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Saariselkä is a stunning winter wonderland that offers far more than just the aurora borealis or northern lights! Like many others, my primary reason for travelling to Lapland, or Finland itself, was to fulfil my dream of witnessing the northern lights for the first time. I’m delighted to say that this experience exceeded my expectations. In this article, I’ll share precisely what I did in Saariselkä and how much it cost.
Where is Saariselkä?
Saariselkä is a village located in the northern part of Finland, within the district of Inari. It lies within the Lapland region, which is within the Arctic Circle, making it an ideal spot for viewing the northern lights.
While the area has quite a few ski resorts, its main attraction is undoubtedly the aurora borealis, particularly for first-time visitors. But, Saariselkä offers much more than this! If you plan your trip well enough, the Aurora Borealis will be the cherry on top of your already fantastic vacation.
1 Go Aurora Hunting
Like me, a lot of people from around the world go to Finland and other Nordic countries in the hopes of seeing the aurora. It has been my lifelong dream and a priority when I started planning this trip. Elliot and I have had some experience in astrophotography and even hunting for Astro events so we tried our best to prepare ourselves for this epic trip. That being said, sometimes, it’s not as simple as looking up and seeing it. Sometimes, you may need to venture out to seek the aurora.
While we didn’t go on an aurora tour, we made a few friends during the trip who went on Aurora hunting tours and experiences. They said they not only saw the aurora but also got some great photos from the guides.
2 Experience Traditional Finnish Sauna and Ice Bath
Smoke Sauna
Saunas are a big part of the Finnish culture. It is said that even babies are given birth in them (while they are turned off). Moreover, there are about three million saunas in Finland while the population is only 5.5 million! This means it’s a 1.8 people-to-sauna ratio.
We got to experience the traditional smoke sauna and cold plunge during our stay at the Fell Centre Kiilopää! I found the customer service quite splendid. The staff was super nice and informative.
Ice Bath
Another big item is the ice bath or ice plunge. You take an ice plunge into a frozen lake, pond or pool right after your sauna session. This is said to be good for health. Typically, you go into the cold plunge for around 30 seconds to 3 minutes and repeat as necessary.
The helpful staff at the Fell Centre Kiilopää gave us guidance on how to do the ice plunge safely. I was really impressed by the whole experience and the hospitality.
As you can see from the picture, the only thing keeping this water liquid was the constant circulation. The ambient temperature was -24°C while the water was sub-zero.
I was really scared to do the cold plunge as the water was -1°C or 30.2°F! But I went in 4 times! Despite being nerve-racking, I’d do this again for sure. Also, I can’t get over the fact that your feet start sticking to the floor as you get out of the water and start walking😱
Important Top Tip: Book the smoke sauna experience 7 days in advance as the slots book out fast. If you can’t, don’t worry as they also have electric saunas available. However, the smoke sauna is highly sought after and something worth trying. This experience costs €18 per person while the ice plunge and electric saunas were included in the the cost of the stay.
The Sauna session at the Fell Centre started around 4:30 pm and was available for unlimited time. However, when we stayed, there was a private group session booked at 6 pm which meant that we couldn’t use the smoke sauna from that time onwards. You could still use the electric sauna during private group sessions though!
3 Go on a Husky Safari
The practice of dog sledding or mushing is an age-old practice that is ingrained in the Sami and Inuit cultures. Originating thousands of years ago, this custom was widely used for food and human transport through vast snowy landscapes. However due to the development of technology such as snowmobiles, dog sledding has become a leisurely and cultural phenomenon and one of Finland’s top tourist activities.
After our 1 night stay at the Fell Centre for the sauna experience, we headed over to Guesthouse Husky in Saariselkä to go for a husky safari! This family-run lodge was truly a gem that made our trip even more special.
I was happy seeing how much each little puppy and dog was taken care of in the facility and the staff even knew most of the dogs’ names! That’s quite spectacular considering they have over a hundred husky dogs in the facility. Elliot was truly in doggy heaven.
The staff at Guesthouse Husky had confirmed with us a week in advance whether we would be taking part in the mushing activity or not. So, when we got there, they had already arranged for us to do the activity the next morning at 10 am.
We got the 1-hour sunrise session of mushing with 4 other pairs of people. In each team, one person stood and controlled the sled while the other sat in the sled. The session costs €135 per person. There were also other 3-hour sessions available but we didn’t go for that one.
It was REALLY cold that day since there seemed to be an arctic cold front. It was -26°C during our ride! My eyelashes were completely frozen. Luckily, they provide another layer of outerwear, mittens, and boots.
We stopped a few times to let the dogs have a bit of a pee and poop break as well. Lucky for us, the husky doggos were highly trained and knew exactly what path to follow. They were extremely strong and started running once they felt no pressure on the sled.
