excursions in yllas

We start the day by getting familiar with the equipment and basic skills. Soon we start touring up the fells while also familiarizing ourselves with the area, snow, ski technique and snow safety issues. At a suitable spot we enjoy a light lunch to keep the energy levels up.

Safety is priority number one: We avoid avalanche terrain and focus on the safe, gentle slopes.

Total duration: app. 5–6h

Price: 180 €/person (excl. ski and snowsafety equipment), 225 € (incl. equipment)

Note: Good skills in downhill / alpine skiing is a must. No prior ski touring experience needed.

Ylläs - Äkäslompolo - [email protected]

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Hotel Ylläsrinne

Ylläs lake hotel.

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Welcome to Ylläs!

Wonder of 7 fells.

Looking for a place to spend your holiday away from the hustle and bustle of big cities?

Ylläs is a small but very authentic and idyllic village in Northern Lapland of Finland. The Northern Lights are regular visitors on the starry and bright winter sky of Ylläs and the special Ylläs Twilight -nights give the best possibilities to see them when the village turns it’s street lights off every night at 10 pm.  What to do in Ylläs? Visit  Lapland Hotel SnowVillage , try driving the snowmobile , experience ice floating under the Northern Lights , practice snowshoeing , meet our arctic animals such as reindeer and huskies , try cross-country skiing , walk along the countryside or relax in the locals small cafes chatting with the locals or visit the local Lappish gallery of art. You won’t get bored here.

Book accommodation and activities below – we are looking forward to meet you!

Chasing The Northern Lights

The Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are something everyone is looking forward to see in Lapland. Where and when you can see them? Read this post and get the best tips for Aurora hunting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wondering how to book a safari? Where to stay or how to dress when it’s -30 degrees Celsius? You’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions here.

Activity Highlights in Ylläs

Ylläs christmas spirit with father christmas.

Experience a perfect Christmas atmosphere with a whole family!

King of Ylläs - Hill climb with snowmobiles

Join us for a safari to drive all the way up to Ylläs fell with snowmobiles!

Seeking Northern Lights photo tour Ylläs

Hop in a bus that takes you on an efficient hunt of the aurora in the greater surroundings of Ylläs

Snowshoe delight in Ylläs

Come and join us for a daylight snowshoe walk in the beautiful forest surrounding our traditional village of Ylläsjärvi!

Hotel Ylläsrinne is a wonderful, newly renovated fell side hotel situated by the Pallas-Ylläs National Park. Reindeer and northern lights are almost an everyday sight – found just by stepping out of the front door. Book now!

This is a perfect holiday centre for nature loving guests. Welcome to experience local, delicious and homemade food, traditional sauna and the warm family feeling Ylläs Lake Hotel is loved for. Book now!

Greetings from our guide from Ylläs!

“I really enjoy my work here in Safartica, because we have such a great team and everyone does this most importantly for their love for Lapland. This is a small, peaceful and idyllic village where you are surrounded by the most authentic nature of Lapland. When you climb on the top of Ylläs fell, the view is so incredible that it’s impossible to describe it with words . You must experience it with your own eyes.”

Finland’s most scenic locations.

Koskikatu 9 96200 Rovaniemi Finland

safartica@safartica.com +358 16 311 485

Hotellintie 6 95980 Ylläsjärvi Finland

yllas@safartica.com +358 40 502 6458

Hiihtäjänkuja 10 99130 Sirkka Finland

levi@safartica.com +358 40 660 8571

Lutontie 16 99830 Saariselkä Finland

saariselka@safartica.com +358 40 838 8285

Husky Safaris in Pallas-Ylläs National Park!

We have been arranging Husky safaries since the year 2000. We’re located near Ylläsjärvi in the Finnish Lapland, 10 kilometers from Ylläsjärvi towards Kittilä. We are only choice to experience National Park with huskies.

We have varying kinds of safari packages, so You can pick a duration and length for the experience that works best for you. Most of the trips are into the Pallas-Ylläs national park and its vicinity. On the longest safaris our Siberian huskies will take you on a wondrous journey into the beautiful landscapes of the national park.

Our aim is to make the safaris as environmentally-friendly as possible, wholly fulfilling the environmental regulations of the national park. We won’t be using a snowmobile as our guides will also accompany You with their own husky sleds. Have a look into our programs, there’s something available for everyone.

Rami's Huskies Company of the Year 2021!

We received recognition from Levi / Kittilä entrepreneurs in November 2021.

