Salla Winter Adventure

This holiday includes some long and potentially tiring days in sub-zero temperatures. A reasonable degree of fitness will enhance the experience immensely.

Salla lies within the Arctic Circle close to the Russian border. This incredible location creates a truly special holiday destination for families and adults alike. Salla offers a huge variety of accommodation ranging from a delightful spa hotel to apartments in winter cottages and cosy log cabins.

There is an excellent range of activities available in Salla as well as 10 ski slopes which provide additional entertainment for downhill skiers.

Nightlife isn't exactly top of the agenda here but there is a restaurant and bar at the hotel and another next to the log cabins. The pub above the ski centre is also worth visiting… the moose burgers are gigantic!

There are so many ways to explore the stunning wilderness that we have designed both a family holiday and a more demanding adult itinerary to ensure that you make the most of your time! It truly is a special place for a winter holiday.

"On my first visit to Salla I met two lovely sisters, Tarya and Rauni. Between them they seemed to run the village. Rauni is the sales manager for the Revontuli Hotel and cottages and Tanya is in charge of the cabins just across the road. To cap it all they also own the village shop! They have obviously got the place sewn up. Fortunately, they didn't seem to object to being dubbed the 'Salla Mafioso' and between us we've come up with some great value winter activity holidays here in Salla. "

Price

From: GBP1395 per person (7 nights)

Price Includes

• Flights direct flights from London Gatwick to Kuusamo
• Return airport transfers
• 7 nights hotel, winter cottage apartment of log cabin on half board
• Cross country skiing, snowmobile safari, reindeer safari, snowshoes, evening snowmobile safari, husky safari
• Thermo-overalls, socks, mittens, boots and warm hat for the duration of your stay
• Fully qualified wilderness guides and instructors

Price Excludes

Sunday: Flights, arrival and introduction

On arrival at Salla you will meet your guide and after settling into your accommodation make your way over to the restaurant for dinner.

Monday: Cross country skiing

The sense of isolation as you venture deep into the forest during your 5 hour (approx) cross country ski tour, amidst snow laden spruce trees is such a contrast to the hustle and bustle back home. Welcome to life north of the Arctic Circle. Lunch and tuition are included.

Tuesday: Saparo snowmobile safari

There’s no better way of seeing the magnificent winter countryside that surrounds Salla than by snowmobile. This three hour safari can only heighten your appreciation of just how remote and scarcely populated it is here in Finnish Lapland. Best of all are the superb 360o vistas from the summit of Ruuhitunturi Fell. (2 people per snowmobile, snack and warm drink included).

Wednesday: Reindeer safari

You start the day by getting to know your reindeer and learning how to steer your sled. There will be several breaks during the day (approx 5hrs) to try some ice fishing, practice your reindeer lasso technique and eat lunch deep in the forest. There’s something rather special about grilling sausages over an open fire and sipping warm drinks from traditional wooden kuksa mugs.

Thursday: Snowshoes and evening snowmobile safari

A snowmobile-pulled sleigh ride brings you to the fells from where you’ll follow the marked trails. Make sure that you try walking on the virgin snow, with and without snowshoes. The difference is amazing. There’s a tough ascent up the fell but the views are well worth the effort. You’ll be out for around 5 hours so lunch is of course included. This evening we take a 20km snowmobile tour around Salla. With a bit of luck the Aurora will deliver a stunning display but regardless there’s something magical about snowmobiling at night. Your headlights light up the snow covered trees making them look like ghostly white phantoms. It’s eerie and exciting at the same time.

Friday: Husky safari

Our 4 hour safari sees you take the reins of your own husky team (2 people per sled). Initially, you may wonder how you are going to control such enthusiastic animals but they soon settle into a steady pace which allows you to fully enjoy both the experience and the scenery. Weather permitting, your guide will cook lunch over an open fire in the forest.

Saturday: Free day for optional activities or skiing

We’ve given you a day off today to try your favourite activity again or take to Salla’s ski slopes.

Sunday: Departure, transfer and flights

Accommodation Details

Tunturitahti Cottages - Salla
Beautifully furnished and extremely well equipped, we can’t recommend these cottages highly enough. They come complete with their own sauna and comfortably sleep four people. These cottages are situated in the centre of Salla and within easy walking distance of the shop, the hotel and the ski lifts (no need for ski buses here).

Furnished with considerable care, the cabins have a ground floor bedroom and a two further beds on a mezzanine level. The sofa in the lounge will also fold out making room for 1 or 2 more people.

The large open plan living room and kitchen has its own log burning fireplace and TV. Sheltered from the cold outside, you’ll be snug as bugs curled up in front of the fire with a good bottle of wine.

The kitchens are extremely well equipped with a cooker, dishwasher, microwave oven, fridge, toaster, coffee-maker, kettle and a dinner set for 6 people.

Spa Hotel Revontuli - Salla
Sitting at the foot of Sala Mountain, this small, comfortable hotel has 26 recently refurbished bedrooms.

Every room has an en-suite WC/bathroom with hair dryer. The bedrooms have been very tastefully furnished and all have a TV, phone, drying closet for clothes and cupboards for skiing equipment.

The hotel’s spa is a fabulous place to relax after a day in the cold. There’s a children’s pool, a waterfall massage pool and a 16m exercise pool. And, after all those lengths and additional exercise, where better to relax than in the Jacuzzi?

The hotel restaurant serves a buffet dinner every evening (this is included in our half board prices). You may also like to consider upgrading to the à la carte menu which offers Lapland specialities using traditional local ingredients.

Salla Tunturin 1 Bedroom Cottage with Loft
These well equipped cottages are all within easy walking distance of the local facilities. The cottages have either one bedroom or one bedroom with an additional mezzanine area with room for four more beds.

Each cottage has its own living room with a log fire and TV. The kitchens are equipped with hot plate, microwave oven, refridgerator, coffee maker, toaster and a washing machine.

You’ll have your own private sauna, an invaluable drying cupboard and a toilet/shower room.

If you can’t be bothered to cook after a long day in the Arctic snow then try the Kiela à la carte restaurant which is a very short walk from the cabins. The restaurant is extremely good and features a range of Lapland dishes as well as international cuisine and an excellent wine list. Guests at the Salatunturin Cabins tend to gather at the Papana Pupi pub in the evenings. It’s a warm and uncomplicated kind of place with a pool room at the back dedicated to Finnish ice hockey legend Jari Kurri. There is also a collection of sporting memorabilia on the walls. Take them a football shirt or scarf to add to their collection and you will have made friends for life.

Salla Tunturin 1 Bedroom Cottage
These well equipped cottages are all within easy walking distance of the local facilities. The cottages have either one bedroom or one bedroom with an additional mezzanine area with room for four more beds.

Each cottage has its own living room with a log fire and TV. The kitchens are equipped with hot plate, microwave oven, refridgerator, coffee maker, toaster and a washing machine.

You’ll have your own private sauna, an invaluable drying cupboard and a toilet/shower room.

If you can’t be bothered to cook after a long day in the Arctic snow then try the Kiela à la carte restaurant which is a very short walk from the cabins. The restaurant is extremely good and features a range of Lapland dishes as well as international cuisine and an excellent wine list.

Guests at the Salatunturin Cabins tend to gather at the Papana Pupi pub in the evenings. It’s a warm and uncomplicated kind of place with a pool room at the back dedicated to Finnish ice hockey legend Jari Kurri.

There is also a collection of sporting memorabilia on the walls. Take them a football shirt or scarf to add to their collection and you will have made friends for life.