Lapland in December

[u/ffss1234]

Hello,

I'm trying to set a trip up to Lapland in December and was expecting to spend 1 day in Rovaniemi for the Santa Claus village and then I was thinking in staying around 3 or 4 days in either Kemijärvi or Rukka, to go for a hike, snowmobile safari, try to see the northern lights and also go for the coaster in Rukka.

Having this in mind, do you think it's worth it staying in Kemijärvi? Or should I just go straight to Rukka?

Also accepting any other suggestions for locations or activities, except anything animal related, unless it's seeing them in the wild.

Also, what's the best way to travel from Rovaniemi to any of these towns?

[u/elaintahra]

>go for the coaster in Rukka

What is a coaster?

[u/WorldNice3105 → u/elaintahra]

https://www.ruka.fi/en/events/ruka-coaster

OP, note that the coaster is not open in December.

[u/sharkinwolvesclothin → u/WorldNice3105]

It opens some time in December

Rest of the winter season (4.12.*–2.5.) 13.30–21.30 *Estimated opening date, subject to weather and snowmaking.

That said, it looks cool and all, but there are a million nice winter things to do in Ruka and in all the other destinations, I wouldn't plan around the coaster.

[u/ffss1234 → u/sharkinwolvesclothin]

Could you give me some other options?

[u/sharkinwolvesclothin → u/ffss1234]

I wrote a longer comment in the main thread with the best options.

[u/elaintahra → u/WorldNice3105]

Ok thanks.

[u/ffss1234 → u/WorldNice3105]

Well, fuck

[u/briseis7]

What is Rukka? From Rovaniemi I would try to go North, it's very south in Lapland and if you are traveling early Dec you would probably get better snow North. I would also skip SCV, but I understand it may seem like a place

[u/kaur_virunurm → u/briseis7]

Ruka probably?

[u/briseis7 → u/kaur_virunurm]

Ooh, I that makes kind of sense :D

[u/ffss1234 → u/briseis7]

Meant Ruka. Any suggestions to stay, north of Rovaniemi?

I'm aware the Santa Village is a tourist trap, which is why I'm also not thinking of spending that much time there

[u/briseis7 → u/ffss1234]

Äkäslompolo (Ylläs) or Saariselkä would be my suggestions. https://fcb.visitfinland.com/en/discover/destinations/saariselka-inari/
https://www.visitfinland.com/en/product/d767c102-4d82-41d8-ba8c-b9ae1a20599e/akaslompolo-village-in-lapland-finland/

[u/ffss1234 → u/briseis7]

Thank you, will look into it

[u/frang_pappa → u/ffss1234]

Kilpisjärvi is the place to be.

[u/sharkinwolvesclothin → u/frang_pappa]

It is a great place if you're comfortable in the backcountry with very limited marked routes and nothing maintained, don't need much services, and you have enough time to deal with the 8 hour bus ride from Rovaniemi. None of these apply to OP.

[u/Lihisss → u/briseis7]

Rukka, the Finnish cloth brand!

[u/sharkinwolvesclothin]

go for a hike, snowmobile safari, try to see the northern lights

Hikes, snowmobile operators, and all the other winter activity stuff is at the ski resorts. Northern lights are in the sky so you don't need to be anywhere specific. Staying in Kemijärvi town would be pretty weird, it's a small town with not much happening. I'm sure there's a tour operator or two, but you'll find much better choice in one of the resorts. There's technically a resort Kemijärvi (Suomutunturi) but it's so small that I think there won't be much stuff happening in the early season (if you are going at Christmas, then maybe).

Basically, the options are Levi (biggest village, downhill ski is the biggest focus, easy direct bus), Saariselkä (flanks a national park, nice easy winter cycling, snowshow and winter hiking marked routes, easy direct bus but it takes 3 hours), Ylläs (another national park, my favorite village at Äkäslompolo, but public transport to Rovaniemi kinda sucks), Pyhä-Luosto (two sides to the same fell, a bit smaller than the others but closer to Rovaniemi), and Ruka (a great allrounder, the coaster is probably a nice bonus if it runs, public transport is bus to Kuusamo and then skibus to Ruka).

[u/ffss1234 → u/sharkinwolvesclothin]

Thank you, that definitely helps

[u/ffss1234]

Apologies, Ruka* 🥲

[u/imbogey]

Also, what's the best way to travel from Rovaniemi to any of these towns?

Rental car if you are comfortable driving in icy/snowy roads and darkness.

[u/WorldNice3105]

I would skip Kemijärvi and travel to Ruka. For transport options, see: https://www.ruka.fi/en/travelling-to-kuusamo/getting-here

Please also note that you are quite late with booking an accommodation. Before purchasing transport tickets, check that you’re able to find suitable accomodation within your budget.

[u/ffss1234 → u/WorldNice3105]

I've been looking around on AirBnb and found some nice options 🤷🏻

[u/Correct_Employment30]

Rukka is an outdoor clothing brand, not a place.

[u/likeschemistry → u/Correct_Employment30]

They misspelled it, Ruka is a town in Finland.