We are truly local family business offering husky safaris in Ylläs, inside Pallas-Ylläs National Park.

Rami has over 25 years of experience working with huskies, and has done thousands of kilometres with his sledge. Rami’s journey started at 1996, first as a freelancer and in 2001 a company called Rami’s Huskies were born. Rami have had his dog sledding tracks in the National Park for over 15 years, ever since National Park was discovered to be protected.

Our pack consists 75 happy huskies. You can follow our life with dogs from our Facebook page and in Instagram !

Good to know before a safari

Before we start the safari, we will teach you to drive a sledge and explain precisely how to behave on your sledge during safari. Driving a sledge is not hard.

Prepare yourself with warm equipment suitable for outdoor activities. Our staff will gladly help if you have any questions regarding clothing for the safaris.

• You are allowed to take photos of the dogs, but please leave the photographing until after the safari. After the trip is done, the dogs will have calmed down and you can make contact with them by scratching and playing with them.
• Notice! Remember to inform us about possible pregnancy, exercise and health restrictions when making a safari reservation.

The prices do not include transportation. Rami’s Huskies reserves the right to make changes to the safaris based on difficult weather conditions during the safaris.

Reservations for April must be made via email: [email protected]

• Rami Express

5 kilometer trip in the woods, which suits perfectly for the families and couples. On this trip you will get to learn the basics of dog sledding and experience the power of the dogs. Upon your arrival, we will first introduce you to the sleigh itself and teach how to ride it. After that, we prepare for the actual trip.

We have a stop in the woods so you can immortalize your trip as a dog sled driver and as a rider. This husky safari is right for you who want to get to know the sleigh ride briefly and concisely. Suitable for the youngest ones in the family too, there is no time to get too cold on the way.

At the end of the husky safari, we enjoy hot beverage with cookies in a warm hut, where we explain more about huskies and their life. Dont forget that dogs are really waiting for scratches at the end of the safari. 

Total duration of this trip is about 1h 30 minutes. Please arrive a quarter before the announced start time.

Prices : Adult 110€ Child (Not for children less than 1-year old) 88€

If you did not find suitable day for you from system, please give us an email or contact form message

• Ten Kilometer Rally

Ten Kilometer Rally safari offers a real taste of driving! You get to guide a sled of 4-6 dogs in the middle of a beautiful nateru. The road takes you to the Pallas-Ylläs National Park area, and we stop to take pictures in half way. Also in half way we can change the driver, so everyone gets to drive a sleigh. 

After the safari, you get to play and rattle the brave dogs with whom you got to experience a great adventure.

On the trip we do not use a snowmobile, we only ride with dogs. This excursion takes about two hours, and when we get back to the starting point, we will roast sausages and enjoy warm beverage. At the same time, we tell about the lives of the dogs in all seasons.

Prices : Adult 165€ Child (Children less than 6-year old not allowed) 124€

• National Park Safari

We head deep into the ravine of Pallas-Ylläs National Park across a snowy, beautiful forest. This excursion is a real experience, and you get to taste the real arctic among dog sled. The dog sled is the fastest transportation what can be used inside the national park area. 

We stop at the fireplace about halfway of our adventure. We roast sausages over a fire and enjoy a cup of hot beverage before we continue our journey. Our guide tells about life in the landscapes of Lapland.

This safari is for you who want to experience dog sledding in depth. Distance is 16 kilometers, and duration of the trip is about 2,5 – 3 hours.

Prices : Adult 205€ Child (Children less than 8-years old not allowed) 154€

Half Day National Park Adventure

Challenging.

This is the odyssey for the true winter adventurer! This safari is the longest excursion we offer, and it brings you deeper into the Pallas-Ylläs National Park area, surrounded by the beautiful views of the fells of Ylläs and the untouched, Lappish nature. At the beginning of the safari, we will go through how to control the sled, and how to operate in different conditions. We drive total of about 27 km and at halfway point we stop in the wilderness, light a fire and enjoy a small lunch (sausages, bread and cup of warm beverage with a little dessert) and a chat. Our guide tells about life in the landscapes of Lapland and how dogs spend their time during different seasons.

This safari is the most physically demanding in our range, but offers the biggest variety of different types forests, landscapes and gives you time to get very familiar with your sled and husky team.

This is the right choice for you who want a unforgettable experience in arctic conditions with huskies.

The ride takes place on a shared sled. If you wish, you can ask for the possibility of your own team by email. Extra charge for own sled € 100.

