Activities in Lapland
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Kamisak
Kamisak, run by Eija and Reijo Järvinen, is about 5km south of Ivalo and open year-round. There's a good little café, plenty of knowledgeable chat about all things canine, and you can take an informal tour of the husky enclosures and meet the dogs; a boardwalk points out some of the area's typical berries and plants. In winter, from around November to April, they run safaris weekly.
These range from a half-day trip with a two-person sled and full-day safaris (30km) to three- and five-day safaris, where participants get their own sleds and are taught how to drive and care for their own team of five to eight dogs.
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Trekking
Almost all Trekking trails start from Njurgulahti, including a 4km marked nature trail suitable for families with children. The majority of the trekking routes are within the relatively small area between the rivers Lemmenjoki and Vaskojoki. An 18km loop between Kultala and Ravadasjärvi huts takes you to some of the most interesting gold-panning areas.
As you can do this in two days, many trekkers head over Ladnjoaivi Fell to Vaskojoki hut and back, which extends the trek to four to five days. For any serious trekking, you will need the 1:100,000 Lemmenjoki map, available at the Lemmenjoki Nature Centre.
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Lake & Snow
There are daily cruises run by Lake & Snow on Inarijärvi from mid-June (as soon as the ice melts) to late August. Departures are at 14:00 daily, with an additional departure in July at 18:00. Boats leave from the wharf at the Siida car park. The destination is Ukko Island (Sámi: Äjjih), sacred to the Sámi. During the brief (20-minute) stop, most people climb to the top of the island, but there are also cave formations at the island's northern end.
The same company also organises fishing trips and snowmobile safaris.
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Santapark
This Christmas-theme amusement park is built inside a cavern in the mountain and features an army of elves baking gingerbread, a magic sleigh ride, a Christmas carousel, an ice-bar, a theatre, a restaurant and, of course, Santa Claus himself. The most intriguing section is the gallery of ice sculpture, though it costs an extra €10 per person. It’s great fun for kids in winter but lacks a bit of atmosphere in the summer season.
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Cruise
In summer, a couple of local boat services Cruise the Lemmenjoki valley, from Njurgulahti village to the Kultahamina wilderness hut at Kultasatama (Gold Harbour). A 20km marked trail also follows the course of the river, so you can take the boat one way, then hike back. You can also get on or off the boat at other jetties along the route. There are at least two departures a day from mid-June to mid-September.
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Levi Ski Resort
Levi ski resort has 44 downhill slopes and 26 lifts (two gondola lifts and several free children’s lifts). Many of the slopes are lit, and stay open until 8pm. The vertical drop is approximately 325m, and the longest run is 2.5km. There are two half-pipes and a superpipe for snowboarders, a snow park and several ski runs for children.
reviewed
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Reindeer Races
It doesn't get much more Lappish than Reindeer Races - they're held in Inari, sleds and all, over the last week of May on Inarijärvi. It's a local event with festivities, betting and a winner's cup. The reindeer are antlerless, and the sport looks a little like crazy waterskiing (with the reindeer as boats).
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Ounasvaara Ski Centre
This winter ski centre, about 3km east of the town centre, has six downhill ski slopes and three ski jumps, plus 123km of cross-country skiing tracks. Skiing equipment can be rented here, and there's also a fun toboggan run alongside the Sky Ounasvaara hotel, open year-round if it's not raining.
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Trail
The main hiking Trail is 63km long and runs through the canyon, from Ruktajärvi, near the Utsjoki-Kaamanen road, to the Karigasniemi-Kaamanen road. The trek is rough and takes about four days one way. Use the 1:100,000 Kevo topographical sheet.
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Polar Speed Tours
In winter, Polar Speed Tours organises one- to five-day dog-sledding safaris, with accommodation in wilderness huts. The dogs are kennelled at a husky farm at Köngäs, 10km northeast of Levi. In summer you can tour the farm and meet the dogs.
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PerheSafarit
The long Ounasjoki is one of the best canoeing routes in Lapland. The river runs from Hetta in the north to Rovaniemi in the south, and passes through Raattama, Levi, Kittilä and Kaukonen. PerheSafarit runs excursions and rents equipment.
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Inarin Porofarmi
Inarin Porofarmi is a reindeer farm that runs sled-trips in winter and visits in summer, with plenty of information on reindeer herding and Sámi culture. The two-hour visit costs €20, or €45 including transport from Inari.
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Lapland Safaris
In summer there are river cruises, whitewater rafting, fishing and trips to reindeer and husky farms. In winter, it's snowmobiling, sled safaris and skiing. Lapland Safaris is the largest and best-established of Rovaniemi's tour operators.
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Arctic Rally Team
If you’ve always fancied yourself as another Kimi Räikkönen or Marcus Grönholm, pay the Arctic Rally Team a visit. They organise crash courses (so to speak) in winter driving, rallying and even navigating.
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C
Vesihiisi
Vesihiisi has an outdoor and indoor pool as well as saunas, with separate times and sections for men and women. It’s cheaper in summer.
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Scenic Flights
There are two seaplanes parked in the lake that serve as air taxis. They also do 10-minute Scenic Flights and chartered trips around Inarijärvi.
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Koskenlaskua Rafting
At the Kultahovi Hotel, Koskenlaskua Rafting runs one-hour trips on the rapids here or more involved three-hour excursions on the Juutua river.
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Huskypoint
Huskypoint at Sinettä offers guided kennel visits for €10/5 per adult/child, more if you need transport from Rovaniemi.
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Club Nord
Club Nord arranges mainly winter activities, including husky-sledding and snowmobiling.
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Arctic Safaris/Lapland Safaris
Recent merger of two of the most reliable and well-established outfits.
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