Activities

Bear and wolf watching

It is practically a miracle if you happen to spot a bear or a wolf in the wild along your hiking trail. Bears, wolves, elk and other big and small animals live in the forests and fells, but unlike the reindeer, they carefully avoid humans. This is why local entrepreneurs have created hideouts where they can bring people to safely watch wildlife. Usually the hideouts are small huts with peeking holes for watching the animals and for photographing them. The group has to hike to the hideout in the evening, wait for the dusk when animals arrive to feast on a meal provided for them (yes, there is enough light during summer nights for photographing), and return to the civilization in the morning.

Kuusamo is a popular destination for wildlife safaris. One of the enterprises, Karhukuusamo (www.karhujenkatselu.fi/en) specializes in photography.

A shelter specifically built for wildlife photographers in Kuusamo. Photo by Karhu Kuusamo Oy (karhukuusamo.com)

Another option is to head to Ranua Wildlife Park in Finland or Polar Park in Bardu, Norway, where the northern species have plenty of room to move.

Berry and mushroom picking

Everyman’s Right in Scandinavia allows public access to all land (to private land as well) in unpopulated areas. In scarcely populated Lapland, this means almost the whole region. Wild berries and mushrooms can be freely picked in the open countryside for personal consumption. Locals naturally know the best places, but maybe reluctant to reveal their best places. Marshlands where the most valuable berries – cloudberries - grow are an especially closely guarded secret.

Birdwatching

The richest birdlife can be discovered along the coastlines of Norway. Varangerfjorden is renowned for its large bird colonies, but there are many other equally attractive places for birdwatching in Lapland. In Norway’s coastal towns many enterprises provide sea tours for birdwatchers.

Cross-country skiing

Scandinavians are not born with skis on their feet, but it is not far from the truth. If children don’t master cross-country skiing before they start school, they should learn the skill in gymnastic class. Only in southern coastal areas where permanent snow cover in winter is not guaranteed, children may not learn to ski.

Spring months March and April are the busiest ski season at resorts, cottages and hotels in Lapland because then, the weather tends to be perfect for skiing: sunny skies, mild temperatures during the day, and perhaps live Northern Lights shows at night. All resorts, villages and towns maintain ski tracks during the peak the season from February until April. Large resorts, like Abisko, Enontekiö, Pallas, Saariselkä and Ylläs have the largest selection of maintained ski trails, but practically every community provides some trails for cross-country skiers.

Spring is the most popular season for skiing. Photo by Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.

Cycling

Mountain biking is popular in Lapland simply because there are plenty of trails, dirt tracks and gravel roads to ride on – and the scenery tends to be pretty good, too. Paved roads that a road bike requires are few and distances long. The easiest way to take a bike tour in the northern landscape is to stay at a resort, like Ylläs or Saariselkä. They have marked trails for mountain bikes, or hiking trails where mountain bikes are welcome. Many resorts also rent bikes for a day or for a week.

Dogsledding

The increasing popularity of dogsledding has brought Siberian Huskies to Lapland. It is a wonderful way to enjoy snow and winter landscapes. Once the dogs get going, it is almost silent: only the sled makes a faint sound as it slides on snow. Dogsledding tours are easy to find at resorts.

An unforgettable experience. Photo Copyright Visit Rovaniemi/Rovaniemi Tourism and Marketing Ltd.

Downhill skiing

Downhill skiing doesn’t have a long history in Lapland, but it has quickly generated so much business in the north that a number of large ski resorts were built in the 1980s and 1990s. Finnish Lapland resorts, like Levi, Pyhä, Ruka, and Ylläs were originally built for downhill skiing, but gradually they have been developed into year-round vacation and activity centers. In Swedish Lapland, Riksgränsen and Dundret are popular destinations for downhill skiers.

The largest downhill skiing resorts in Sweden and Norway are located in the central regions of both countries (south of Lapland), whereas Finland’s largest skiing destinations are in Lapland.

In the north, if you refer to skiing without specifying what kind of skiing you mean, locals tend to assume you are talking about cross-country skiing.

Fishing

Clean waters in the sea, rivers and lakes, along with magnificent sceneries and (often) good catches attract plenty of anglers to Lapland. Salmon and trout maybe the most desired catches in rivers, whereas fishing in the sea gives opportunities for many other types of catches.

The regulation and licensing systems for fishing vary in Scandinavian countries. Here is a collection of links to official government web pages that provide detailed information on fishing regulations and online services for purchasing relevant licenses. If you are going to use accommodation or water transport services for fishing, they can usually help you with licenses.