Price adult 320€

Some heart-warming feedback via TripAdvisor and Facebook from our beloved guests:

“Thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Rami’s Huskies. From first contact via Facebook/email to the end of the experience. Sari was extremely helpful with booking and giving clear instructions with maps/directions and answering any questions that we had. I would recommend booking early as it gets booked up quick, and we only had a few times to choose from. We managed to do the 5km safari, which was about 1-1.5 hours long in total- plenty long enough for the kids and my toes before getting frozen. The kids went in a sledge with the main tour guide driving, whilst my husband and i had a sledge. One driving, one enjoying the ride. We were able to swap over half way so we both got a turn driving. At the end of the run and After lots of cuddles with the dogs who are all friendly I managed to drag my daughter away into a lovely little hut with fire place to warm up with grilled sausages and hot drinks, the staff were more then happy to answer any questions we had about the dogs/trip.

Such a fun experience! Would highly recommend 🙂 ”

Date: February 2019

“ What a afternoon out. Can’t recommended this place highly enough. The location was beautiful, the dogs friendly, my 10 year daughter played with them for ages whilst waiting to take the sleds out. The staff were outstanding and informative. I’d brought what I thought were a good pair of boots, they thought otherwise and provided me (FOC) a much better pair. The sledding was incredible. We left at dusk (around 3pm!) so the light was magical. I was surprised but so pleased that you actually get to ‘drive’ your own sleds. A totally exhilarating and breathtaking experience.”

Date: December 2018

“We have brought our non-Finnish customers to Rami’s Huskies safaris and our customers and the staff really likes the safaris what they run. The venue is absolutely beautiful and their staff is so professional on what they are doing. I think everyone should ask Rami to tell one cheeky joke after the safari!”

“Very beautiful place and nature, very special atmosphere in the dark of the evening, helpful and friendly staff, well-maintained and -behaving dogs. We were 2 adults and a 4-year-old kid, all of us enjoyed by 200%. We got service in Finnish, Swedish and English. I’d like to come here again, for an all-day safari.”

Rami Kulppi Ylläs – Lainio 040-537 0593 050-464 9166 [email protected]

Please note that without reservation you can not visit the dogs or the venue.

Ask us about the safaris

• National Park Safari 2

Terms & Conditions for Consumers

The following terms and conditions shall be applied for Husky- and Husky related safaris offered and delivered during all seasons by Rami’s Huskies

COMMERCIAL TERMS

Services and Prices:

The prices and the services offered and to be delivered by Rami’s Huskies under these Terms & Conditions for Husky activities are set out in the program descriptions for each program service. The given prices include VAT according to the taxation laws and Regulations of Finland. Rami’s Huskies reserves the right to change the prices in case of any unforeseen increases in costs (including but not limited to taxes, fuel prices etc.).

Reservation:

Reservation received by Rami’s Huskies is considered as confirmed upon reservation confirmation send by Rami’s Huskies to the consumer. Payment options will be presented in our website upon reservation, or in case of reservations made on the spot and during the booking process.

Cancellation terms:

Cancellation must be done latest 14 days prior to arrival to get a refund. Customers will receive a full refund or credit with 14 day notice of cancellation (+50€ cancellation fee). Cancellation done 48h before safari, we refund 50% of the safari price (+50€ cancellation fee). Cancellation made 48h or less before start time is not refundable.

Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Cancellation must be done via email. No-shows will be charged the full price.

Child Policy:

For children we have special rates, and they are announced separately in every program available. Children less than one years old are not permitted to join the activities. Provider have permission to change Child Policy on husky activity due weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Pregnant women:

Pregnant women are in charge of their own well-being, and their liability is to follow Doctor’s recommendations. We do not recommend joining the husky activity during late-stage pregnancies.

GENERAL TERMS & CONDITIONS

Definitions

Rami’s Huskies is the provider of all husky activities at location.

“Consumer” is a person, who has delivered the Order or other way confirmed the booking to Provider. For the avoidance of any doubt, a company, corporation or community is not a person. hereinafter each alone “Party” and together “Parties”.

“Order” is any documentation in written form, from the Consumer to Provider to make a booking. “Order Confirmation” is any documentation from Provider to the Consumer including prices and specifications of the services and confirming the availability of the ordered services.

Service language

Language used for guiding and during all services is English if not otherwise stated or agreed.

