Nestled inside the pristine wilderness of Pallas-Yllästunturi Nationwide Park, Muonio beckons with its untouched landscapes and the promise of an genuine Lapland Winter expertise.
This village, famend for having the cleanest air on the earth, boasts over 20 fells, 200 lakes, and a outstanding eight seasons, inviting us to embrace a slower tempo of life amidst nature’s wonders.
Muonio, Finland, is the proper vacation spot in your winter journey in Lapland. It gives a number of distinctive actions, reminiscent of husky safaris and northern gentle recognizing.
All aboard the Kolari Evening sleeper Prepare from Helsinki to Kolari
One of the best ways to succeed in Muonio from Helsinki is by taking an in a single day sleeper prepare service to Kolari railway station.
Do you know that Kolari railway station is Finland’s northernmost prepare station?
Your journey to Muonio commences from the bustling and handy Helsinki Metropolis Centre Railway Station.
You will have two decisions of prepare cabin sleeper rooms, each with two single bunks every, which might be shared or booked to stay personal.
One choice has a built-in room ensuite with bathroom, wash sink and bathe, while the opposite cheaper room choice solely gives the 2 single cabin bunk beds. The bathroom and bathe rooms are on a shared communal and might be discovered all through the prepare.
We board the night time prepare, every of us settling into our cabins for the following 14-hour journey.
Because the prepare glides in the direction of Kolari railway station, we anticipate the Arctic chill that awaits, with temperatures that may plunge as little as -40°C.
It’s important to put on a multiple-layer system to remain heat throughout the Finnish Wintertime.
When you attain Kolari, the journey to Muonio might be organized by a personal switch service, which takes round an hour to finish.
Arrival in Muonio: Unveiling the Charms of Harriniva Journey Resort
We awaken to the light rhythm of the prepare and luxuriate in a satisfying breakfast out of your cabin, anticipating the day’s adventures.
Upon arrival at Kolari, our prearranged switch whisks us away on the ultimate hour journey from Kolari to Muonio.
Our journey unfolds as we arrive at Harriniva Journey Resort, our base for the approaching days.
A real Lapland dwelling away from dwelling expertise.
Harriniva Adventure Resort is a community of lodging, companies, eating preparations and journey actions.
If I had been to spend my time in Muonio, being based mostly in Harriniva Journey Resort and arranging every little thing with them straight can be one of the best ways to make sure an incredible time.
After settling in, we bask in a pleasant lunch and an interesting presentation on the area.
Harriniva Journey Resort additionally supply winter rental gear to maintain heat throughout your adventures in Muonio,
Donning the winter apparel fitted by Harriniva workers, we put together for our first thrilling exercise.
Heading out on a Husky Safari in Muonio
Harriniva Journey Resort gives numerous husky safari durations, from 5-day expeditions to some hours of journey.
Choosing the shortest Husky safari adventure trip, which lasted a couple of hours, allowed me to get a style of the expertise.
As you enter the advanced, you’ve gotten a security briefing and a Husky driving lesson earlier than you begin.
There are two to a husky sledge, one driving and one sitting. You’ll be able to choose to rotate midway if you want, so talk this together with your co-sledge buddy who needs to go first and whether or not you wish to change round.
As you stroll to your sledge, you’ll be surrounded by keen husky canine of their pens, eager to exit on a run. The fortunate ones who get chosen begin to gear up and are linked to your sledge.
The unbelievable factor about husky canine is their pure vitality; they wish to go and run and love being out within the snow doing what they do.
It’s an unbelievable expertise forming bonds with these outstanding animals. All have completely different traits and personalities.
After a couple of hours, I used to be tempted to exit and e book the 5-day safari; it was a brilliant enjoyable expertise.
A couple of hours is brief, however sufficient to get a style of the expertise.
The Husky safari guides do an important job taking care of all of them and getting you prepared in your Husky safari.
As night time falls, we’re handled to a luxurious conventional Finnish dinner in a kota, a Finnish wilderness smokehouse. We’re handled to open-fire grilled Salmon with jacket potatoes.
Finnish Salmon on the grill is simply out of this world, and it’s important to strive it, particularly when it has been ready in a Kota.
Muonio has a great probability of Nothern lights, Aurora Borealis
Expertise essentially the most glorious present in nature: Northern lights, the Aurora Borealis, and magic beneath the Arctic sky.
Muonio gives a excessive probability of recognizing resulting from its nice location, clear skies, and low gentle air pollution.
Throughout the energetic season, anticipate to see the Northern Lights in Muonio each few days.
Harriniva Journey Resort gives a couple of good viewing areas. I acquired fortunate with the one down by the river, which was incredible, and I noticed the northern lights on two events on two completely different nights.
