HEART OF THE REGION SIX
HEART OF THE REGION SIX TOWNS, EACH OFFERING VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, BUT ALL ENCAPSULATUNG THE UNIQUE CHARMS OF LAPLAND KEMI Bustling Kemi offers an utterly unique way to get up close and personal with the natural elements. This is the home of Sampo, the world’s only privately owned icebreaker. Take a snowmobile across the frozen expanses to meet the ship that cruises through the icefields in the winter months. The once-in-a-lifetime experiences don’t stop there. Spend the night in the Snow Castle, carved anew by architects from ice each winter. Don’t worry – thermal sleeping bags ensure you’ll get a comfy (and warm) night’s rest. KITTILÄ An outstanding base for taking to the slopes, Kittilä is the gateway to the Ylläs and Levi ski resorts, offering some of the greatest piste experiences in the region. With at least 60 slopes and over 300km of cross-country trails this is the place to descend the mighty peaks before devouring some outstanding après-ski at the numerous farmhouses and bars now serving hearty, traditional Finnish foods. IVALO Stealing the show for roughly 200 nights of the year, there’s no better place to view the spectacular Northern Lights than from the comfort of Ivalo’s Aurora Village cabins, complete with glass ceilings so you can lie in bed and watch the mighty Aurora Borealis explode into life above you.
KUUSAMO Sweeping plains, thick forest, marshlands and innumerable reindeer, the region around Kuusamo is Lapland at its most raw and untamed. From here it’s easy to explore the mighty Oulanka National Park, a wilderness of valleys and ravines and the Oulankajoki River, which crashes straight into Russia’s White Sea. The hiking trails aren’t for the faint-hearted but, take the Karhunkierros Trail and you might be lucky enough to see bears. OULU Named after the Sami word for “floodwater”, Oulu is a handsome, energetic town with a charming mixture of the ancient and modern. Market squares are lined with ochre-roofed market stalls and there’s a hefty dose of culture here too in the form of art museums, a science centre and the huge, copper- domed cathedral. The city’s islands are a great retreat in all seasons – make a beeline for Hailuoto Island’s soft beaches and quiet country lanes; in winter there’s an official “road” that gets you there across the ice. ROVANIEMI The Lapland capital isn’t just the point at which you can officially enter the Arctic Circle, it’s also home to Santa himself. His “office” is located here and, once you’ve explored the region with husky sled and snowmobile trips, be sure to pay a visit to the bearded one – he’s in residence all year round – where you can post a letter for Christmas and take a spin on the huge ice rink located nearby. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
