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Few places are as magical as Finnish Lapland in winter. The land is covered with a blanket of soft, fluffy snow. The air is crisp, and skies are often clear, offering great sunsets and stunning starry skies at night.
Yes, it is cold: Temperatures often plummet below -20. But the scenery and warm, golden light more than make up for it!
Not to mention the fact that in Lapland, Finland youāll have the chance to try some activities that are not available anywhere else in Europe.
Where is Lapland?
Lapland is in the Arctic Circle, in the northern region of Scandinavia, and covers parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.
It is the cultural region home to the Sami People who prefer to call the region as SƔpmi (in their native language).
Lapland, Finland comprises the northernmost section of the country. Because of the abundance of reindeer and spruce trees the area is often associated with Christmas.
READ MORE:Ā 90 Christmas Traditions Around the World (with Fun Christmas Facts)
Lapland Finland outlined in red on the map.
Visiting Lapland, Finland
We spent a week in the region in total, dividing our time between two locations.
The first was Kemi, a small town on the coast next to the border with Sweden. The second was Salla, a village close to the Russian border in the eastern part of Finland.
It was a week filled with dogsledding, cross country skiing, reindeer sleigh rides, walks in the snow-covered forest and nights huddling in front of the fire, waiting for the northern lights (which we didnāt manage to see).
But no matter: The frozen scenery, eerie silence and winter lights were enough for Lapland to become one of our favoriteĀ travel experiences to date.
Below are our 20 favorite photos of Finnish Lapland in Winter.
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Finnish Lapland Train
We flew into Helsinki from Italy. Once we arrived in Finland, we decided to travel by train because theyāre much more eco-friendly and afford greater flexibility.
Finnish trains are generally comfortable and reliable, and wi-fi is usually provided for free.
We had an Interrail pass, which meant we could hop on and off at will. Unless youāre planning to travel at night, reservations are not necessary.
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Snow Castle in Lapland, Finland
Our first stop was Kemi, the capital of Coastal Lapland. Kemi is famous for its Snow Castle (calledĀ Lumi LinnaĀ in Finnish), which is built every year with ice and snow made from frozen sea water.
They start building itĀ in December, when the sea freezes and the temperature dips to -10Ā° Celsius. Itās open between late January and late April, when the weather warms up and the ice starts to melt.
Then the Snow Castle is returned to the sea. The Snow Castle includesĀ a snow hotel, a chapel, and a restaurant, and there are beautiful ice sculptures and snow carvings everywhere.
READ MORE:Ā 25 Most Unusual & Unique Hotels In the World (World Travel Bucket List)
Snow Hotel in Finnish Lapland, Bedroom
We had the opportunity to spend a night in the snow hotel. This is our room, with castle-themed snow carvings and a bed covered in sheep and reindeer skins.
We were also given two Arctic sleeping bags and fleece liners, as the temperature in the hotel is around -5Ā°ā¦ and that is COLD!
It was hard to get to sleep, but once we did, we slept very deeply. Perhaps our bodies thought we were hibernating?
READ MORE:Ā What is an Eco Lodge? The Top 20 Eco Resorts & Eco Hotels in the WorldĀ
Finnish Lapland: Kemi island
The sea freezes in Finnish Lapland, allowing you to walk, sled, or ski on top of the ice.
This is the view of one of the islands off the coast of Kemi.
As you can see, the weather wasnāt always great: Clouds travelled with us for most of the time we spent in Finland, which isĀ one of the reasons why the Northern Lights eluded us.
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Kick sled in Lapland, Finland
Kick sleds are a popular means of transport in Finnish Lapland.
They work similarly to skateboards: You stand on the skates in the back and push yourself with your legĀ until you reachĀ enough speed to slide.
We borrowed some kick sleds for an afternoon and went touring around Kemi and out onto the frozen sea. What a workout!
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Arctic sunrise
Taking a cruise on theĀ Mighty Icebreaker SampoĀ is aĀ great way to get close to the frozen sea.
After 25 years of service opening shipping lanes off the Kemi coast, the Sampo was decommissioned in the mid-ā80s. It was about to be sold for scrap metal, but Kemiās citizens decided to save her.
She was turned into a tourist ship, running daily cruises at sunrise, the blue hour, and at night. ThisĀ is a picture of the sun rising from the frozen Arctic waters at 9:30 am.
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Sampo Icebreaker Ship
This picture providesĀ a closer view of the mighty Sampo as it sails through the frozen sea. The ship features a bar and restaurant offering meals.
Itās also possible to tour the engine room, control room, and sailorsā cabins, all of which were left exactly as they were in the 1960s.
The cruises last for about threeĀ hours and youāre free to wander inside and out at willā¦ if you can withstand the bitter cold!
READ MORE: 20 Best Small Ship Cruises for Your World Travel Bucket List
Floating on Ice in Finnish Lapland
Looking at this photo, I bet you all think weāre crazy! Halfway through our Sampo cruise, the ship stopped and we all donned thick rubber suits, then jumped into the icy waters.
It wasnāt cold at all: The suits were waterproof and we had all our clothes on underneath, so it felt strangely snug.
We couldnāt swim, becauseĀ the suit was so thick that we couldnāt really move about. We just laid on our backs and watched the frozen world unfold all around us.
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Arctic sunset
We were largely unlucky with the weather during our time in Finnish Lapland, but we did see one spectacular sunset.
