8 layers. 6 participants. 2 degrees. 1 river. If you like to go ice swimming in Lapland, you do have to be a bit crazy. “How on Earth will we ever fit into this ..?”, Christine next to me is about to give up wriggling her way into the waterproof, well-sealed overall. Underneath, she is wearing ski undies, shirt, fleece, ski jacket & another overall against the cold. Finally, I can see her wearing the ice swimming overall while she’s out of breath again: Martin, our guide at Oulanka National Park, has strapped the life vest tight against her torso. Dear me. Before finally floating on the 1 degree icy river waters looking like a well zipped-up, buoyant body, I do really take a moment to ask myself: “What are we actually doing here?!”
Fins are ready for just about anything to do with the cold: Ice swimming, ice fishing, ice sauna, you name it. Their enthusiasm warms the hearts of all of us happy Lapland travellers.
So ice swimming in the river, really, is just the beginning. Have you ever been out on a snow mobile? Hunted down some northern lights? Or even met with Santa Claus, the one and only Santa Claus, out here in Finland?
If travelling to Lapland, you will do well taking a great portion of enthusiasm for the outdoors with you. “My ice float on the river really felt like a comfy water bed”, I beam at Christine after my adventurous ice swim. “Beautiful, as if nothing else mattered … a great feeling!”
Moving around in Lapland …
… we are always ready for an adventure …
… especially, as Christine and I are about to wear our sensational, ice-swimming suit …
… only to float down the river looking like this !!
Ice fishing, too …
… is something for the patiently inclined: Not really for me, I must say ..!
Where ice fishing & snowmobiling are among the coolest things to do, Huskies cannot be far either. We have paid a visit to “Erä-Susi” – the wolf man! – near Ruka-Kuusamo.
Only about fifteen minutes drive from our Ruka ski resort town, Jukka Nordman runs his husky farm of about 200 dogs. He does, however, prefer to introduce himself as follows: “My real name is Jukka .. But you can call me Susi.!” SUSI. Said by a tall & strong Fin. Because that means “wolf”. Only, it’s in Finnish. But I cannot help myself, but think of a small girl (in German) when he says, “Please call me Susi .!”
After a short introduction into the art of husky sledging, we are ready to go: The dogs even more, “they are born to run and pull a sleigh”, Mister Susi tells us in his authoritative, yet warm voice. A little later, he returns holding a five week husky puppy on his arm, happy to pass him around. Blown away by the magic of this spot, and steering our own husky sledge, I respond with my love for travel photography.
Welcome to “Erä-Susi” Husky farm …
… where we first learn how to properly steer a husky sledge …
… before moving across (Lap)land.
Next to the adult dogs eager to run and pull the sledge …
… the magic of this puppy means worlds to me.!
I do love the big reindeer here, too. Erä-Susi, we’ll be back!
(Snowshoe) Hiking in the national park, skiing as well as abseiling from a frozen waterfall are definitely state-of-the-art here in Lapland. Must-dos for all those adventurous at heart!
Have you ever listened to the “sound of silence”? Lapland’s deeply snow-covered winter forests offer you this unique opportunity. It really is, absolutely silent. I do dare to say that this has all but vanished from the hustle & bustle of life in Central Europe. Mile after mile, just silence. Not even the “sound” of freshly falling snow, let alone some animal, wind or cracking in the woods.
Consider stepping on to that stage of nature by taking a guided (snowshoe) hike in the national parks of Finland. Check this out.
Off we go on our hike into the national park Korouoma, near Ruka-Kuusamo in the east of Lapland …
… where we take a walk day dreaming of spring …
… while managing the snow …
… and the extreme heights of a frozen waterfall.
You are best advised investing into your gear …
… such as these five polar explorers: Check out www.polarnightmagic.com #PolarNightMagic for their amazing, truly “out-of-this-world-experiences”!
It’s also a good idea to put your snow shoes on …
… hiking across the land in style.
Finally, the winter resort town Ruka calls for all skiers …
… keen on a winter experiences of the “land of 188.000 lakes” (!).
At night, Ruka beckons us to pay tribute to the famous Aurora Borealis. A must-see, magic moment for all Nordic fans travelling here !!!
Last but not least, “Sauna’s calling”.
Because I do take that you, just like me, are pretty cold now. Shivering from being afoot in the snow and well, nothing else is going to help you but a visit to the sauna. A real and true Finnish sauna at that. Because the Finnish sauna isn’t an awful 80-90°C hot, but rather a warm & welcoming 55-65°C, I learn. Including high humidity from hot steam. Not even I knew that, despite being called a real “sauna freak” by my dear friends sometimes!
Check out why the Fins, in turn, have decided to stage a whole sauna tour around their most popular world export item.
Our “Sauna tour” already starts in the “sauna bus”, another invention brought up by the Fins to share stories about their sauna history and culture.
Some offer sauna refreshingly different, such as Sauna yoga being offered by Ruka Safaris …
… others like to take to a cool Outdoor Pool Party first …
… only to teach us how to gently whip each other with aromatic herbs in the true Finnish steam sauna …
… preparing us, most likely, for what’s to follow: A visit to the one & only ICE SAUNA. Quite literally, out of this world!
A precious gem, don’t you think? Check out my previous post here telling you how and when to get here.
THANK YOU to all my team who have made this trip such a wonderful experience: Eva Kiviranta from VisitFinland as well as our international journalists from Russia, England, Scotland, Germany, Italy, Austria & Spain. What a meeting here at Santa Claus’ home in Lapland!
Fancy watching even more Lapland photographs? Here they are. See you soon in Finland! 🙂
Disclaimer: We have been invited by VisitFinland on this trip to Lapland. All opinions are my own.