Salla

Details

Written by: Jim Walker

Last Updated: 20 Aug 2012

Salla is the perfect choice for anyone in search of a true 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 and covers 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 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. Salla's skiing slopes are sheltered from the wind and boast a long season. One of the black trails is one of Finland's fastest. The black and red slopes are illuminated and there are two slopes especially for children

Mountain

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. Tour operators offer combined lift ticket, ski rental, tuition deals when booked in advance which offer a significant saving on buying separately in resort. Lessons last an hour and 45 minutes each. 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. 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.

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 are the ski school does not accept children until age seven.

Eating Out

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

Apres

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.

Boarding

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.