Must-do winter activities in Lakeland

Snowmobile safaris

If speed is your thing, then a guided snowmobile safari is an exhilarating way to explore Lakeland in winter. Experienced crews guide you across frozen lakes and snowy forests, as you capture unforgettable memories and pics along the way. You just need to be more than 18 years of age and hold a valid driver’s license – the guides take care of the rest.

The Messilä Ski Center near Lahti in southern Lakeland is a good place to start, with snowmobile routes planned according to your skill level.

If you’re traveling further north to the Arctic Lakeland region, there are also plenty of snowmobile safaris to be found in and around Vuokatti.

Walking in show shoes

We Finns are big on walking through our thousands of square kilometres of forest – even when they’re covered in snow. All you need is a pair of good snow shoes!

If this is something you’ve always wanted to try, Best Lake Nature Adventures organizes snow-shoe walks to a private island near the city of Lahti, a city only an hour north of Helsinki by train. You walk across to the island and spend the day exploring, sledding or ice fishing, before enjoying a meal cooked over an open fire.

Ice fishing

Finland is a big fishing nation, and ice-covered lakes don’t stop us – we just cut a hole in the ice, drop in a fishing line, and wait patiently for the catch… Even if nothing bites, you’re guaranteed to have some good stories to tell!

If ice fishing hooks you in, then the Petäys Resort on Lake Vanajavesi just south of Tampere is the place to check out. You can rent all the equipment you need and take a sauna after the fishing trip too.

The Hotel Kalevala in the northern town of Kuhmo also offers ice-fishing experiences, in addition to wellness facilities and a quality restaurant.

Fat biking

Cycling is not just something for the summer when you’re on a fat bike. Those wheels were made for places like snow-covered Lakeland, where there are thousands of kilometres of trails to explore.

The city of Lahti is well set up for fat biking, offering trails along the Salpausselkä Ridge system that runs across Finland. There are plenty of guided tours available, with equipment provided too.

You can also find fat-biking tours at the Hotel Paljakka, just north of Lake Oulu (Oulujärvi) in the Arctic Lakeland region. Equipment rental is included and airport transportation can be arranged if needed.

Cross-country skiing

Whether you’re an experienced cross-country skier or a novice, Lakeland in winter is the perfect place for this popular sport. There are thousands of kilometres of well-maintained trails across the region, and equipment rental facilities are easy to find. February and March are the best months for skiing, as the sky is often clear and there is plenty of sunlight bouncing off the thick snow.

If you’re looking for a longer cross-country skiing adventure, there’s a 6-day tour that starts at Puukarin Pysäkki – a Karelian restaurant and guesthouse. The tour weaves across frozen Lakeland, with skiers spending the night in different guest houses along the way.

Downhill skiing and snowboarding

The Lakeland favourite for downhill winter sports is located in the Arctic Lakeland region in Vuokatti, where more than 13 lift-served slopes offer something for both beginners and those with more experience. Full equipment rental services and ski schooling are available. Several of the slopes meet international competition standards, and Vuokkatti also offers the world’s only snowboarding tunnel that it’s possible to use all year round. There’s an Olympic Training Centre in the area too.

Further south – near the city of Jyväskylä – is Himos Ski Resort. Himos is the biggest ski resort in central Finland with 23 slopes, 15 lifts and countless of kilometers of cross-country skiing tracks in the beautiful and snowy Lakeland scenery.

In the southern part of Lakeland, near Lahti, you can find Messilä Ski Resort which offers several slopes for both skiers and snowboarders, with equipment hire, restaurants and accommodation available. Messilä is the ideal location for anyone looking to try downhill skiing or snowboarding for the first time.

Husky safaris

Everyone loves Huskies – the dogs that have pulled thousands of expedition sleds deep beyond the Arctic Circle. They’re smart, strong and completely at home in the snow.

You can experience the thrill of riding a dog sled at Vuokatti Safaris, which offers trips ranging from 90 minutes to five hours. You’re first introduced to the huskies at their kennel, before setting out over the frozen forests and lakes together.

Ice skating

Finns learn to ice skate at a very young age, with plenty of opportunity to get out onto the ice both indoors and outdoors.

Almost every town in Finland has an ice-skating rink. The city of Tampere alone has 16 indoor ice rinks and more than 100 outdoors. There are also tour skating tracks of some 20 kilometres on two lakes in the city, with more tracks a 30-minute drive away in Saarikylät.

Lake Saimaa – the largest lake in Finland – is also very popular with tour skaters between the months of December and March. From the towns of Mikkeli and Savonlinna it’s easy to get out onto the lake tracks. You’ll find plenty of places for pit stops where you can buy a warm drink, or grill your own food over a campfire.