You might not consider it, however Levi, Finland isn’t just a ski resort within the winter. Summer season in Lapland is simply as lovely!
The Levitunturi mountain provides breathtaking 360° views of Lapland and slopes in all instructions even in summer season and fall. Better of all, Levi is a real paradise for lively folks and households within the hotter months as properly!
Sadly, this isn’t so well-known exterior Finland. However now you realize, and you’ll look ahead to an amazing summer season trip in Levi.
Expertise summer season in Levi with mountain biking and mountaineering! Uncover the most effective routes for rookies and superior bikers, expertise the journey of the bike park or hike via breathtaking surroundings. There’s additionally lots to find for households with babies.
In our article you’ll study all in regards to the companies within the village, the place to remain and methods to get to Levi.
So seize your mountaineering boots or mountain bike and let’s go!
After studying this text, you should have all the knowledge it’s worthwhile to make your summer season trip in Lapland unforgettable. And who is aware of, you may even meet a reindeer in your manner via the Finnish wilderness.
Our Finland skilled, Hendrik, visited Levi together with his household in the summertime.
Right here is an summary:
Levitunturi – “Fjell of Levi” in Finnish – is an impressive mountain in Southern Lapland, standing alone and proud.
When you climb a couple of hundred meters, you’re rewarded with a wide ranging view of the encompassing panorama: the spectacular Pallas Mountains to the northwest, the Ylläs Mountains some 35 kilometers to the west, in addition to lakes, small fjells and numerous forests. On the foot of the mountains lies the charming village of Sirkka, which serves as a base for journey and exploration.
Take the gondola up the mountain, the place you may both race down the summer season toboggan run or discover the realm on one of many many mountaineering trails.
A real paradise for nature lovers and explorers!
Mountainbiking in and round Levi
Not solely does Levi have a well-known bike park, which I’ll discuss later, however there’s additionally lots to find for many who aren’t essentially in search of the adrenaline rush of downhill using.
With a big community of mountain bike trails that permit for adventurous day rides on single trails and thru picturesque forests, much less risk-averse bikers can even discover their cash’s price.
For my check, I attempted the Levi Tunturi Path, a roughly 18km route that circles Mount Levitunturi, and I used to be actually impressed with the wonderful upkeep of the path. Some might really feel it’s extra like a freeway than a path, however I’ve seen many trails which have destroyed the character round them because of the excessive variety of guests.
From my expertise I can say that properly maintained trails are significantly better for the surroundings in these conditions.
Mountain Biking in Levi, Lapland, Finland.
Kota in Levi, Lapland, Finland.
Particularly for younger mountain biking rookies, these trails supply a secure manner to enhance their off-road abilities.
Skilled riders can even have enjoyable doing the loop round Levitunturi Path in competitors fashion and testing their velocity. However there are numerous different trails within the space, similar to a journey to Ylläs and again, or exploring the lesser-known locations round Levi.
You don’t want a automotive in Levi, because the village is sort of small. Nonetheless, if you wish to get round quicker, you may change to a bicycle and get round city. We used 4 rental bikes to get to the Levi Bike and Exercise Park, which is barely 3 km from our lodging and was simply managed even by our 5 yr outdated.
Levi with small children
Levi Journey Park
Talking of our 5 yr outdated, Levi isn’t solely a professional at steep descents, but in addition has lots to supply the youthful children!
Have you ever heard in regards to the Journey Park at Gondolintie? There are many free issues for toddlers and babies, similar to an superior playground, a small zip line parkour close to the bottom, and pedal vehicles, which our daughter simply beloved.
When the climate is heat and sunny, this can be a excellent place to go – however don’t neglect to pack loads of sunscreen, as there’s little or no shade!
Children observe at Levi Journey Park in Lapland, Finland.
Cart Monitor at Levi Journey Park in Lapland, Finland.
For teenagers over 115 cm tall, the massive zipline parkour is a fully good exercise – my son and spouse beloved it.
Earlier than you get began, there’s an introductory course the place you study all about climbing and the completely different options. After that, you get to decide on one among a number of routes – the whole lot from ziplining for nearly 1,000m to climbing over enjoyable obstacles.
I’m telling you, this appears to be like a lot enjoyable! I’m already excited and might’t look ahead to our daughter to be large enough on her subsequent go to to Levi so we will all expertise this adrenaline rush collectively.
Tonttula Elves Village
On the final day of our trip, we visited the elven village of Tonttula, which is positioned a bit away from Sirkka. A brief taxi journey took us there.
