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INTRODUCTION
LAPLAND
see & do
SAARISELKÄ, FINLAND Saariselkä is Europes most northerly winter sports resort is set on the edge of the Urho Kekkonene National Park a stunning unspoilt landscape of fells, and frozen spruce and pine trees, heavily laden with snow and home to arctic animals. Saariselkä came to prominence as a settlement for gold prospectors and has a range of local bars as well as lively aprèsski venues. The small ski area is perfect for beginners and timid intermediates and the area also offers a wealth of cross-country trails. Visitors can also try plenty of interesting activities and even spend a night in an igloo at the wonderful Kakslauttanen Igloo Village, approximately 20 minutes drive from the resort. YLLÄS, FINLAND Ylläs is a small resort which offers some of the most extensive skiing and boarding in Finland. Set amid unspoilt natural beauty, the modern lift system whisks skiers to the top of the longest runs in the country which are well groomed and many of the runs are floodlit for night skiing. The excellent ski school also offers good child care facilities,
and combined with the range of activities on offer including dog-sledding and reindeer safaris, make Ylläs popular with families. Extensive cross-country trails lead into the surrounding forests and the nearby SnowVillage features a unique SnowHotel complete with an ice bar and restaurant and also offers visitors the chance to spend the night. LEVI, FINLAND Levi is probably Finlands most famous ski resort, playing host to the FIS World Cup every year. Levi offers one of the best and most extensive ski areas in Finland with high quality lifts, uncrowded snow sure slopes from November to May, several mountain restaurants and 15 floodlit pistes for night skiing. Levi also has a real ski resort feel with a wide variety of lively bars and clubs and a good range of restaurants in the town, it also offers a wide range of activities into the Lappish wilderness making it a great choice for groups of friends and families alike. ALTA, NORWAY Lying deep inside Altafjord in Finnmark, Northern Norway, Alta is the regions biggest town and offers guests a very good chance of witnessing the Aurora Borealis and for this reason is known as the
Town of the Northern Lights . The surrounding landscape is perfect for exploring by snowmobile, husky or reindeer and the area is rich in local Samí culture. Visitors can also explore the magnificent Alta Igloo Hotel Norways biggest and the worlds largest ice hotel and the Ski and Alpine Centre which offers snowboarding, skiing and cross-country trails. The Alta Museum a UNESCO World Heritage Site is close to Northern Europes largest collection of rock carvings dating back 2,000-6,000 years. KIRKENES, NORWAY Kirkenes in the north-eastern corner of Norway, is a small town on the Varanger Fjord, a vast bay connected to the Barents Sea near the Russian border set amid the spectacular beauty of the Arctic wilderness. Heavily bombed during World War II, only 13 houses were left in October 1944 and visitors can explore the Andersgrotta, a vast underground bunker built to shelter to the town's residents during the way. Today Kirkenes offers an interesting base from which to explore this remote region, with a range of local attractions and strong local community as well as offering plenty of exciting activities including king-crab fishing trips and stays in the Snowhotel.
FINLAND REGIONAL MAP
INFORMATION
Alta
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Ivalo
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Kirkenes
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G Levi Ylläs G Kittila
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FINLAND SWEDEN
Time Difference: +2 hours Flight Time: Ivalo and Kittila 3 hours via Helsinki. Alta and Kirkenes 3 hours via Oslo. Currency: Euro Voltage: 220 volts, plugs have 2 pins Tipping: Tipping culture is almost non-existent, although it is becoming more common. Service is included in restaurant prices so tips are not expected but can be given if you think the service was particularly good. It is not necessary to tip taxi drivers. Transfers: Group transfers have been included, private transfers can be prebooked. Details on request.
1 Relaxing on snowshoes, Saariselkä 2 Enjoy a traditional sleigh ride in Lapland 3 Husky sled in the frozen wilderness 4 Cross-country skiing 5 Tranquil surroundings, Saariselkä 6 Snowmobiling, Lapland
NORWAY
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call 01306 742500 I www.kuoni.co.uk I see your travel agent
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