Levi Finnish Lapland part 2

Lapland is a vast open wilderness. Where reindeers outnumber people. A location you can indulge in all activities it has to offer. With surreal wintry landscapes that features a snow covered countryside.

Reindeer Sleigh riding

An introduction to one of Lapland’s most iconic animals.

We visited a reindeer farm close to Levi. Which has been established for over 30 years. It’s a family business run by a traditional Sami reindeer herder.

The location was originally an inn founded over 100 years ago. Situated by a river it was a strategic spot between the north and the south of the country. Due to the abundance of reindeer in the area, it was this animal and not the horse which was the main mode of transportation in Lapland.

A visit to a reindeer farm is one of Lapland’s most iconic activities. To this day reindeer herding is still important to the local economy. The Sami were traditionally involved in reindeer herding and lived a very nomadic lifestyle.

Reindeers are semi-wild animals, that roam freely in the forest and are rounded up twice a year. Many reindeers pass over International borders as they roam around the Arctic forests of Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The reindeers at the farm are bred and chosen to pull sledges rather than bred for meat. After looking at these majestic creatures reindeer was definitely off the menu for me.

Traditionally reindeer herding in this part of Lapland is how many from the Sami community would earn a living. Times change although still an important part of the local economy many reindeer herders have diversified and sleigh rides are an important income to them.

All wrapped up and ready to go. It’s important to wrap up warm as during this activity you will be remaining stationary and temperatures on the day of -12 degrees that is important.

We choose the shorter 1-kilometre ride, 3 kilometres rides are available. The sun setting over the forests was simply breathing. The sky is full of vibrant reds and oranges lighting up the last of the day.

The one-kilometre ride was long enough to experience the reminders pulling us on the sledge. Travelling through the wintery forest and back to the farm, getting some breathing photos into the bargain.

The sleigh ride which I thought was going to be a bit of a tourist trap turned out to be quite magical. Experiencing first-hand the beautiful natural surroundings.

Husky rides

Another popular activity and high on my must-do list while in Lapland.

Before the advent of snowmobiles, huskies were the main mode of transportation. Providing a fast reliable way to transport people and goods.

Today husky sledging is immensely popular with visitors and plays a significant part in the Lapland economy. There are lots of unique activities in Lapland, this one was truly memorable.

The exhilaration of being pulled through this Arctic wonderland by huskies so eager they are chomping at the bit if you excuse the horse analogy.

We had an early morning start. We received our safety briefing and riding instructions and we were the first group out that day.

The raw power of four huskies was something to behold. First out on hard compacted snow, the speed of the dogs was phenomenal. I had to concentrate fully to keep the sledge on track.

Our dog sledging adventure was about 60 minutes speeding through the frozen landscapes and taking in the beautiful natural setting, well my wife was taking them in, but I was too busy trying to guide the huskies. Dodging snow-covered branches and keeping the sledge on track.

A few things to take into consideration for the welfare of the huskies. When choosing a provider look for the ones who offer longer tours, the huskies prefer this and it takes much less out of them physically than a shorter run.

Bigger is sometimes better. These businesses have more huskies more staff and greater resources to look after the dogs, making sure they are rotated regularly and not being overworked. Most tour operators should only be using fully accredited providers.

When we finished the tour we were given a tour of the kennels and given an insight of the life of a working husky.

Before leaving we visited a traditional Finnish teepee, this one was rather large and grand with a large roaring fire. With some welcoming hot berry juice on offer to enjoy in front of a roaring fire.

Cross country skiing

Something of a national sport in Finland. Which is deeply ingrained in the Finnish psyche.

You will find 100s of kilometres of well-maintained trails in Lapland. There is an extensive in and around Levi, taking you through Arctic forests and frozen lakes.

We are always eager to engage in new experiences and this was a perfect opportunity. We had seen numerous people skiing while on our walks. How difficult can it be we thought?

We booked a cross country skiing session with a local company. We picked a beginner’s lesson, it was certainly a lot cheaper than ski school where they teach you alpine skiing the down hill variant.

We were provided with all the equipment and an instructor to guide us through the basics. I fell to the floor within seconds of putting my skis on, the instructor was going to be in for a long afternoon, showing a great level of patience and understanding throughout the session.

We were being taught on a classic ski trail ( two parallel tracks next to each other. These are mainly flat not too long and are excellent for beginners.

Snowshoeing on the Mountain ⛰️

A fantastic way to stay active and enjoy the countryside. Unlike skiing or snowboarding it is beginner friendly and low cost.

No previous experience is necessary after quickly getting our equipment fitted we were off on a trail straight away, a very inclusive activity which most people can enjoy.

We had booked a group walk departing from zero point Levi. It was the same guide as we had earlier for cross country skiing, hopefully, I will give a better account of myself this evening. Even at the start of our walk the nighttime views of Levi were fantastic.

Due to the mixed abilities of the group, this was an intermediate walk. The trails were marked and we also ventured on to tougher terrain.

Views of the northern lights in the distance. It was a fantastic experience to view them while in the Arctic forest.

We stopped at a Finnish Laavau, this is a small shed where you stop on the mountain, dotted around in various locations. An excellent spot to partake in a hot berry juice before our ascent back down the mountain.

Northern Lights walks

Snow✔️ reindeer ✔️ huskies✔️ northern lights maybe..??? Finnish Lapland is an excellent location to view them where they are active over 100 nights a year.

There are many tours and activities where you can view the northern lights, many that involve an expensive your. However, it needn’t cost anything as Lapland is a perfect location to view them.

In Lapland, we stayed in a glass igloo where we were able to view them which was mesmerizing. A few days later we saw an equally impressive display of the northern lights in Levi.

Although never guaranteed, Lapland which is located deep within the Arctic Circle is an excellent location to view the northern lights.

Snowmobiling tours

Another thing that surprised me was the number of snowmobiles in Lapland. Not an unnecessary indulgence but one of the best ways to get around this cast wilderness.

You can hop on and discover frozen rivers and expansive hilltop vistas. You will find a bewildering selection of tours so do your research beforehand.

We chose a guided tour with established routes where the guide will advise on the weather conditions and terrain. While riding through some pretty countryside.

A typical sight in and around Levi as public transport is non-existent and many roads are impassable. Snowmobiles have their own track network with speed limits and road signs.

Such is the popularity of snowmobiling, you will find snowmobiling parking rather than car parking. You will find these in popular locations and stopping points.