In Finish Lapland the dream of the cross-country skiers comes true. There is plenty of snow from early autumn to late sping. Every holiday centre and every village offers many ski trails. So if you are a cross-country skiing fan, you better travel to Lapland - this could be for you an unforgettable vacation.
When people say "northern winter", everyone thinks of the time when the sun never rises above the horizon; not even in the middle of the day. The Finns call the period of the darker and colder days the "kaamos". Actually, it is not completely dark. There is a delightful blue dusk during the day although the sun is not visible. At night, the sky sometimes lit by the dazzling Northern Lightsand the innumerable stars. At full moon, night is almost as light as day. The snow reflects even the slightest glimmer. This makes skiing easier for the skiers even in the dead of winter.
There may be severe frosts in the darkest days of winter, but it is not very cold because the air is drier. The "kaamos" begins in October-November and ends in February.
Then the "spring winter" begins. The bright spring brings the polar nights, when it is light night and day. This is the time when the snow gets harder and ski expeditions get longer. Cross-country skiing becomes much easier and the excitement gets greater.
The most enjoyable ski events - long distance contests and ski races happen in "spring winter" and one of the most popular ones is the Laplandia Ski Race.
The farther north you go, the longer the skiing season lasts. And the lighter the nights become. For instance, in northern Lapland it is still possible to ski in the middle of May while in southern Finland it is already real summer.
The ski experts usually advise guest skiers: "If you are more adventurous, our holiday centers in Lapland can offer you 1-to-15 km long trails. There is light in the trails, so you can ski safely in the dark. For the most adventurous there are longer ski routes. You must be in the best physical condition to set off on a long route. And what is more important - even the most skilled skiers never set off on a long route alone or leave the trail."
Ski expeditions which last several days are very popular in Lapland. If you have a guide on the trail you can see the most of Lapland's exotic countryside.
If you decide to travel to Lapland you may choose for your holiday centre one of the following resorts:
In Saariselka there is a wide range of ski trails. This is the highest-standard tourist centre which is located in Nortern Lapland, close to Ivalo Airport. There are numerous cabins up in the hills where you can find shelter for the night. There are also several hotels and ski lodges; a slalom slope and a lift; reindeer safari: best for fairly experienced skiers. The resort provides also activities such as hiking and spa.
Kilpisjarvi is situated in the north-west corner of Lapland (close to Norway and Sweden) and has tundra landscape. The skiing season lasts well into early summer. There is a ski race around June 24 when you can also wonder at the special attraction of the Lapland summer - the midnight sun. If you travel to Kilpisjarvi you must visit the most famous tourist attraction - the "three-country border point" - a monument at the border point of Finland, Sweden and Norway, roughly 9 km northwest from the end of Lake Ylinen Kilpisjarvi.
