• During Kaamos in December and January when Lapland is at its most atmospheric with its exotic blue light and Northern Lights.
• March and April for longest day light hours and warmer temperatures.
Travelled with Inghams. If you take a look at their website at www.inghams.co.uk you'll see that they offer a broad range of holidays across the year to many destinations.
voted
Best Ski Company, Telegraph Travel Awards 2002
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Overall
Review One
of the best things about the resorts of Levi and Yllas in Lapland is
the snow sure winter ski season, from December to March you can enjoy
a holiday in the winter wonderland of Lapland. Many successful European
resorts can also be terribly busy and the slopes almost hazardous as
skiers and snowboarders seem to cross in every possible direction. Lapland,
however, feels like a breath of fresh air as the slopes are uncrowded
and queuing for the lifts, which seems to have become part of the skiing
culture in Europe, is not even an issue.
Lapland
is perfect for families and a great place to learn to ski or snowboard.
For those wanting to improve on their cross country techniques or for
those taking it up for the first time, Lapland is a great choice with
extensive paths and trails to explore
The Finns are very friendly and earnest people, very proud of their
culture and heritage. The accommodation in Levi and Yllas is of a very
high standard offering genuine friendly hospitality to really make you
feel welcome. Levi is the more cosmopolitan and lively of the two resorts,
offering a good choice of bars, restaurants and entertainment. The ski
lifts and resort facilities are within walking distance of all the properties.
Ylläs
is an idyllic Lappish village with cosy log cabins dotted around the
woods. There is a free bus to the ski lifts.
• Candlesticks and candles, available at local supermarkets (Finns are renowned for their exquisite table and decorative items)
• Wooden kuksa - Lappish multipurpose drinking cup, and use it!
• A great variety of locally produced berry-based preserves, honeys, cordials, dried locally gathered culinary herbs and teas
• Lapin Kulta (also known as Lapish Gold) beer
• Smoked and pickled fish
• Cloud berries with pancakes
• Reindeer stew with lingon berries
What
to doFirm favourites are of course skiing then dog sledding safaris, reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobiling across vast frozen lakes and visits to see Santa Claus at Santapark.
In addition I would recommend to:
• Try cross-country, take lessons to help you along!
• Buy sausages, mustard, bread rolls at local supermarket and get them chargrilled in one of the wooden huts - called kota dotted along the slopes and cross country trails
• Go to the sauna and try the most traditional of them all: SMOKE SAUNA (book in advance) followed by the Finnish way of cooling down "making angels in the snow" - a fantastic, exhilarating experience!!
Fab
Tips
Lapland does get very cold so it is necessary to be sensible and take
special precautions against the low temperatures:
• Adequate footwear
• Wear good quality (locally available at competitive prices)
thermal underwear
• Wear top-quality hats whenever out doors. Buy them locally as
Finns make beautiful woollen, high quality hats with striking designs
• Keep washing your face and hands to minimum before going out
in the morning. Let your skin's natural oiliness create a protective
filter to guard off the cold
• Bring cosmetic products, which are designed for cold temperatures
• When out on slopes, take more breaks at shorter intervals than
you would normally do when skiing in the Alps
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, especially in the day-time
7 nights at the self-catering Akas Log Cabins (sleeps 1 to 4) in Yllas starts from £288 per person. The 4* Hotel Levitunturi in Levi starts from £481 per person for 7 nights, based on half board. Prices include flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers. Direct flights from Manchester or Birmingham at a supplement of £19, or from Stansted at a supplement of £6.
Pre-bookable six day adult lift pass costs from £79, 6 day adult ski and boot hire starts from £57 and three days ski school (1½ hrs a day) starts from £62. Inghams Learn to Ski package is great value at £175, as it includes ski and boot hire, lift pass and ski school.
Pre-bookable 6 day adult snowboard and boot hire costs from £84 and three days snowboard school (1½ hrs a day) starts from £59. Inghams Learn to Snowboard package costs £181, including snowboard and boot hire, lift pass and snowboard school.
Excursions can be pre-booked; a visit to Santa and Santapark costs £34 adult and £30 child. Reindeer mini safari costs £24 adult, £18 child. Reindeer super safari costs £37 adult, £24 child. Husky mini safari costs £29 adult, £20 child. Husky super safari costs £55 adult, £31 child. Snowmobile (1 adult alone) costs £60, 2 sharing costs £40 adult and £12 child. 7 days thermal suit and boot hire costs £55.
Other excursions are available in resort and are bookable locally.
These prices are from Inghams Ski 2003/04, first edition.
Inghams
Main Reservations Line: 020 8780 4433
Inghams Chalet Reservations Line: 020 8780 8800
Book online at www.Inghams.co.uk
Brochure hotline: 09070 500500 (calls cost 50p per minute at all times)
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