Lapland, Scandinavia
Winter in the Arctic Circle
Winter in the North is fairytale like. Dog sledding, powerful snowmobiles, fishing on a frozen lake, Lapland kota huts and, as a bonus, a night in furs in an ice hotel. Those are attractions you won't experience anywhere else in one place. Apart from visiting a few places of interest, such as the towns of Inari, or Rovaniemi, which is the administrative seat of Finland's northernmost (Lapland) district, the destination of the vast majority of travelers through Lapland are its national parks. Here you'll find some of the largest in all of Finland, and you can immerse yourself in them on long hikes during which you can wander through true wilderness. A real gem is the Syötte National Park, located about 150km below the Arctic Circle. It is the southernmost Finnish area with so-called fjells, which are treeless formations (mountains) rising above the surrounding terrain. The Iso Syötte Hotel is built right on top of the fjell with the highest annual snowfall, at an altitude of over 400 meters above sea level.
The name Lapland (Lappish for Sápmi) refers to the land inhabited by the Sami tribes, formerly known as the Lapps, but nowadays it is mostly considered a derogatory term. It lies in northern Europe and includes the northern part of Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Finland) and the Kola Peninsula in Russia.
Most of Lapland lies north of the Arctic Circle. The climate is subarctic with sparse vegetation, except in the densely forested southern part. North of the Arctic Circle, the polar night prevails during the winter season and the polar day during the summer season, during which the phenomenon known as the midnight sun occurs. The Sami traditionally divide the year into eight seasons instead of four. What is typical of the Sami people and of Lapland as a whole is reindeer herding. Where in the more southern parts of Finland you see road signs warning about moose, in Lapland there is a warning about reindeer. Some of the reindeer are wild, but a large proportion are those that are farmed.
Activities
The Finnish part of Lapland around the Arctic Circle is a landscape of vast forests and, of course, hundreds of lakes.
Snowmobile
You can try driving this vehicle anywhere, but there are few places where you can go on a sixty-kilometer or longer circuit through virgin snow-covered countryside.
Fishing on a frozen lake
To catch fish, you first have to drill your own hole in the ice, then arm yourself with patience and wait for your catch.
Snowshoeing
This discipline also has its specifics. The Arctic snow is very different in texture from what we are used to here, and snowshoes are essential for moving off the groomed paths.
Dog sledding
All you have to do is listen to the instructions related to driving the sledge and then you can set off on a 15-kilometre circuit into the wild nature of the lakes and forests.
Overnight in an ice hotel in Rovaniemi
Sleep on reindeer skins in a comfortable sleeping bag in a building made entirely of ice and snow. Before going to bed, you can enjoy a cocktail, which never gets warm as it is served in a "glass" of ice.
Arctic Museum and Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi
A very informative museum and quite possibly the most kitsch-themed entertainment center in the world.
A visit to a reindeer farm
Listen to a story from a local farmer, sample some of his wife's specialties from the kitchen, and try your hand at feeding a herd of reindeer, followed by a short ride on a reindeer-drawn sleigh.
Tips for accommodation
ISO SYÖTE HOTEL RESORT
The hotel has 30 rooms with spectacular views of the surrounding landscape of forests and valleys. In addition to these freshly renovated rooms, you can also stay in 20 stylish timbered chalets with their own sauna and fireplace or use the two spacious saunas and indoor pool right in the hotel building. The adjacent ski slope can be accessed directly from the hotel door. The hotel is an ideal base for many winter activities – from snowmobiling to cross-country skiing.
ARCTIC SNOW HOTEL ROVANIEMI
In the middle of the virgin nature near Rovaniemi, an original hotel is built each winter using only snow and ice. All facilities are available in the adjacent timbered building (restaurant, toilets, showers, sauna, souvenirs), and you can also dine in the stylish Lapland kitty. Guests sleep in double rooms on beds made of ice, equipped with reindeer skins, each guest gets a very comfortable sleeping bag designed for similar conditions. The temperature in the rooms is around -5°C.
TRANSPORT TO THE DESTINATION
Transportation is by the route Prague – Helsinki – Oulu
Flights are available daily and take up to five hours including transfers. On the return flight a tour of Helsinki can be included.
The return flight will have the same stopover with departure from Rovaniemi.
The Iso Syöte Resort offers interesting sporting activities all year round, but we still recommend visiting the site during the winter months when you can fully enjoy the beauty and specifics of the Arctic winter. The Arctic Snow Hotel usually opens at Christmas, so our tips are January, February and March.
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Lapland, Scandinavia
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