And even though the huskies were super strong, they were super gentle with us. It was the coolest experience ever and I’d highly recommend you not miss this if you’re in Lapland.
4 Stay at a Glass Igloo Hotel
Finland’s first glass igloo hotel the Kakslauttanen was built in 1974. Since then, a few more have popped up in Finland. Staying in a glass igloo is an interesting and unique experience that I must say felt really cool. There’s nothing like seeing the stars and aurora straight from your bed.
After a lot of research, we decided to stay at the Star Arctic Hotel which was an absolutely luxurious experience. We stayed at the top of the hill of the Saariselkä Ski and Sports Resort and saw the most amazing sunset. Moreover, seeing the stars from a warm and cozy bed was another thing altogether.
Our igloo room was in the shape of a little house and had a very nice bathroom and amenities. It even included a nice breakfast with gorgeous views overlooking Saariselkä.
If you’re curious, here’s how a stay at the legendary Kakslauttanen is!
5 Try Tobogganning
Tobogganing is a winter sport where each person slides down snowy slopes on a sled called a toboggan. While some other winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding need some training, tobogganing is relatively beginner-friendly and you don’t even need to maintain as much balance as you would for skiing. Despite being simple, this is a thrilling way to spend your afternoon in the snowy hills!
We went tobogganing at the Saariselkä Ski and Sport Resort dubbed the northernmost ski resort in Europe! It was a 1.8km ride from the summit of the Kaunispää fell! I’ve never done winter sports before so I was quite nervous about the whole experience but I went slowly at first by putting my hands and feet down for some friction. When I got comfortable, I adjusted my speed accordingly.
Toboggan Rental and Costs
The tobogganing gear costs €20 for the whole day for a helmet and a toboggan sled. You can either drive up and take turns going down which is free or take the ski lift which costs €46.50 for 3 hours. We decided to take turns with our friends driving up the slope as we had 2 cars. So, each couple went down the slope while the other drove back down.
If you’ve booked a stay at the Star Arctic Hotel, you can even ask for a toboggan from the hotel for free.
6 Go Skiing
Skiing is a huge sport in Finland given its winter landscapes and rolling slopes. Moreover, Saariselkä is a winter wonderland that offers a perfect escape for both beginners and seasoned skiers from what I’ve witnessed. You will not regret skiing down the picturesque scenery to well-groomed trails with a backdrop of breathtaking Arctic scenery!
I personally didn’t choose to go skiing this time but after I arrived at Lapland, it seemed to be one of the biggest sports.
7 Go Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is a hiking or trail walking experience where you walk on snow-covered terrain on snowshoes. These specialized footwear allow your weight to be distributed onto a larger area which prevents you from sinking deeply into the snow. Snowshoeing lets you tread to backcountry areas with deep snow which are normally inaccessible on foot!
During our time there, we saw a lot of snowshoeing tours which is a unique experience you can get during the winter in Lapland. While we didn’t go for it this time, I’d want to try it next time!
8 Try Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is a chill winter activity where people go on frozen lakes and rivers, drill a hole through the thick ice and drop fishing lines into it. Often, it’s accompanied by a simple picnic and relaxing vibes! Our friends went for this experience and while they couldn’t catch any fish, they enjoyed some Finnish sausages and hot chocolate provided by the tour operators. All in all, it’s a wholesome experience if you have an afternoon to spare and winter sports isn’t your cup of tea.
9 Go on a Walking Trail at Urho Kekkonsen National Park
Urho Kekkonsen National Park is Finland’s second-largest national park, spanning around 2,550 square kilometres! On our last day, we decided to explore one of the winter walking trails. This walk was recommended by our hotel and was the best way to spend an afternoon admiring the winter landscapes one last time.
Our walk was around an hour long and during the walk, we went into the wilderness hut to get some warmth in the wood fire. There were other locals and tourists also relaxing there. We also saw some cute birds while we took in nature. If you’re lucky and hike far enough, you can spot some wildlife such as deer along your trail.
10 Ride a Snowmobile!
Last but not least, you can ride a snowmobile around the frozen landscapes! Snowmobiles are very popular in Lapland, especially for northern lights hunting. It’s such a cool experience to ride it at night with a group while looking for auroras. If you’re confident enough, it’s something to do while you’re up there. Moreover, 2 people can pair up so you can take turns driving!
11 Conclusion
Saariselkä turned out to be one of the most magical parts of my trip to Finland. Surprisingly, such a remote place had so much to offer for everyone! Whether you’re a seasoned winter sports enthusiast or a family with children, there’s an activity for you! I already miss it so much and want to go back one day again.
Are you planning a trip to Finland? Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll try my best to answer!