Right here we had been in a position to take a guided tour, make Christmas decorations and bake gingerbread cookies – our kids particularly loved this.
We additionally visited the massive cave and bought to pet some cattle. We ate lunch right here and took a brief hike on the forest path.
Even if it was July and a bit out of season for us mother and father, the go to was general very good and enjoyable for all of us, particularly our kids.
Fairly buildings at Tonttula in Lapland, Finland.
Feeding the lamb at Tonttula in Lapland, Finland.
Levi Bike Park
A few years in the past I watched my good friend Kaddi go downhill mountain biking and thought, “Wow, that appears fairly cool!”
Due to Jesper, who I met on my trip in Åre, I bought to expertise what it was wish to journey down steep hills. It was actually thrilling and I had a whole lot of enjoyable.
In actual fact, it’s a lot simpler and safer than you may assume. That’s why I used to be much more excited once I had the prospect to journey downhill with my son at Levi Bike Park, one of many oldest bike parks in Finland.
It was an unforgettable expertise and we each had a good time!
First, we picked up our downhill bikes on the Levi Bike Park retailer and geared up ourselves with our protecting gear. From POC knee pads to physique harnesses and helmets to gloves and shirts, it was all there.
Then we met our teacher Pieto, who isn’t solely a path builder in Levi. Our group consisted of six folks with completely different talent ranges, however Pieto was in a position to cater to every of us. Even I, as an skilled rider, was in a position to study one thing.
After an introduction to our bikes, we took the gondola up the mountain and began our tour on the Village Path.
The inexperienced path is ideal for rookies and in addition provides nice views and thrilling options. We’re certain this path will likely be highly regarded sooner or later!
We did the path in phases, taking breaks to follow completely different abilities. For instance, we discovered methods to make turns and journey waves.
After mastering the Village Path on the Levi Exercise Middle, we took the gondola again as much as the Blue Groove Path. This is among the hottest trails in Levi and has numerous thrilling berms and options – all at an straightforward Blue Path degree.
We had a whole lot of enjoyable!
Studying to journey Berms on the Levi Bike Park in Lapland, Finland.
Driving down the Village Path on the Levi Bike Park in Lapland, Finland.
Within the afternoon, my son and I rode the Village Path and the South Route with Pieto. We had the paths to ourselves and will actually put the pedal to the steel.
Although there have been a whole lot of riders and bikers developing the mountain, the paths had been quiet. Even on the favored Blue Groove we may simply cease and take photos with out anybody getting in our manner.
What a sense!
With greater than ten trails of various levels of issue, the riders had been unfold out very evenly. This additionally implies that slower riders don’t really feel like they’re holding others again. Prime!
We had some actually cool days on the Levi Bike Park!
My son and I rode a whole lot of trails and he did all of it with out worry and with nice method – and that’s after just one lesson! He informed me that he actually loved the expertise and since we’re again house he has been using his Woom OFF Air on the paths close to us and he’s having a blast.
So cool!
As a facet word, many ski resorts all over the world are abandoned throughout the summer season months. That is in fact not excellent for the native communities. That’s why I totally help the thought of villages the place you may dwell all yr spherical.
Fortuitously, there are companies just like the Levi Bike Park that make sure that lodges, eating places, and even the costly gondola and carry infrastructure don’t must shut down when the ski season is over.
Providers like these and others preserve the small village of Sirkka bustling year-round and permit its residents to make a residing from January to December. How cool is that?
Climbing in Levi
Nearly each night I made a brief or longer hike up Levitunturi.
In summer season in Lapland there’s an incomparable golden hour that makes my photographer’s coronary heart beat quicker each time. The nice climate and luxurious views make each hike an unforgettable expertise.
Though there are some marked trails main up and across the mountain, I principally simply walked round and explored the environment. I particularly loved visiting Santa’s Cabin, climbing to the highest, and simply following little trails that appeared promising.
If you wish to study extra about how these mountains had been fashioned, it’s best to undoubtedly go to the Ice Age Path. There are additionally many different trails to discover round Levi – a fast search on Retkikartta will aid you discover and discover all of them!
Reindeer chilling within the Night Solar in Levi, Lapland, Finland.
Sunny views over Levi in Lapland, Finland.
Providers within the village
In Sirkka, with its properly laid out middle, you’ll uncover quite a lot of outlets and companies.
A incredible expertise for the children and me was the summer season toboggan run, the place you may journey alone or with a companion on a 2-person sled.
