'Land of the Midnight Sun' Self-guided Walking Tour

Wilderness nature, silence, midnight sun and clean air - tour type: self-guided, individual walking tour (guided tour on request)

On this Western Lapland walking holiday you will walk mainly in the Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. The nature of Lapland is so captivating, you will want to return again and again. The Lappish atmosphere offers many experiences that stimulate all senses and feelings. During your walk, you will; pass through boreal old-growth forests, rocky ravines, marshes rich in cloudberries, along crystal clear lakes and streams. You will climb to the fell tops where you can admire the beauty of the wilderness stretching out in front of you. You may pass some reindeer on your hike or indeed in the village. Bathe in the golden light of the midnight sun. In summer, the sun does not set. From late May until early August, the sun stays above the horizon 24 hours. In autumn, there is also plenty of daylight: in August around 23 to 16 hours and in September around 15 to 12 hours. Both summer and autumn offer wonderful colour contrasts. In autumn, the changing colours are a spectacle to behold and they are at the most vivid in the second week of September. This time of change is known as ‘Ruska’. The fell area of western Finland is renowned for having the cleanest air and nature in Europe. Not only will you see pure beauty, but you can also stand and listen to the sound of silence. You can finish your days relaxing in a typical Finnish sauna. This tour comes with a warning, as Lapland will certainly put a spell on you!

Tour character: Level 2

Level of difficulty: 2 + / 4 = moderate +

Route:

The fells can be considered most likely as hills -not mountains- as they are eroded remains of Svekokarelids (mountains that existed three billion years ago). Therefore the elevation differences are quite moderate. You walk on both narrow and wide paths, on duckboards and steps (mainly on paths). Sometimes the paths are bare (undemanding), sometimes there are rocks and roots of trees on the path ground. There are some steep and rocky stretches in the ascents / descends, but these stretches are relatively short. Anyhow, because of these short but demanding stretches, surefootedness is required.

The third day’s trail, Pyhäkota – Kukastunturi – Äkäslompolo, is quite long but the elevation differences are moderate and the paths are undemanding. The Pirunkuru trail is only for surefooted, as the ascent to the fell is steep and more importantly on craggy rocks. There is an easier optional trail (Hillapolku) to substitute with the Pirunkuru trail. As a whole there are more undemanding stretches than demanding stretches and the trails are very rewarding. About mosquitos: worst period with many mosquitos is normally for two weeks somewhere in July. Best periods without / with less mosquitos are in June, August and September (depending on year).

Included in the Lapland Walking Tour:

• Accommodation: 2 nights in Levi Hotel Spa + 4 nights in Ylläs Lodge 67°N apartment hotel (or similar hotels) Cottage accommodation (and prices) on request
• Breakfast
• Use of sauna in Ylläs Lodge 67°N apartment hotel
• Luggage transfer
• Transfer Sirkka – Pyhäkota (day 3)
• Back and forth transfer Akäskero (day 5)
• Service-hotline
• Route description and map (one per each room, English / German / French / Italian / Finnish)
• Destination information

Not included in the tour:

• Outward and return journey
• Lunch and dinner
• Entrance to Spa in Levi Hotel Spa (ca. 6 - 10 € / person / day)
• Everything not specified
• Minimum of participants: self-guided tours: 2 persons, 1 person on request (only with hotel accommodation), (guided tours on request: min. 10 persons)
• Solo traveller surcharge of 110 EUR

Arrival / departure:

• Departure any day between 15 June and 24 Septermber 2020
• Note that Lapland is quite far up north and therefore an overnight in Helsinki city centre / nearby Helsinki – Vantaa Airport may come into question on outward or return journey or even on both, depending on flight schedules
• Flight to Kittilä airport (flights from Helsinki to Kittilä year round), then airport shuttle or taxi (approx. 15 km) to Sirkka to the starting hotel
• Optional flight to Rovaniemi and bus from Rovaniemi to Sirkka (Rovaniemi – Sirkka 170 km) Note! The public buses operate only on request in the summer. We recommend that you book airport transfers with us with the tour booking
• Transfer Kittilä airport – Sirkka (airport shuttle, ca. 15 km) 8 € / person
• Transfer Äkäslompolo – Kittilä airport (ca. 50 km) To be booked when booking the tour and PAID ON THE SPOT
• The price depends on the number of customers taking the same transfer. Normally the customers that have started the tour on a same starting date use the same airport transfer as there is normally only one flight per day from Kittilä airport: Price between 116 Euros p.p. (1 person) and 24 Euros p.p. (7 people)

Slow Tours offers a number of other Walking Tours in Europe

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