Salla ski resort guide Ski area, apres-ski, things to see & do in Salla
Overview
Salla is a small village in Finland close to the Russian border in the Arctic Circle - an area known as Lapland and home to Father Christmas! About 8km from the village is the ski resort called Sallatunturi. This wild part of the world is where alpine skiing started in Finland with the first Finnish championships in downhill racing and slalom being held over 70 years ago. Today, Salla still hosts FIS competition slalom races.
Being so far North, Salla is an ideal place for spotting the Northern Lights, otherwise known as Aurora Borealis. The best time to see them is autumn, winter and spring and the best displays tend to be when it's sub-zero (which is normally the case!) and clear skies.
| Key information (whole area) | |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 230m |
| Top lift | 425m |
| Family | |
| Beginner | |
| Intermediate | |
| Expert | |
| Longest run | 1 km |
| Off piste | |
| Cross country | 160 km |
| Season | Dec - April |
| Snowboard parks | 1 |
| Heli Skiing | ✘ |
| Summer skiing | ✘ |
| Glacier skiing | ✘ |
| Babysitting | ✘ |
| Creche | ✔ |
| Apres ski | Relaxed and fun |
Salla sKi area
In the winter season,Salla has something for everyone whether you are looking to do some downhill skiing, cross-country or motoring around at speed on a snowmobile. The skiing terrain is not as extensive as you will find in some resorts as there just 15 slopes with max vertical of 230m, 11 of which are floodlit and all have snow making machines. However, what Salla lacks in terms of the number of km of skiable downhill terrain, it more than makes up for with it's vast amount of cross-country and snowmobile trails which are actually more popular.
Beginners
Beginners have several green and blue runs on the eastern side of the mountain to learn the basics before progressing on to some reds. For the children who are starting out for the first time, the bunny slopes as they are known are right in front of the base lift near to the restaurants and ski schools.
Intermediate
For intermediate skiers who do not want to go touring, the mountain offers a number of runs on the front side. This is also where you will find the snowpark.
Advanced
For the advanced skiers and boarders, there is some challenging terrain on the backside including the slalom course which is used as practice ground for the professionals.
Cross-country
As in many Finnish resorts, cross-country skiing is very popular and there are some 147km of groomed trails around Salla to explore.
Things to see & do in Salla
If you dont fancy skiing or want to try or see something different then there is a wide choice.
Snowmobiling is very popular and Salla has 300km of trails ready for a day trip or overnight safari. Either way, it will be an adventure you wont forget.Other activities include:
| A few suggestions... | |
|---|---|
| Ice fishing | ✔ |
| Ice climbing | ✔ |
| Snowmobile safari | ✔ |
| Husky safari | ✔ |
| Day trip to Russia (passport and visa required) | ✔ |
| Visit to Santa's Village and reindeer park | ✔ |
| Camp out under the stars and watch the spectacular Northern Lights | ✔ |
Our view on Salla ski resort
Skiing in Salla - not the most extensive downhill skiing in the world but this is not what a winter holiday is all about. Being away from it all, wilderness, deep snow and trying out new adventures.
If you like Salla, you may also want to take a look at Aviemore in Scotland and Salen in Sweden.