The attraction could be very in style and it is strongly recommended to come back within the early morning or early afternoon to keep away from lengthy waits. After 4pm it will probably get very crowded and you’ll count on to attend as much as an hour to stand up and down.
We rented 4 bikes from the Zero Level store down by the slopes in Sirkka and it was an absolute blast!
We informed them our measurement and desires on-line beforehand and after we arrived all we needed to do was attempt the bikes on. What can I say? They match like a glove and we may begin using instantly. We additionally bought our rental helmets. It couldn’t have been simpler!
Better of all, the shop has bikes for teenagers of all ages. Our daughter was thrilled to get her pink Trek bike!
The Vacationer Data Middle makes it straightforward to ebook actions, get carry tickets, and even discover a cozy place to remain. Should you lose one thing alongside the best way, no worries – there are a number of sporting items shops close by.
For the small starvation in between there are a couple of cafes and a espresso store, however if you’re actually hungry there are a number of eating places to select from. We selected an house with a kitchen and went purchasing on the S-Market grocery store within the middle to organize our personal meals.
I don’t drink alcohol anymore, so I didn’t go to the bars and nightclubs in Levi, however when you really feel like a chilly beer after an action-packed day on the downhill trails, you may!
The place to remain
Our spacious house on the Hullu Poro Resort was our house away from house throughout our keep.
It’s a quick stroll to the town middle and the bus stops proper exterior the door, which could be very handy. The small spa with sauna and scorching tub was the proper place for the children to loosen up after an extended day.
Our house accommodated as much as six folks and had three bedrooms, two bogs, a small kitchen, and a pleasant eating and residing space. We even had our personal sauna, however the climate was so heat that we didn’t use it.
All in all, it was a really snug keep and the included breakfast was scrumptious.
Hullu Poro Condo Bed room with two single beds – Levi, Lapland, Finland.
Double mattress at Hullu Poro Condo in Levi, Lapland, Finland.
get to Levi
We began our journey to Levi by practice and bus and spent one night time on the hostel Café Koti. This choice allowed us to shorten our journey days and discover Rovaniemi a bit.
We particularly favored the Offended Birds playground, which can be free! With our youngsters, we spent a number of hours enjoying on the assorted installations lovingly designed by Lapses.
There was additionally a soccer subject and we borrowed balls to play a couple of rounds.
Bus and practice
Bus and practice are nice!
We determined to take the practice from Vaasa to Rovaniemi and again and it was actually low cost – particularly when you ebook early. Our practice tickets value us a complete of solely €75.00.
Granted, the journey takes between 6 and eight hours and you need to change trains twice alongside the best way, however with some cool card video games, audio books or a film in your pill, the journey may be tremendous pleasing for everybody.
Flying to Kittilä
Alternatively, you may fly to Kittilä with Finnair, which is the quickest manner.
Nonetheless, the flights are a bit dearer and there are restricted connections. Should you determine to fly to Levi, you’ll want to ebook properly upfront.
There are native buses that take you from the airport in Kittilä to Levi and again – they run similtaneously the flights, so it’s tremendous straightforward!
The Gear
As typical, we traveled gentle, utilizing solely the Arc’teryx V110 Duffel and our Eagle Creek Cubes to retailer our 4 outfits and belongings. My digicam gear and MacBook had been safely tucked away in my trusty Peak Design Journey Backpack, whereas I used my HUCKEPACKS Phoenix Lite for mountaineering and the Vaude TrailSpacer 18 for biking.
However I particularly favored my Luna Sandals OSO Flaco and my Houdini Dawn Shorts, which I all the time wish to put on in the summertime. We bought our mountain bikes and downhill bikes together with safety gear on the Levi Bike Park Store (for the downhill) and at Zero Level in Sirkka (for the MTBs), so we will journey relaxed with out bikes by public transport. 🙂
Do you have to go and go to Levi?
Levi actually wowed us!
There are thrilling and enjoyable actions for teenagers and adults alike, which we actually loved.
It was particularly nice that there have been numerous free issues to do across the Journey Park and that we may discover the realm on bikes – our youngsters particularly beloved that. So when you’re in search of an lively trip vacation spot with loads of room to loosen up, it’s best to undoubtedly take a look at Levi.
With an abundance of various actions, lodging for each finances, and gorgeous views from Levitunturi, it’s undoubtedly a vacation spot to place in your checklist on your subsequent summer season or fall trip!