Rami’s Huskies shall exercise pro-activity, contingency, due diligence and appropriate health and safety measures in accordance with the laws and regulations of Finland and Finnish standards of recommended practices of program services at all times when delivering offered services under these terms and conditions. The guide has the right to prevent the customer from driving themself/participating if he considers that the customer is not capable of it.

Liability Insurance

Rami’s Huskies has a General Third Party Liability Insurance for bodily injury and property damage according to the terms and conditions of LähiTapiola  ( lahitapiola.fi )

Other Injuries

Rami’s Huskies may only be held liable for personal injuries or material damage arising from accidents that have happened during the delivery of the offered services and which are caused by negligence of the Rami’s Huskies or its employees or by the provision of faulty equipment. Rami’s Huskies is not liable for any accidental damage or injury which has to be indemnified under the travel insurance of a customer. Personal travel insurance is always highly recommended to activate before journey. Program service can be physically demanding and the participants may be exposed to different kinds of physical strain. In case the Consumer is having any illnesses or disabilities (for instance heart disease, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, back or hip problems) that could affect his/her ability to take part in the Services, or if she is pregnant, she/he should prior to participating any Services consult medical experts about her/his ability to participate in the Service in question. Should the Consumer have an illnesses or disability of this nature, he/she acknowledges that he/she participates in the Service at his/her own risk.

All huskies used in the Services are trained as far it is possible for the activity. However, behaviour of dog can never be fully predicted and therefore, in order to reduce risks, given safety and other instructions have to be obeyed by consumer.

Force Majeure

Neither Party shall be held liable for any default, damage or loss due to a condition force majeure or to unreasonable impairment of the Party’s operations due to a similar cause (including but not limited to war, strike, weather, lack of snow, or other natural condition etc.). If encountered a force majeure condition, the Party shall immediately notify the other Party in writing there of, and shall keep the other Party fully informed of the continuance of the force majeure condition and of any relevant change of circumstances whilst such force majeure continues. When encountered a force majeure conditions Parties shall also take all reasonable steps available to it to minimize the effects of the force majeure on the performance of their obligations under this contractual relationship.

Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Finnish Law. The Finnish Courts shall have the exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute, controversy or claim related to such a demand. The District Court of Lapland (in Finnish: Lapin Käräjäoikeus), placed in Rovaniemi, shall be the court of first instance.

Severability

If any part, term or provision of these terms and conditions is partly or wholly held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity or enforceability of other provisions, extent part and remainder of these terms and conditions shall remain in full force and effect.

Privacy Policy

Privacy policy pertaining to Seller’s customer, partnership and marketing information can be found at  our GDPR

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Yllas Excursions - Inghams or wait?? - Lapland Forum

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Yllas Excursions - Inghams or wait??

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Have booked to go to Yllas Log Cabins with Inghams 10 Feb.

What would people recommend - I did not book any excusions with Inghams when I booked online. I presume you can book with Inghams when you arrive?

Are there local options who offer the same things? - looking to do snowmobile, husky and reindeer safaris.

Also, did not book ski lessons with Inghams (we have never tried skiing before) - is it possible to book a couple of lessons locally, and hire equipment. I doubt we will want to try skiing every morning.

Finally,will Yllas be deserted?? I know it is before the Finnish holidays - I guess I am a little worried that some activities may not be offered at that time?

So excited - can't wait to get there! Any advice gratefully received!

I'd book locally when on the spot. Often better excursions with equal money. Everything sould be uo and running. It's not that deserted during week 7.

For skiing I recommend a private teacher for you and your spouse and/or children. So much more efficient. After a 2 hour lesson you should be able to handle the easier slopes independently. Ski rental is available.

You can find excursion choices, weekly programs and prices in here http://yllas.fi/en/weekly-program-winter

I would guess that the tour operators just use these same ones but may have something tailored.

For ski rental and skiing lessons you can also find information on the Ylläs website.

Ylläs will be peaceful but will have everything running :)

Thanks guys for your responses. Based on that I am happy to wait until I get there. I soooo cannot wait!!

you can book with inghams or with a local firm - do some research now to find out the price difference - when we when, inghams were cheaper than the local companies that they used

Most of the excursions in the Ylläs weekly programme have the minimum limit of two participants, so if you are a party of at least two adults, the excursion will run even if there weren't anyone else attending it.

As Poe suggested, you should do your homework before going and compare prices. The local prices you can find through the link Yuke posted (there especially in the document titled Program description 2013). (Some) Inghams' prices you will find at http://www.inghams.co.uk/santa-holidays/resorts/excursions/item351307/ a bit later (they've not published the prices of excursions yet).

