The snowy landscape of Finland holds many winter experiences, from the northern lights and sleigh rides to relaxing in an Arctic spa and, of course, skiing in deep dry powder.
We've traveled the world and experienced a lot, but we rarely find ourselves in a place that leaves us speechless. Finland most certainly did. It is a fantastic part of the world that offers many unforgettable winter experiences.
The flight from Helsinki to Kittilä Airport is about two and a half hours, but when you step off the plane, you are in another world. The airport building is small and encased in snow for a good part of the year. All the roads leading up to the airport are covered in snow or ice, so cars make an odd sound as they drive on winter tires with small steel studs that dig into the surface in search of traction. Driving without studded tires is nearly impossible. If you find yourself there in the middle of winter, the chances are that you will end up in the pitch dark as the sun doesn't rise at all in December. But, after the winter solstice on the 22nd of December, the light slowly starts making its way back into the day. Everything is very different above the 65th parallel. This is the latitude where the arctic circle begins, shared in Europe by Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. It is also home to an incredibly special land known as Lapland, or Lappi in Finnish.
Being in the middle of an endless expanse of snow in the middle of winter is a special experience. The region is said to have the cleanest air in the world, but it is also bitterly cold. Temperatures hover around 20 degrees below freezing, sometimes dropping as low as -40 degrees C. If you wear the right clothes, you can forget about the cold and the completely dry snow and millions of spruce trees create an unforgettable natural backdrop.
The greatest charm of the Nordic countries is the Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, which are created when electrically charged particles from the sun travel through space and encounter the Earth's atmosphere, creating a reaction that causes the particles to glow. This creates a light show that makes the sky appear to dance in rhythms of green-violet light. The scene is completely surreal and gives the impression of being on another planet. Nordic people have become accustomed to harsh weather conditions over many millennia, but they are also aware of the privileges that Mother Nature has bestowed on them. The Finns are experts in minimalist natural architecture, creating special all-glass bungalows in which you can observe the Northern Lights while lying in bed. Lying on your back and gazing up at the sky at the green patterns and organic shapes, you cannot help but surrender to a feeling of complete silence and solitude. Well, they really don't have a problem with solitude up north. There are far more reindeer there than people. But it's true that each reindeer belongs to someone, even if they wander all alone through the wilderness for more than eight months of the year. They give a reindeer to the winners of the traditional World Cup slalom in Levi each year.
Rides on reindeer-drawn sleighs are also part of Nordic culture. For centuries, the reindeer-powered sleighs were the only reliable means of transport in winter conditions. Only in the last half century have snowmobiles replaced them. Today, a ride on a sleigh pulled by reindeer is one of the most popular tourist attractions. After a day of Nordic adventures, a glass of strong brandy at the ice bar, served straight from a glass made of ice, is a nice treat. Before bedtime, you can also indulge in a sauna or an outdoor arctic spa.
Skiing with Voyager
Of course, it would be a sin not to pack skis when traveling to this snowy destination. Levi is Finland's largest ski resort and thanks to its unique weather conditions it offers an exceptional skiing experience in completely dry powder snow. But traveling so far north with your skis poses a significant logistical challenge. It's even more difficult and stressful if the journey also involves air travel.
But this time was different. We traveled with Voyager folding skis. Instead of almost two-meter-long bags, we folded them neatly in a special bag with enough room for all the gear - ski boots, poles, helmet, goggles, gloves, ski jacket and pants. Packing has never been easier. After landing, we picked up our skis on the usual conveyor belt with all the other luggage. Although we hired a small car, we had no problem fitting everything into the boot with plenty of room to spare for two suitcases and a rucksack. And we didn't even have to take the back seats out. We drove to the gondola as if we were going to the shops.
The Voyager did not only impress us by making traveling easier, but it also impressed us with its usability and performance. The special four-axis mechanism that takes care of folding or assembling the skis works perfectly. The ski assembles in a single move, and you don't even feel it while skiing. In terms of ride feel and characteristics, the Voyager is no different from a classic ski. Snow performance is exceptional, offering excellent feel in all snow conditions, with tons of confidence and stability through short and long turns at any speed. The folding ski poles and the two custom-designed bags also serve their practical purpose perfectly.
Voyager skis are made for people like us, an increasing group of users that come from urban environments but use every spare moment to escape into the great outdoors. That is exactly who we are.
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