you know it! We’d left port, and our powerful ship had smashed its way through huge sheets of ice. Earliest sunset is on December 16. I was baffled, there was no way I was going back in that ice pool. All the while a small pot of tea brewed above a roaring fire. Finland is largely a flat country. You can go downhill or cross-country skiing, go on a dogsled or skimobile safari, or even indulge in some ice-skating or ice-fishing. We recently moved to Helsinki and everyone has been telling us to do winter swimming at a smoke sauna for the “authentic” experience. Question, is the sauna separated for men and women or is there one where we can sit togther? Actually I can understand Laura regarding the ice pool – it was kind of a fun childish giggly feeling for me to jump into a huge pile of snow after sauna, haha. So at Kiilopää, right in the heart of sub-zero Lapland, this involved taking a rather refreshing dip in the Kiilopuro fell brook i.e. After the initial couple of minutes, we got our bearings and began watching and admiring the reindeer as they fed. Last but by no means least of our highlights of Lapland has to be a special mention to the delightful and hearty cuisine we came across. If you’ve been downhill skiing before, cross-country skiing isn’t too difficult to figure out and something we’d highly recommend trying when in Lapland. Instead of mountains, there are a great deal of hills, which are covered with snow for about 200 days a year. So out of the sauna we went, into the brisk cold air outside. Again we only lasted around 30 seconds, but trust me it felt a lot longer than that. The Winter War was a war between the Soviet Union (USSR) and Finland. I had been standing in the cold for 3 hours. And 3 minutes later it disappeared, and that was it. From the history of herding by snowshoe and cross-country skis, to the more modern approach with snowmobiles and ATVs, it was fascinating to learn and get a glimpse into their lives. Ruggedly independent Finland relishes winter – holes are bored in ice for fishing expeditions and sauna fires are stoked up a degree. Only now this boiling hot sauna didn’t feel remotely hot, my body so cold from the ice pool. If the ground is covered with snow and ice, it is also slippery. Based on our time traveling in Finland in winter, we've decided to create a Finland packing list for winter to help those traveling there for the first time. The skis are smaller, narrower and lighter, and although you clip your feet to the skis, you’re able to lift your heel off the ski to aid your movement. Around 10 minutes later, Laura turned to me and uttered the immortal words: I was speechless, I thought perhaps I wasn’t hearing right. Winter is the longest season in Finland. Well after a couple of hours of tuition and practise, it unexpectedly was!
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