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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The Northern Lights are like magic in the sky

Travelers from all around the world come to Ylläs to admire the magical Northern Lights. The Northern Lights are always different, which makes them even more captivating. The faint green streak stretching across the sky may remain in one place for an hour, but then it begins to move. It breaks apart and forms several smaller and larger streaks. The movement starts to intensify. At its best, the Northern Lights experience culminates in a rapidly pulsating dance directly above your head. This highlight doesn’t last long, and soon the colorful flames disappear into the darkness of the night.

In Ylläs, you can see the Northern Lights on two out of three nights

Ylläs is located on the southern edge of the aurora oval that surrounds the North Pole. This means that the chances of seeing the Northern Lights here are very good. Statistically, you can see them here on two out of three nights, and the season lasts from early autumn to late spring, basically as long as the nights are dark.

When it’s dark outside, the only obstacle between you and the spectacular dance performance is the clouds. On a completely cloudy evening, it might not be worth even trying, but if you see even one star in the sky, witnessing the Northern Lights is possible. In that case, the best approach is to dress warmly and head outside to wait. You should aim your gaze towards the northern sky, as that’s where the Northern Lights usually dance.

Nothern lights tours & safaris

What causes the northern lights.

The activity that creates Northern Lights begins on the sun and the different colors are caused by collisions between different gases and electrons entering the earth’s atmosphere. The most common color is green, but they can also appear pink, dark red, blue, purple and even yellow. This is the scientific explanation for the formation of the Northern Lights, but the mythological stories are much more entertaining. In Finnish lore, the aurora is caused by a fox running so fast across the snow that its tail sparks flames up into the sky. The Sámi people believed that the lights were created by a whale’s water spew.

Best places to see Northern Lights in Ylläs

In Ylläs, you don’t necessarily have to venture far for the Northern Lights hunt; you can watch them right from your own yard. Streetlights are turned off from October to March at 10 PM to make viewing easier.

However, for the best photos, it’s advisable to head to an open location with a good view to the north. For example, Äkäslompolo Lake or Ylläsjärvi Lake are good spots. Alternatively, you can hike up to the fell. For instance, Fell Kuertunturi is an excellent and relatively easy destination where you can capture not only the Northern Lights but also beautiful and mystical trees covered in snow.

The biggest mistake is just to go and take a peek at the sky – the starting time of the show can vary by hours! Statistically, the most likely time to see the Northern Lights is around midnight and the preceding couple of hours. Aurora forecast is also unrealiable, do not trust it but instead go outside.

On guided tours , you can get technical tips for photographing in the dark.

In addition to winter, the best time to spot the Northern lights is in the spring

If you want to optimize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, it’s advisable to travel to Ylläs in early spring (May, April) as well. In autumn (starts in late October), the weather is generally cloudier than in the spring. By late April, the nights begin to be so bright that the chances of seeing the Northern Lights diminish.

Northern lights Acommodation

7 of the best places to visit in Finland in 2024

F inland may not appear as regularly on the tourism wish-list as European heavyweights such as Spain or Italy , but it’s ability to cater to vastly different types of tourism means that it will inevitably start popping up on the radar.

Few countries on the continent can cater to beach holidays , Northern Lights excursions, island hopping and trips to the Arctic wilderness – but Finland is one of them.

Whether you want to ski in Lapland , explore some of its thousands of lakes in the Lake District, visit Santa Claus near the Arctic Circle or live like the world’s happiest locals in Helsinki, Finland caters to both the well-trodden and the unfamiliar in terms of potential holidays.

From the cool capital and historic cities to lakeside towns and national parks that provide a vast expanse of wilderness, Finland offers an abundance of the unexpected to the uninitiated. Below, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best places to discover in this part of the Nordics.

The capital of the world’s happiest country is always going to be an intriguing place. Helsinki contains some of the country’s most famous landmarks and attractions, from the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Ateneum (a space for Finnish art) to the Suomenlinna fortress and the National Museum of Finland.

What makes Helsinki particularly appealing, though, is the effortless fusion of nature and city life. Helsinki sits on the Baltic Sea, part of an archipelago of 330 islands, and is home to fantastic beaches and dense forests that make shoreside relaxation and hiking equally as accessible as dining out or shopping. Within the city, the verdant Esplanadi park and beaches such as Hietaniemi are the highlights, while a range of public saunas – Löyly is the most well-known – cater to outdoor swimming and easy relaxation.

