Finnish Lapland: Kiilopää

Several ability levels are catered for, from less experienced skiers to highly proficient skiers; a good level of fitness is required. There are several groups organised by ability; you can also ski on your own or with friends. Both classic and skate skiing are possible. The consistent, cold snow lets you enjoy the glide of waxable skis, even if you are not an expert at waxing! Waxing at this temperature is very easy and provides optimal grip and glide.
The ski area is vast: it is one of the most remarkable in Scandinavia. Nearly 300km of trails are immaculately groomed every day, with twin classic tracks and lanes for skate skiing, and connect to the main village of Saariselka. The terrain for skiing off the groomed trails is limitless and highly varied.

From 2 people.

8 days 7 nights (additional days are possible).

Guiding

Self-guided option: you ski at your own risk, or with a local guide on outings offered by the centre.

Accommodation

The choice is yours! Kiilopää is a centre with several types of accommodation grouped around a central building housing the restaurant, meeting point, etc. Whichever option you choose, your accommodation will be comfortable and full of character.
Several types of accommodation are available: the hotel, approximately 2* standard; chalet apartments with a sauna, fireplace and kitchenette; terraced houses with a living room and kitchen; and log cabins with a kitchenette and sauna.

The centre’s sauna

Twin room at the hotel

At the hotel, in a room for 2 with a bathroom. The hotel’s comfort level is equivalent to 2 to 3 stars in France, with separate beds; the rooms are simple. You will have access to the shared sauna in the central building (100m away).

Apartment for 6 people

In apartments for 4 or 6 people, equipped with a kitchenette, sauna and fireplace. Ideal for families or groups of friends who know each other well. The apartments are in terraced houses near the central building, but you will need to walk a short distance to reach the restaurant. Sheets and towels are provided, but you will need to make your beds on arrival.

Chalet for 4 people

In chalets for 10 or 2/4 people, equipped with a kitchenette, sauna and fireplace. The chalets are scattered near the central building, but you will need to walk a short distance to reach the restaurant. Sheets and towels are provided, but you will need to make your beds on arrival.

Meals

Half board; breakfast and dinner are served buffet-style. You can buy picnic supplies on site.

Please let us know about any food allergies or special dietary requirements when booking; we will do our best to adapt your meals.

The centre has a restaurant and a café, as well as a small shop where you can find small items of equipment: hats, gloves, ski wax, maps, etc. There are also souvenirs to take home!

Some time before your departure, and after you have paid the balance, you will receive your travel information pack containing:

• details for your journey: flight references, terminal, check-in desk, check-in and boarding times, and instructions for connections
• some background information on Finland and the centre, etc.

Meeting point / End of trip

Start

Day 1 at Kiilopää

End

Day 8 at Kiilopää

Equipment hire

You can reserve classic cross-country ski equipment for hire. Skate skis are also available to hire, but stocks are limited and availability will depend on the equipment in stock when you book. If you would like to reserve equipment in advance, please provide your height and shoe size when booking (payment is due locally).
Your skis will be supplied with an initial basic waxing. The “all-inclusive” package allows you to re-wax your skis during the week.
You are, of course, welcome to bring your own equipment; please note that airlines often charge for transporting ski bags, so check their baggage conditions.

Snow conditions

Snow cover in mid-altitude mountain areas can sometimes be unpredictable. Walking is at the heart of these trips, so if there is insufficient snow on some sections of the route, our trips will still go ahead. Remember to bring walking boots.

Flights

Scheduled Finnair flights (via Helsinki) or Lufthansa flights (via Frankfurt) to Ivalo are not included in the price. We can provide a quote. From 450 € per person, including all taxes.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle has been a member of ATR, the leading association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips – on foot, by bike and on snow – to invite everyone to discover the world differently: with curiosity, respect and kindness.

As a member of the board of directors since 2018, we actively help the sector develop more meaningful practices. In practical terms, we focus on:

• Transparency in our practices and pricing
• Respect for our partners and local communities
• Protecting the environment on every trip

We also share the values of the Traveller’s Ethical Charter, which encourages everyone to take simple steps to protect the places they visit and make meaningful connections with the people they meet.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has held Travelife Partner status, an international label that certifies our responsible practices in environmental protection, ethics and sustainable management, both within our company and in our work with partners and the organisation of our trips.

This label, the second level of a rigorous international certification scheme, recognises our concrete actions in support of responsible tourism. We are actively working towards the next level, Travelife Certified, in accordance with our sustainable development policy

Cross-country ski equipment

• Cross-country skiing clothing (a ski suit or knee-length trousers, tracksuit bottoms, etc.)
• Overtrousers and a Goretex- or Micropore-style jacket (important for protection against the wind)
• A good pair of mittens
• Warm gloves (2 pairs of cross-country ski gloves are ideal)
• A hat or, better still, a balaclava
• A thick wool mountain sweater or a fleece jacket
• A Goretex jacket, a very good anorak or a down jacket
• Warm underwear (one-piece base layers, leggings), including a full-length acrylic base layer in the style of LIFA or ODLO. AVOID COTTON (it retains moisture and makes you cold)
• 3 pairs of good wool socks (avoid ribbing around the feet)

Cross-country skiing equipment

• A pair of waxable skis, 38 to 44 mm wide (wax not supplied). Bring a small selection of waxes, wax remover and cloths, plus paraffin glide waxes
• A pair of metal poles, preferably with large baskets
• Warm, waterproof and comfortable ski boots (plus overboots if needed)

For your lunchtime picnic

• A one-litre water bottle or a thermos flask (optional)

Sun protection

• Sunglasses (glacier glasses)
• Sunscreen and lip protection

After skiing

• A pair of running shoes for the evenings
• A change of clothes (tracksuit) and underwear
• A toiletry bag
• A small first-aid kit: personal medication, Elastoplast, Biogaze or “2nd skin”, gauze, disinfectant, arnica pellets and aspirin for minor aches and injuries… (quite a list, but rest assured, the first-aid kit often comes home untouched after your week of skiing)
• A torch or head torch
• A camera with a protective cover against the cold
• A swimsuit

• A small, comfortable backpack with a capacity of 40 to 50 litres and a hip belt, for carrying your personal belongings and picnic during the day
• A bag for luggage transfers: a backpack or travel bag in good condition

A valid identity card or passport.

The euro

Finnish is a fascinating language: it is not Indo-European like French, but Asian and Ural-Altaic, arriving at the beginning of the previous millennium from the Ural Mountains and the Altai Mountains in Asia. Unfamiliar and exotic, to our ears it sounds like a very distinctive kind of music.
But almost all Finns speak and understand English. They also speak Swedish, Finland’s other national language, which is compulsory from primary school onwards.
A few Finnish words to remember

• Hyvää päivää: hello
• Tunturi: mountain
• Järvi: lake
• Joki: river

Under the influence of the Gulf Stream, the ocean remains ice-free.
Temperatures can fall as low as -30°C, but the dry, stable climate makes these conditions quite comfortable to cope with.
In Lapland, the expression “white desert” takes on its full meaning. Like a desert, Lapland has the rolling contours of a vast expanse of dunes. Skiing is the ideal way to “venture into” these wide-open spaces. Here, there are no waxing problems! Just one colour all day long, on snow of consistently even quality. Good glide, good grip! The excellent snow generally lasts from October to May.
In winter, it is “kaamos”, with 4 to 6 hours of daylight a day (from early December to mid-January, the sun does not appear). The stars and moon bathe Lapland in a very distinctive light.
Here, winter brings the most beautiful light in the north, along with magnificent displays of the Northern Lights.
In spring, the days lengthen quickly and snow conditions remain excellent until late in the season.