Sodankylä holidays

A holiday to Sodankyla sweeps you away to Finnish Lapland, where snow-capped mountains are right on your doorstep.

A tucked-away village

Sodankyla is a Finnish village sandwiched between the Kitinen River and the Jeesiöjoki River. Its plumb in the centre of Lapland, which means you’ve hit the jackpot if you want some time in the snow – you’re about 30 minutes’ drive from Luosto Ski Resort, and there are a few riverside nature trails nearby that look particularly picturesque after a wintery dusting. There’s plenty to see in the village itself, too – one of the most famous sights is a historic wooden church that's been standing since 1689, and there’s a big bronze reindeer statue that’s great for photo opps. You’ll also find a few cosy cafés dotted about if you need a place to warm up.

Snowsports galore

If you’re a bit of an adrenaline junkie, you’ll be in your element with the bundle of snowsports you can try in Sodankyla. As well as staples like skiing and snowboarding at nearby mountain resorts, you can zoom around on a snowmobile safari, make your way along a snowshoeing route or pop on some boots and go ice skating. It’s also just a hop, a skip and a jump away from forests where you can go on husky or reindeer sled rides through snow-draped pine trees, too – a perfect way to get you into the festive spirit if you’re visiting in the run-up to Christmas.

Search for lit-up skies

When you think of this part of the world, the rainbow-tinted aurora borealis – AKA the Northern Lights – instantly spring to mind. This natural phenomenon’s only sometimes visible, and if you visit Lapland between September and early April, you’ll have a fighting chance of catching a glimpse. There are group trips you can join, or if you’re feeling lucky, you can keep an eye on the sky from the village itself – it has low light pollution thanks to its secluded countryside spot, so you have every chance of spotting them in the peak winter months. We’d recommend wrapping up warm and heading for the Pappilanniemi trail by the river.