Saariselkä New Year holidays
Saariselkä is a great place to follow up Christmas with a festive week in wonderland and start the New Year somewhere completely different. A world away from the demands of everyday life back home, you can clear your head in the freshest of air start up a new talent like cross-country skiing or ice fishing...
The resorts in Finnish Lapland are well known for the other activities that you can get up to and Saariselkä is no exception. As well as skiing the Kaunispää and Iisakkipää fells, you can learn how to steer a pack of Huskies on a sled, pop over to the Purnumukka reindeer farm for a reindeer sleigh ride or escape into the Narnia-like forests for a winter walk. If you’re here with young children, we can’t think of a better way to end or start the year than re-kindling the Christmas magic with a trip to meet Santa.
They don’t do big parties on the piste like you get in France, but the evenings will get your New Year spirit going with some really cosy places to snuggle up next to a fire and enjoy a beer. Come New Year’s Eve the middle of the town has been known to hold a bit of a party. Laanila is known for its apres ski ‘Ski Shoe Dancing’ parties with live music and in previous years they have taken this to a whole new level come the last day of the year. They usually have fireworks displays and if it’s a clear night, you might hit the jackpot and see the Northern Lights – as the most northern ski resort in Finland, this is a fabulous place to spot them.
The end of December is super cold in Lapland, so if you haven’t sent your wish list to Santa yet you might want to put thermals and grippy snow boots alongside this season’s must-haves. Often we can arrange thermal suit hire which can keep you cosy and comfortable, saving suitcase space and money while you’re at it.
New Year snow and skiing conditions in Saariselkä
Near Year Snow History
Top alt:438m
Average snow depth
Near Year47cm
Bottom alt:260m
Average snow depth
Near Year30cm
Resort alt:265m
Near Year ski rating