Wrap up heat, obtain a Northern Lights app for monitoring, and keep in mind your digital camera tripod! Better of luck.
Exploring Lapland’s Enchanting Wilderness and Assembly some native reindeer
We embrace the day by transferring to a reindeer farm, delving into the timeless connection between people and these majestic creatures.
Harriniva Journey Resort has a resort referred to as Torassieppi Eco Reindeer Resort, which is an genuine 200-year-old Lapland reindeer farm.
The farm is known as Lapinkartano (“Lapland Manor”), the place reindeer husbandry has been practised for over a century.
The principle home additionally serves as an inn for travellers between Muonio village and Pallastunturi Fell. It’s also possible to go to the reindeer museum and feed the reindeer that roam across the farm.
You’ll meet reindeer at shut quarters, and you may embark on a reindeer trip with them throughout the magical Wintertime.
On this cosy timber Finnish cottage, you may collect a way of the outdated days and calm down completely within the calm of the wilderness.
Later, we enterprise to Jeris Lakeside Resort for a scenic lunch amidst breathtaking vistas.
At this level, we had been going to embark on a snowmobile journey. Nevertheless, the climate reached a cold -36C, so we needed to change up the itinerary. When the climate permits, it’s potential to get pleasure from a snowmobile journey.
Loosen up in winter fashion on the Arctic Sauna World
For an genuine Finnish expertise, we immerse ourselves within the Arctic Sauna World, the place the soothing warmth of the sauna contrasts with the crisp Arctic air.
Right here, you will see that a number of 4 completely different Finnish saunas to try to get pleasure from.
– Smoke sauna
– Infrared Sauna
– conventional wooden sauna
– sluggish drip sauna
Make sure to strive all of the completely different types and benefit from the enjoyable lounge chair chill space to chill down with a glass of refreshing Finnish faucet water as you benefit from the views of the river.
Whenever you’re feeling courageous sufficient, strive a real Finnish custom: dip within the out of doors ice pool.
A refreshing ice dip is reasonably enjoyable, particularly whenever you go straight again into the sauna and luxuriate in all its well being advantages.
Returning to Harriniva Journey Resort, we get pleasure from a leisurely dinner; you may choose right into a buffet meal plan when staying on the resort, which is good to have catering lined all through your keep.
You even have the choice to pay a bit extra and improve your meal to the Wilderness Plus bundle to make it a bit bit extra particular, which was a reasonably good choice.
Earlier than calling it an evening, get pleasure from a nightcap and the bar or see when you can spot the Northern lights once more. Soak up the serenity of your environment. It’s nice to be staying amongst Finnish Lapland nature.
Wrapping Up Our Muonio Journey and heading to Pallas-Yllästunturi Nationwide Park
As our journey attracts nearer, we bid farewell to Muonio and Harriniva Journey Resort.
The beauty of the placement of Muonio is its proximity to Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park.
You’ll be able to have a enjoyable day climbing round Pallas on snowshoes, a enjoyable technique to discover Winter Lapland.
Make sure to additionally not miss out on a go to to the Nature Centre of Yllästunturi Customer Middle Kellokas, Äkäslompolo.
Yow will discover a cinema right here displaying a documentary in regards to the northern lights and a museum sharing the native life historical past in Lapland all through the years.
Additionally, right here, you could find a wonderful lunch spot referred to as Kahvila Kellokas, which makes a pleasant salmon soup and is a stupendous spot to seize a espresso and cake whereas having fun with the nationwide park views earlier than heading off.
Winter horseback using with Polar Lights Excursions
Polar Lights Tours for numerous actions, from horseback using to encounters with huskies and reindeer.
We conclude our day with a lightweight, wild supper in a distant cabin, cherishing the ultimate moments of our Lapland journey.
In the event you want to go extra futher north in Lapland, why not explore Utsjoki, Finland.
Farewell to Muonio and Lapland, Finland
Because the prepare carries us away from Muonio’s tranquil embrace, our hearts are crammed with a profound sense of gratitude for the unforgettable experiences we’ve had in Finnish Lapland.
From the exhilarating husky rides to the serene moments by the Arctic Sauna World, every day has been a testomony to the timeless attract of nature and the heat of Lapland hospitality.
As we replicate on the pristine landscapes, the colourful tradition, and the bonds solid with fellow travellers and the outstanding animals of the area, we supply with us not simply reminiscences however a deeper appreciation for the wonder and tranquility that Muonio embodies.
Although our journey could have reached its finish, the spirit of Finnish Lapland will endlessly linger inside us, a beacon of serenity and surprise amidst life’s bustling currents.
Muonio, this received’t be my final go to, and I can’t wait to return. It’s a real Finnish winter Lapland expertise that I’ll keep in mind for a lifetime.
