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Salla lies within the Arctic Circle close to the Russian border where reindeer outnumber people two to one.

This incredible location creates a truly special holiday destination for families and adults alike. Salla offers an unequalled variety of accommodation with a delightful spa hotel, apartments in winter cottages and cosy log cabins to choose from.

There is an excellent range of activities available in Salla as well as 10 ski slopes which provide additional entertainment for downhill skiers. In June 2009, Salla was awarded the title ‘Best Ski Resort in Finland’.

However, the village is far removed from any ‘typical’ ski resort. In some Lapland ski towns you might just as well be in France or Italy. Yes, the skiing is good but importantly, the village retains a genuinely Lappish feel which is sadly lacking in the larger ski centres.

Nightlife isn’t exactly top of the agenda here but there is a restaurant and bar at the hotel and another next to the log cabins. The pub above the ski centre is also worth visiting… the moose burgers are gigantic! Further amenities such as souvenir shops and a supermarket are located a 10km taxi ride away in Salla town. Our activity providers have formed a very successful cooperative here which means there is a wealth of activities available.

This holiday is designed to show you the very best of Finnish Lapland in winter including all the favourites such as huskies, reindeers and snowmobiles. To be able to combine these with downhill skiing and fabulous accommodation is rather special.

You know...

"The service was excellent and everyone was very friendly. Our main guide Upi was absolutely fantastic, friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining. Transfers to and from the Reindeer Park were like clockwork. As we did the Adult Activity Week most of our activities included 'snacks' at lunchtime. This was a misnomer, we had the most wonderful hearty soups with bread, as well as a sausage cooked over the open fire. Chocolate biscuits and coffee or hot chocolate. We felt completely stuffed. I had expected to lose weight due to all the activity but there was no chance of that."  Janice Blackwell - January 2011

Day 1: Flights, arrival and introduction

On arrival at Salla you will meet your guide and after settling into your accommodation make your way over to the restaurant for dinner.

Day 2:  Snowshoe trek

Make sure that you try walking on the virgin snow, with and without snowshoes. The difference is amazing and you’ll be grateful for them when you head out into the snowy spruce forests around Salla. You’ll be out for around 4 hours so lunch is of course included. This is the perfect way to explore the stunning landscape.

Day 3: Snowmobile safari

There’s no better way of seeing the magnificent winter countryside that surrounds Salla than by snowmobile. This three hour safari can only heighten your appreciation of just how remote and scarcely populated it is here in Finnish Lapland. You’ll break at a Lappish hut near the base of Ruuhi Fell before heading back to Salla having travelled around 30km. (2 people per snowmobile, snack and warm drink included).

Day 4: Reindeer safari

You start the day by getting to know your reindeer and hear about the lives of the herders. You will also get full instruction on how to handle a reindeer sled before you take control and head out onto the trail for a gently paced safari. You will be out for around 3 hours and have plenty of time to take in your surroundings. You will break for coffee and snacks in a traditional kota.

Day 5: Free day

Salla is an ideal place to combine winter activities with downhill skiing. Salla has a selection of pistes that will suite beginners and more advanced skiers alike. Skiing equipment and passes can all be arranged in Salla. Alternatively you can book additional activities or relax in a sauna. The choice is yours.

Day 6: Husky safari

Our 2 hour safari sees you take the reins of your own husky team (2 people per sled). Initially, you may wonder how you are going to control such enthusiastic animals but they soon settle into a steady pace which allows you to fully enjoy both the experience and the scenery. Weather permitting, your guide will cook lunch over an open fire in the forest.

Day 7: Free day

Today you will have time to take to the slopes, try your favourite activity again or perhaps arrange some relaxing spa treatments.

Day 8: Departure

Tourism in Finnish Lapland has become the main source of employment and income, replacing traditional industries such as forestry. Working within this growth industry in rural and remote areas means that we must take a great deal of responsibility; socially, environmentally and economically. We fully appreciate the impact of tourist visits on local communities and their residents and strive to ensure that we are having a positive effect. 

Sallatunturin Tuvat is owned and run by a local family, whose roots have been in this area for centuries. They have a strong sense of tradition and we encourage all of our clients to respect and embrace the lives and culture of all the local inhabitants by learning a few important words: hello, goodbye, please, thank you etc. We have also included activities with a cultural base. In addition, we always encourage our clients to get involved in local events and activities which help to sustain traditional values and customs. 

In all of our destinations we ensure that we use local accommodation, transport and activity providers, enabling locally owned businesses and the economies in which they work to benefit directly.

Sallatunturin also serves as much local produce as possible such as bread from the local baker and berries from local people. The souvenir shop stocks locally made souvenirs; the wooden souvenirs are made by their chef! Reindeer skins and amulets that are sold in the shop are made by the local herders two of whom are waitresses and 2 are guides at Salla, these traditional roles are being preserved and supported by this additional employment. These are traditional crafts and the herders are keen to ensure that people are aware that the reindeer are not killed to make souvenirs and that every part of every animal is utilized.

Through the tourism multiplier effect, this all helps to generate incomes and employment where the drift might otherwise be towards larger employment areas such as towns and cities. In a small and remote village such as Salla the effects of such a drift could be devastating. 

The use of small family run hotels and businesses means that the tourism income, generated by our presence stays where it should, in the local economy.

We also firmly believe in paying a fair price for all the services provided by our suppliers regardless of where they are in the world, our independence enables us to ensure that our suppliers and clients come before any corporate shareholders.

Our holidays rely on visiting beautiful and un-spoilt areas, and they don't come more un-spoilt than Salla. Naturally we wish to maintain the natural settings in which we work, not just for the future of our company, but also for future generations. We will always insist that our local providers are equally conscious of this need. 

We do appreciate that some may feel that snowmobiles should not be included in such itineraries however in areas such as Salla they are a way of life. They are the only means of keeping in contact with remote reindeer herders and communities as the road infrastructure is not extensive. All trails are well managed. The alternatives to snowmobiles would in most cases be large, gas-guzzling off road vehicles. All snowmobiles are regularly serviced and kept as fuel efficient as possible. The snowmobile service industry is also another vital source of employment in these remote areas. 

We always ensure that all litter is removed from any of our activity sites, we strongly encourage group transfers to reduce traffic volumes and we make our clients aware of their obligation to the environment. We always offset our air travel emissions and would encourage you to do the same.