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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 291m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[4]
Advanced:		[3]
Snowboarding:		[3]

Ruka has been the fastest growing of Lapland's ski areas over the past decade, and is now one of Finland's major ski resorts.

Leading international resort planners of Ecosign, the same business responsible for Whistler, have worked to make the whole ski holiday experience here a seamless one. Planning for the new village dates back to 1999 when the resort's current Master Plan was first set out, with the idea of building a pedestrian village and moving car parking underground.

Shops and restaurants at street level create a village atmosphere and lodging has direct access to the ski slopes, with no roads to cross in most cases.

Ruka is located just below the Arctic Circle and close to the Russian border in the north east of the country.

In common with all resorts at this latitude it can be very cold – in to double figures below zero, although it is often warmer, meaning closer to zero. But thermal layers are essential including well insulated gloves and socks.

It can also be dark in mid-winter, with slopes floodlit at the ends of the day, although conversely it is very light once you are through the period from mid-December to mid-February. The cold temperatures also aid snowfall and the durability of snow once it arrives, and Ruka has one of the longest seasons in Europe of a resort without a glacier – typically from mid-October to mid-June.

As with other resorts in Lapland, downhill skiing and boarding are minority activities for most, with huge cross country ski and snowmobiling areas, plus a host of other full and half day activities such as dog sledding and reindeer safaris.

It also shares the common feature of resorts in Northern Lapland – the magical blue light of the area, the likelihood of seeing the still more magical northern lights, and a location in a pristine near-arctic wilderness with little human activity between you and the North Pole.

Beginners

A great place to experience snow sports for the first time, Ruka has ideal beginner terrain close to your lodging and an excellent English-speaking ski school.

Packages including tuition, rentals and lift ticket are offered, which provide very good value for money.

Intermediates

In most cases the slopes are rather uninspiring and rather short compared to the Alps, usually straight affairs down the gently rolling fells, and with less than 300m of vertical to play with. On the up side the cold temperatures help maintain the integrity of the snow and it's a great choice for early intermediates and families.

More than three quarters of the ski slopes are floodlit for skiing through to 7pm. Also worth note, lift passes here are some of the cheapest in Europe, about a third less than the price at most large resorts in the Alps.

Advanced

Opportunities for advanced skiers are limited on the piste, although there are steeper runs including several blacks on the north and west side of the area. Steepest is the 225m long Battery Run which reaches a pitch of 53%.

For more challenges there are mogul fields and the World Cup freestyle arena, or sign up with the ski school to try some off piste skiing through the trees.

Snowboarding

Aware of the limitations of their slopes for regular downhillers, the Finns have been capitalising on their possibilities for new school snow sports.

Freestyle and boarding are both big here, with Ruka hosting the Freestyle World Ski Championships in 2005, as well as many international boarding competitions. The resort boasts three half pipes and a big choice of jumps, rails and boxes in the terrain park.

Other Activities and Facilities

Not many people go to Lapland to ski in the 9am-4pm, six-days-a-week sense. Over the past decade the region has profited from our decreasing interest in that type of winter holiday, and has instead concentrated on winter sports alternatives – snowmobiling (600km of trails, bring your driving license), dog-sledding, reindeer-safaris to name a few, all available in Ruka.

More unusual options in the resort include the chance for a Lappish evening on the Russian border and Icelandic horse riding. Santa also welcomes visitors all season long.

Saunas are a big feature, virtually every property has its own, so you are likely to experience the two extremes of temperature during your visit.

Ruka has an excellent indoor sports centre with indoor tennis, squash, badminton and a golf simulator. Nearby Kuusamo (20km/13 miles) has a superb tropical spa swimming pool complex.

Après Ski and Dining Out

Après ski is usually concentrated on a half dozen lively night spots including the Ski Bistro and The Music Bar Piste, which is one of the hippest, with live bands and DJs urged on by the young boarder crowd.

There's a friendly, frontier town feel, and the Finns often party hard when they're in town, which tends to be towards the end of the season.

There are around 30 different choices for places to dine out. Expect to eat a lot of reindeer, salmon, wild mushrooms and loganberries, with double rations if you sign up for one of the excellent Lappish nights.

However, Ski Bistro serves Alpine cuisine including fondue and raclette, and you can also find Chinese or pizza if the mood takes you!

Families

Ruka is an exciting destination for families with the atmosphere of the far north combined with the convenience of a modern and well equipped resort. For younger children the Santa magic is hard to beat and older children can take part in most of the activities.

There is a non-ski kindergarten, Kumpare Kids, which accepts children aged two to seven between 9.30am and 5pm daily, although you will need to return to look after your children at lunchtime when cover is not provided.

First ski lessons are available from age five with the ski school and these are excellent. The Kaltiolampi Kids outdoor play area has its own small lift.

Piste Map for Ruka

Accommodation in Ruka

• Aparthotel Rukasuites - 4 star, self catering
• Aparthotel Rukasuites - 4 star, self catering
• Aurinkorinne - 4 star, self catering
• Holiday Club - 4 star, half board
• Holiday Club - 4 star, half board
• Holiday Club - 4 star, half board
• Hotel Sokos - 3 star, half board
• Hotel Sokos - 3 star, bed & breakfast
• Hotel Sokos - 3 star, bed & breakfast
• Kelokivakka Cabins - 3 star, self catering
• Maston Aitio C - 4 star, self catering
• Maston Aitio Cabins - 4 star, self catering
• Maston Aitio Cabins - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Ruka Chalet Apartments - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Chalets - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Cottages - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Cottages - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Log Cabins - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Log Cabins - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Log Cabins - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Log Cabins - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Suites - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Suites - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Suites - 4 star, self catering
• Ruka Suites - 4 star, self catering
• Rukahovi Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Rukahovi Apartments - 3 star, self catering
• Rukahovi Hotel - 4 star, half board
• Rukariutta - 3 star, half board
• Rukariutta - 3 star, half board

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