Ski ResortLevitunturi

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82 out of 100 (3 Sources)

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trevorbrock (59)
Belfast, United Kingdom

80%

very good

It is a fascinating experience to visit Lapland in the summer.
There is the strange experience of daylight that lasts for most of 24 hours.
There is the strange experience of seeing ski machinery on green slopes - a lot of it being given its annual maintenance.
We also saw the new building being prepared for the world competitions later in the year.
Then, the pleasure of a holiday resort that was nearly deserted - August is off-season, but that results in extra warm welcomes everywhere you go.

90/100

Accessibility
80/100

"Must See"-Factor
80/100

Budget Friendliness
70/100

Number of Slopes
70/100

Quality of Slopes
90/100

Ski-Lodge
Our own journey had begun at Tampere airport, followed by a brilliant week in Eastern Finland. It was a full day's drive to reach Levi, and that gave a lovely mixture of views and landscapes.
Arrival in Levi was quite a surprise. This is a small ultra-modern resort. The surrounding countryside is the typical Finnish mix of lakes, rivers and trees, with the Levi mountains towering out of the flatter terrain. This is not Swiss grandeur, but it is still beautiful.
Off-season, we found living very reasonable in terms of accomodaation and eating. Every local town had somewhere to eat a lunchtime buffet for around 7 euros. There are good supermarkets in Levi. Though bigger supermarkets a bit farther away were cheaper, the local prices were acceptable.
At first glance, the slope rising straight out of the village itself, seems to be the only one.
However, a drive around the area reveals a number of others which are all interlinked. We were walking and climbing on the snowless slopes, and found plenty of variety. Snow is normally guaranteed from October until May, and that is the bg attraction of a ski resort in Lapland.
While our daytime temperatures - around 20C - did not test either the heating or insulation installations, we got the distinct impresssion that at -30C, the cabins would still cope. Underfloor heating is boosted with a log burning stove and our own individual sauna.
Furnishings were modern and stylish. Heating facilities for car engines are provided on the drive, and massive drying cabinets for ski clothing were provided too.
Local hotels provide restaurant facilities, entertainment, information and laundry facilities!
The only negative in Levi - and throughout Finland - were the very hostile mosquito population.! They must have to take in huge quantities of human blood during the brief summer period, and appeared to be unphased by any chemicals plastered over our skin. Stuff that repels African mossies for 6 hours seemed to have no effect after 6 seconds in Levi ! Next time, I'll use the local repellants instead.
Finally, here is one of the few ski resorts where reindeer are on the menu every day - both the sightseeing menu and the culinary one as well!