You could 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 presents 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 individuals and households within the hotter months as properly!
Sadly, this isn’t so well-known outdoors Finland. However now you recognize, and you may stay up for an amazing summer time trip in Levi.
Expertise summer time in Levi with mountain biking and mountaineering! Uncover the most effective routes for freshmen and superior bikers, expertise the journey of the bike park or hike by breathtaking surroundings. There’s additionally quite a bit to find for households with young children.
In our article you’ll be taught all concerning 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 essential make your summer time trip in Lapland unforgettable. And who is aware of, you may even meet a reindeer in your approach by 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 impressive mountain in Southern Lapland, standing alone and proud.
When you climb a number of hundred meters, you might be rewarded with a panoramic 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’ll be able to 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 speak about later, however there’s additionally lots to find for individuals who aren’t essentially searching for the adrenaline rush of downhill driving.
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 may also 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 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 properly maintained trails are a lot better for the atmosphere in these conditions.
Particularly for younger mountain biking freshmen, these trails provide a protected approach to enhance their off-road abilities.
Skilled riders may also have enjoyable doing the loop round Levitunturi Path in competitors model and testing their pace. However there are a lot of different trails within the space, comparable 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 sort of small. Nevertheless, if you wish to get round quicker, you’ll be able to 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 12 months previous.
Levi with small youngsters
Levi Journey Park
Talking of our 5 12 months previous, Levi isn’t solely a professional at steep descents, but in addition has quite a bit to supply the youthful youngsters!
Have you ever heard concerning the Journey Park at Gondolintie? There are many free issues for toddlers and young children, comparable to an superior playground, a small zip line parkour close to the bottom, and pedal vehicles, which our daughter simply liked.
When the climate is heat and sunny, this can be a good spot to go – however don’t overlook to pack loads of sunscreen, as there’s little or no shade!
For teenagers over 115 cm tall, the massive zipline parkour is a fully sensible exercise – my son and spouse liked it.
Earlier than you get began, there’s an introductory course the place you be taught all about climbing and the totally different options. After that, you get to decide on certainly one of a number of routes – every thing from ziplining for nearly 1,000m to climbing over enjoyable obstacles.
I’m telling you, this seems a lot enjoyable! I’m already excited and might’t await our daughter to be sufficiently big 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 had been in a position to take a guided tour, make Christmas decorations and bake gingerbread cookies – our youngsters 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 though it was July and a little bit out of season for us dad and mom, 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 buddy Kaddi go downhill mountain biking and thought, “Wow, that appears fairly cool!”
Because of Jesper, who I met on my trip in Åre, I bought to expertise what it was prefer to journey down steep hills. It was actually thrilling and I had a number of enjoyable.
In reality, it’s a lot simpler and safer than you may suppose. That’s why I used to be much more excited after 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 outfitted 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 individuals with totally different ability ranges, however Pieto was in a position to cater to every of us. Even I, as an skilled rider, was in a position to be taught 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 freshmen and likewise presents nice views and thrilling options. We’re certain this path will likely be extremely popular sooner or later!
We did the path in phases, taking breaks to observe totally different abilities. For instance, we realized methods to make turns and journey waves.
After mastering the Village Path on the Levi Exercise Heart, we took the gondola again as much as the Blue Groove Path. This is likely one of the hottest trails in Levi and has numerous thrilling berms and options – all at an straightforward Blue Path stage.
We had a number 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.
Although there have been a number of riders and bikers developing the mountain, the paths had been quiet. Even on the favored Blue Groove we might simply cease and take footage with out anybody getting in our approach.
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. High!
We had some actually cool days on the Levi Bike Park!
My son and I rode a number of trails and he did all of it with out concern and with nice approach – and that’s after just one lesson! He advised me that he actually loved the expertise and since we’re again residence he has been driving his Woom OFF Air on the paths close to us and he’s having a blast.
So cool!
As a aspect be aware, many ski resorts all over the world are abandoned through the summer time months. That is after all not superb for the native communities. That’s why I absolutely assist the concept of villages the place you’ll be able to stay all 12 months spherical.
Fortuitously, there are companies just like the Levi Bike Park that make sure that lodges, eating places, and even the costly gondola and elevate infrastructure don’t must shut down when the ski season is over.
Companies 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?
Mountain climbing in Levi
Virtually 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 sumptuous 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 be taught extra about how these mountains had been shaped, you need to positively 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!
Companies within the village
In Sirkka, with its properly laid out heart, you’ll uncover a wide range of outlets and companies.
A improbable expertise for the children and me was the summer time toboggan run, the place you’ll be able to journey alone or with a companion on a 2-person sled.
The attraction may be very well-liked and it is strongly recommended to return within the early morning or early afternoon to keep away from lengthy waits. After 4pm it could possibly get very crowded and you may anticipate 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 advised them our dimension and wishes 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 might begin driving instantly. We additionally bought our rental helmets. It couldn’t have been simpler!
Better of all, the shop has bikes for youths of all ages. Our daughter was thrilled to get her pink Trek bike!
The Vacationer Data Heart makes it straightforward to e book 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 a number 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 residence with a kitchen and went purchasing on the S-Market grocery store within the heart 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’ll be able to!
The place to remain
Our spacious residence on the Hullu Poro Resort was our residence away from residence throughout our keep.
It’s a brief stroll to the town heart and the bus stops proper outdoors the door, which may be very handy. The small spa with sauna and scorching tub was the proper place for the children to calm down after an extended day.
Our residence accommodated as much as six individuals 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 snug keep and the included breakfast was scrumptious.
Methods to get to Levi
We began our journey to Levi by practice and bus and spent one night time on the hostel Café Koti. This resolution allowed us to shorten our journey days and discover Rovaniemi a bit.
We particularly preferred the Indignant Birds playground, which can be free! With our youngsters, we spent a number of hours taking part in on the assorted installations lovingly designed by Lapses.
There was additionally a soccer discipline and we borrowed balls to play a number 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 e book early. Our practice tickets price 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 way in which, however with some cool card video games, audio books or a film in your pill, the journey will be tremendous pleasurable for everybody.
Flying to Kittilä
Alternatively, you’ll be able to fly to Kittilä with Finnair, which is the quickest approach.
Nevertheless, the flights are a bit dearer and there are restricted connections. If you happen to resolve to fly to Levi, make sure you e book 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 traditional, 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 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 preferred my Luna Sandals OSO Flaco and my Houdini Dawn Shorts, which I all the time prefer 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 youths 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 might discover the world on bikes – our youngsters particularly liked that. So when you’re searching for an energetic trip vacation spot with loads of room to calm down, you need to positively try Levi.
With an abundance of various actions, lodging for each price range, and beautiful views from Levitunturi, it’s positively a vacation spot to place in your checklist on your subsequent summer time or fall trip!
