Posio

Details

Written by: Jim Walker

Last Updated: 20 Aug 2012

Posio is a typical North Eastern Finnish community in spectacular isolation about 45 minutes from the city and airport of Kuusamo in Lapland. Until recently it was best known for the major pottery manufacturer based there, Pentik and the famous Soprano singer Soile Isokoski, who was born there, but the area has built up a tourism industry offering winter adventure activities in the beautiful snowy landscape. The tourism continues year round with a major natural attraction, the canyon of Korouoma and two large lakes Livojärvi and Hietajärvi. The resort is also located in the area of the national park of Riisitunturi. The main organiser of this kind of adventure tourism in the area is Kitka Experience who base their operation on the nature of Lapland and making use of its different elements in order to create a unique experience. This means that as well as the normal northern activities like snowmobiling and dog sledding, they bring to life some of the history, culture and legend of the region. For example with torchlit hikes to meet a traditional Shaman in the forest. The municipality has a population of just over 4,500 but covers an area in excess of 3,500 square kilometres giving an average density of only one person per one and a half square kilometres - so the maths means that this is a great place to finds some personal space.

Mountain

Skiing is not the main winter sports activity at Posio and facilities are limited to one T bar drag lift and three short easy slopes. However this does make it a great place to learn to ski or board without the pressure of having advanced skiers whizz past you, or the cost of a lift ticket in a typical international destination resort. There are three slopes of different profiles with one T-bar lift. The longest run is 900 metres long with 110 metres vertical drop. Thus, the slopes are very suitable for families, beginners and snowboarders. More advanced skiers staying in Posio for the other activities will still get a few hours enjoyment on the slopes unless they crave something steeper and a vertical range more impressive than Posio's top lift height of 340m above sea level! The slopes are open seven hours daily and floodlit for night skiing twice a week. The ski slopes are located 6km from the village of Posio but right next to the main destination hotel in the area, the Kirikeskus, for easy access to all facilities. The ski area is also the starting point for a network of 48 km of excellent cross-country skiing tracks of which 23 km are illuminated. They cater for all levels of difficulty.

Families

Although there are no special childcare facilities, Posio is a good choice for families to enjoy a special winter holiday together. Apart from the family friendly ski area, almost all of the other activities available can be enjoyed together. A special visit to meet Father Christmas in his homeland can also be organised.

Eating Out

The main restaurant in the Hotel Kirikeskus seats a total of 100 people and the café-restaurant downstairs, 30 people. Both restaurants have open fireplaces and full licences, serving traditional Lapp cuisine and international dishes. Vegetarian options are available. There's another restaurant in the nearby Holiday Resort Himmerki, recently renovated, which must be booked in advance, and several more options in Posio village. Look out for dishes made from reindeer, locally caught fish and locally picked cloudberries, blueberries, lingonberries and wild mushrooms from the surrounding forests.

Apres

Apres ski is centred on the Hotel Kirikeskus at the ski area which has a bar, lounge and games room. You can also take a sauna or go tobogganing and a number of additional evening activities are organised by the hotel several evenings a week. You can even go snowmobiling or ice fishing under the stars. There are several more bars and a small disco in Posio village itself.

Boarding

Other than the fact that the lift is a T Bar, Posio is a good place to learn to snowboard.