Read more on Finland travel :

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Rovaniemi is the capital of Finnish Lapland, and the centre of the winter wonderland around Christmas time. Those visiting during the festive period can enjoy a trip to the Santa Claus Village, where you can cross the Arctic Circle , go on snowmobile and husky excursions, and potentially see the Northern Lights.

For a great view of the Arctic landscape, head to the Syväsenvaara Fell observation tower. Once you’re done exploring the surrounding nature of the Arctic, take a trip to the Arktikum, which showcases Arctic history, or the Pilke House, a local science museum. For the more adventurous, the ski resort of Ounasvaara lies just 15 minutes away from the city.

Turku’s one-time status as the country’s capital means that it remains one of Finland’s foremost cities, and that is evident in its abundance of natural and architectural sites. The main landmarks include the country’s largest fortress (the Turun Linna), the magnificent Gothic cathedral (Turun Tuomiokirkko) and the old market square. Nevertheless, a host of museums – including the Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova, a museum that combines contemporary art with exhibitions on the city’s past, and the Forum Marinum, the city’s maritime museum – provide another insight into local history and culture.

Like Helsinki, Turku has managed to maintain its history and culture while also preserving the surrounding natural landscape. The Aura River is a focal point of the city – littered with bars and restaurants and ideal for a stroll or river cruise – while green spaces like the Kupittaa Park provide more opportunities for relaxing outside, as do the numerous saunas and beaches such as Ekvalla.

Saariselka and the Urho Kekkonen National Park

Saariselka is a popular choice for package holidays to Lapland, and during the winter months this is one of the country’s premiere tourists resorts. Though it is still picturesque in summer, the region – located high above the Arctic Cirlce – is a veritable winter wonderland when the snow is falling and the Northern Lights are visible (usually from September through to March).

This a destination for being at one with nature, from stays in glass-roofed aurora cabins and ventures around modest ski resorts to husky sledding, ice fishing, snowshoeing and snowmobile excursions. The town is also the gateway to the Urho Kekkonen National Park, an even more remote part of Finnish Lapland, and is also less than an hour away from Inari, the centre of Finland’s indigenous Sami culture.

If you’re visiting in summer, swap Lapland for Lakeland. Savonlinna is the place to come if you want to delve deeper into the reasoning behind Finland’s nickname as the ‘Land of a Thousand Lakes’. It spans two islands between the lakes of Haapavesi and Pihlavesi, and the serene waters and surrounding woodland offer some of the most beautiful summer scenery anywhere in the country.

Savonlinna is among the best summer choices for nature lovers and adventurers, with cycling, hiking, day cruises and various water sports all within easy reach. You’re right on the edge of the two national parks of Linnansaari and Kolovesi too, though do make sure to take some time to visit the 15th-century Olavnlinna castle. If you’d like to combine the arts and adventure during your stay, visit in July for the town’s annual opera festival.

A country with over 50,000 islands and thousands of miles of coastline offers as many beautiful beaches other countries in Europe. Hanko, a small town with a population of just 8,000 people, has 130km of pristine coastline – this is a lovely option for a day trip from Helsinki when the sun is shining on beaches like Hangö Plagen, Tulluddsstranden and Centrums Badstrand.

The fact that this is the sunniest area of Finland means that many do visit for beach days, but as well as lying on the sand and trying your hand at water sports, visitors can trek along the trails of the Tulliniemi Nature Path, explore castles in nearby Raasepori, and see the tallest lighthouse in the Nordics, Bengtskär.

Yllas is Finland’s largest ski resort, and one of two main resorts – along with Levi, around an hour away – that is an option for package ski holidays from the UK . Yllas is the more traditional village of the two, with 53km of pistes across 63 runs (the majority of which cater to beginner and intermediate skiers). For cross-country skiers, there are over 500km of trails in Yllas and the nearby Pallas-Yllästunturi national park.

Skiiing in Yllas often offers uncrowded slops, runs dotted with rime-frosted trees and even the Northern Lights dancing above you, as well as reliable, good-quality snow cover. It may not have the reputation of Alpine resorts, but for an altogether more laid-back, low-key ski trip, Yllas is an ideal option.

The village of Ylläsjärvi itself provides a hearty mix of Nordic and Finnish architecture and cuisine, as well as an ice spa and swimming pool (complete with a unique sauna gondola) and opportunities to try winter activities, from snowshoeing to ice fishing.

Read more on the best places to see the Northern Lights around the world – and when to visit

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