This photo was taken in Kemi, whereĀ you could see a couple walking their dog and a snowmobile crossing the frozen sea.
Everything became golden for just a short while. And then, just a few hours after it had risen, the sun set.
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Cross Country Skiing
This picture was taken in Salla, the second destination of our Finnish Lapland adventure.
Salla is a popular skiing resort, offering cross country as well as downhill pistes.
Cross country skiing is considered a more eco-friendly activity compared to downhill skiing, as thereās no need for ski lifts orĀ any other kind of machines.
READ MORE:Ā 40 Green Travel Tips (The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Travel)
Cross country Skiing Together
Salla is a must-see for skiing enthusiasts.Ā Some people believe this is the birthplace of skiingĀ because itāsĀ where the first skis were found, dating back to over 5000 years ago.
This was long before the days of glamorous ski resorts and aprĆØs-ski madness, when skis were the only way to get around the frozen North.
Cross-country skis are still used by locals in Salla to move between one village and another.
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Reindeer Closeup in Finnish Lapland
In Finnish Lapland, reindeer outnumber humans 10 to 1.
The Sami people, the first inhabitants of Finland, domesticated reindeer millennia ago, using them for food and transport.
Theyāre strange looking animalsā much smaller than other types of deer, with tufty tails and sweet eyes.Ā Their horns are primarily used for mating in summer,Ā after which they loseĀ them.
They donāt feel pain when their horns fall off, but Sami herders say theyĀ do get moody and harder to work with.
The horns re-grow in spring, covered in fur and connected byĀ blood vesselsĀ thatĀ allow reindeer to āfeelā with their horns.
READ MORE:Ā 70 Cool & Weird Animals Around the World (An Epic Guide)
Reindeer sleigh
Going forĀ aĀ ride in a reindeer-drawn sleigh is a popular activity in Salla.
Itās usually a two-hour jaunt through the woods, allowing you to drive your own sleigh (which is a lot easier than it sounds).
The temperature in Finnish Lapland is almost always below freezing.
So, halfway through the tour, you get to stop in a kotaā a Lappish wooden teepeeā where a snack of hot tea and roasted sausages is served. Then youāre off toĀ brave the frigid Arctic winds once again.
READ MORE: Arctic Animals: 30 Species of Arctic Birds, Mammals & Whales
Margherita Ragg, author, with Reindeer in Finnish Lapland
We asked our guide if itās hard to get a reindeer to pull a sleigh. āReindeers will always be half-wild,ā he answered. āSome are friendly, kind of like dogs, whereas others are a lot harder to train.ā
The reindeer Iām posing with in the photo above is considered the ādogā of the groupā placid, cuddly, and impossibly cute.
No wonder itās a favorite for tourist pics!
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Reindeer Sleigh
The reindeer sleigh tour is suitable for people of all ages.
The reindeer donāt go too fast and always follow one another, so braking was hardly ever necessary.
We saw lots of families during our tour, andĀ someĀ with very young children.
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Husky
If you really want to feel the thrill of adrenaline in Finnish Lapland in winter opt for a dogsledding tour!
Huskies were made for pulling sleighs, and absolutely LOVE running around in the cold.
Their need for speed allows you to zip around at a breakneck pace. A little training is necessary to control the sleigh, but it proved surprisingly easy and extremely exciting.
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Husky in Snow
Who could resist these cute, playful animals?
Dog sledding is one of my all-time favorite activities, and you can rest assured these animals arenāt harmed in any way.
Pulling sleighs is totally in their nature! Read our storyĀ on Responsible DogĀ Sledding in Neris Regional Park to learn more.
READ MORE: 15 Harmful Traditions & Cultural Practices Tourists Should Never Support
Happy Huskies in Finnish Lapland
I mean, doesnāt this guyĀ look happy?
Sign in Salla, Finland
Sallaās tourism tagline is āIn the Middle of Nowhere.ā
Thatās kind of true, being located 150 km from the nearest airport, but itās also part of the areaās charm.
On top of a tunturiĀ (one of the flat-topped mountains typical of Finnish Lapland) you can find the famous sign pictured above. We braved a serious snowstorm to get this shot!
READ MORE: 25 Tallest Mountains in the World By Continent (World Travel Bucket List)
Nighttime in Salla
Whether you wind up seeing the famed Northern lights in Lapland or not, the nights in are nothing short of spectacular.
Weird stuff happens in the Arctic sky. Lights, flares, and flashes appeared behind the clouds, and to this day I cannot explain what was happening.
But one thing is for sure: We will be back. And of course, I do hope that the Northern Lights will dance in the sky for us next year! āMargherita Ragg; photos by Nick BurnsĀ
Margherita Ragg
Margherita RaggĀ is a freelance writer from Milan, Italy. Sheās passionate about wildlife, ecotourism and outdoor activities, and runs the travel blogĀ The Crowded PlanetĀ with her husband Nick Burns, an Australian Ā photographer. Margherita has an MA in Travel and Nature Writing from Bath Spa University, and was runner-up to the 2012 Guardian Travel Writer of the Year competition. Her other passions are rock climbing, skiing, homebrewing and her cat, Tappo. Follow Margherita onĀ Facebook,Ā Twitter,Ā InstagramĀ andĀ Pinterest.
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Finnish Lapland in Winter (Photo Essay), including dogsledding, cross country skiing, reindeer sleigh rides & much more.
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