It’s possible you’ll not imagine it, however Levi, Finland is not only a ski resort within the winter. Summer time in Lapland is simply as stunning!
The Levitunturi mountain provides breathtaking 360° views of Lapland and slopes in all instructions even in summer time and fall. Better of all, Levi is a real paradise for energetic folks and households within the hotter months as nicely!
Sadly, this isn’t so well-known outdoors Finland. However now you realize, and you’ll stay up for an important summer time trip in Levi.
Expertise summer time in Levi with mountain biking and mountaineering! Uncover the very best routes for inexperienced persons and superior bikers, expertise the journey of the bike park or hike by way of breathtaking surroundings. There may be additionally lots to find for households with young children.
In our article you’ll study all in regards to the companies within the village, the place to remain and how you can 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 that you must make your summer time trip in Lapland unforgettable. And who is aware of, you would possibly even meet a reindeer in your means by way of the Finnish wilderness.
Our Finland knowledgeable, Hendrik, visited Levi together with his household in the summertime.
Right here is an outline:
Levitunturi – “Fjell of Levi” in Finnish – is an imposing mountain in Southern Lapland, standing alone and proud.
When you climb just a few hundred meters, you’re rewarded with a wide ranging view of the encircling 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 possibly can both race down the summer time toboggan run or discover the world 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 a lot to find for individuals who aren’t essentially searching for the adrenaline rush of downhill using.
With a big community of mountain bike trails that enable for adventurous day rides on single trails and thru picturesque forests, much less risk-averse bikers can even discover their cash’s value.
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 superb upkeep of the path. Some could really feel it’s extra like a freeway than a path, however I’ve seen many trails which have destroyed the character round them as a result of excessive variety of guests.
From my expertise I can say that nicely maintained trails are a lot better for the setting in these conditions.
Particularly for younger mountain biking inexperienced persons, these trails provide a protected means to enhance their off-road abilities.
Skilled riders can even have enjoyable doing the loop round Levitunturi Path in competitors fashion and testing their pace. However there are lots of different trails within the space, equivalent to a journey to Ylläs and again, or exploring the lesser-known locations round Levi.
You don’t want a automobile in Levi, because the village is kind of small. Nevertheless, if you wish to get round quicker, you possibly can 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 previous.
Levi with small children
Levi Journey Park
Talking of our 5 yr previous, Levi isn’t solely a professional at steep descents, but additionally 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 young children, equivalent to an superior playground, a small zip line parkour close to the bottom, and pedal automobiles, which our daughter simply liked.
When the climate is heat and sunny, it is a good spot to go – however don’t overlook to pack loads of sunscreen, as there’s little or no shade!
For youths over 115 cm tall, the massive zipline parkour is a fully good exercise – my son and spouse liked it.
Earlier than you get began, there’s an introductory course the place you study all about climbing and the totally different options. After that, you get to decide on considered one of 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 situated a bit away from Sirkka. A brief taxi journey took us there.
Right here we have been capable of take a guided tour, make Christmas decorations and bake gingerbread cookies – our youngsters particularly loved this.
We additionally visited the massive cave and received to pet some livestock. We ate lunch right here and took a brief hike on the forest path.
Even though it was July and a bit out of season for us mother and father, the go to was total very good and enjoyable for all of us, particularly our youngsters.
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 received to expertise what it was prefer to journey down steep hills. It was actually thrilling and I had quite a lot of enjoyable.
In reality, it’s a lot simpler and safer than you would possibly suppose. That’s why I used to be much more excited after I had the possibility 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 totally different talent ranges, however Pieto was capable of cater to every of us. Even I, as an skilled rider, was capable of 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 inexperienced persons and in addition provides nice views and thrilling options. We’re certain this path shall be highly regarded sooner or later!
We did the path in levels, taking breaks to apply totally different abilities. For instance, we realized how you can 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 a number of thrilling berms and options – all at an straightforward Blue Path degree.
We had quite a lot of enjoyable!
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 metallic.
Despite the fact that there have been quite a lot of riders and bikers arising the mountain, the paths have been quiet. Even on the favored Blue Groove we may simply cease and take photos with out anybody getting in our means.
What a sense!
With greater than ten trails of various levels of problem, the riders have 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 quite a lot of trails and he did all of it with out worry and with nice approach – and that’s after just one lesson! He informed me that he actually loved the expertise and since we’re again dwelling he has been using his Woom OFF Air on the paths close to us and he’s having a blast.
