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Resort Guide

Suitability	Resort height: 0m
Families:		[Yes]
Glacier:		[No]
Beginners:		[4]
Intermediates:		[2]
Advanced:		[1]
Snowboarding:		[3]

Salla is the perfect choice for anyone in search of a truly isolated frontier winter sports experience. There is a small resort village and ski area and very little else except for a frozen wilderness of gently rolling hills (or "fells" as they're known locally), most of it covered in forest and home to some 10,000 reindeer.

Salla is actually the name of the region which extends over the nearby Russian border, covering nearly 6,000 square kilometres, and with a total area population of less than 5,000. There's more than a square kilometre each for everybody living here.

The limited ski slopes and small vertical means that the appeal for more advanced skiers is somewhat limited, and the resort is marketed primarily at beginners, early intermediates and anyone looking to try out the many other winter experiences available here.

In common with other Scandinavian resorts you should be prepared for very cold temperatures, with lots of thermal layers and added thermal inners for your gloves and ski boots. Be prepared to head in to a warming cafe every hour or so when the temperatures do drop into double figures below zero, although it can be warmer a lot of the time.

Mid-winter - December and January are the coldest and the darkest months, but there is extensive floodlighting to brighten many of the slopes at the beginning and end of the day. Plus virtually all accommodation offers a private sauna cabin in your room.

The positive pay-off is that by March the days are rapidly getting longer than in the Alps, and the low temperatures means that the snow lasts, and snowmaking, which covers all the slopes, can operate efficiently.

Beginners

There are nursery slopes right next to the village for maximum convenience, and the intimate nature of the ski resort and its ski area make it a pleasant, low pressure, place in which to learn.

There are more blue runs to progress on to once you have mastered basic technique. Lessons last an hour and 45 minutes each.

We can offer combined lift ticket, ski rental and tuition deals when booked in advance, making a significant saving on buying separately in resort.

Intermediates

Early intermediates will enjoy the largely gentle terrain, with trails up to 1,300 metres (just under a mile) and mostly on wide sunny slopes above and between the trees. More competent skiers will have skied all the marked piste within a couple of hours.

So this could be the resort in which to try a little off piste powder or tree skiing with a ski school guide. Six runs are floodlit for night skiing and there is an equipment test centre for trying out demo models.

Advanced

There are limited attractions for advanced skiers here with two black runs either side of one of the five drag lifts. The runs are reputed to be some of the steepest and fastest in Finland, they are also floodlit for night skiing.

Snowboarding

Salla tries hard for boarders with a terrain park and boardercross course. The wide open slopes are also good for freeriders and the low temperatures keep the snow in good condition for carving.

Other Activities and Facilities

As with all other Lappish ski areas there's lots to do at Salla besides downhill skiing and boarding, indeed these are the minority sports.

Snowmobile safaris are popular on hundreds of kilometres of trails and options range from relatively short trips to full day excursions to the Russian border, Arctic Ocean or moonlit safaris. Quieter activities include snowshoe hikes, dog sledding, visits to a local reindeer farm and visits to Santa.

Cross country skiing is popular too of course, and there are 110km of cleared trails in the area, of which 76km are groomed and 35km lit for night skiing.

The spa in the hotel Revontuli is particularly good with a heated indoor pool overlooking the ski slopes, whirlpool and separate male and female saunas. The Sallahalli is a full service sports hall where you can play badminton, tennis, racketball, floor hockey and volleyball.

Après Ski and Dining Out

With Salla being a small resort there are just a few bars and restaurants to choose from, but they're friendly enough. On the eastern side of the fell the cosy Koptapubi (Hot Pub) is good for a relaxing drink, as is the sun terrace at the base lodge building. A third choice is the Papana pub.

Dining options include the a la carte restaurant at the slopeside Revontuli Hotel, the main establishment in the resort, or the Sellatunturin Tuvat restaurant.

Families

A magical destination for families, with a very family-friendly ski area and resort, plus the magic of Santa and the northern lights, excellent facilities off the slopes and high value for most aspects of your holiday.

There are two slopes especially for children, one with a mini park for snow fun. There are no nursery facilities for young children and the ski school does not accept children until age seven.

Piste Map for Salla

Accommodation in Salla

• Hotel Revontuli - 3 star,
• Hotel Revontuli - 3 star, half board
• Salla Cabins - 3 star, half board
• Salla Cabins - 3 star, half board
• Salla Cottages - 4 star, half board
• Salla Cottages - 4 star, half board

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