‘Finnish’ a skiing week in Lapland and you’ll look back on a peacefully packed-out week with a camera full-to-bursting. Salla’s small bunch of runs will get you on skis for the first time or perfecting your slalom down one of the trickiest runs in Finland. Don’t just go for the skiing because things like Reindeer safaris, ice fishing and husky rides are what really make a holiday here so unique…
Staying in Salla is all about stepping into the stuff of Christmas cards and spending a week on the same wavelength as nature. The tourist office describe it as being ‘faraway Lapland’ and ‘in the middle of snowhere’ – north of the Arctic Circle and close to the Russian border, it really is (on a clear day you can see over to Russia at the top of the slopes).
Salla is less well known than the bigger Lappish resorts of Levi and Ylläs and with the midnight sun in summer as well as spectacular views of the Northern lights in winter it’s perfect for an authentic Sami experience. The area is small, tranquil and so peaceful that it gives a completely fresh outlook on a ski resort. The Reindeer park is only a short distance away and there are lots of other wintery activities to get stuck in to; from winter walks to husky rides and snowmobiling.
Just because the resort is in the wilderness it’s not totally inaccessible. The two nearest airports are Kuusamo and Rovaniemi, both within a two hour radius. If you take the train to Kemijarvi there is a transfer service to get you from A to B.
The actual village of Salla is 10km away from the resort, if you don’t want to hire a car there’s a bus service running in the week so you can stock up on supplies and visit the bank, post office etc.
Surrounded by coniferous trees and miles of rolling snow-covered landscape, the ski resort was the foundation for Finnish skiing and the first location for downhill and slalom competitions. The ski area rises up the Sallatunturi Fell with the resort’s hotels and cabins dotted around the base as well as the Tunturikauppa shop (your go-to place for milk, bread and other essentials), snowmobile rental and the ski school.
The ice-cold waters produce some tasty fish and the Baltic herring is often on the menu (you can even catch it yourself in an ice-fishing activity!). The local cuisine will introduce some new tastes, from Reindeer tongue and steak to Lapp cheese and cloudberries. Revontuli’s menu is a good place to start, maybe after a cosy drink at Koptapubi
The Pub Panana Pupi is not only a fun tongue twister but is great for a drink – you might even get a performance from a Finnish rock band. The Log restaurant is at the base of the slopes will cook you up a hearty pasta dish.
As the home of Father Christmas, the best thing about Lapland is being able to get down to some seriously wintery activities. Start with a Husky ride across the pristine Finnish landscape. You can also snowmobile as a passenger or driver and take part in a hut safari ride. Guided tours are available in the day and under a starry sky. The Reindeer Tour is a great one for children and if they’re very good, they can even visit Santa’s secret cottage. The Northern Light reindeer ride won’t be one you’ll forget in a hurry and the hot drinks will keep you going into the night, but do wrap up warm! Children will love the Salla Reindeer Park as you can help feed the animals and join in the organised rides. There is a restaurant right next door in the Lappish Kota shelter. From here you also have a choice of snowshoe excursions. If you’re feeling really brave, you can go for a swim in an ice-hole (the Holiday Club Spa is a nice place to warm up afterwards...). Part of the area was lost to Russia during the Winter War of 1939 and history buffs can learn more at the Salla Museum of War and Reconstruction.
View our detailed Salla snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Salla snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Salla snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.
We have 5356 ski holidays in Salla. Search all Salla ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:
Maximum and minimum adult Salla lift pass prices ranged from to for 6 days access to the Salla ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Salla holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.
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Most of our ski holidays to Salla packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Salla from nearby airports
Flights from London take about 3.5 hours to Kittilä, Kuusamo, Rovaniemi. This table shows approximate transfer times to Salla from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.
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Browse our self-drive ski holidays which include your car channel crossing, or go choose accom-only and book your car ferry or tunnel later.
The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Salla transfers.
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Need help choose your Salla ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!