Please read Kiilopaa review as I got the summits confused during writing. Kiilopa is the far better restaurant with helpful friendly staff and fantastic tasting food at a reasonable price. Kaunispaa has the better shop. The walks at Kiilopaa are better marked and maintainted, few are marked on Kaunispaa. The tourist information centre in town has lots of information much of it free including maps, some verbal information given was incorrect. The walks around Saariselka are varied:- hill walks to Kaunispaa summit along ski runs or across narrow tracks through heather and blueberries. Town walks with wide footpaths to tracks through trees and low level walks on wide fairly level ski trails. We visited a disused gold mine on one trail which had a barbeque area, toilets, hut with seating and mine shaft viewing including sound effects and several mining relics. (better value than Tankavaara gold mine). Most of the ski resort is closed and is being developed and maintained. They are extending the toboggan run.
Those of you who know your Laurel and Hardy might be familiar with the refrain "I can't get over the Alps". Well here you can. Saariselka is the perfect alternative to the hurly-burly of alpine resorts, with reliable snow, uncrowded pistes, no queues, a peaceful snow-covered forest setting and friendly locals who don't display the anti-British default position of some in the (former) Axis powers. Any downsides? Well, it can get very cold, there are few challenging runs for the expert skier and the après-ski is pretty much limited to a single bar that looks like something out of Northern Exposure. But, if you want vertical black runs and nightlife until 4am, then why not go to St Anton?
ski rental is possible just by the slopes, 15min walk from the Lapland hotel. Or just take a ski bus for daily rate of 5 EUR.
We only visited the resort for a day. I can't ski or snow board but gave it a go without a lesson, maybe need instruction next time!! The best part was the slegderun, about 2km long - brilliant
Great resort for novice skiers as the runs aren't long and all the lifts are easily accessible from the hub. There is ski hire available on site, a cafe and little huts with fires in to keep you warm!
Very quiet on the slopes even though it was British half term.No lift queues. Good cafes. Good view from the top of the fell.
We love to be here , become like tradition to visit Saariselkä on the New Year . One of best area in Finnish Lappland
We went to this Resort in the evening, in search of the Aurora Borealis on a night on our own. This was a FANTASTIC place to see the entire sky. It was not too far of a drive from our hotel. No one told us about it, it was a lucky find. If you are on your own looking for the Dancing Lady in the Sky, give this place some time!
our son loved it here.On fridays you can test their atomic skis for free between 3-5pm.Great slopes,not busy,easy to get to,lovely cafe,excellent friendly staff and very competitive prices.Thoroughly recommend
Everything!! The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. the hotel was clean and tidy. The pool could have been a bit warmer.