Ruka is one of the most popular ski resorts in Finland, and for good reason: 39 slopes, 22 lifts and more than 200 skiing days a year guarantee an experiential skiing holiday. On the slopes of Ruka, there is suitable skiing for downhill lovers of all levels, and the expert teachers of the Ruka Ski School are happy to help ensure that the slopes become familiar safely and comfortably. Numerous equipment rental companies in the area offer high-quality and well-maintained equipment, and both lift tickets and rental equipment can be easily purchased online before the vacation. The base is the village of Ruka Ruka village's diverse range of accommodation, restaurants and shopping places make it the perfect center for a skiing holiday. Of course, functioning local transport transports vacationers to the slopes, to eat and to shops, also from different parts of the Ruka slope area. Everyone is welcome to ride the Landscape gondola The Village-2-Valley Landscape gondola also transports customers on foot or with strollers, including four-legged holidaymakers, from one side of the slope to the other. Pets are warmly welcome in many accommodation facilities and restaurants! Between the upper stations of the Village Express lift on the front slopes and the upper stations of the scenic gondola, you can also find the amazing Ruka Zipline, Finland's longest continuous slide. There are 364 meters of high-speed excitement all year round! After a day of skiing, some of Ruka's slopes are transformed into a play hill popular with families with children, when you can play on the slopes with the feet of a toboggan. The landscape gondola transports happy luge riders back to the top from both sides of the fell. Pic: Veera Vihervaara 240 km of well-maintained trails In Ruka, the first snow pistes are traditionally opened for preserved snow during the fall holidays in October, and the pistes are renovated daily until the end of April. In most winters, there is still enough snow even in May, and with good luck, an avid skier will be able to enjoy the spring sled along forests and marshes. About 40 km of Ruka-Kuusamo's pistes are lit in the morning and in the evening, so you can comfortably go to the pistes even after a day on the slopes. The famous Ruka Ski Stadium serves as the stage for several big competitions every winter, the biggest of which is the opening race of the Nordic Skiing World Cup, Ruka Nordic, which raises the stakes at the end of November. Pic: Harri Tarvainen Snowmobile heaven There is a total of 500 km of sledding in the Kuusamo area, and the routes are regularly renovated. Both guided sledding safaris and self-guided driving trips with high-quality rental sleds are available. Along the sledding routes, there are nice places to take a break and scenic spots. With a guided northern lights safari, you can easily admire the colorful night sky if you happen to have a cloudless night. Getting to know furry friends: huskies, reindeer and horses The highlight of the holiday for many families with children (and slightly older guests as well) is the sledding of sled dogs and a fast-paced husky safari in winter landscapes. The exoticism of Lapland is enhanced by an encounter with a reindeer. Children thoroughly enjoy the reindeer ride, while adults are enchanted by the reindeer yoga. The holiday experience for horse girls and boys of all ages is crowned by a memorable horseback riding trip in the winter forest during the day or even admiring the northern lights in the evening. Pic: Harri Tarvainen The landscapes of the national parks are charming even in winter The five wonderful national parks in Ruka-Kuusamo and the surrounding area offer beautiful landscapes regardless of the season. You can admire the sights of Oulanga, Riisitunturi, Hossa, Salla and Syötte by snowshoeing, skiing or on a fat bike tour. The equipment for these experiences can easily be found at equipment rental companies in the area, if your own equipment is not purchased or taken with you on the trip. Adventure entrepreneurs in Ruka-Kuusamo offer guided tours to national parks with rides. New adventures on every trip There is still plenty of experience to be had in addition to everything above. Among other things, rafting, ice climbing and ice karting are less familiar experiences for many winter vacationers, but the first time is rarely the last for these experiences either! Pampering and wild food After a wonderful day of adventure in winter landscapes, it's nice to recover by pampering your body with various treatments and sauna experiences, as well as open swimming. It's also nice to combine a sauna with a wild food dinner or a Lapland dinner at a local restaurant or a group camp. And the batteries are charged again for the next day's adventures! Pic: Harri Tarvainen
