Things to do in Saariselkä

5 hours by road, and it works better as a base than a destination in itself. Hotels, cabins, restaurants and gear-rental shops cluster along one main strip, with shuttle buses running out to Kiilopää, Kakslauttanen and Inari, and the village sits right against Urho Kekkonen National Park.

From the fell slopes above the resort you get open, unobstructed sky, which helps for aurora viewing on clear nights between late August and early April, though nothing is ever guaranteed. Winter temperatures typically run from -10°C to -25°C, with snow cover from around November to May.

Within the village you can arrange snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobile safaris and husky sledding without booking a separate transfer.