Skiing by the light of the aurora: Why families are falling in love with Finland’s magical ski scene

There are many unique features to a winter holiday in Finnish Lapland, but perhaps the most remarkable is that you can have six full days in the snow without ever clicking into a pair of skis or a snowboard.

Reindeer sledding – jingling along the forest floor with these gentle, big-eyed creatures – is just the start. From snowmobiling and ice fishing to meeting Santa, Finland offers a world of magic. With Crystal Ski Holidays, your flights, transfers, and accommodation are always included, and with departures from 19 regional airports, getting to the Arctic Circle is effortless.

If you’re looking to add extra sparkle to your trip, your Crystal rep is on hand to help you choose the best local experiences, with support available throughout your stay. These incredible adventures are also often much more affordable here than similar options in the Alps.

There’s nothing to stop you booking your holiday now so you can start planning, as Lapland’s latitude means there’s usually snow – a reassuring reminder of how winter ought to be.

And while Finland continues to draw young families, its long winter is also attracting many couples, the beauty of the landscape stirring their inner child.

In early January, the sun bathes rime-covered fences in pink light that makes the ice crystals glisten, and floods the tops of snow-laden trees with a peachy glow that lasts until sunset.

Finland’s fells are not high, so the pistes are fairly short, but when it’s cold you’ll be grateful for that, stopping for coffee and hot chocolate around open fires.

And of course, cross-country skiing is a wonderful way to warm up on the coldest days, climbing through forest trails and gliding along lakeside paths.

If you’re focused on downhill skiing, there are three bigger resorts: Levi, Ylläs and Ruka, all with gondolas and less than an hour from the airport. For beginners, there are three smaller resorts – Iso-Syöte, Pyhä and Salla.

Just 20 minutes from Kittilä Airport, Levi’s 38km of runs are wide and quiet – perfect for learners, but also offering challenges for confident skiers. Try the Levi Black run, which hosts World Cup races every November. The mogul run under the gondola will also help warm you up.

All slopes are lit in Finnish resorts, so you can ski late into the evening.

Unlike smaller resorts, which are often based around a single hotel, Levi’s village offers a good choice of restaurants and bars.

Slightly further from Kittilä Airport is Ylläs, Finland’s biggest resort, with 53km of pistes. It’s probably the best for intermediates, with long runs including the scenic 3km Jättipitkä piste, giving you plenty of time to practise your carving.

Because the ski area is large, it’s a 4km ride on the free ski bus between the two villages, Ylläsjärvi and Äkäslompolo, which offer plenty of options for eating and going out.

Ruka is a modern, purpose-built village with a touch of Alpine chic. Its wood-clad bars, curio shops and restaurants are decked with strings of lights, leading to ski-in, ski-out accommodation.

The west side of the mountain above the village is surprisingly steep, while the east side blends into the gentle undulations of the fells and is best for beginners.

Kuusamo is not a ski resort in itself, but home to the Holiday Club Kuusamon Tropiikki, half an hour by shuttle bus from Ruka. As its name suggests, it has pools to warm up in after busy days in the snow.

An hour from Kuusamo Airport, with the hotel right next to the lifts, Iso-Syöte is a convenient place for beginners to start. The 12km of pistes include a Snow World area, with slopes exclusively for children and families, featuring small jumps and a forest trail.

Two and a half hours from Kuusamo Airport, Salla’s 10km of slopes are best for beginners and, as everywhere in Finland, there’s an excellent, English-speaking ski school.

The resort is ideal if you want to feel tucked away in the woods – staying in cosy, self-catering log cabins with their own sauna and a log fire in the lounge. Yet the cabins are only a few minutes’ walk from the slopes.

Two and a half hours from Kittilä Airport, trips with Crystal Ski Holidays to Pyhä include a six-day lift pass for each person. Although it has just 14km of slopes, they offer a nice progression from wide-open blue runs to well-groomed reds and off-piste possibilities.

As for other snowy activities, alongside those listed above, there’s outdoor ice skating, ice swimming, ice climbing and kicksledding – the list goes on.

Whether it’s skiing, snow adventures or the chance to watch the aurora shimmer above a frozen forest you’re after, Lapland offers a winter escape unlike anywhere else. And with Crystal Ski Holidays taking care of the details, all you have to do is wrap up warm and step into the magic.

Step into the magic of Lapland next winter. Discover the best of Finland with Crystal Ski Holidays and enjoy a fully protected, all-in-one package.