Postcards From Lapland

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Having not had a white Christmas in the Alps for the last few years, last boxing day I decided that if the snow wasn’t coming to us, we would go to it. Plus, I’d been looking for an excuse for a while to visit somewhere further north with the hope of seeing the northern lights again, and experiencing husky sledding has been something that’s also been on my bucket list for a while. Looking for flights and accommodation options, we decided on Levi in Finland.

Lying in the area known as Lapland, above the arctic circle, Levi is perhaps the most famous ski resort in Finland where the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup stops for the men’s and women’s slalom races in November each year.

But Levi as a ski resort alone is rather small if you’re looking for a week of just skiing, especially if you are intermediate or advanced skiers. But what it lacks in challenging terrain and steep slopes, it more than makes up for with its unique scenery and other activities. There is so much on offer if you’re willing to venture outside and brave the arctic temperatures (during our stay it ranged from -4°C to -19°C which felt even colder with the dampness in the air).

Trying to pick a single highlight from this trip is really difficult as the whole experience was really incredible. Having always wanted to go dog sledding, I was worried that it might not live up to my expectations, but it really was everything I’d ever imagined and more. Even though I felt like my fingers might fall off from the cold (despite wearing 2 liners inside my insulated mittens), the tranquillity of being led through a winter wonderland by a pack of dogs whilst the low winter sun turns the frozen trees into glittering crystal masterpieces is hard to put into words. And ski touring up the mountain in the dark of the arctic night to rise above the clouds and watch a private display of the aurora dancing overhead is also a moment that we will remember forever.

Here are a few pictures to capture a little of what we experienced

Levi – Lapland

Picture of the top of a frozen pine tree in Levi Lapland by Wild Connections Photography Menno Skiing through frozen trees in Levi in Finnish Lapland by Wild Connections Photography Levi Ski Resort Cat skiing off-piste in Levi Lapland by Wild Connections Photography Cat skiing throught the frozen trees in Levi Ski Resort in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A frozen public toilet on Levi fell in Levi Lapland by Wild Connections Photography Menno skiing off-pist through the trees in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A white snow grouse bird blends in against the snowy landscape in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A highland cow at Santa's Pet Farm in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Friendly cows at Santa's Pet Farm in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A highland cow stands in the stable at Santa's Pet Farm in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A giant rabbit stands on its back legs and looks at the camera at Santa's Pet Farm in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A reindeer is teathered to a tree at Santa's Pet Farm in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A reindeer outside a wooden cabin at Santa's pet farm in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Skidoos drive across a Frozen Lake in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography a single cross country skier glides across a frozen lake in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography a group of cross country skiers glide across a frozen lake in Levi Lapland by Wild Connections Photography Menno walks across a frozen lake in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A wooden cabin in between the trees in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Red wooden cabins amongst the trees in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Levi Ski Resort a mountain restaurant sign telling you that you are 400 meters above sea level A frozen outside light on a building in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A frozen balcony in Levi ski resort in Finland by Wild Connections Photography The sun creates a pink glow over the white, snow covered landscape in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Frozen trees bend over under the weight of the snow in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A golden sunset down in the town in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography An almost Frozen River in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A red wooden cabin stands on the edge of a frozen lake in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography The low golden sun creates a beautiful glow over the frozen forest in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Menno puts his gloves to his face to keep it warm in the cold air in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Menno throws snow up in the air in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Cat throws snow up in the air in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Kausikämpät apartment in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography The sun shines from behind the trees over a frozen lake in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Wingrens Dog Safari Lapland the dogs are waiting and ready to go in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Wingrens Husky Safari Lapland dogs are waiting to start pulling the sled in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography All wrapped up in thermal suits and ski goggles for driving the husky sled in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Wingrens Dog Safari Lapland husky dogs pull the sled along a forest trail in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Wingrens Husky Safari Lapland dogs pull the sled along a straight section of the track by wild connections photography A picture of the sun shining through the frozen trees in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A frozen wilderness in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Wingrens Husky Safari dogs trot along a marked path in Lapland by Wild Connections Photography The sun back lights the frozen trees in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Wingrens Husky Safari Lapland dogs start to speed up on their homeward stretch

Wingrens Husky Safari Lapland dogs pull the sled through the forest while the golden light shines through the trees Husky sledding in Lapland the front dogs start to pick up the pace by Wild Connections Photography The sled dogs take a break in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Wingrens husky farm dogs wait in their enclosures for their turn to run A log fire in the kota to warm up in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Menno warms up in the Kota with a cop of hot berry juice in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A husky puppy takes a look outside in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Wingrens Husky Safari Lapland puppy comes to investigate the camera Aurora Borealis Ski Tour Menno tours up the ski slope in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Menno climbs up the ski slope at night on touring skis in hope of spotting the northern lights in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography The northern lights dance above the tall trees in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A single green band appears behind the trees in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography The aurora borealis create a green swirl behind the tall frozen trees in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Aurora Borealis swirl in the sky in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Aurora Borealis Ski Tour the lights show faintly in the sky in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Reindeer Safari Levi Lapland a reindeer waits with his harness in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Reindeer Safari Levi Lapland reindeer with large antlers looks towards the camera in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography People cook sausages over an open fire in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Close up portrait of a reindeer in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Reindeer Safari Levi Lapland a wooden sleigh lined with reindeer skin in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Levi Lapland village centre by Wild Connections Photography An old man walks through the town with cross country skis in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A skier wearing a reindeer helmet with antlers in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Menno Ekkelboom sits on an ice throne in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Cat Ekkelboom-White Lapland Wedding Photographer sits on an ice throne in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Levi Church Finland Frozen snow crystals on a tree branch in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Frozen tree branches in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A silhouette of the frozen forest in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Northern Lights shine across the sky in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography The aurora borealis dance across the sky in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography The northern lights grow weaker in the sky behind the frozen trees in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Menno Tries Cross Country Skiing in Levi Lapland Cat Tries Cross Country Skiing in Levi Lapland Reindeer Farm Levin Sammuntupa outside in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Reindeers graze in the forest around the Reindeer Farm Levin Sammuntupa in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A reindeer grazes on hay in the forest at Reindeer Farm Levin Sammuntupa Levi An adult reindeer eats food from the frozen ground at the Reindeer Farm Levin Sammuntupa Levi A young reindeer calf at Reindeer Farm Levin Sammuntupa in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography A bridge in with a walking and a snowmobile track in Levi Finland by Wild Connections Photography Cat stands outside Kittilä Airport Lapland Finnair Lapland Menno takes pictures of the plane Finnair Lapland Menno smiles at the camera after an amazing romantic getaway in Finnish Lapland Finnish Lapland view from the plane by Wild Connections Photography