Ruka

Have just arrived back, that was the best holiday ever. Will be going back next year. Will get a review to-gether but have a shed load to do and we both have job interviews to-morrow

Welcome back Rose, glad you both had a good time :D

Look forward to reading your report, and Good Luck with the job interviews :D

Will try and give an insight into Ruka, but will be without pictures for now, still sorting them out.
I had some misgivings about going to Finland but whilst I realise it will not suit every-one for us it was perfect.
Ruka slopes have always been in existence but not many other facilities other than a few cafe's, ski hire,log cabins and ski school. But there has been a four year developement going on with just one year left to complete. It now boasts hotels, appartments, lots of restaurants, underground heated carparks, shops etc.
So just a breakdown of all that we observed.
Left Bournemouth at silly of clock for check in at Gatwick at 4.55am. Got to customs and they decided I was going to be the one who had to empty her rucksack and handbag, they swabbed the inside of my bags and phone and then drug tested. Always me, I must look so dodgy.
Flight with easyjet, on time, no hassle, got my front seat and our luggage was both 2Kgs over, no extra charge. Flight 3 and a half hours, no probs, transfer to resort 20mins. Used Gatwick valet parking, excellent service.
THE ACCOMODATION. Traditional, rustic log cabin with mezzanine bedroom. All mod cons, sauna, wet room, dvd,video p, tv,dishwasher,washing machine, cooker, microwave etc plus a drying cabinet which was great put on for 15mins in the morning and all your clothes and boots all warm. On porch locked cupboard for ski storage, also had snow shoes, sledges.
Situated in the woods overlooking the frozen lakes. So quiet and peaceful. Ski bus stop 10 metres away,supermarkets 10mins walk away.

X COUNTRY. Tracks were directly from the cabin, did a lot of this, it was so convenient, a lot floodlit, and the views spectacular.
SKI SCHOOL. Ruka ski school is the oldest establised in Finland, they were excellent and tailored a private lesson to exactly what we wanted.
ICE KARTING excellent just 10mins away, transported to by Ruka safaris, great fun, but do they ever spin on the ice.
HUSKY SAFARI 15mins away by coach, visit around the farm, info on how they work etc, Then one of you drives a team of huskies while the other sits in sleigh, hurtling across the frozen lakes, fantastic.
REINDEER SAFARI, much the same as huskie but individual sleigh shaped like a canoe which you steer and balance with your legs. Amazing
SNOW MOBILE SAFARIS fantastic experience went on a 50km one all around the fells and frozen lakes, the most spectacular views I have ever seen. Stopped half way and the quide lit a campfire and we had hot drinks, sausages, breads etc, then on our way again hurtling over the lakes, absolute magic, the best thing I have ever done.
SNOW SHOE GUIDED TOUR did a fair amount on our own, just local to the cabin but did a night time quided one, brilliant but hard work.
APRES SKI,lots of bars, lots of Karaoke,clubs etc. So I am told did,nt do a lot of it, to busy doing other things. But had some nice meals out in lovely, but very expensive restaurants. Lots of reindeer based meals.
SMOKING, ALCOHOL AND FOOD. Smoking is forbidden everywhere except outside and that is only in designated area,s. If you smoke in your accomodation you incur a 150 euro fine. Alcohol in low vol can be bought in supermarkets but any-thing stronger is bought in bars or government controlled Alko shops. Cost of just under a pint of the local brew is 7euros. Lunchtime in the Piste Bar, which is lovely but the poshest piste bar I have ever been in. 12 euros for soup, choice of 3 loads of different breads and as many refils as you want. Or 18 euros for smoked reindeer, mash and lingonberries, again as many helpings as you want. The cost of food in supermarkets is very expensive but if you buy the local brands, not so bad. Nothing in english but fun finding out.
SKI HIRE, LIFT PASSES Not to badly priced and can be bought on an evening or daily basis. The equipment was top notch and we paid nothing for our ski hire because we tested Fischer ski's and they gave us the lift pass free for those days. Kids 7 and under ski for free if they ski with adults and wear a helmet.
THE SLOPES These were the best groomed I have ever encountered, no ice, no rocks. They have the cannons on all night, plus it snowed every day and every night, thus it was powder all the time, loved it. The best of all, mostly empty slopes, some-times we had them to our selves and no lift queue's ever. There were 2 blacks, which were way above our capabilities. The reds, lovely wide slopes but not that long, but some were so steep, I wondered why on our first day so many people were stopping and sliding down on their behinds. Until I did it, a lot were way above me, in terms of steepness. The blues, lovely wide, quiet and perfectly groomed, suited me more. The board parks were way out of my league and could only manage a couple of them.
The Battery run although a red defeated us, well and truly, so steep. And in the floodlights very eerie.
The ratio of skiers to boarders was about 60:40, the highest ratio I have ever encountered.
THE TEMPERATURE the day we arrived -19, the next day -20, but varied throughout the week, but the average was about -12. As long as you wrapped up well and wore something across your face you were fine.
There are 29 slopes so plenty to keep any-one happy for a week.
Will post some pics when sorted, but a really great holiday and will be going back next year, but only at the same time as this year. Xmas and New year and school hols are manic.

Forgot to add the Finns are fantastic people, so polite and friendly it was a pleasure to be there.

WOW :shock:

sounds like you had an absolute blast! excellent news

Sounds awesome!!

When did you fly out? I flew out from Gatwick on Sat 17th on a 6:20am flight with Easyjet to Helsinki, may well have been there at the same time! North Terminal?

Yeah the Finns are lovely people, they certainly were in Helsinki anyway!

bennyboy wrote:Sounds awesome!!

When did you fly out? I flew out from Gatwick on Sat 17th on a 6:20am flight with Easyjet to Helsinki, may well have been there at the same time! North Terminal?

Yeah the Finns are lovely people, they certainly were in Helsinki anyway!

Same day, but easyjet 6.55am to Kussamo, so yes would probably been about the same time.

I am just going to try and add pics, please Admin if they come out to big, please delete. I will do one as a test first.