According to simplyyellowpages, Salla is a small ski resort in the southeast of Lapland, located next to the town of the same name. The resort is very compact, the hotels are very close to the slopes, but despite the small size, the tourists can use the slopes of the most varied complexity: from simple and gentle for children and beginners to steep ones for experienced athletes.
It was here that the first alpine skiing competitions in Finland took place more than 70 years ago. The Finnish winter sports team often trains on these slopes, and in 2003 the European Cup in freestyle skiing and the World Championship in downhill skiing were held here. So you can be sure that the slopes of Salla are maintained in perfect condition throughout the season.
How to get to Salla
Flight Helsinki- Kuusamo (1 hour 20 minutes), then transfer Kuusamo – Salla (2 hours).
Flight Helsinki – Rovaniemi(1 hour 40 minutes), then transfer Rovaniemi – Salla (2 hours 30 minutes).
Train Helsinki – Kemijarvi (8 hours 50 minutes), then transfer Kemijarvi – Salla (1 hour 20 minutes).
Salla slopes
12 tracks with excellent characteristics. There are slopes for both beginners and experienced skiers. The maximum height difference is 230 m, the longest slope is 1.3 km. For snowboarding virtuosos, there is a street and a half-pipe, and among the forests and hills there are wide trails for cross-country skiing.
Entertainment and attractions of Salla
Salla resort is a picturesque harsh northern nature. Here, on the territory of almost 300 square kilometers, there is the Oulanka National Park with its lakes, rivers and forests. Hiking along forest trails is popular here in summer, and skiing in winter. Those who want to learn more about the features of the local nature should visit the Nature House in Hautajärvi.
Popular among tourists (especially young ones) and the local Deer Park. This is a reserve covering an area of more than 200 hectares, where you can not only watch deer in their natural habitat and feed them, but also learn how modern reindeer herders live and receive a deer bone amulet as a gift.
Not far from the mountain slopes of Sala are gold-bearing areas. Customs, of course, will not allow you to take the gold with you, but they will allow you to watch the work of gold prospectors and independently “wash” a couple of grams of valuable metal from a mountain river.
In addition, guests can enjoy traditional winter activities such as snowmobiling, reindeer and dog sledding, snowmobile safaris, relaxing treatments at the balneological centre, getting to know the customs of the indigenous peoples of Lapland and tasting local cuisine.
Tahko
Tahko is a year-round ski resort, popular both among Finns themselves and among foreigners. It is in Tahko that every year the European Championships in skiing and snowboarding are held.
There are 25 km of illuminated slopes for beginners and professionals. For those who wish, there are snowmobiles, skates, all the necessary ammunition for ice fishing, as well as 65 km of cross-country skiing trails. The routes of the latter pass through very picturesque places, in particular, on the ice of Lake Syvärinjärvi. For those who are not friends with sports, it will be fun to ride horses and reindeer teams and just admire the beautiful mountain scenery.
How to get there
Flight Helsinki- Kuopio (50 minutes), then transfer Kuopio – Tahko (1 hour)
Train Helsinki – Siilijärvi (5 hours 17 minutes), transfer Siilijärvi – Tahko (half an hour).
Tahko Hotels
In total, there are about 300 cottages and bungalows of various categories in the village. Most of them stand on the shore of the lake. The cottages are equipped with saunas, fireplaces and TV, in the kitchen – “microwave”, coffee maker, refrigerator, crockery.
Tahko slopes
The resort is equipped with 23 slopes with 15 lifts, a fun park, a half-pipe and dosker trails.
Cross-country skiers will enjoy a network of varied trails with a total length of more than 65 km. These trails are suitable for both beginners and experts, and the trail leading to the very top of Mount Tahkovuori is considered one of the best (and most beautiful) in Finland.
For children under 7 years old there is a free lift, a children’s slide, a mountain for sledding.
Entertainment and attractions Tahko
Snowshoe safaris, dog sledding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, special driving courses in winter. In Siilinjärvi, half an hour’s drive from the ski center, Fontanella Spa Center is open. In the town of Nilsia there is a sports complex with halls for playing tennis and squash, gyms, a skating rink. At 800 m from the slopes there is a farm where horseback riding lessons are given.
The ice fortress Lummilunda in Tahko is a landmark not only of the resort, but of the whole country.