So cool!
As a aspect notice, many ski resorts all over the world are abandoned through the summer time months. That is after all not ideally suited for the native communities. That’s why I absolutely assist the thought of villages the place you possibly can dwell all yr spherical.
Luckily, there are companies just like the Levi Bike Park that be certain that resorts, eating places, and even the costly gondola and elevate infrastructure don’t need to shut down when the ski season is over.
Providers like these and others hold 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 time in Lapland there’s an incomparable golden hour that makes my photographer’s coronary heart beat quicker each time. The good climate and luxurious views make each hike an unforgettable expertise.
Though there are some marked trails main up and across the mountain, I largely simply walked round and explored the environment. I particularly loved visiting Santa’s Cabin, climbing to the highest, and simply following little trails that regarded promising.
If you wish to study extra about how these mountains have been shaped, it’s best to positively go to the Ice Age Path. There are additionally many different trails to discover round Levi – a fast search on Retkikartta will assist you discover and discover all of them!
Providers within the village
In Sirkka, with its nicely laid out middle, you’ll uncover quite a lot of outlets and companies.
A implausible expertise for the children and me was the summer toboggan run, the place you possibly can journey alone or with a companion on a 2-person sled.
The attraction may be very common and it is strongly recommended to return within the early morning or early afternoon to keep away from lengthy waits. After 4pm it may well get very crowded and you’ll anticipate to attend as much as an hour to rise up and down.
We rented 4 bikes from the Zero Point shop down by the slopes in Sirkka and it was an absolute blast!
We informed them our measurement and desires on-line beforehand and once 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 immediately. We additionally received 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 guide actions, get elevate tickets, and even discover a cozy place to remain. If you happen to lose one thing alongside the way in which, no worries – there are a number of sporting items shops close by.
For the small starvation in between there are just a few cafes and a espresso store, however in case you are actually hungry there are a number of eating places to select from. We selected an residence with a kitchen and went procuring on the S-Market grocery store within the middle to arrange our personal meals.
I don’t drink alcohol anymore, so I didn’t go to the bars and nightclubs in Levi, however should you really feel like a chilly beer after an action-packed day on the downhill trails, you possibly can!
The place to remain
Our spacious residence on the Hullu Poro Hotel was our dwelling away from dwelling throughout our keep.
It’s a quick stroll to town middle and the bus stops proper outdoors the door, which may be very handy. The small spa with sauna and scorching tub was the right place for the children to chill out after a protracted day.
Our residence accommodated as much as six folks and had three bedrooms, two loos, 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 comfy keep and the included breakfast was scrumptious.
The way to get to Levi
We began our journey to Levi by prepare and bus and spent one evening on the hostel Café Koti. This choice allowed us to shorten our journey days and discover Rovaniemi a bit.
We particularly appreciated the Offended Birds playground, which can be free! With our children, we spent a number of hours enjoying on the assorted installations lovingly designed by Lapses.
There was additionally a soccer area and we borrowed balls to play just a few rounds.
Bus and prepare
Bus and prepare are nice!
We determined to take the prepare from Vaasa to Rovaniemi and again and it was actually low-cost – particularly should you guide early. Our prepare tickets price us a complete of solely €75.00.
Granted, the journey takes between 6 and eight hours and you must change trains twice alongside the way in which, however with some cool card video games, audio books or a film in your pill, the journey will be tremendous gratifying for everybody.
Flying to Kittilä
Alternatively, you possibly can fly to Kittilä with Finnair, which is the quickest means.
Nevertheless, the flights are a bit costlier and there are restricted connections. If you happen to determine to fly to Levi, make sure to guide nicely prematurely.
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 standard, we traveled mild, utilizing solely the Arc’teryx V110 Duffel and our Eagle Creek Cubes to retailer our 4 outfits and belongings. My digital camera gear and MacBook have 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 appreciated my Luna Sandals OSO Flaco and my Houdini Dawn Shorts, which I at all times prefer to put on in the summertime. We received 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 a number of free issues to do across the Journey Park and that we may discover the world on bikes – our children particularly liked that. So should you’re searching for an energetic trip vacation spot with loads of room to chill out, it’s best to positively try Levi.
With an abundance of various actions, lodging for each funds, and gorgeous views from Levitunturi, it’s positively a vacation spot to place in your checklist in your subsequent summer time or fall trip!
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