This video shows a few different ways of fishing in Alta River.

Information on regulation in Sweden is available at www.svenskafiskeregler.se (in Swedish only at the moment). A sportfishing organization sells licenses to many locations in Sweden, but doesn’t cover the whole country at www.fiskekort.se (in Swedish only).

In Norway, you need a license (fiskekort) to fish. More information can be found at Statskog’s web page www.statskog.no/en/Sider/Fishing.aspx. Licenses can be purchased online at www.inatur.no.

Licenses to fish in Finnish Lapland can be purchased online at verkkokauppa.eraluvat.fi/fi/kalastus but the service is currently available in Finnish and Swedish only.

Gold Panning

Tankavaara used to be a real community where gold diggers searched for their fortune. Today, it is a place where visitors can explore old buildings and equipment of the days gone by. Best of all, visitors can try their luck and pan for gold themselves. Tankavaara is located in Finland, 34 km / 21 miles south of Saariselkä resort.

Hiking and trekking

Hiking or trekking is a guaranteed way to get in close contact with the wildlife and environment of the north. When you are walking along a path or a track, you have time to absorb the landscape, explore the vegetation and get reasonably close to reindeer.

The easiest way to start exploring Lapland by foot is to find the start of a marked trail and walk as far as it feels comfortable. If you stay on a marked trail, your chances of getting lost are slim. There are hundreds, if not thousands of trails in each country of Lapland that are suitable for all types of hikers. A daypack with water, snacks, map, mobile phone, perhaps mosquito repellent and rain gear helps you enjoy a half a day or a day in the great outdoors.

Experienced trekkers who like to go for long hikes for a few days or for a week carry a tent, food and some water with them. Public wilderness huts are convenient places to stay a night. These huts have been built along the most popular long distance trails across Lapland, and they are marked on topographic maps. Although water in rivers and brooks is clear and usually clean from impurities, wild animals may have left something behind in the water. To be safe, drinking water taken from rivers, brooks, or springs should be boiled.

Any national park in Lapland is a good destination for a hike because of marked trails, safe fire places and other services there maybe available. The chapter National Parks in this book describes in more detail the parks and wilderness areas.

Hunting

Elk maybe the most sought after catch for many hunters, but there are many other big and small animals that can be hunted in Lapland. Bear, wolf and wolverine, among other species, however, are protected in Scandinavia.

Hunting in Finland is strictly regulated, and hunters must pass tests to get a license. It is possible for a foreigner to hunt in Finland as well, and contacts to Finnish hunters and their associations will greatly help the complex process. Instructions at riista.fi.

Norway’s mountainous terrain and vast forests may make hunting challenging, but there is plenty to hunt as well. Foreigners can hunt in Norway, but many things have to be considered before a non-resident can participate in a hunting trip. Directorate for Nature Management has listed requirements for foreigners in this multilingual document: www.miljodirektoratet.no.

It is possible for foreigners to hunt in Sweden assuming they have a hunting license in their home country, and they acquire a Swedish hunting license as well. Contacts to local hunting groups or associations help foreigners to get the appropriate licenses, possibly pass some tests and be at the right place at the right time. More information jagareforbundet.se.

Kayaking

Kayaking and canoeing destinations in Lapland are numerous: rivers, lakes, rapids, and fjords attract an increasing number of visitors in summer. It is possible to paddle in the calm waters of fjords in winter as well.

In Swedish Lapland, paddling on lakes and rivers is a good way to get in touch with nature. Enterprises in Kiruna and Jokkmokk have the widest selection of canoe and kayak tours in Swedish Lapland. Information on Kiruna (www.kirunaguidetur.com) and Jokkmokk region, including Sarek National Park (www.jokkmokkguiderna.com).

Vesterålen/Lofoten archipelago is regarded as the number one kayaking destination for paddlers who like to enjoy majestic fjord sceneries from the sea. Tromsö is another center for paddlers where equipment and guides are readily available.

Canoe and kayak trips along rivers are popular in Finnish Lapland. A guided tour with a rented canoe or kayak (unless you are bringing your own) is a good way to explore wildlife from water level. Many enterprises across Finnish Lapland provide services. Here are links to pages where you can find paddling trips on a number of rivers and lakes www.tunturi-lappi.fi and www.tosilappi.fi/en/things-to-do/summer/on-wild-waters.

Paddling a wilderness lake. Copyright Visit Rovaniemi / Rovaniemi Tourism and Marketing Ltd.

Snow mobiles

Originally, snow mobiles were vehicles that reindeer husbandry used in winter for tending their animals and possibly feeding them with additional food. Today, the vehicles have found success among vacation-goers who can explore snowy Lapland on an engine-powered vehicle. Snow mobiles have dedicated tracks in many resorts and villages. Riders should stay on these tracks where they exist. Snow mobile rental shops operate at resorts and in many villages. Shop owners teach you how to handle the vehicles, and take care of required licenses. Riding a snow mobile is fun and, depending on your driving style, it can be quite sweaty and exhausting activity as well.

Snowmobile safari traveling along a designated trail. Photo: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort.

Whale watching

If you are lucky, you may spot whales standing on the shores of Norway’s west coast, but taking a boat tour greatly increases your odds. There are a number of tour operators in Tromsö, Lofoten archipelago and Senja Island that take tourists to the sea for half a day or full day tours. Some companies even guarantee that they will find whales, seals and birds to watch and to photograph on every trip. Here are a few tour operators arcticwhaletours.com, www.whalesafari.com and www.bbtouring.no. Winter is the best time for whale watching.

Sauna

In the north, sauna is so common that you can find one in every hotel, cottage and campsite. Naturally, every local house and summer cottage has a sauna. It is an elemental part of Nordic lifestyle that maybe enjoyed daily or weekly. In Scandinavia, sauna is strictly for relaxation and sweating out the stress of the day.

If you are new to the Nordic sauna, observe the sauna etiquette to avoid awkward situations. The customs vary slightly in each country, but the overall process is basically the same.

If you bathe in the sauna alone or with your travel partners who have no previous sauna experience, here are the key things you should be aware of:

A modern sauna is usually heated with electricity – to be precise, an electric resistor warms the stones at the top of the stove. The sauna is usually warmed up to 70-85 degrees Celsius/158-185 Fahrenheit. If you go too early when the temperature is low, you won't enjoy the true sauna experience of heat and humidity.

Take a shower.

Bring a bucket of cold water and a scoop into the sauna.

Use a small towel or designated piece of cloth under you before you sit down on the platform (in your natural outfit, naturally).

Throw a little water from the bucket onto the stones using the scoop. Feel it. Let the humid heat take over. Relax.

If you accidentally pour too much water on the stones and can't take the heat, move to a lower platform.

After a while, when the heat wave has subsided, throw a little more water onto stones. Enjoy. Repeat until you feel it is time to take a break.

If there is a terrace or access outdoors, go there (remembering your lack of clothing and the surroundings, of course). Otherwise, cool down in a place where you can drip on the floor.

During the break, it is time to drink water or something else that quenches your thirst. If your sauna session was successful, you have sweated considerably, so it is important to regain balance.

After the break, the local custom is to take a second round in the sauna, but it is always up to each person how he or she feels that day.

A sauna in a private home (the window is opened only after bathing to speed up moisture removal).

If you have been invited to a sauna with local people or you go to a public sauna, for instance, at a hotel, local customs and instructions should be followed. If you worry about nudity or excessive heat, read on – they rarely turn out to be problems for anyone.

In private saunas, locals are nude, but foreigners may wear a swimsuit or a towel. There may be gentle pressure and teasing because of that, but keep your head if nudity is off-limits for you. In public saunas, everyone follows the instructions.

Usually, men and women go in separate groups to sauna. This applies both to private and public saunas. Public saunas often have separate saunas for men and women.

Sauna has nothing to do with sex. It is for relaxation and purification only.

The true sauna effect is a combination of heat and humidity produced by hot stones on the stove. When your host, or you, splash water on the stones, the water vaporizes, making the air in sauna humid.

There are no rules for how often you throw water on the stove. A polite host throws only so much water that the pleasant effect is established but no one has to escape excessive heat.

During breaks, locals will go for a swim in a lake or sea if the sauna happens to be located near water. In winter, a snow bath (naked, of course) is the thing to do.

Some bathers sit in silence, others chitchat, whereas someone may want share his or her life story. There are no rules for discussion – everyone reacts in their own way. Whatever the topic is, behavior is always quiet and peaceful in the sauna.

Locals may take a bundle of fresh birch twigs with them into the sauna. This habit is practical only in a cottage sauna surrounded by the forest because the host must have had time to pick up the twigs earlier the same day. Locals gently whip themselves with the twigs. Some like it, but not everyone.

A typical sauna is dimly lit. Candles are used in saunas without electric light.

Drink plenty of water during the breaks and after your sauna session. Locals tend to enjoy beer or cider. They are absolutely sure that nothing in the world is better than a cold beer and a grilled sausage after sauna.